Getting Around the World
Flights, trains, road trips, and everything in between. The practical stuff you actually need to know.
Getting from A to B is half the trip. Sometimes literally half the budget, too. Whether you’re trying to figure out which airline won’t charge you £60 for a carry-on, working out if the train is actually cheaper than flying, or deciding whether renting a car in a country where they drive on the other side is a terrible idea… we’ve got guides for all of it.
This hub covers flights, trains, car rentals, and bus travel. Practical stuff. Baggage rules, platform comparisons, scenic routes, and the tips that save you real money.
60+ Airlines
Baggage guides covered
7 Countries
Train guides & routes
3 Platforms
Compared & reviewed
50+ Tips
Across all transport types
Transport Guides
From airline baggage rules to scenic train routes and car rental comparisons. Find what you need.
Flights & Airlines
Train Travel
Car Rental & Road Trips
Bus & Coach Travel
Compare Booking Platforms
Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend platforms we actually use.
The platforms we use and recommend. Each one’s best for something different.
Trip.com
Best for: cheap flight search
Consistently finds the cheapest long-haul flights. Good for comparing across airlines and dates. Interface is straightforward once you get past the upsells.
DiscoverCars
Best for: car rental comparison
Compares prices across all the major rental companies in one search. Full insurance options upfront so you’re not blindsided at the counter. We use it for every road trip.
Trainline
Best for: UK & European rail
Covers UK trains, Eurostar, and most European rail networks in one place. Mobile tickets, real-time tracking, and genuinely good price alerts. Read our full comparison: Trainline vs Competitors
Rail Europe
Best for: multi-country European rail
Specialist in cross-border European train bookings. Better than Trainline for complex multi-country routes and rail passes. Particularly good for France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Transport Tips That Actually Save You Money
✈️ Book flights 6-8 weeks out — sweet spot for most routes. Too early and prices are inflated, too late and they spike.
🚆 Split train tickets — buying two singles covering different legs of the same journey is often cheaper than one through-ticket in the UK.
🚗 Never buy rental insurance at the counter — it’s always overpriced. Buy standalone excess cover beforehand (costs around £3-5/€4-6/$4-6 per day vs £15-25/€17-29/$18-30 at the counter).
🛫 Use incognito mode for flight searches — or just clear cookies. Price tracking is real and repeated searches can push prices up.
💳 Get a no-fee travel card — foreign transaction fees on regular cards add 2-3% to every purchase. Cards like Wise or Revolut charge nothing.
🚌 Overnight buses save two costs — the fare AND a night’s accommodation. Win-win on budget trips.
📱 Download offline maps — Google Maps lets you save areas offline. Essential when you don’t have data or signal.
⚖️ Weigh your bag before the airport — excess baggage fees range from £10-15/€12-17/$12-18 per kg. A £8 luggage scale pays for itself instantly.
🎫 Rail passes aren’t always cheaper — do the maths for your specific route. Sometimes individual tickets beat a pass, especially on short trips.
🔔 Set fare alerts — Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Trainline all have price alerts. Let them do the watching.
Quick Checklist: Before You Book Any Transport
☐ Checked baggage allowance for your airline?
☐ Compared prices on at least 2 platforms?
☐ Looked at train/bus alternatives to flying?
☐ Checked visa/transit requirements for layovers?
☐ Got travel insurance that covers transport delays?
☐ Downloaded offline maps for your destination?
☐ Checked if you need an international driving permit?
☐ Set a fare alert in case prices drop?
Travel Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
Transport FAQs
What's usually cheaper for short European trips, flying or taking the train?
It depends on the route and how far ahead you book, but trains are often competitive once you factor in airport faff. A London to Paris Eurostar takes 2h15 city centre to city centre. The “cheap” flight takes 1h15 but add security, boarding, and the train into town from the airport and you’re looking at 4+ hours. Price-wise, booked early, Eurostar and budget airlines are often within £10-20/€12-23/$12-24 of each other. For anything under 4 hours by rail, trains usually win on total journey time and cost.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Some countries require one alongside your regular licence, and some rental companies won’t let you drive without it even if the country technically doesn’t require one. The safe bet: get one. In the UK it costs £5.50 from the Post Office and takes about 10 minutes. In the US it’s around $20 from AAA. Check the specific requirements for your destination before you travel because getting caught without one can mean fines or voided rental insurance.
How strict are airlines about carry-on bag sizes?
It varies wildly. Budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air measure to the centimetre and will charge you at the gate if your bag doesn’t fit their sizer. Full-service carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines are generally more relaxed. Our airline-specific baggage guides cover exact dimensions and what you can get away with for each carrier.
Is it worth buying a rail pass for Europe?
Only if you’re covering a lot of ground. A Eurail Global Pass makes sense if you’re hitting 4+ countries in a month. But for a simple Paris-Rome-Barcelona loop? Individual point-to-point tickets booked in advance are almost always cheaper. Do the maths on your specific route before committing. A 1-month Eurail pass runs from around £280/€330/$340 for under-28s, more for adults.
Should I book rental car insurance separately?
Yes, almost always. The insurance offered at the rental counter typically costs £15-25/€17-29/$18-30 per day. Standalone excess insurance from a third-party provider costs £3-5/€4-6/$4-6 per day and covers the same thing. Just make sure your policy covers the specific country you’re driving in and check whether it covers things like tyres and windscreens (some don’t).
What's the best app for navigating abroad?
Google Maps for most situations. It works in almost every country and the offline maps feature means you’re not dependent on mobile data. Apple Maps has improved hugely but still has gaps outside North America and Western Europe. Waze is brilliant for driving but useless for walking or transit. We’ve done a full comparison in our Best Travel Navigation App guide.
How early should I book flights for the best price?
For short-haul (Europe, domestic US): 4-8 weeks before departure. For long-haul (intercontinental): 6-12 weeks. Booking too early is just as bad as booking too late as airlines often start with inflated prices and drop them as the departure date approaches, then spike again in the final 2 weeks. Set a fare alert and book when it drops rather than gambling on timing.
Are overnight buses actually worth it?
For budget travellers, absolutely. You save the fare AND a night’s accommodation. Southeast Asia, South America, and parts of Europe (particularly Spain and the Balkans) have excellent overnight coach networks. The trade-off is obvious: you won’t sleep as well as in a bed. But a decent neck pillow and earplugs go a long way. The maths usually works out in your favour.
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