Buying, hiring or renting a car:

In developed countries and especially in New Zealand, Australia, USA, South Africa (Namibia & Botswana) and Western Europe this is the best thing you can do and will give you rewards you will never expect. Be sure to shop around with local firms, not national ones (apart from Southern Africa). In New Zealand in the peak season the cheapest rentals go very fast - surf the net and book ahead. I will mention it here on the subject of NZ, hitchhiking is possible in developed countries, especially NZ, Chile, USA, Europe and Israel, but is a pain in the arse, something I have never mastered. Hitchhiking in less developed countries, aside from the safety risk you will probably be expected to pay for your ride. Hire car relocations are also something worth considering. They don't give you much time, but if the times are right they are a very cost effective way of getting around in Oz, NZ and the USA.Car Hire Europe Car Hire Geneva Car Hire Cyprus Car Hire Germany Car Hire Crete

Shared taxis and bush taxis:

A shared taxi is generally used for short legs where there is no or limited public transport, but the route is fairly standard, for example from a border town to the border. These taxis generally leave from a set point and do in many cases make longer trips. For longer trips they are perhaps the fastest and more comfortable of all four wheeled transport options if not too crowded. There are many routes world-wide where onward transport is both harsh and impractical. In these cases taxi drivers or car owners (sometimes guides) can be approached for a price (they normally offer). This price is going to be high so you really need to split it between three/four. A bush taxi or taxi brousse is a West African phenomenon (particularly French West Africa) and in no way comfortable. Bush taxis are always private, but rarely does the driver own the vehicle, and are effectively a small bus. Almost without exception a bush taxi will leave when full (or when all seats are sold) not by a timetable. Depending on the popularity of the route this can take half an hour or even several days. If you are early you can choose where you sit, late comers have no choice - sitting in the front is the best and worst is the back (the side with no shade is also pretty bad). If a bush/private taxi looks like it is going to get uncomfortable full or take ages to fill you can buy extra seats at the same price of one or even charter the whole thing. In some cases you are going to be asked for more money for a big bag. On some occasions when the taxi is taking ages to fill up some passengers will club together to buy remaining seats and get going. If this happens or you personally buy an extra seat, don't expect a discount - time is not money in West Africa. Best get a bush taxi early in the morning or on a market day. There are a few different types of bush taxi in West Africa, most a moving form of torture. To find out more see the West African country summaries.Car Hire Spain Car Hire Alicante Car Hire Ibiza Airport Car Hire Lanzarote Car Hire Corfu

Flying:

Internal flights are often very good value for money, with discounts normally offered for under 30s or students. They, of course cost more than a bus or train, but you save a hell of a lot of time and more importantly sanity, especially when crossing difficult terrain such as mountains. For example Varanasi to Kathmandu will take you two days overland, or about $70 by Air India; Santiago to Chilean Patagonia will take you about 50 hours by bus via Argentina or about $100 return (not with LAN Chile); Bangkok to Cambodia or La Paz/Cusco to the jungle, is a hell of a trip overland (you won't do it twice); Bangkok to Yangon will cost you about $100 return and just cannot be done overland. The list goes on. Budget travellers think they cannot afford flights. Budget for them and you will feel a lot happier especially if doing a big trip over long distances.Car Hire Malaga Car Hire Malaga Airport Car Hire Menorca Car Hire Mallorca Airport Car Hire Ireland

On buses, other public transport and bus stations:

at night, keep any small bags you have at very close quarters. Over-head bins nor under your seat can be guaranteed 100% safe in many places - especially if you are sleeping. A strap around your leg or a simple and quick wire-lock will give you peace of mind and possibly save your trip from being seriously tarnished. Liken this to putting a seat belt on. If you have never been in an accident, it seems pretty pointless. However, with hindsight it seems more than sensible even when you don't feel like it or feel the situation fits. In regions like Latin America and Africa, it is more than good sense. The same goes with walking at night with your bag if it can be at all avoided.Car Hire Tenerife Car Hire France Car Hire France Car Hire Nice Car Hire Paris Charles De Gaulle