FLIGHTS AND TRANSPORTATION

Buying that initial plane ticket out of the country can be hard on the wallet. Ticket prices vary widely from one continent to the next and within regions. A ticket to Paris is sometimes comparable in cost to a semester’s tuition, but a flight from Paris to London can run you the price of a pack of Wrigley’s (as in less than one euro; shocking but true). Here’s the rundown on getting from point A to point B—with a bunch of sea in between.

BLAST OFF

Start your trip from the cheapest location in the United States possible. If you live in Bumblefuck, you’re likely to save big by arranging transportation to a major international hub. This could mean volunteering to drive an old lady’s car to Florida, taking a Greyhound to New York, or hopping a train to Houston, Chicago, or Dallas. Amtrak, Greyhound, Megabus, and car exchanges are surprisingly cheap ways to get around the States.

When booking from the big city, expand your horizons. Check Priceline, Travelocity, Momondo, Google Flights, SkyScanner, and Kayak, which are sites that compare several airlines and dates at once so that you can get a general idea of ticket prices. Keeping your dates flexible sets you up for finding the best rates possible. STA Travel is an old-school travel agency that has sixteen locations around the country, all close to college campuses. With a student ID, you can score a ticket at a price that will make businessmen jealous.

If you’re heading out to do some good in the world, there are organizations that subsidize transportation. If you’re set up to volunteer, check out FlyForGood.com and score a discount on airfare to the volunteer destination. Flip through our volunteer section (page 199) to get some ideas on how to go the good route.

Getting off-grid is great, but keeping that smartphone active could be helpful. There are a ton of apps that make travel smoother. FlightStats specializes in tracking flights, and GateGuru provides useful maps of sprawling international hubs. Delta has an app to track your luggage, which is helpful when everything you own is at the mercy of multiple airports.

TYPES OF TICKETS

Flights don’t just come and go. There are several different types of airline tickets—some with more tricks up their sleeve than Amelia Earhart.

ROUND-TRIP

If you only have a short time, or if you’re Captain Organized and have your route planned out, opt for a tried-and-true round-trip ticket. Choose a spot to bookend your travels, and plan to use local or regional transportation between destinations. A round-trip ticket can be reassuring, especially for travel virgins, because beginning and end dates are tangible. It can also be cheaper in the long run: a single-leg ticket to London, for example, is sometimes only slightly less than a round-trip one. Just keep in mind that once you do this, you’re locked in.

GO AND DON’T COME BACK

If you’ve got more time on your hands or don’t know exactly where you want to go, join the ranks of bank robbers and fugitives and book a seat one way. With a one-way ticket, you’re as flexible as a yoga teacher. Say you’re chilling with a group in Tangier that’s headed to Dubai tomorrow, and you decide you want to tag along. With no return trip planned, you’re free as a bird. Those palm-shaped islands are yours. Just be sure to set aside enough in your bank account to get home eventually—unless you’re planning on pulling a Bonnie and Clyde.

OPEN-JAWS

These are multidestination tickets that make your trip a three-way. You’ll still pick a place to bookend your travels, but you can also hit up a couple of spots in between. An open-jaw ticket typically goes from Point A to B to C and back to A. You’d be interested in one of these if you’re trying to cover mad ground, or if long-distance trains and buses aren’t your thing. They’re also good if you’re planning to travel for six months or more, because it gives your wandering a backbone and keeps aimless vagabonding tendencies in check.

AIRPASSES

Airpasses are promotional packages offered by allied airlines around the world. Each pass has a predetermined list of cities you can choose from, and the ticket price includes a stop in each city you choose. Residents of any city included are ineligible for an Airpass. You’re sacrificing flexibility, but if you score a good deal, you can always tack on more time before or after your set itinerary.

AROUND THE WORLD (RTW)

An RTW ticket is like buying wholesale—each ticket included costs a little bit less than it would alone. Beginning at roughly $4,000, an RTW can be a lot to put out, but other than trying to paddle a raft around the globe for forty years, this is the cheapest way to see the world. Do your research; some include party fouls such as only being able to fly in one direction or having to book round-trips. Check out OneWorld.com, SkyTeam.com, and StarAlliance.com to get started.

ONCE YOU’RE THERE

While our highways kick ass and the road trip is as American as apple pie, we’re behind the times when it comes to getting around on the ground. Most parts of the world have elaborate train and bus systems that make Amtrak look like your toy set around the Christmas tree, and Greyhound look like a Chihuahua. There’s no better way to understand the true essence of a country than by utilizing its mass-transit systems, and in most backpacker hot spots, mass transit is the fastest and most reliable way to get around.

EURAIL PASSES

European train trips are legendary—chances are if you’ve been to Europe, you’ve boarded one of these bad boys. Travel between European countries is more like crossing a state line, and the über-developed train system is your ticket to just about anywhere. If you’re backpacking across Europe for a while, you should definitely consider getting a Eurail Pass.

Broken down by distance of travel, there are several different types of passes. The Global Pass includes all rail travel to and within twenty-eight countries. A Select Pass gives you access to four bordering countries of your choice (for instance France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) and a Regional Pass enables you to travel within and between two bordering countries. If you’re planning on spending your whole sojourn getting spiritual with Greek goddesses or exercising your Italian stallion for a while, opt for a One Country Pass, where travel is unlimited within the country of choice. Tickets are cheaper the younger you are—snag a youth ticket (if you’re twenty-five or under) for a 35 percent discount. If both you and your travel partner are twenty-six or older, the Small Group Saver will knock off 15 percent. There are a handful of Eurail apps that will bring train schedules to your finger-tips, which can make all the difference in the world.

ASIAN TRAINS

Getting around China or India by car or bus ain’t no European holiday. Heavy road traffic is caused by animals with the same right-of-way as rickshaws and enough people to clog the world’s arteries. Metal bus seats and bumpy roads can leave your ass baboon-blue after a long trip. The best way to get around these giant countries is to train it. There are several different class levels, and they vary from country to country.

Train compartments hold up to six people, and overnight trains usually have a Sleeper Class. Opt for a top bunk if you’re into personal space, because lower berths serve as benches during the daytime. A cramped General Class ticket is hardly worth the money you’ll save. Most trains also have a more expensive A/C Sleeper Class, in which you’ll find more privacy and less sweat.

BUSABOUT

Busabout, which operates throughout nine countries in Europe (and which has routes in Northern Africa), is comparable to Eurorail in the way that it works. You’ll be issued a pass based on your preferred destinations and length of travel. Busabout tickets, however, are specifically designed for backpackers, so bust out that booze and make some friends. There are adventure, trekking, festival-geared, and hop-on, hop-off options. Check out Busabout.com to create your own trip.

SOUTH AMERICAN BUSES

Nowhere in the world is there a more developed bus system than the international routes crisscrossing South America. The quality of these buses depends on the wealth of your country of origin. Long-distance Argentine buses, for example, are usually double-decker, air-conditioned beauties with fully reclining seats and even free hot coffee. Buses in Bolivia or Ecuador are a lot rougher, but they’ve got character—and build it, too.

International pricing varies from country to country, but it’s almost always cheaper than flying. You’ll need to budget for Colombian buses, but the bus route running the gringo trail from La Paz to Cusco will hardly dent your wallet. Be sure to hit up the terminal ticket booth a day before you want to travel, and don’t forget to ask if the bus has a bathroom on board.

REINVENTING THE ROAD TRIP

Rental cars are usually the most expensive mode of transport, but there’s nothing quite like getting behind the wheel, rolling down the windows, blasting some good tunes, and conquering foreign roads. You’ll find an agency in any major airport—Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and Thrifty are all international companies. Some have apps to save you long-ass lines at the airport and frustrating miscommunication. For shorter term rentals, check out Zipcar (which starts at $7 per hour) and Car2Go—which you can pick up/drop off anywhere and use for ten to twenty minute grocery runs.

Not every country requires an International Driving Permit, but some do. You can get one at your local DMV before leaving. Keep in mind that road signs will be in the language of the country and you’ll have to figure out which side of the road to drive on. Be prepared to be confused while in motion.

OTP Tip: Services like Uber and Lyft are great luxuries for when you’re lazy, drunk, or far from public transit.