Travel Smart – Compare Bus, Train, Flights and Rideshare

Bus tickets are cheap, trains are comfortable, and flights are quick. This is how it usually goes, but is it always that simple? Flights could be fast, yes, but what about the time you spend at the airport? A high speed train may get you to your destination quicker and fit better your personal schedule. Modern buses also provide a level of comfort and several direct connections that could make them more suitable than a train. Taking a train or a bus to connect to a direct flight, instead of a change over, can save you time and money. Travel smart means comparing all the possible options. Check what schedule best fits your needs.

Find out which cities are best connected. What modes of transportation are offered? Check the cheapest and fastest alternatives to get around. Especially the east costs in the United States has a dense bus and train network. Longer distances are well-connected by flights to major airports. Check airport buses, which are much cheaper compared to a Taxi or an Uber.

To compare flights, buses, trains or ride shares use our search function, and find the best trips from city to city. Do you want the cheapest options? Discover all buses in the USA.

Compare to find the best bus, flight or train tickets to the most beloved international destination. What are the top connections by available schedules and trips, and which cities are the best connected? Travel by plane to international destinations, continue there using ground mobility, or take cross-border direct services by bus or train.

International connections from and to the US

The United States are very well-connected to Canada and Mexico. Many daily bus trips go from Texas or California to Mexico. Canada is well-connected from the Boston area or from Great Lakes. The large airports offer regular daily flights to neighboring countries. When you take intercontinental flights to Europe, LATAM or Asia you find a very good bus network to continue your journey.

The best travel options in South Africa

To travel fast across the country's major cities, flights are the fastest way to go. Of course international travelers come in mostly by plan. In South Africa, the rail network is not really dense. You'll find regional modern rail connections such as Gautrain. For tourists, a 28 hours ride from Cape Town to Johannesburg can be an option. Bus in South Africa is very cheap and brings to large and small cities. It feeds train and airport. You find many daily schedules at low fares.

The best travel options in India

In India, ground mobility is the most relevant mode of transportation. Bus in India is often more comfortable compared to trains. Prices are cheap and users can choose from many different operators. India has an extensive rail network managed by Indian Railways. It is the fourth-largest network worldwide and one of the busiest. It is not a high speed train network, but investments are made. Therefore, for longer distances for example between Delhi and Bangalore flights are often the mode of choice.

The best travel options in Australia

Travelling to Australia, of course, means using the plane. Due to the sheer size of the country, the most common way to travel north and south or east and west is a flight. Within the larger urban areas such as Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, buses bring you anywhere. Bus in Australia is a comfortable mode to travel for mid to shorter distance. Trains connect even very long distances such as The Ghan which goes 47 hours from Adelaide to Darwin. NSW Trainlink connects the big metropolitan areas on the East Coast.

Everyone has different preferences and priorities for their travels. What it's yours, time, money or comfort? Are you getting around alone or with your family? Do you travel last minute or plan your trips in advance? Here are some suggestions that will help to travel smarter.

Book your ticket early

Airlines especially rely heavily on dynamic prices. Booking at short notice will result you in a very high bill. If you can't book early fast trains can be a better alternative. Booking early also gives you better ticket prices for buses, but here the differences are smaller.

Combine flight and ground mobility smartly

Generally you will have several airports in your proximity. Check which one of them has a direct or cheap flight to your destination, and then see if you can find a good connection to the airport by train or bus. Avoid changeovers, as they significantly increase your travel time. Comparing different departure airports gives you also access to cheaper airlines, and fast trains often run between larger cities, while buses or ride-share often connect the main stations with smaller towns.

It is not only about time and money - it is also about reducing emissions

Dropping your car, especially if you travel alone reduces your carbon footprint by a significative amount. Buses and train provide perfect alternatives especially at short or mid-distances. You will also save on parking costs at the destination. On trips up to 5 hours, buses and trains will almost always beat flights, including airport time and transfers - and produce just a fraction of CO2.

Check for public transport at airports

There is no lack of Taxis or Uber at most airports, but some offer excellent alternative connections by airport buses or trains to the city centers. Costs are just a fraction, and trains are not affected by traffic jams! But above all, always remember to compare!