The transport decision shapes a trip more than the accommodation does. A rental car opens rural areas and closes historic city centres. A rail pass rewards long distances and penalises short hops. Choosing badly is not fatal, but it costs both money and daily friction.
When trains win
In Europe, Japan, and increasingly China, trains between major cities beat flying once you count airport transfers and security. Anything under about four hours of rail time is usually faster door to door. Booking two to four weeks ahead often halves the fare on operators with dynamic pricing.
When a car is necessary
Rural coastlines, mountain regions, national parks and anywhere with a dispersed set of small towns. Iceland, the Scottish Highlands, most of the American west, the Dolomites, the Portuguese interior. In these places public transport exists but is built for residents' schedules, not visitors'.
The rental car details that catch people out
- Automatic transmission is scarce and expensive in Europe, book early
- Cross-border travel is often restricted and must be declared
- Fuel policy: full to full is the only one that does not overcharge you
- Restricted traffic zones in Italian and Spanish cities are camera enforced with fines arriving months later
- Winter tyres are a legal requirement in several countries between set dates
Buses
Long distance coaches are the cheapest option almost everywhere and the least comfortable. In parts of South America and Southeast Asia they are also the main intercity network, and quality varies from excellent to alarming. Read recent reviews of the specific operator, not the route.
City transport
Buy the local stored value card on arrival. It is nearly always cheaper than single tickets and removes the daily decision. Day passes only pay off above three or four journeys, which is fewer trips than most people make. Check whether your contactless bank card works directly, which is now the case in London, Milan and a growing list of cities.
One habit worth building: on the first morning, work out the transport route from your accommodation to the main station or airport, and how long it takes. You will need it at the end of the trip, probably in a hurry.
Compare route guides to see which transport each one assumes.