· One of the joys of travel is the wide variety of modes of transport you will end up using to get you around the place. Things have improved a lot in recent years with cheap airlines, Uber, very fast trains and new roads and bridges. It's nice to travel overland as much as possible but when a one-hour flight is the same price as a 12-hour bus trip it's a no brainer. Traveling overland at night doesn't have much point either if you can't see anything.
· Your first form of transport will be heading off to the airport in the taxi or family / friend’s car as they drop you off at the airport. This is when you start to wonder about all of those things you think you have forgotten to do and bring.
· Then you'll get into an aeroplane where they'll feed you, water you and provide entertainment. So far so good. It starts to get interesting at the other end however when you walk out of the customs hall into a whole new and foreign world.
· There is usually a crowd of people waiting to pick up friends and loved ones and other people holding up signs with names on them. And in some places a throng of annoying and persistent taxi drivers. If you see your name on a sign the next step will be easy. Otherwise, you will have to work out the best way to get to your hotel.
· Once happily settled into your hotel you will want to move around the city and check out the attractions. Big cities have a lot of traffic so you can either go under it (MRT - subway), over it (Skytrain) through it (train) or around it (river ferry). These are the best options when it's really busy. Walking is also a great way to get around and you have plenty of time. Later on in the evenings traffic is usually lighter.
· Other short haul options are Uber / Grab and other such companies which have the advantage of less arguments than with normal taxi drivers. Utility vehicles with two benches down each side, called Songthaews in Thailand, Jeepneys in the Philippines, Vans like Bemo's in Indonesia, 2 & 3 wheeled vehicles like tuk tuks, jumbos, remorques, motodups, tricycles, CNG's, auto-rickshaws, motorcycle taxis, dokars etc.
· They are fun and exciting to ride in and found in many countries around the world. You will need to haggle hard and it's often cheaper to take a safer, air-conditioned taxi without all the arguments. Always ask the taxi driver to turn the meter on and if he won’t, get out. Unless the traffic is bad or you only have a set amount of money then it is better to negotiate a price before you start. Best to flag down a taxi going past. Never get in one that is parked near a tourist attraction. In some cities certain taxi brands have much better reputations than others.
· On 2 wheels there are motor cycle taxis which can be recognised by a group of men hanging around on a street corner and all wearing the same-coloured vests. They are cheap, quick, slip through the traffic and have very good riders.
· Airports are notorious for rip offs because the taxi drivers know that this is probably your first time in the city and you won't know where you're going. It could be quite dangerous years ago with people being dumped (or worse) in a paddock somewhere minus all of their possessions.
· Thankfully these days it is regulated and you pay a fixed rate with an airport authorised taxi. There is also Uber / Grab and similar companies, often an airport bus, shuttle train, vans, hotel or private transfer or limos. So, depending on how many of you there are plenty of options. More information is given in the itineraries.
· There are also a variety of man powered vehicles that should be tried at least once. Cyclos in Vietnam are where you sit in a big comfy chair with the rider behind you. The exciting part about this one is that you are thrust out into the heavy traffic with nothing in front of you. Tri-shaws are the opposite where you sit behind the driver. Remember if you want to take over the pedaling for a bit of fun that this is their livelihood and you should pay for any repairs to the damage you may cause. And the brake is located behind the seat.
· Tuk Tuks are often the way you will get to the bus or train station to move to the next town and then to get to your hotel when you arrive at the other end. It seems funny that you often spend money more on these short legs than you do on the main bus or train ticket. Some towns and islands have a mafia set up with set rates for the local transport and your only other option is to walk or hitchhike and offer to pay.
· Getting around the country side you have various options and sooner or later they all have their advantages. Cheap flights now mean you can fly for the same price as an overnight train or 20-hour bus trip. There are also some sleeper buses now. So, depending on your budget and how much time you have will determine which one you decide on. Visa regulations can vary as well depending on whether you arrive at an airport or a land border. As can the length of time you get may vary.
· My favourite way to travel is on a riverboat because there is plenty of room, the trip is nice and smooth, toilet facilities are readily available, food, refreshments and a great view of the scenery passing by being all part of the package. Not to mention sitting on the roof drinking cocktails. Although there are now a lot to pick from unfortunately most of them are prohibitively priced at over $300 a day.
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A shoutout to the best taxi drivers in the world - Tainan, Taiwan
· Overnight trains are fun and the excitement of heading out of the station into the night takes you back to when you were a kid again. 2nd class sleepers are usually comfortable and sociable. Plus, you save on a night’s accommodation. In Thailand they used to sell beer out of a bucket of ice but that practice has stopped.
· Otherwise, buses and trains are good for trips up to about 6 - 8 hours. It is nice to see the countryside and how far places are away from each other rather than just flying over it all the time. Try to avoid taking too much on and wearing yourself out with extended periods of travel.
· Boat trips on the water are another matter and can be anything from wonderful to horrific and everything in between. It all comes down to the sea worthiness of the ship / ferry, the skills of the captain and safety precautions and equipment like having life vests, lifeboats and not being over crowded. And the weather of course. And if you can swim. Some cross river canoes are very unstable until they get moving.
· Some ferries you can't avoid, such as for heading out to islands. Normally these are less than 3 hours, although that's long enough when the weather comes in. I try to fly in the Philippines whenever possible.
· For complete freedom renting a motorbike or car or hiring a car / van with driver is the way to go. If there is a route you want to follow that has a lot of attractions along the way then this is the answer. The bonus is your luggage will be secure in the vehicle. There are a lot of road trips on this site so you'll want a good deal on your rental car.
· If you have a van with driver, get him to stop at a market and buy yourself an esky / chilly bin / drinks cooler and then get him to stop at a shop / store to stock up on cheap drinks and ice. Drain and repeat. Each day. When you get to your destination you've already got wheels to get around and see the place and get to restaurants that you normally wouldn't bother with.
· You can even buy a vehicle and sell it when you're done. It's a great experience but you will need to contend with breakdowns and repairs and a host of other challenges. There is a lot of extra paperwork and problems at border crossings. But if you have the time and patience, it can be really worthwhile.
· Take it easy and follow the local rules and it's not really any harder than driving at home. Allow plenty of time so you can enjoy your day and not feel rushed or be compelled to travel after dusk. It's nice to be checked in, refreshed and enjoying a few sundowners, so time your arrival a couple of hours before sunset.
· Hitch hiking is another option but probably best left unless there are no other options. One way you will know you are off the tourist trail is when the town has hardly any public transport. Everyone has their own wheels and if you get dropped off somewhere you might need to get the thumb out to get home.
· They're the main types of transport and now for now for some of the more unusual ones. Funiculars are good to go up steep hills, as are cable cars, cog railways, donkeys and many years ago sedan chairs.
· Sea planes are fun, helicopters, horse and cart, hovercrafts, hydrofoils, bamboo train, maglev train, Steam Trains, dog sleds, Ski Dos, longtail boats, fast boats (Lao), side cars, ATV's, off road buggies, dune buggies, small planes, Jet Skis, toboggan, amphibious trucks, Feluccas, Gulets, tramcars, houseboats, jet boats, bum boat, junks, rail bikes, toy trains, trolley buses, zip lines, luges, suspension railway, camels, horses, burros, dugout canoes, kayaks, golf carts, Gators and a whole lot more. There's a good chance you'll get to experience a lot of these on your trip.