Are you planning transport for a trip abroad and don’t know where to begin? This guide walks you through 10 simple steps to help you plan how to get from A to B – wherever you are in the world.
Plus, I’ve included a free cheat sheet to help you choose the best transport apps for your trip.
Contents
- Introduction
- Step 1. Map Your Route First (Even Roughly)
- Step 2. Look for How Locals Travel (Not Just Tourists)
- Step 3. Check Distances & Travel Time
- Step 4. Decide Your ‘Travel Style’
- Step 5. Use Specialist Transport Apps (Not Just Google)
- Step 6. Look at Real Routes (Not Just Options)
- Step 7. Work Out How Tickets Actually Work
- Step 8. Screenshot Everything (Signal Can Let You Down)
- Step 9. Check the “Last Mile” (This Catches People Out)
- Step 10. Have a Flexible Backup (Always)
- Know When to Make Life Easy
- Final Thoughts
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Introduction
When I’m planning a trip to a new country – especially a multi-centre journey – one of the biggest quandaries isn’t where to stay or what to see or do… it’s how I’m actually going to get around.
It’s tricky enough in my own country, where at least I understand the language, but doing it abroad is a completely different ball game.
Right now, I’m planning a trip to Sri Lanka and trying to decide between trains, buses, hiring a driver, or even renting a tuk-tuk. It’s reminded me just how much behind-the-scenes planning goes into something as simple as getting from A to B. It’s one of the biggest headaches of planning a DIY trip.
People often say to me “I just don’t even know where to begin?” So, I’ve written this blog to help you do exactly that – a step-by-step guide to show you how I figure it out getting around abroad.
Step 1. Map Your Route First (Even Roughly)
Before you even think about transport, map out roughly where you’re going. Being able to visualise your route on a map is really helpful. And then you can see the most logical route.
Even a loose plan helps you spot:
- Long travel days
- Awkward connections
- Places that look close but aren’t
- If you can travel in a loop (the best way!)
💡 Pro Tip: Open Google Maps and switch to satellite view. You’ll instantly see things like mountains, jungle, or coastline that explain why journeys take so long.
Step 2. Look for How Locals Travel (Not Just Tourists)
This sounds obvious – but it’s where a lot of people go wrong. Most blogs tell you the “best” way – but locals often do something completely different.
Search things like:
- “Best ways to travel between cities in [destination]”
- “How locals get around in [destination]”
- YouTube journeys between cities
💡 Pro Tip: If locals avoid something (like certain buses or routes), there’s usually a good reason.
You need to look for patterns:
- Do people rave about the trains?
- Do they warn against buses?
- Is everyone hiring drivers?
In Sri Lanka, for example: trains are scenic but slow, buses are cheap but are chaotic and not air-conditioned, private drivers are very common.
Step 3. Check Distances & Travel Time
What looks close on a map often isn’t. For instance travelling a few miles that would take 10 minutes on a motorway could take an hour on a mountainous dirt track.
💡Pro Tip: Here’s something most people don’t think about: travel times on Google Maps change depending on time of day.
- Traffic doubles your journey time
- Trains are quicker at certain times
- Rush hour is chaos
Use Google Maps to check travel time with different transport options. This step alone can completely change your plan.
Step 4. Decide Your ‘Travel Style’
Ask yourself:
- Do I want easy or adventurous?
- Am I travelling with kids? How will they cope?
- Do I mind a bit of chaos?
Your answers will determine whether you should opt for:
- Ease: taxis, drivers, transfers
- Budget: buses, trains, colectivos
- Freedom: car rental, scooter, (tuk-tuk!)
There’s no right choice – just what suits you and your circumstances. When we last travelled to Jordan, we were going to rent a car (for freedom) but my husband had an unexpected eye operation so we took the decision to hire a driver instead.
We happily wing things when we travel as a couple but we had to be far more organised when our kids were small.
Step 5. Use Specialist Transport Apps (Not Just Google)
The travel apps available nowadays are fantastic and incredibly accurate. They can tell you everything: types of transport available, timetables, travel time, prices, stops, where to change and where to book.
I’ve made a cheat sheet to help you work out which apps to use depending on where you’re travelling.
👉 Grab your free transport app cheat sheet here!
Beyond Google, try:
- 12GoAsia for trains, buses, ferries across Asia
- Rome2Rio shows all route options
- Omio is great for Europe
- Direct Ferries shows routes across the world
- Trainline sells rail passes for many countries and continents across the globe but it’s particularly fantastic for Europe
- Uber / Bolt / Grab / InDrive (depending on country) to book taxis
💡 Pro Tip: Download Google Maps of the area you’re travelling to before you go . Don’t wait until you’re standing in the street with no signal.
Step 6. Look at Real Routes (Not Just Options)
For journeys that you’re really unsure about:
- Figure out the exact route
- Where to buy tickets
- Where to get on / off
- How long it takes
If it looks confusing now, it’ll feel even worse when you’re tired and lost.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Google Maps to zoom in on stations and stops (this is a game-changer).
This is one of the most overlooked steps. You feel so much more confident if you already know what to look out for.
Before you travel:
- Find your exact station or stop
- Drop the pin
- Look at it on Street View
Use satellite + street view to spot:
- Which side of the road your bus stops
- Whether it’s an actual station… or just a signpost
- How far it is from your hotel
I find it difficult enough at my local bus terminal – I never know which side of the road I’m supposed to be on! 😅 Looking it up beforehand avoids that awful “standing in the wrong place” feeling.
And of course – don’t be afraid to ask someone.
Step 7. Work Out How Tickets Actually Work
Transport abroad isn’t always straightforward. My daughter was fined in Prague because, even though she’d bought a ticket for her tram journey, she didn’t realise she needed to stamp it onboard.
Things people don’t realise:
- Some train tickets only open for booking a few days ahead
- Some must be printed (yes, still!)
- Some buses don’t exist online at all
💡 Pro tip: If a route seems impossible to book online… it often just means you pay locally.
Things you need to figure out in advance:
- Do I need to book in advance?
- Can I just turn up?
- Is it cash only?
- Do I need a specific travel card?
We find trains often need pre-booking and some metro systems need specific travel cards.
Step 8. Screenshot Everything (Signal Can Let You Down)
Never rely on having data when you need it most. We’ve learnt this the hard way, like when driving around Geneva airport, trying to figure out which side to drop off our rental car! 😅
Even with eSIMs, you won’t always get signal.
Before you leave WiFi:
- Screenshot tickets
- Save routes
- Pin locations
💡 Pro Tip: Save your hotel in Google Maps as a starred place – so you can always find your way back instantly.
Step 9. Check the “Last Mile” (This Catches People Out)
Getting between cities is one thing… but what about the final stretch? We realised getting from the bus stop to our accommodation in the Alps was going to be pretty tricky – with suitcases, kids and snow-covered pavements (and taxis were incredibly expensive) – so we rented a car instead.
Ask:
- How do I get from station to my accommodation?
- Is it walkable? Safe? Easy?
Something to consider wisely:
Sometimes the last 10 minutes of a journey is the hardest part – especially late at night or with luggage – and taxis are not always an option.
Step 10. Have a Flexible Backup (Always)
Transport abroad isn’t always reliable.
💡 Smart backup ideas:
- Save a local taxi number
- Check if Uber / Grab works there
- Know the rough taxi price so you don’t get overcharged
💡 Pro Tip: Ask your accommodation what a journey should cost – they usually know.
Know When to Make Life Easy
This is the one most seasoned travellers eventually accept. Sometimes, the easiest option is worth it.
In places like Sri Lanka, hiring a driver can save hours, remove stress completely, and help you see more.
Not every journey needs to be an adventure.
And don’t be afraid to ask local people: the hotel, restaurant, people on the street (but not always) – they’ll know the easiest and cheapest way every time.
Final Thoughts
Planning how to get around abroad can feel like a puzzle – but once you break it down into steps, it becomes much easier.
And the truth is, you don’t need to figure out everything in advance.
Just enough to land confidently – and work the rest out as you go.
👉 Grab your free transport app cheat sheet here!
I’ve also written a full guide to car rental abroad if you’re considering driving.
Make planning a trip yourself simple and stress-free with our ‘how to’ guides in the DIY Travel Planning Hub for tips on flights, accommodation, transport, itineraries and more – all in one place.
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