Transport is where long-term travel is won or lost: the overnight train that saves a hotel night and delivers a view, the sleeper bus that ruins two days, the $40 flight that replaces a 20-hour ride. This guide covers the choices by region, drawn from the transport notes on our destination and country pages.
The rule of thumb
Overland under 500 km; fly over 900 km or any sea; in between, it depends on the route's quality. Overland is cheaper, more interesting and avoids the airport day; flying is cheaper than it was and sometimes cheaper than the bus (Colombia's mountain routes, Vietnam's length, Peru's distances).
Southeast Asia
Thailand's sleeper trains (book second-class lower berths a week ahead) and government buses; the Laos-China Railway from Vientiane to Luang Prabang in hours; Vietnam's Reunification Express (slow, safe, scenic over the Hai Van Pass) over its sleeper buses (cheap, rough); Cambodia's Giant Ibis and Mekong Express; Malaysia's ETS trains; and the region's budget airlines (AirAsia, Nok, Thai Lion, Vietjet, Bamboo, Scoot) at $30 to $120 booked ahead. Grab everywhere; Gojek in Indonesia; PassApp in Cambodia.
Japan and Korea
The best rail on earth. Japan's regional passes beat the national JR Pass for most routes since its 2023 price rise; highway buses (Willer) are a third of the shinkansen fare; Suica or Pasmo on your phone. Korea's KTX and intercity buses are cheap and punctual; T-money; Kakao T for taxis; Naver or Kakao Maps, not Google.
Europe
Trains for everything under five hours (book Renfe, Trenitalia, the Portuguese Alfa Pendular and the Czech and Hungarian railways a few weeks ahead for the cheap fares; Ouigo and Iryo in Spain, RegioJet in Central Europe), FlixBus for the gaps and the Balkans, ferries for the Adriatic and the Greek islands, and budget airlines (Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet) for the long legs at $20 to $80 with a carry-on only. Bolt and Uber in most cities.
Latin America
Mexico's executive buses (ADO, ETN, Primera Plus) are among the best in the world; Guatemala's tourist shuttles over chicken buses after dark; Colombia's flights (Avianca, LATAM, Wingo) over its 10-hour mountain buses; Peru's Cruz del Sur and Oltursa in cama class; Argentina's long-distance cama buses and its budget airlines (Flybondi, JetSmart) for the vast distances; Brazil's flights (LATAM, GOL, Azul). Uber, DiDi, Cabify, 99 and inDrive by country; never street-hailed taxis at night in Lima, Mexico City or Bogotá.
The Caucasus, Turkey, Africa
Georgia's marshrutkas from Didube and the Batumi night train; Turkey's superb intercity buses (Metro, Kamil Koç) and the Istanbul-Ankara high-speed line; Morocco's ONCF trains (including Africa's first high-speed line) and CTM buses; South Africa's Intercape and FlySafair, with a hire car for the Garden Route; Tanzania's dala-dalas, Azam ferries and short flights.
Apps that replaced the tout
12go.asia for Southeast Asian tickets; Omio and Trainline in Europe; Busbud in the Americas; Rome2Rio for the overview; the airlines' own sites for the cheapest fares. Agree every taxi fare that has no meter or app before getting in.
Night travel
Trains yes, buses with care: avoid night buses on mountain roads in Peru, Bolivia, Nepal and northern Vietnam, keep valuables on your lap, and arrive in daylight when you can.
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