What is the cheapest thing you have done to save on transportation?
Jul 27, 2011, 3:48 pm
#91
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YQB
Programs: Aeroplan, Nexus
Posts: 39
Took the last tram and metro to IST and tried to sleep in the airport for my 5.30 am flight (total: $2.50). No shuttles available if I wanted to arrive before 3.30, and a night taxi would be quite expensive. I was not the only one that had that idea, had difficulties finding a place for sleeping 
.
Did not use public transportation in London before 9.30 am to avoid the peak fares.
Walked a little more that usual in cities where there are no suitable public transportation passes.
Prefered sometimes 3.5 Dh buses in Morocco to 10-20 Dh (if metered...) "petits taxis".
.Did not use public transportation in London before 9.30 am to avoid the peak fares.
Walked a little more that usual in cities where there are no suitable public transportation passes
.Prefered sometimes 3.5 Dh buses in Morocco to 10-20 Dh (if metered...) "petits taxis".
Aug 3, 2011, 7:31 pm
#92
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: USA - HNL, SEA, DEN, ORD, MCO, and all points inbetween
Programs: Way too many!
Posts: 1,188
Not transportation necessarily, but lodging. Decided not to spend on a hostel and slept on Champs Elysses behind a staircase before catching a bus to Buveaux (sp?) airport to fly out to Barcelona on RyanAir the next morning. I was with two friends, so we took turns. Epitome of cheap!
The Champs? Behind a staircase? How "Sophisticated" of you!
Aug 5, 2011, 3:39 am
#93
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere near a Airstrip
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 647
From San Jose, CA to San Francisco - to get the Passport renewed
Took all possible modes - Light Rail (VTA) + Local Bus (VTA) - BART + MUNI BUS to reach the destination. Was First in Queue and out in 15 Mins - Repeat the same in reverse direction.
Could have taken the car - but parking was not possible near the Embassy & the Morning traffic in northbound US101 is horrible. Moreover I had Free pass for Lightrail & Bus in San Jose, Paid for BART with the Commuter Pass from Work, got 50 Cent transfer credit from BART for MUNI BUS.
Overall it was 2 USD I think (Paid for Muni in SF after the transfer credit) and I was back home at 11 AM after all the travel. The Timings of VTA/BUS/BART/MUNI were perfect and all my stars were aligned that day.
Also having the iPhone helped to boost my confidence a lot.
Took all possible modes - Light Rail (VTA) + Local Bus (VTA) - BART + MUNI BUS to reach the destination. Was First in Queue and out in 15 Mins - Repeat the same in reverse direction.
Could have taken the car - but parking was not possible near the Embassy & the Morning traffic in northbound US101 is horrible. Moreover I had Free pass for Lightrail & Bus in San Jose, Paid for BART with the Commuter Pass from Work, got 50 Cent transfer credit from BART for MUNI BUS.
Overall it was 2 USD I think (Paid for Muni in SF after the transfer credit) and I was back home at 11 AM after all the travel. The Timings of VTA/BUS/BART/MUNI were perfect and all my stars were aligned that day.
Also having the iPhone helped to boost my confidence a lot.
Aug 26, 2011, 1:22 pm
#95
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,796
It was actually my Russian friend's choice, but it was taking the city bus from SVO into Moscow. Very cheap (like US$1.50) at the time, but takes forever in traffic and is insanely packed. I haven't been there since the new train opened, but previously I've taken the mini-buses which are much less hassle.
Sep 13, 2011, 8:03 pm
#96
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,581
It was many more years ago than I care to admit, but I hitched around Africa. Morocco -> Algiers -> Nigeria -> Kenya. I think the road across the Sahara into Niger (Agades) may be paved now, but it was pretty wild back then. There were a couple of short stints where I paid to ride on the local "bus." Waited three days for a ride in a tiny village in what was then Zaire once, not because no one stopped, got a ride on the first truck through.
Hitched all over Turkey. Wonderfully hospitable country when you learn a few words of Turkish. Hitched a bunch in Iran, that was pretty strange. Hitched around India a bit, all rides on trucks, slept out in the fields some nights, but largely took the train (old 3rd class) as it was pretty cheap.
I think the scariest segment was bicycle around Bombay (Mumbai). Yikes!
Hitched all over Turkey. Wonderfully hospitable country when you learn a few words of Turkish. Hitched a bunch in Iran, that was pretty strange. Hitched around India a bit, all rides on trucks, slept out in the fields some nights, but largely took the train (old 3rd class) as it was pretty cheap.
I think the scariest segment was bicycle around Bombay (Mumbai). Yikes!
Last edited by MojaveFlyer; Sep 13, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Sep 24, 2011, 11:27 pm
#97
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL Silver, AA, UA, B6, WN
Posts: 430
I don't think I've ever ridden the London tube on a weekday before 9:30am, baby_tux.
Another one I've done a couple of times in the past couple of years is taking the bus from NYC - Toronto and NYC - Montreal/Ottawa. Most of the time overnight so as to save a hotel night. It can be a loooong ride, but I can't really justify paying $200-300+ more to fly such short routes, and with all the to/from airport travel, etc. I don't find it really cost/time effective either to fly just short of the border and then hop a bus.
Another one I've done a couple of times in the past couple of years is taking the bus from NYC - Toronto and NYC - Montreal/Ottawa. Most of the time overnight so as to save a hotel night. It can be a loooong ride, but I can't really justify paying $200-300+ more to fly such short routes, and with all the to/from airport travel, etc. I don't find it really cost/time effective either to fly just short of the border and then hop a bus.
Sep 27, 2011, 11:15 pm
#98
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BNE / LHR
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,601
Had a Japan Rail pass that was expiring at midnight, however had a 11am train.
Caught the 11:30pm train to Narita and decided to bunker down for the night.
Got rounded up with about 12 others and we slept in this little waiting room near the checkin counters under supervision of police.
They took all ID's and informed that we were not allowed to be homeless in Japan (ID check happened about 4 times before they let us sleep), then got woken up by some people from the US army base who assumed I was one of the ones they lost and needed to take to the base (some others got delayed and missed the earlier pickup).
Caught the 11:30pm train to Narita and decided to bunker down for the night.
Got rounded up with about 12 others and we slept in this little waiting room near the checkin counters under supervision of police.
They took all ID's and informed that we were not allowed to be homeless in Japan (ID check happened about 4 times before they let us sleep), then got woken up by some people from the US army base who assumed I was one of the ones they lost and needed to take to the base (some others got delayed and missed the earlier pickup).
Sep 28, 2011, 5:09 pm
#99
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 243
This past summer after sleeping in the shadiest LA motel I have ever been in (damp floors, no bed frame, just old, stained mattresses piled under the one with sheets, rusty sex mirrors, and porn on the TV when turned on) my boyfriend and I decided that the 5 mile walk to our Zipcar would be worth not taking a taxi.
The day before we had spent all day at Disneyland and we were both very sunburnt, in addition because the bathroom in the motel was so gross we didn't even shower. So here we are, dragging our bags along sidewalks in a city where no one walks. We make it 2.5 miles and stop into a 99 cent store to buy sunscreen so I would stop burning.
After that we headed to a McDonalds to get a smoothie and as we walked in a woman passing us said "Looks like someone is running away from home". Finally, we gave up and took a taxi for the rest of the way.
The day before we had spent all day at Disneyland and we were both very sunburnt, in addition because the bathroom in the motel was so gross we didn't even shower. So here we are, dragging our bags along sidewalks in a city where no one walks. We make it 2.5 miles and stop into a 99 cent store to buy sunscreen so I would stop burning.
After that we headed to a McDonalds to get a smoothie and as we walked in a woman passing us said "Looks like someone is running away from home". Finally, we gave up and took a taxi for the rest of the way.
Sep 28, 2011, 5:22 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,689
I don't think I've ever ridden the London tube on a weekday before 9:30am, baby_tux.
Another one I've done a couple of times in the past couple of years is taking the bus from NYC - Toronto and NYC - Montreal/Ottawa. Most of the time overnight so as to save a hotel night. It can be a loooong ride, but I can't really justify paying $200-300+ more to fly such short routes, and with all the to/from airport travel, etc. I don't find it really cost/time effective either to fly just short of the border and then hop a bus.
Another one I've done a couple of times in the past couple of years is taking the bus from NYC - Toronto and NYC - Montreal/Ottawa. Most of the time overnight so as to save a hotel night. It can be a loooong ride, but I can't really justify paying $200-300+ more to fly such short routes, and with all the to/from airport travel, etc. I don't find it really cost/time effective either to fly just short of the border and then hop a bus.
Sep 28, 2011, 5:47 pm
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
In Chicago a few weeks ago: walked with all luggage from the Chicago Hilton near Grant Park north, across the river and the length of the Mag Mile, transferring to new hotel, in the blazing sun, because I was with a friend who didn't want to waste $2.25 on the CTA. Too old for this.
Sep 28, 2011, 10:00 pm
#102
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Just today visiting San Francisco because CO had a $134 r/t a/i fare.
Arrived at midnight yesterday so stayed at HI on points I accumulated while traveling in me previous job.
Took DART do town, walked around and took DART to Union City on the other side of the bay because their rate is only 5K per night
Back to town tomorrow for more sighseeing and picture taking then redeye to IAH and first flight to DAL, then directly to work
Oh, and got the u/g from IAH to SFO
EmailKid
Arrived at midnight yesterday so stayed at HI on points I accumulated while traveling in me previous job.
Took DART do town, walked around and took DART to Union City on the other side of the bay because their rate is only 5K per night
Back to town tomorrow for more sighseeing and picture taking then redeye to IAH and first flight to DAL, then directly to work
Oh, and got the u/g from IAH to SFO
EmailKid
Oct 7, 2011, 2:42 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 251
Not quite sure if this "counts", but...
After Spirit Airlines initiated carryon fee last year, bought a Scottevest to store clothes in so as to not overstuff the free "personal item" that they let people bring with them. Since I did not want to bring back dirty socks and underwear home with me, I "saved" my worst holeiest gear for this trip, just so I could throw out after wearing.
Everything was fine on the flight out, just that the walk through the Vegas airport upon landing was dicey. As I was switching my bag from one shoulder to the other, my worst-looking, elastic-failing, swiss cheese hole design pair of underwear fell out of my inside pocket. As I was one of the first to deplane, every one of my fellow passengers got to see my shameful innerwear exposed.
All so I could save on checked/carryon bag fees! Now I just wear less pairs and turn them inside out for additional usage.
Just kidding, no I don't!
Also..back in the good old days before passenger usage fees, I have fond memories of my $17 dollar roundtrip from DTW to ACY. Will never happen again, though.
After Spirit Airlines initiated carryon fee last year, bought a Scottevest to store clothes in so as to not overstuff the free "personal item" that they let people bring with them. Since I did not want to bring back dirty socks and underwear home with me, I "saved" my worst holeiest gear for this trip, just so I could throw out after wearing.
Everything was fine on the flight out, just that the walk through the Vegas airport upon landing was dicey. As I was switching my bag from one shoulder to the other, my worst-looking, elastic-failing, swiss cheese hole design pair of underwear fell out of my inside pocket. As I was one of the first to deplane, every one of my fellow passengers got to see my shameful innerwear exposed.
All so I could save on checked/carryon bag fees! Now I just wear less pairs and turn them inside out for additional usage.
Just kidding, no I don't!
Also..back in the good old days before passenger usage fees, I have fond memories of my $17 dollar roundtrip from DTW to ACY. Will never happen again, though.
Oct 7, 2011, 8:43 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: UA
Posts: 132
Took the last tram and metro to IST and tried to sleep in the airport for my 5.30 am flight (total: $2.50). No shuttles available if I wanted to arrive before 3.30, and a night taxi would be quite expensive. I was not the only one that had that idea, had difficulties finding a place for sleeping .
.Cheapest thing I've done to save on transportation was cutting down on S/U-Bahn tickets for a day. I had a 15-day stay in Berlin, but the only passes I was willing to buy were 2 7-day passes.
In the end, I spent an entire day walking Berlin from dusk 'til dawn--literally. I started from Frakfurter-Allee in Friedrichshain, walked down to the river and past the Wall, skipped through Kreuzberg to grab some Turkish food, trampled past Mitte, stopped by the Tor, and finally down Karl-Marx Allee towards Frakfurter-Allee. Total damage was 10+ hours of wondering, soar legs, and some nice wear on my Keds. Definitely worth it though.