Planes, Trains, Automobiles

There are 3 degrees of traveling.

When booking your trip, you should think to yourself: Do I want to be bougie the entire trip and not have to worry about a thing (aka pre-planned tours with guides), do I want to be somewhat adventurous (aka mass transportation), or do I want to be Bear Grylls (aka down and dirty) and just do the damn thing [yourself].

As mentioned in previous posts, I have done it all ways...each way yielding a different, but enjoyable experience.

Now while I was never in a tour group for the entire length of a vacation, utilizing the expertise of a local guide for clarity on a historical site for the day, is well worth it. Mass transportation makes you seem less touristy, somehow, and self-driving is an experience.

Let's take a closer look at all of these traveling options to see what best suits you for your next excursion!

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BOUGIE

This is for two different groups of people, in my opinion: the rich and Nervous Nellies. Of course there might be people who don't fit either of these categories and still book a tour group - such as those college-aged tour group opportunities, which is cool.

Anyway, I say rich because if you look at some of these tours, you can tell that they are priced to keep out the riff-raff, like me. They want people who desire visiting all the things on the itinerary without stopping the bus to puke because you partied too hard the night before (definitely NOT me). The prices are steeper on many of these tours because it is catered to people who want to be catered to... like my parents. And I mean, they deserve it. They don't want to have to worry about catching the bus. They want to relax, take in the sights, sip the sangria, etc.

I, on the other hand, *don't mind* running to catch the bus as it revs up to pull away... and therefore these pre-planned tours do not speak to me. Where's the intrigue? The heart palpitations? Also, I don't want to let anyone else down by being 5 seconds late... and that is what would inevitably happen.

Nervous Nellies of all ages tend to book full-length tours because looking at a map of Italy is overwhelming. Not having to worry about how to get from Point A to Point B sounds luxurious. Not having to choose Point A and Point B is desirable, as well. And there are cheaper tours out there (like the college-aged ones) for those who do not want to plan and don't want to break the bank.

I am definitely not knocking tours - but it is the least flexible option for your future vacation, and you have to be okay with whatever is on the itinerary.

Unless, of course, you are Beyonce, which means you can do whatever you want.

SOMEWHAT ADVENTUROUS

This next option involves researching mass transportation / day trip tours on your own. This option also involves being a pretty responsible human being ... in order to make the bus / day trips on time.

However, with this option there is a little more flexibility. It allows for you to do things on your own and stay where you want to stay, even if it's some obscure town in the middle of nowhere. The problem is how you plan on getting to that obscure town out in bumble...

Most of my trips have been "somewhat adventurous". It is ideal in places that you are not very familiar with because it takes the pressure off of you transition from one spot to another. All of that pressure is instead put into the planning portion. You must be meticulous about time and what is being offered by the transit stations. It also may be less money than renting a car, but then again, if you need to take a cab 30 minutes out of the city to your AirBnB... are you really winning?

Using mass transportation kinda limits you to the major cities in the country of choice. When you are traveling to places like rural Ireland, that makes things a lot tougher, which is why my friends and I opted for Bear Grylls...Not to mention many countries are not married to their bus schedules and sometimes show up... whenever.

* A strange combination that is worth noting: Norway in a Nutshell is tourism offered in the form of a tour guide-less tour. It allows you to choose where you want to go and books all the mass transportation for you. You show up - grab a bundle packet of all your tickets- and set forth! It was fun, felt independent, and covered all that we wanted to do. We even got to visit a friend as part of our "tour". Check in the country of your choice for opportunities like Norway in a Nutshell... or just go to Norway! It is definitely a breathtaking country and a meaningful destination.

BEAR grylls

At least when using a tour guide or mass transportation you do not have to worry about booking a car, which to me, is the most nerve-wracking thing. 'Cause sometimes, when you get to the car rental place and they slide the total cost receipt over the counter like a mob boss, and you look down at the price.... You kinda loose it and think... "I didn't sign up for this... I think I'll walk!"*

literal reaction to car rental prices with all the extra shenanigans added on

I am currently in the process of renting a car for Ireland. While I have done this before (aka when I learned that I have car rental anxiety), I never had to book for 5 people...who like to pack clothes...for 13 days.

My car rental suggestions:

1. Look up the kiosks in the airport that you are flying into and out of. If you are not coming and going from the same spot, there is a little more logistical work that you need to do, just in case they do not have the same rental companies (but that is rare).

2. Filter those car options. If you're like me, I do not want the four sides of the car to be reachable from the front seat. Nope, no FIAT for me. I also need it to be Automatic because I am a basic b from the USA who is not cultured enough to learn manual. Sorry, not sorry. There is enough to worry about on the roads, in my opinion.

I also want to fit comfortably so should I want to, I can do this (responsibly):

3. Be sure to get the insurance JUST. IN. CASE. Ever seen Locked Up Abroad? No thanks. I want to be covered so I don't have to ditch my car in a ditch and run.

4. Be sure to add on that GPS. Maps are so 1973. DO change the GPS voice to the accent of wherever you are traveling, and WHAM! - you have a free tour guide! Do NOT change it to the language of wherever you're traveling because that's just a literal accident waiting to happen.

5. When you get there (the rental kiosk), be sure to review what is covered and what is not. It may seem like a lot of money to fork over, but it is only for your benefit in the case of an emergency. Decide if you want one driver or more - which usually requires handing over additional coverage mooola. But that's okay! Ask away and cover all your bases!

6. Bring an AUX cord to play your jams... or don't, if you want to be authentic and have your finger on the pulse of the country you're in.

**Please see Garth Brooks blog post to get a true feel for what you could be missing.

7. Have a plan. Know where you are going to stop overnight. Be aware of your fuel gauge. And how to pump gas ( this is more so a warning for fellow Jersey girls).

If you're like me... this is how I felt walking up to the pump in a foreign country to pump gas... which I've rarely ever done in my own country....

Yup, here it is. Here's the gas pump. I can do it.

8. Have fun and when you get there. Be alert. Do not get distracted by your passengers. And realize that by choosing the Bear Grylls option, though it was stressful at first, gives you the best gift of all, at the end: Complete and total control of your trip!

See a sign for an alien spotting 10 miles in the opposite direction of where you're going? Guess what? YOU CAN GO! There is no tour group of 25 that you're holding up!

Need to pee every 45 minutes? LET IT FLOW! You won't annoy the couple from Kansas who came here to follow the itinerary to the T and nothing more.

Know where Bono lives and hope to see him gardening or doing whatever he does in his spare time? GO DRIVE AND SEE! No one will judge you for being creepy, if you are traveling with those you love!

And no matter which of the three choices you make - realize that you are doing something amazing and something to remember. So once you're there and seated in a bus, train, car, or unicycle... leave all the stresses behind and just... go on an adventure!

SKÅL xx

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*(actual thoughts I had last time I rented a car)