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Kev

Kev has traveled over 100,000 miles on over 600 trains all around the United States aboard Amtrak. When he is not on the move, Kev enjoys making music as an organist.

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Kev’s Trip Planning: September 2019

by Kev
written by Kev

September 2019 Trip

Soon I will be back on the rails for my first train trip in months. I have been taking some train trips, but they were to Milwaukee or Chicago. If you have been following me on the socials, you can probably guess my destination. Yup, I am going back to Nebraska.

Why Nebraska, again?

My sister et al. moved to Nebraska a few months ago, and I have to admit, I like the area more than I anticipated. They are coming back to Wisconsin for a visit, and I am helping to drive back. But that is not without chilling out there for a while. If you follow on Instagram, you probably know I am going to the zoo again, and if Little Mack want, we can ride on the carousel again; maybe this time we will ride the tiger if she is brave enough, If she isn’t ready we can ride on the bench, and that is cool.

Little Mack and Abby

My two nieces, Abby the Newfie and Little Mack aka Mackenzie)

Why I can’t wait

I am looking forward to this trip for a few reasons. The first reason is, I haven’t made a solo trip in a while, and I miss that.  The past few journeys to my sister’s included transporting one or both of my parents. Don’t get me wrong; I love helping family and my folks, but I miss solo trips. The second reason is, I am not driving out there, and I can enjoy the journey. Well, I am driving back with my sister and family (Abby too), but I still a long-awaited solo train trip out there.

Taking the train is a nice change to driving. The drive is not bad, although the stretch of Illinois seems to take forever. Very few waysides and many of the gas stations are not that close to the road.

The best part about the drive out to Nembraks is the Iowa section of I-80 for it has many convent waysides and several easy on and off places to fill up with gas and a snack.

The Hiawatha arriving in Sturtevant, WI

The Hiawatha arriving in Sturtevant, WI

Getting to Nebraska

Because driving was not practical for this trip, I needed to find a way to get out there. I looked at both air and land choices. I chose rail, as I hinted to before. Cost, comfort, and convenience lead me to Amtrak, plus it is one of my favorite way to travel.

Amtrak cost and breakdown

Here are my trip breakdowns

The Hiawatha: getting to Chicago

This Hiawatha transports me to get to Chicago, and from there, I transfer to my next train. My other options are two Metra trains, either Fox Lake, IL or Antioch, IL. I didn’t want to leave my car at a station because I am not taking the train back. I did look at riding the train to Milwaukee and then a bus down, I have done that before. The best part of that is the ability to stop at Stone Creek for coffee before leaving, but either the times didn’t work out, or there weren’t any cost savings.

The Mighty Hiawatha takes me from Sturtevant (WI) Depo to Chicago Union Station, from there the California Zephyr will whisk me off to Omaha, NE.

CUS Enterance

Outside entrance to Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall

Layover at Chicago Union Station

Often when I take trips like this, I use the Metropolitian Lounge of off the Great Hall, but this time I will not have access to that room. The lounge is for sleeper car and business class passengers, or those who are Amtrak  Guest Rewards Select Plus members. Sadly I do not qualify for any of those.

The layover comes at an excellent time for lunch and maybe a brew, I could save time and do both at the same place. I am excited new food places are coming to Union Station, but I’ll have to wait for another trip to go to those since they are not open yet.

California Zephyr take me away

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Califonia Zephyr because it was the first long-distance train I ever made.

The Zephyr will take me 500 miles from Chicago to Omaha. With the train leaving at 2:00 pm I will get a chance to see most of the scenery as we roll through.

As a coach-class passenger, I have access to the Sightseer Lounge Car, and my food options include the dining car and the cafe car. If you have not been on a Superliner train before, the Sightseer Loung is the upper level of the cafe car and has large windows on the sides and also window that curve in the ceiling. This windowed car is a great place to get out your seat and see the country go by, and maybe enjoy a treat from the lower level cafe.

Milwaukee Intermodal Station

Milwaukee Intermodal Station

My other non-road trip choices?

By air or sea

Traveling by water was not a choice for this trip, and that is okay.

Flying is possible, but not practical. Many of the “affordable” flights cost three times that of Amtrak and took longer.

Bus

Most of the bus options I looked at were out of Chicago, although there are a few out of Milwaukee. The Milwaukee option didn’t work in my schedule get ule.

Outside of the cost of taking a bus from Chicago, there is the cost of getting to Chicago. If I take Metra to Chicago, that adds $9.50 and $22- $25 (with a discount) for Amtrak. The Metra line and Amtrak both take me to Union Station, and the bus stations or loading areas are not far from there.

Megabus

Watching traffic while taking Megabus to Chicago

Megabus

Megabus runs a daily bus to Omaha operated under Windstar Bus Company. The bus leaves a few blocks south of Chicago Union Station. The “bus station” if I remember right, is a sign on a poll (I took Megabus from Milwaukee to Chicago once). If I were to book early, it would be $39.99 to $49.99  plus the cost of going to Chicago. Don’t forget with Megabus there is a $2.50 service fee for every transaction.

Greyhound

Me on a bus

Taking the bus on a trip

Greyhound gives some flexibility for travel. I have the option of taking Amtrak up to Milwaukee Intermodal Station from Sturtevant and then leave from there and take buses for the rest of the trip.

The other option is to take a train to Chicago and go from there.

The Greyhound stations or pick up spots (that I know of ) in Chicago:

When I was shopping for deals, I found that something unusual. If I booked a trip from the central bus station in Chicago to Omaha, it was around $116. By starting my bus journey at the 95th and Dan Ryan stop, it was $62. Okay, let me break this down by, taking L ride (a $2.50 added cost), and adding a bus from the 95th and Dan Ryan stop to the central bus station, I can save almost half on tickets. I am not for sure why, but I am cheap enough that I would do that.

Burlington Trailways runs the bus from Chicago to Omaha for Greyhound. I could book the trip through Burlington Trailways, but with the 95th stop “discount” I probably would book through Greyhound.

Wrap up

This year has not been a significant travel year for me, at least not for train travel. Looking back, so far, I have traveled more than I thought.

Introspective part

A year ago, I was in Charleston, S.C., and Brunswick, GA, with my family. I took my dad out to visit my mom because she was out by my sister, helping her after the birth of Mackenzie. On that trip, we had to evacuate to GA due to a Hurricane Flow.

A year later, I discovered that being an uncle is not just a title that a sibling gives you when birth a kid, but it is truly a gift and a bond. Being an uncle is like traveling, there is no one right way to be an uncle or how to go, but there are a few wrong ways. Plus the memories from traveling and those of being an uncle are cherished forever.

Safe Travels!

Kev

If you are interested in following along with my journeys, check out how you can find me here! If you are interested in how you can travel with Amtrak as well, get started on that path here.

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Train TravelTravelTravel Hints and Tips

Top 21 Questions About Rooms On Amtrak Trains

by Kev
written by Kev

Top 21 Questions About Rooms On Amtrak Trains

Thinking of booking rooms or accommodations for an Amtrak Adventure but not for sure if they are right for you? I hope this article will help you out. This article covers the top question I get asked about rooms on Amtrak.

After traveling around the United States via Amtrak and I found a room on the train is my happy place. I enjoy the privacy, being able to sleep horizontally, and showering in the morning.

Viewliner

Amtrak Viewliner Sleeper Care on the Silver Meteor

Terms you should know

  • Accommodation: For this article, accommodations are any room in a sleeper car
  • Assessable Room: This room is for those with limited mobility and a helper
  • Bedroom: A bigger room with a sofa, chair, sink, and bathroom/shower combo
  • Car Attendant: Amtrak employee whose job is to assist you while you travel in a sleeper car. Car Attendant replaces the term porter.
  • Family Room: These rooms, only on Superliner Trains, are designed for two adults and two small humans.
  • Roomette: A small room that is comfortable for one and cozy for two. These rooms have two chairs that fold into a bed and an upper pulldown bed
  • Sleeper Car: A car containing roomettes, bedroom,  accessible and family room
  • Superliner: Two-level trains that are on all long-distance routes that do not go to New York Penn Station.
  • Viewliner:  Single-level long-distance trains set, only found on east coast routs.
Amtrak Superliner Train

Amtrak Superliner Train

1) What’re the advantages of booking accommodations on Amtrak?

  • Privacy: Rooms have a sliding door with a window, but if you want to block out the world, close the drapes.
  • Sleep Horizontally: At night, the lower seat becomes a bed, and a pull-down upper bunk is available if there are two in your party.
  • Shower: There is a shower for everyone to use, but bedrooms have a one in the room.
  • Use of lounges: with a sleeper ticket, you can use these spaces if the station you are leaving from has one.

2) How do you book a room on Amtrak?

  • Over the phone by calling Amtrak 1-800-USA- Rail
    • Agents can help modify existing trips
    • Answer questions and can also work to find rooms together
  • Staffed station
    • Station attendants can also work to find accommodations together
    • If you are new to train travel, a trip to the station is an excellent opportunity to get to know the station, parking, and what is around before your first trip
  • Amtrak App or Website
    • An easy way to book your adventure anywhere and at any time.

After booking your trip, Amtrak emails your tickets, that can be scanned from your phone or printed at some stations or from home.

3) Are the displayed room prices per person or for the pair (if booking for two)?

The price you see on the screen is the total price. Ticket prices include your rail fare (what you pay to ride the train) and fee to reserve the room. If two people are on your ticket, both pay rail fairs, but there is only one room fee.

4) How do discounts work when booking on Amtrak?

If one or both people qualify for a discount, it only applies to the rail fare and not off the room price.

For example:

Let’s say rooms are $200 and rail fare is $100:

A single person would be $300, and two people are $400. If a solo traveler qualified for an Amtrak discount, the price is now $290, because the reductions come off the rail fare and not off of the room price.

For information on saving money on Amtrak check out this page.

5) When do I know what room I have?

As soon as your payment is processed, Amtrak emails you a ticket like below, but if you buy them at a station, it will look different but have the same information. The information includes your sleeper car number, accommodation number, and equipment type.

Most trains have more than one sleeper, so each sleeper has a four-digit number. The first two digits represent the route number, and the second two are the consist or location number.

For example, sleeper 3000 is on the eastbound Capitol Limited bound for Washington, D.C. The car number you need should be close to where you enter your sleeper.

Here is an example from one of my last trips to Charleston, S.C. (part of the ticket I redated for my privacy)

Amtrak TIcket

This ticket shows what type of equipment I will be on, the car number and my room number.

6) What comes with your Amtrak room?

  • Meals (But for the Palmetto and Silver Star Routes)
  • Coffee service
    • Coffee and juice in the morning
  • Shower
  • Turndown service
  • A place to hang-up clothing (either a small closet or wall hook)
  • Comfortable chairs with a fold-out table, some rooms have a sofa
  • Large windows to watch the country go by
  • Use of lounge cars and dining car or sleeper-lounge
    • Sleeper lounges are only on eastern trains
  • Lighting options such as night light and reading lamps on the wall
  • An outlet

7) Would I share a room with strangers?

No, you share a room with the person who’s on your ticket.

8) How big are accommodations on the train?

The rooms are small and cozy, like a camper.

A roomette around 3’6″ by 6′ 6″ (the Viewliner roomette is a little bigger). I am around 6’2″ 190 pounds and fit comfortably in the room. Bedrooms are around 6’6″ by 7’6,” but part of that space is taken up by the bath and shower room.

Superliner Bed

Superliner Bed made up for the night.

9) Beds: Are they comfortable, and how are they made?

For me the beds comfortable, but your mileage can vary,

Train have bunk beds, the lower bed is a mattress on lays top of flattened seats, and the upper bunk pulls down. If two people are sharing a room, someone will need to climb to the top bed. Roomettes have steps to get up there, while bedrooms have ladders.

10) Is it hard to sleep on the train?

I tend to sleep well on the train, but sometimes I need a little help, such as melatonin or sleep aid. The motion of the train relaxing me as I sleep, but sometimes I wake up if the train stops because I miss the movement.

I wish Amtrak had bigger pillows because I am a side sleeper. To help with this problem, I pack a blowup pillow plus a small blanket in case I get chilled at night.

Superliner door

The door between Superliner Sleepers

11) How do I get around the train once aboard?

Trains are linear, meaning to go from one section to another your journey includes walking through other cars.  On some trains, it can be a hike from the sleeper to the dining car.

To go between cars, push either the upper or lower (foot) buttons to open the door to a small vestibule. The doors will slide open for you and close behind you.

If you are on a Superliner, the upper level contains the walkways to go to the next car. On Viewliners the vestibule allows you to go between cars or get off the train as instructed by Amtrak employees.

Texas Eagle

My Sleeping car on the Texas Eagle. We are out enjoying a fresh air break.

12) Can I hop on and off of the train during my trip?

There are select stops where you can get off and get fresh air. Most stops are quick for boarding and un-boarding. If the train arrives early, Amtrak often allows passengers to stretch. Smoke stops are usually crew changes and refueling stops.

If you do get off the train, don’t wander too far from the train. When the train is ready to leave, the conductors alert the crew and passengers. The engineer blows the horn (two quick toots), and it’s time to board. If you do not make it on the train, the train WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!

13) What are my food options on the train?

Trains traveling west of the Mississippi the choice are the Dining Car (the meals come with your sleeper car ticket), the cafe car, and whatever you bring aboard. For the other trains, you get a pre-packaged meal in the sleeper lounge, plus the cafe car as well.

Amtrak California Zephyr

A view of Amtrak’s California Zephyr from my roomette

14) Can I have a drink on the train?

You sure can, I often do! If you are on an eastern long-distance train, Amtrak gives you your first one free (staring October 1st, 2019)!

Amtrak sells drinks in the cafe and dining cars, or you can bring your own. IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN, YOU CAN ONLY CONSUME IT IN YOUR ROOM. If you get out of hand, the next stop is your stop even if it is not your destination, and could include local and federal fines.

15) How many bathrooms are in a sleeper car?

All bedrooms have a private restroom.

Superliner trains have one restroom up stares for and two to three more on the lower level.

Viewliners do not have public restrooms in the cars, but every accommodation has a toilet. The toilet in the roomettes is in the room. If two people are in the roomette, one will have to leave while the other “goes.”

16) Are there showers for sleeper passengers?

Amtrak Shower

A Viewliner Shower for sleeper car passengers

Yes, there are showers in Amtrak Sleeper! It’s fun taking a shower at 79 mph. Bedrooms have a small room that houses the toilet and shower area. Roomettes and other accommodations share one shower room that includes a dressing area.

17) What does Amtrak provide for showers?

Amtrak provides washcloths, towels, and soap for your shower, but not shampoo.

A soap like Dr. Brohhners works well for travelers, for it works well to clean you and your clothing.

18) Can I smoke on the train and or transport marijuana (if it is legal for a state you are traveling through)?

All Amtrak trains are non-smoking, including e-cigarets and vapes. If caught smoking on the train, the next stop will be your stop (even if it is not your destination) and include will have federal fines.

There are “smoke breaks,” but they are not guaranteed. If you are a smoker, it would be wise to find something to curb your habit.

As of now, you cannot transport marijuana on Amtrak trains even if it legal in the state you come or going to visit.

19) Can my pet travel with me?

No, Amtrak does not allow pets on trains that travel longer than seven hours. Click here for Amtrak’s policy on service animals. IF YOU HAVE A WORK ANIMAL, CHECK THE POLICY BEFORE BOOKING YOUR TRIP.

View from an Amtrak Viewliner roomette

View from an Amtrak Viewliner roomette

20) Do I tip the car attendant?

Tipping is not necessary but a great way to reward excellent service. I have tipped great car attendants and do not tip for unsatisfactory service. The average tip is around $10 per day, but if that is not possible, a heartfelt thank-you works well whatever you can afford.

21) Can I contact Amtrak for compliment or complaint?

Constructive criticism is helpful, and praise of an employee is even better. To contact Amtrak for these with these comments, click here.

Kev’s top tips

Getting ready for the night:

Once your room is made up for the night, there is not much room left. What you can do is either get dressed before your room is made up for the night or as your attendant is getting set up for the night you can use a bathroom or shower room to change,

What else you need to know:

At fresh air stops, take advantage of them, take a step of the train, get a breath of fresh air, stretch, for it breaks up the trip.

Do not plan on WI-fi, and even your cell phone will not have service from time to time.

Train manners

Viewliner Hallway

Looking down the hallway of a Viewliner Sleeper car.

Be respectful of others. Talking to fellow passengers is a fun way to meet new train buddy, but not everyone wants to hear your conversation, keep your voice down.

When going walking to other parts of the train, remember there are other riders. If the lounge car is busy, it’s kind of rude to claim a whole table to yourself. With that said, if you are a night owl, and there is no one around feels free to take up the entire area.

Walkways are tight quarters, and you may get bumped into, or have to let others pass by so you can get through. It is a great time to practice your manners and say hi to your fellow riders.

Gear to improve your stray in an Amtrak Accommodation

From my experience, these are the essentials I pack when I have a sleeper.

  • Tablet (iPad mini for me),
    • Subscription apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime will allow you to download select shows that you can watch without wi-fi
  • Smartphone (I use an iPhone X)
    • Map apps are cool for seeing where you are at
    • Great for listing to music and podcast
  • Other Electronic accessories
    • Headphones
      • Bluetooth or corded, make sure they are comfortable
    • Extension cord
      • One with a few outlets works best depending on your needs because there is often just one outlet in the room.
    • A backup battery
      • Just in case. I have used one to charge my phone overnight because it was easier.
    • Chargers and cords
      • Don’t pack that spare cord that mostly works either, one that always works
  • Comfort items
    • Snacks are a good idea
    • Amtrak’s Comfort Kit, available in some stations and cafe car
      • The kit comes in a bag and contains: a small blanket, eye mask, neck pillow, and earplugs
      • You could always make your own
    • Blow-up pillow
    • A water bottle
    • Wet wipes
      • They work to keep you fresh and cleaning up around you
    • Sleep aids
    • Pain relief and a small first aid kit (not train-related, we are all getting older, and we need these things)
    • Shampoo or a multi-use soap like Dr. B’s
    • PJ’s or something to sleep in (just in case)
If I missed something, let me know in the comments below or message me.

Safe Travels!

Travesl with Kev

Kev is enjoying a beverage in a Superliner Roomette

Kev

If you enjoy this article, join the mailing list,  so you know when new ones are published. That link also lets you know how to get ahold of me.

For more information about taking your own Amtrak adventure, check out this page to get started!

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Travel Hints and TipsDestinationsTravelTravel GuideTravel Thoughts

Getting Around After Arriving at Your Destination

by Kev
written by Kev

Getting Around After Arriving at Your Destination

You booked your trip, hotel rooms are reserved, and maybe you even packed a bag, but wait, how are you getting around once you arrive at your destination? If you have traveled for a while, you already figure out your transportation comfort zone. But, if you are new, here are a few ways to get around after arrival.

Knowing how to get around without a car is a useful and cost savings skill.

Background On This Article

A Facebook follower, Sue (who is an awesome person and past co-worker), ask how you can get around after arriving at your destination.

I never thought to explain this topic, because it’s second nature for me now. Sometimes I forget what is second nature for me is new and confusing for others. Thus, after reading her suggestion, I thought,  hey Sue, what a great idea.

Arriving At Your Destination

Many train stations are in the heart of the city like Chicago or Philadelphia, while other stations, such as Charleston, SC, and airports are nowhere near the city center.

Fortunately, some stations in both large and small community connect their stations and airports with public transportation with either rail or bus.

Ride with Paula

Friends and family are an excellent source for rides.

Option 1: Rides From Friends And Family

Having friends or family pick you up is an economical choice for getting around, and can be fun, well depend on your friends or family.

There is only one place where this was my best option, and that was my trip to  Charleston, SC. Because of the location of the station, Paula, my sister was the best option.

Tips To Make Everyone’s Life Better

To make life better, coordinating schedules and communicate any changes as soon as possible is always the best.

Using electronic calendars such as Google Calendar, or whatever works for you. Using e-calenders allows everyone to view the agenda at their convenience, and everyone kept updated.

Along with dates and times, vital information to give the person picking you up is flight info, train number, or bus route; that way if there are delays your “driver” can keep track of your progress even if you cannot connect with them.

For Amtrak riders, you and your driver can sign up for text alerts for your train (click here). The best app/website to keep track of planes is FlightAware.

A small gift or buying a meal can help make your stay or ride more tolerable for the other person.

lady walking

Once you arrive at your destination, the next step in your adventure is beginning.

Option 2: Walking

Walking is my first choice for a few reasons:

  • it’s cheap
  • Good for you
  • It helps to familiarize with your surround area faster.
Killer Po-Boy

An omelet po-boy from Killer

The decision to walk depends on:

  • Distance
  • Weather
  • Safety
  • And how I am feeling at the time

Storytime:

On a visit to  New Orleans, I took Amtrak’s train, The City of New Orleans from Chicago. After we arrived, I stepped out of the train station and entered my hotel into GPS, started some tunes, and started to walk to my hotel.

I was almost to The Hotel Daulphine when I noticed a restaurant I wanted to visit, Killer Po-boy. Granted I could have found Killer by using Google Maps or other means, but seeing Killer on my way to the hotel sealed the deal for me.

Before long, I had a Cheese Omelet (with bacon) Po-boy in front of me with a little Crystal Hot Sause on top and a cold brew. Instead of wasting time in my hotel trying to decide where to eat, I was able to make a quicker decision.

By you keep your eyes open, you may find a great “hole in the wall”  you might miss when you get a ride.

Side note:  Killer Po-Boy’s  Cheese Omelets is an excellent choice, their menu (just in case).

Public transportation can be an effective and economical way to get around

Option 3: Public Transportation

My second choice is public transportation. Since I started traveling, I have gathered a few transportation cards from cities around the country. It’s not a bad collection, and it saves me time and money when I arrive.

By having my cards loaded ahead of time, I am prepared to start my experience and look less like a tourist.

Public transport can be intimidating at first, but after a few uses you will be a pro in no time.

Often before traveling to a new city, you can find Youtube video or website about the public transportation system in that area and the information you need to ride.

MKE Shuttle

This shuttle runs at the Milwaukee Airport taking passengers between the airport, parking lots, and the Airport Amtrak Station.

Option 4: Hotel And Other Shuttles

Hotels often offer free or economical shuttles. Check with your hotels to see if you need to make reservations for the shuttle service. Hotel shuttles may pick up at airports and train or bus stations but check with the hotel.

Other shuttles services, like GO Rightway in the midwest,  offer rides to airports and stations. Check to see if there is a service in your area. Hotel or hostel may have suggestions as well if they do not offer a shuttle. These services can be a little more pricey, but these shuttles do specialize in transporting travelers.

Travel tip: Reserve early and confirm your reservations a day or so before your scheduled ride. If there are delays, let the service know as soon as you can. That way, no one has to wait for you when you are not going there when you originally booked.

Taxis and rideshares are a quick way to get around town

Option 5: Taxies And Rideshares

Hire a driver; this could include Uber, Lyft, taxi, rickshaw, horse & buggy, or whatever else that may be around.

I have only hired a taxi once and used rideshares a few times.

Taxies: Taxis are often waiting at stations and airports, and if you are in a hurry, these could be a great choice. Often taxis are waiting for people and are available 24/7. Taxies may not be the cheapest, but the service may be available when rideshares are not.

Rideshares: Uber and Lyft are the leading two rideshare companies. For a ride, you use an app to request a car, and someone will pick you up and take you where you want to go. For more information, check out this article to give tips on using this service.

Car keys

Sometimes renting a car is the best option for getting around.

Option 6: Renting A Car

Rental companies often located at many major airports and train stations. Some companies such as Enterprise will pick you up with your rent a car (some restrictions apply and not available in all area).

There are advantages of having a car such as going where you want, but there are downsides as well.

There are downsides of renting a car

  • Renting cars can be expensive
  • Parking can be outraged in large cities and may be more expensive day than the cost of the rental
  • Hidden taxes and fees

When to rent

  • If you have mobility issues
  • Extended day trips that other transportation options may not be available
  • Rural areas

Beware that some hotels do charge for parking.  I have heard of happening in New Orleans and San Fransico. Some hotels do not have parking so you may need to use the street or nearby parking ramp.

Parking in cities like Chicago cost upwards of $40 plus a day. Before renting a car, do a little research on what it will cost you. You might find that public transport, rideshares, or taxis are cheaper in the long run.

One way to save money on car rentals is to batch your destinations together, so instead of renting a car for the whole trip, you only rent the vehicle when you need it and as long as you need it.

Option 7: Bike Rental

biking

A great way to get around town

This one can be an excellent compromise for some, less expensive than car rentals, faster than walking, and more flexibility than public transportation.

Many of the major cities now have a bike rental system.

The way these bike rentals works (in a nutshell)

  • Sign up for a membership
  • Go to the rental location and pick up a bike
  • When you finish, return the bike to any of the rental sites

Hostels (if you are staying at one) or local bike shops also may offer bike rentals. A quick Google search will help you find a bike in no time.

Wrap up

I hope this article helps you with your travel plans. I like to walk because it is good for me to get out and saves money.

Today with little effort, you can find what services communities offer, from the public and private transport, car rentals, lodging. With tools such as Google maps, it’s easy to figure distances between where you are and where you want to go.

Travel tip: with a smaller destination, be aware that there might not be a car rental agency that could be necessary for your trip. If this is the case, consider getting off a stop before or after your destination. You can always see if a rental company will deliver to your location. Then you can rent a car and drive the rest of the way. This suggestion may not always be feasible but can be practical in some cases and worth checking out.

We only have so much travel money; let’s use it wisely!

Safe Travels!

Kev

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