If you're traveling this summer – you have my sympathies! Ticket prices are way up, thanks to record high fuel costs. And what do you get for your money? A nasty attitude from the flight staff. You're paying more than ever, but customer satisfaction is at near record lows (http://tinyurl.com/65uo2l)!
But when you gotta go, you gotta go. No doubt, after paying for your plane fare, you'll be financially wiped out. Don't rent a car – instead, use these ideas to cut down on the cost of getting around while you're “over there,” saving what's left of your travel budget for more important things – like food!
Online Subway Maps: There's no transit like mass transit, and subways are the mass-iest of transit there is. Subway travel in most cities is a real experience, allowing you to rub elbows with the common – and, in New York City, some very uncommon – people. It helps to have a map in advance, though, because they can often be hard to get once you get to your destination. At http://www.amadeus.net/home/new/subwaymaps/en/, you can find subway maps (lines and stations) for every city in the world that has one (Haifa's is there). It's not an interactive map, but you can print it out (so you have something to wave in the face of locals when asking directions). And if you do find yourself commuting in the New York City subway system, you might want to check out http://gawker.com/maps/smell/, the subway “smell map” that tells you at which station it's a good idea to hold your breath!
In the U.S., you can travel across the country for a decent price on Amtrak trains, and at http://www.alicebot.org/rr/, you'll find the Amtrak Google Maps Mashup. You zoom in on the geographic area you're traveling too, find the station you're interested in, and the map displays a road and/or satellite map of the area, so you can see what to expect when you get off the train. And if you find yourself having to take a taxi (happens once in awhile), check out http://www.worldtaximeter.com/, which tells you what you can expect to pay for a ride. As a “green” tourist, you may not be able to avoid getting ripped off – but at least you'll know when it's happening!
Friday, June 6, 2008
