Going on Holiday: Flight, Train, Car, or Bus?

You have already booked your accommodations, and your holiday anticipation is going through the roof. Before long, you will be enjoying your well-deserved vacation. But one question remains open: How should you get to your travel destination?

Many roads lead to that long-awaited holiday: Flights, train rides, driving, or taking a bus. Each form of transportation has advantages and disadvantages. The costs also differ.

This moneyland.ch guide helps you decide which form of transportation is the best for your travel needs.

Everyone pays a different price

One could be forgiven for assuming that all travelers pay the same price for the same trip. But that is not how it works in real life. For example, an airline ticket for a specific flight could cost less than 100 francs or more than 500 francs.

How much you pay depends on a number of different factors, including when you book, the travel dates, the time of day at which you will travel, the route you take, and how much flexibility you need.

When does it make sense to fly?

For many destinations, flying is the quickest way of getting there. That is especially true if you can get a direct flight. You can get direct flights to more than 200 destinations from Zurich, 140 destinations from Geneva, and 100 destinations from Basel.

But flying also has its downsides. Traveling to and from airports can take a lot of time, as can getting through security and getting on the plane. Flying is also less environmentally friendly than other forms of transportation.

The cost of flying varies greatly depending on your destination and other factors. A one-way flight within Europe can cost less than 100 francs or more than 1000 francs. You can find useful tips in the guide to saving on airline bookings.

When does it make sense to take the train?

Train travel is best suited for trips to cities that can be reached within several hours. High-speed trains, when available, can substantially reduce the travel time. An advantage of trains is that they usually take you directly into the city center. That is a major plus for city-based holidays, as you avoid having to get to and from an airport, for example.

Whether or not train travel could pay off depends on your travel route. There are big differences between routes with regard to rail connections. Some routes are only serviced by slow trains, and some locations cannot be reached by railway at all. Some trains still use older wagons. You may also have long waiting period between trains.

Many railways charge less for tickets when you book early, but the tickets may only be valid for a specific train and time. Tickets like this can cost less than 100 francs. But depending on the route and demand, train tickets can also cost many hundreds of francs.

When does it make sense to drive?

Driving in your own car is the most flexible of all the long-distance travel options. You can go almost anywhere, and can change your travel plans spontaneously. You can also easily carry all needed luggage and equipment, and you avoid the cost of renting a car or using public transportation at your destination.

The disadvantages are the long travel time, compared to flying, and possible delays due to traffic jams. Very long drives can be tiring. Depending on the route, you may have to pay tolls.

Many drivers only account for the cost of fuel, and underestimate the actual costs. A rough estimate modelled by TCS puts the cost of driving at around 0.60 and 1.50 francs per kilometer, depending on the car. But the more people you drive with, the lower the per-person cost is.

You can find useful information in the guide to driving your car to foreign countries.

When does it make sense to take a bus?

You can travel to many European cities from Switzerland on long-distance bus lines, including many direct routes.

The long travel times are a possible disadvantage. Compared to taking the train or flying, bus lines often take much longer to get to their destination. If you have to change buses, that can also add to your travel time. Compared to trains and personal cars, the comfort levels are often rudimentary.

The big advantage is the low cost. Tickets to some foreign cities are available for 20 francs or less. It is rare to find a ticket that costs more than 100 francs. Even tickets purchased on very short notice are generally still reasonably priced.