June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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The United States isn’t known for great public transportation (except in a few large cities), and so many American travelers get nervous about using it overseas.
We’re here to reassure you. In much of the world, public transportation isn’t just affordable, convenient, and safe. It’s a total delight to use it. You’ll appreciate the crisp efficiency of the train systems in Berlin, Prague and Tokyo. You’ll adore the bright yellow harbor bus boats in Copenhagen and the iconic red double-decker buses in London. And you’ll never forget riding in a crowded, vividly decorated jeepney in Manila.
If you’re unsure about navigating public transportation on your next trip, take a deep breath and use these tips.
The best remedy for anxiety is knowing what to expect. So don’t wing it! Before you leave, try to find the answers to these questions:
Is public transportation generally a good way to get around your destination? A quick online search should tell you if your destination has public transport that’s safe, reliable, and accessible. One really good and trustworthy resource: the U.S. Department of State’s country information pages for international travelers. Find your country and scroll down to the Travel and Transportation section for a quick summary.
What’s the best mode of public transport to use? Bus, train, tram, subway, ferry? In Bangkok, the elevated Skytrain and the subway, called the MRT, are both reliable, quick, and inexpensive ways to get around. Buses are also an option, but, the State Department warns, they “can be overcrowded and are often driven with little or no regard for passenger safety.”1
How do you pay for it? If the buses only take cash, do you need exact change? If you need a fare card for the train, where do you get it?
There are some incredibly useful apps that can make your journey smoother.
It’s smart to have more than one option, in case you lose Internet access or an app stops working. Take a few screenshots of the transit map for quick reference.
At first glance, the Tokyo Metro system map looks like a bowl of alphabet soup with rainbow-colored noodles. It’s completely overwhelming… until you watch a video guide that explains how to read it and why all the colors, numbers, and letters make sense. “Instead of trying to memorize ‘the Fukotoshin Line,’ just think about it as ‘the brown line,’” one expert advises.
Video guides can also help you know what to expect. What do the stations look like? Where do you buy fare cards? Who can you ask for help?
Many cities offer a pass that’s good for a certain number of days or trips, simplifying your journey. In Paris, for instance, the Paris Visite Pass gives you unlimited mobility for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. If you can save money and avoid fumbling with unfamiliar card-kiosk systems, that’s a win.
Some rules of public transportation are pretty much universal: Don’t talk on your phone. Don’t smoke. Don’t play music aloud. Let people get out before you get on. Other unspoken rules change from place to place. In Sydney, you can flip the seat orientation so you don’t have to be face-to-face with a stranger. In Austria, eating on a subway is banned (but in other countries, it’s OK). In London, it’s fine to leave your newspaper on the seat for the next person; elsewhere, this is seen as littering.
People are generally willing to help a lost tourist, as long as you’re polite! Memorize or write down how to say:
Public transportation is, well, public. That means you’ll encounter all kinds of people, and not everyone has your best interests at heart. The most important rule: Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t spend the bus or train journey glued to your phone. Stay alert, watch where you’re going, and be aware of your fellow passengers.
In general, it’s best not to give money to panhandlers on public transportation or interact with people who are having a mental health crisis. If you witness someone else being harassed, you can use one of the 5 Ds — distract, delegate, document, delay, or direct — to de-escalate the situation and help that person.
What if the train workers strike? What if your bus breaks down in a rough neighborhood? What if a subway pickpocket steals your passport?
Travel is always going to involve the unexpected. That’s why Allianz Travel Insurance is here. As soon as you book your trip, be sure to buy a travel protection plan that can help in case of trip delays, baggage loss or delay, trip cancellations and interruptions, and more. If you have a travel dilemma you can’t solve, contact 24-hour assistance by phone or with the Allyz® TravelSmart app.
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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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