Traveling Like The Locals: Using Public Transportation In Foreign Countries

Many people are surprised that we use public transportation when we're in foreign countries, and don't depend on tour buses and taxis. "Isn't that dangerous?" they'll ask or "Aren't you afraid of getting lost?" In almost all cases, the answer is no. Taking public transport is usually faster and less expensive than taking a private cab. Just get a good map and pay attention to your surroundings. When we were in Tokyo back in 1985, my dad got us around on the subway by comparing the Japanese characters on the map to the ones on the signs. It was difficult, but he managed to do it and get us around. There have been some exceptions. When we were in Nigeria, we were strongly advised against using public buses and mini vans and our friends hired a driver for us. He was great, but honestly, this was a little strange for us and we felt cut off from the world. For me, using public transportation is a great way to people watch and get a true sense of a city. Take an Athens subway during rush hour, for example, and you'll see every type of person imaginable on board -- not just other tourists. Take a local bus or train in the Netherlands and you'll hear a variety of languages being spoken around you -- not just English. Some of my best travel stories come from having taken public transportation. When we took the subways and buses in Mexico City, we were accosted by people selling things (not just to us; to everyone, as this is what they do in the subways there) and were entertained by impromptu concerts. Everywhere you go, someone is performing and some of the best musicians were right there in the subway! My friends and I are all New Yorkers, so we're somewhat accustomed to the chaos, but even they were impressed. "I can't wait to see who comes onto the subway next!" my friend Scott exclaimed. In Athens, the subways double as museums. Go underground and you'll see many ruins which are still in the process of being dug up. Not your average underground experience! Meanwhile, when we were in Dublin, we were staying about a half hour outside of the city, so we took the light rail. Hardly any Americans traveled this route so we were with the locals and drove through neighborhoods we wouldn't have otherwise seen. Of course, you want to be careful when taking public transport. Don't wear expensive jewelry. Keep track of your wallet. Watch out for gropers. But these are things to be aware of even in cities back home. Heck, I worry more about the weirdos on the NYC subways than I ever did in Mexico. So next time you travel, try traveling like a local. You'll probably find it to be a lot less scary than you thought.