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Always skipped local buses, but a tight budget made me try them | Budget Travel Hacks - Babble Community

Always skipped local buses, but a tight budget made me try them

I used to think buses in new places were too confusing and not worth the hassle. On a trip to Lisbon, my wallet was running low, so I gave the city buses a shot. With a simple app and asking a local for help, I got the hang of it fast. The savings were insane - I spent maybe 10 euros on buses instead of 50 on cabs over three days. Now I see buses as a key way to stretch my travel money. Who else has had a similar switch with public transport? How do you figure out bus systems when you land somewhere new?

3 comments

3 Comments

zarahernandez8mo ago

Oh man, my buddy Jake was the same way, swore he'd never set foot on a foreign bus. Then his card got frozen in Mexico City and he was down to cash. He caved and asked his hostel host for the bus route to the museum, felt like a total scrub. He said it was so easy and cheap he used them the whole week, and now he gives me crap for ever taking a cab. It's funny how being broke makes you figure stuff out real quick.

patricia5588mo ago

Lol, been there! I always keep a small stash of local cash for emergencies now. Pro tip: use Google Maps to check bus routes and stops, it's a lifesaver. Once you get the hang of it, buses are way better than cabs for getting around cheap. I learned that the hard way when my phone died and I had to ask a street vendor for directions.

kevin_west8mo ago

Yeah, that line about being broke making you figure stuff out is spot on. I used to avoid foreign buses too, convinced they were too much hassle. Then I ran out of cash in Lisbon and had to ask for help to catch a bus back to my hotel. @patricia558 has a point about using maps, it really does take the guesswork out. Now I prefer buses over cabs any day, saved a ton of money once I got over my own stubbornness.