How Public Transportation Can Help Cut Vacation Costs

If you’re planning a big-city vacation, you’ve probably already budgeted for your plane ticket, lodging, dining out, and attending shows or attractions. But have you figured out how you’ll get around once you arrive at your destination? While rental cars are a common choice, they can be expensive and inconvenient, especially in the city. Cities aren’t known for making it easy to fuel up or find free parking, and roads tend to be congested. It can also be expensive. In 2021, Americans spent $136 billion on auto transportation while traveling.¹

Public transportation, on the other hand, is cost-effective, convenient, and more environmentally friendly. If you’re planning an upcoming trip, researching public transportation options can help you to save, and even help to make your upcoming journey more enjoyable.

Public transportation can be cost-effective and convenient, especially if you’re traveling solo or planning to spend most of your time in the city. In addition to the cost-savings, public transportation has a few other benefits as well.

• Enjoyment: Public transportation can be a great way to immerse yourself in the city and can give you a new perspective, allowing you to see more of the city. Taking the subway can place you right in the heart of the bustling metropolis, and opting for the bus or train instead of driving is an easy way to see more since you’ll be soaking up the sights instead of focusing on the road.
  
  
• Affordability: You could save on your vacation costs by choosing public transportation instead of a rental car. Average 7-day rental car prices in the United States range from $480 to almost $700.² Insurance costs, gas, and fees make that expense even higher. Taxis and rideshare fares may fluctuate throughout your trip, putting your vacation budget at risk. On the other hand: subway and bus fares usually cost only a few dollars and sometimes include free transfers. If you know you’ll take public transportation a few times daily during your trip, a weekly pass could cut your costs even more. You could also increase your savings by paying for fares and transit passes using a rewards credit card designed with travel in mind. Travel rewards cards may offer perks and rewards like extra points on transit purchases.
  
  
• Convenience: Driving through unfamiliar city streets may introduce anxiety to an otherwise peaceful getaway. Navigating narrow streets, one-way systems, and finding parking in a new city can be a nightmare. Public transportation provides a convenient alternative, with less stress. Many cities have their own public transportation apps with clear routes, updated in real-time to reflect changes in the schedule, so you never miss a stop or transfer.  Many major cities have public transportation options that take passengers to major attractions, shopping districts, and other bustling parts of town, so you can easily get where you’re going. You can take in the sights, chat with friends, or read a book as you make your way across town.
  
  
• Eco-Friendliness: As more people embrace greener lifestyles, public interest in eco-friendly travel has blossomed. If you’re interested in making your vacation more sustainable, public transportation can help. Public transportation is usually better for the environment than renting a car or using rideshare services.³ This is especially true when you’re traveling on your own. Compared with driving alone in a car, taking public transportation can reduce CO2 emissions by 45%.⁴ Some cities offer even more environmentally friendly public transportation options, such as bicycle rentals open to the public. Incorporating various types of public transportation into your vacation plan can help you reduce your environmental impact while increasing your enjoyment.  

If you’re traveling to a major city like New York or Seattle, you may find various public transportation options, from buses to ferries to streetcars. Combining different types of public transportation can help you maximize your savings while creating the opportunity for more adventures.

For example, New York City provides many different types of public transit across each of the five boroughs. After you land at JFK or La Guardia airport, you can take the subway to almost any prominent neighborhood. If you would rather stay above ground and look at the city streets as you travel, you might also use one of the city’s many buses.

Some public transportation options could even double as attractions themselves. You could catch a ride on a New York City ferry if you want to travel to one of New York City’s beaches, check out Staten Island, or just explore the city in style. Alternatively, you could pick up a Citi Bike from the city’s affordable bike-share system. For the cost of a coffee, you can take a ride along a scenic area like the Hudson River Greenway.⁵

In Seattle, on the other hand, your public transit experience may look a bit different. You could fly into SEA, then take the Link Light Rail into the city. Once you arrive, you have plenty of options — you could keep taking the light rail, catch a bus, or even take advantage of one of the city’s two streetcar lines. Public transportation could enable you to experience Seattle’s central business district and markets, as well as its abundant natural beauty. All you have to do to explore Bainbridge Island, for example, is take a quick ferry ride. 

With the right rewards credit card, the money you save using public transportation on vacation could go even further. Frequent travelers may want a credit card with built-in benefits for things like transit, hotels, airfare, entertainment, and restaurants. That way, you could earn Membership Rewards^® points while you enjoy beaches, museums, local cuisine, and more. But your credit card’s travel perks don’t have to stop with points. You could enjoy benefits that make your journey smoother from the moment you arrive at the airport. Credit cards like the American Express Green Card could help you earn points on your eligible transit purchases that you could use on your next trip.

Green from American Express brings together the best of both worlds with points and perks. Card Members can maximize their points with several practical points multipliers:

• 3X points on transit, including trains, buses, ferries, subway, and more.
• 3X points on travel purchases, including airfare, car rentals, hotels, and more.
• 3X points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, including takeout or delivery in the U.S.

This way, you could be earning points while dining at your favorite restaurants and exploring new destinations.

Green from Amex could also help alleviate airport anxiety by helping you move quickly through security. Card Members can enjoy a $189 CLEAR^® Credit – an annual statement credit that effectively covers up to $189 of a CLEAR Plus membership when charged to your American Express Green Card (Excluding any applicable taxes. Subject to auto-renewal). CLEAR uses unique attributes, such as eyes or fingerprints, to digitally verify identity to help its members move faster through security at select airports nationwide.