Keep your travel costs down: Avoid the hidden costs of “The Last Mile”

We’ve all experienced it at one time or another as travelers: You hop a plane to your destination, step out of the airport, and then what? If the city has no major transit system like a subway, you might be at a loss as to how to get to your  accommodations. And it’s likely a taxi will cost more than you might want to spend. It’s known as “The Last Mile Problem” — that sinking realization that it might have been easier to fly those 2,000 miles than it will be to complete that final short distance that marks the long-awaited end of your journey. The solution? Do a little research ahead of time.

Chances are good that your destination city or town has some sort of public transit system. To find out, just perform a Google search with your destination name followed by the phrase “public transit.” From here, you can usually click right through to a bus company’s website for fare and schedule information. I found Maui’s public bus system, and found the exact schedule I need of the bus line that stops at the airport (the #35 Haiku Islander route). Best of all, the fare is only $1.

Of course, you can also exchange emails with the hosts at your first accommodation. Ask them if it’s easy to hop a bus from the station or airport.