How One App Saved My Butt (and My Cash)

Rome2Rio

I once flew from Paris to Milan for a weekend trip to see a friend. Cheap flight, great price. But I landed in Bergamo, not Milan. Turns out RyanAir's "Milan" airport is actually like 30 miles away. I didn't know that at the time. So I panicked and dropped $150 on an Uber.

Had I downloaded Rome2Rio first, I would have seen an $18 bus that went straight to Milan. Same route. Same city. One twelfth of the price. Ouch.

But I learned my lesson. On the way back from Milan to Bergamo airport to catch my flight to Paris, I took that $18 bus. It was easy, cheap, and got me there with no stress.

This app is simple. You type where you are and where you want to go. It shows you every way to get there—bus, train, ferry, taxi, even a shared van. No guesswork.

It also saved me real money later. In Venice, private water taxis from the airport to the city center cost around €120 to €160. I almost booked one. But Rome2Rio showed me a public water bus for about €15. That's roughly one tenth of the price. I bought a nice dinner with the difference.

Google Maps is fine for driving. But Rome2Rio is better for travel because it finds weird, cheap options locals use. It also compares speed and cost side by side. Want fast? Fly. Want cheap? Take the night bus.

Here's my dumb simple advice. First, always check how long a trip really takes. Sometimes "6 hours" means sitting in a parking lot for three of them. Second, use the app's taxi price to haggle with real drivers. Third, take a screenshot of your route before you lose phone signal.

Rome2Rio won't fix a flat tire or a canceled flight. But it will stop you from overpaying and freaking out. It's saved me in 15 countries. Try it before your next trip. You'll thank me later.