Planes, trains or automobiles: What are the easiest and most affordable ways to travel now?

With gas prices rising in recent months as well as long lines and cancellations at airports, what’s the best way to travel for vacation or work right now?

“We’re hearing about cancelled flights, a lot of them cancelled before they’re going to the airport, and scrambling for us to find them alternatives,” Richard Vanderlubbe, the president of TripCentral.ca, told CityNews during an interview on Friday when asked what customers were contacting his company about.

However, despite stunning images of people crammed into airport waiting areas mixed with piles of luggage over the past several weeks, he said the calls and remarks coming in haven’t been all bad.

“I think it’s a, ‘What if,’ right? What if this happens so what do I do? It really does depend on the airline that you’re booked on and how much backup they have in the schedule” Vanderlubbe said.

“We are hearing people going in ready for battle conditions and then surprisingly saying ‘Wow, there really that much of a lineup’ or ‘Wow, that was great.’ I think that’s the untold story here.”

To weigh the transportation options, CityNews looked at a four-day trip at the end of July to Montreal — a popular Canadian escape for many and where Pride and Osheaga events are happening — as an example. The trip looked at trips that left Toronto on Thursday, July 28, or Friday, July 29, returning on Sunday, July 31 or the holiday Monday, Aug. 1.

Driving

The average fuel consumption in Canada, according to the International Energy Agency, is estimated to be around 8.6 litres for every 100 kilometres. To get to and from Montreal based on today’s average fuel price, the cost comes in just shy of $165. That will be more or less or more depending on your vehicle.

If you don’t own a car? Rentals have been in high demand lately, so be prepared to pay more. Using a price aggregator, CityNews looked at different companies in Toronto. For four days, Hertz has a Toyota Corolla for around $531 and that’s not counting gas.

It will take at around five hours and 20 minutes to drive between the two cities (assuming it is a direct trip and there are no traffic issues).

Also, remember you’ll need to park any vehicle too. If you don’t have a spot where you’re staying, prices hover around $20 a day to park in downtown Montreal.

There is a way to save on getting around regardless of how you get there: transit passes on Société de transport de Montréal (STM). It’s $14.75 for unlimited weekend pass (4 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday) or $11 for 24 hours.

Flying

So what about flying? You’ll need to dig around when searching. We looked at one-way and return flight options. One-way flight bookings proved to be slightly more affordable than buying a return trip.

Flying out from Billy Bishop on the Thursday morning and back through Pearson on Flair on the Sunday was $262, which was the best available when searching for prices. Depending on your flight choices, you’ll need to add one to three hours each way for check-in. The flight is approximately 75 minutes.

Trains and buses

With VIA Rail, it’s around a six-hour trip at least each way. Certain trips can be a couple of hours longer due to stopovers in Ottawa. If you’re travelling in economy, a return trip will cost you at least $222.

But what likely could be the most affordable travel option is at the Union Station bus terminal and at Scarborough Town Centre: Megabus. Return tickets were going for as low as around $156.

Tips for travel

“Booking travel now is more complicated than ever. There are many options. It used to be consumers were just laser-focused on the lowest fare, that’s not the whole story. Look for the flexibility,” Vanderlubbe said when asked what about advice he would give for those looking to travel right now.

“If you’re booking travel now, especially if it’s over the summer where this may persist for a while, it should be better by Labour Day.”

He went on to share the following tips:

• Arrive a day earlier if there’s a must-attend event
• Check-in early if you’re flying or travelling through public transportation
• Minimize checked baggage and try to stick to carry-ons if possible, buy smaller items like toiletries where you’re going to save space
• Consider back-up options on your route, ideally pick destinations where there are frequent trips should there be a cancellation
• Book travel insurance in case of sickness, cancellations