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Some think it is suicide to drive a car in Rome, some wouldn't risk their lives with a metro... They can both be right and wrong. It comes down to your comfort levels and financial budget. Our travel fears are mostly created from overhyped media exposure or simply the unknown. The main plan is to get your family to your desired regional locale... how you do it? It's all up to you... here are a few hint to help you make that jump:

"Life Is A Highway"
Travelers are loving life on the open road, but sometimes it just doesn't make sense to rent a car. When and under which circumstances should you rent a car:

	In A Big City without reliable, cheap, public transportation. This is straight forward, but some forget to research whether there is public transportation alternatives. If there aren't, taxis can rack up quite a bill... though city traffic, parking, and becoming lost can be painful in itself.
	When The Cost of transporting your large group by shuttles and taxis is too prohibitive. Luggage, space, airport passage, and number of people can actually make car rental an inexpensive option.
	When a Long Rental contract is needed. The longer you have a car rental, the cheaper the per day cost can be. If you are driving between and within cities, a week long rental can be much cheaper and efficient than plane fare and taxis.

Driving in a foreign country can be a lot of fun... stopping along the way, exploring towns and sites off the beaten path, and driving on the opposite side of the road can be life-altering. Renting a car can be life-draining if you can't read the street signs, you can't drive standard (manual) transmission autos, or you hate worrying about directions and gasoline fill-ups. For those a little adventurous, renting a car in a foreign country opens a world of culture that just is unobtainable otherwise.

"Stop That Bus, Plum, Autobus... Whatever!"
Buses can be very frustrating... but it doesn't have to be that way if you plan ahead of time.

What are the major complaints of buses: (1) never there when I need them, (2) they're crowded, and (3) they're slow. Solutions: (1) get the schedule and plan your route beforehand, (2) avoid rushhour, and (3) be patient and enjoy the sights.

Take the Doublebecker Bus tours, for an example. They show you all the major sights of a city, explain the history, architecture, and add a little humor along the way. These tours are perfect for those who have never been to that city before because they transport you to most of the attractions you wanted to see anyway and you get the "low-down" for exploring in the coming days. Usually the tickets are good for a couple days and so you get everywhere you need to go while avoiding the masses and the stops you don't care about.

Not to forget Public Bus transportation though... they are sometimes the best, fastest, and cheapest mode of travel you can use. In Costa Rica, you can travel the country by luxury buses for a tenth the cost of a shuttle. Have a family in tow? ...that is serious money. This option is where the most research is needed, which is usually best obtained from the locals and tourist offices.

"The Infamous / Famous Underground"
If you're in a major city in Europe, the Metro (subway, underground) is a must. If you are anywhere else, double check to discover their metro lines.

The trains run at regular intervals, cost very little, and go everywhere. Additional advantages to the metro are (1) you can usually understand the metro lines and stations so you can get where you want to, (2) you can usually get an allday pass that works perfectly for the long, run-around days, and (3) the unusual people you meet in metro stations is all free entertainment.

Always look for city websites beforehand and find the metro map... then you can plan out your trip, locations you want to go to, and the order of where you're going to save time.

"Examples Of International Metro and Bus Lines"
Here a few maps to get you a feel of what to expect with ground transportation maps. It is best to find out what entity runs the services and download the map directly from them. It will be the most updated and viewable map you will find for that service.

	Paris Metro System. Click Map Here
	London Doubledecker Bus Tour. Click Map Here
	Manhattan Bus Map. Click Map Here