10 Epic Travel Transportation Adventures: Real Stories from Travelzoo Experts
Traveling without your car or familiar transport can be daunting, but Travelzoo's seasoned team embraces the challenge. As travel professionals with years of global experience, we've collected firsthand accounts of our wildest rides—from exhilarating to heart-pounding. Discover these authentic stories below.
Kevin Kitchen, Senior Associate Producer
In southern France, eager to explore Monaco and Italy after tiring of trains, we rented a 50cc scooter with a top speed of 35 mph. I accidentally veered onto the Haute Corniche—the faster, more treacherous route from Nice to Monaco. We crawled along at 35 mph amid stunning vistas, dodging supercars. Terrifying yet scenic. The return via the slower Bas Corniche was ideal for scooters. Stylish helmets helped!
Caroline Eber, Senior Producer
In Ecuador's Mindo village, I headed to Santuario de Cascadas waterfalls. Expecting a cable car, I boarded a tiny open-air metal cage for two over a mile-long ravine. Operated by locals with a motor and stick shift—one rode ahead, the other dangled from the back—for $10 round-trip. Safety concerns loomed amid Andean peaks, but I arrived and returned safely.
Megan Mitchell, Senior Producer
Tanzania's dala dalas—crowded minibus taxis—are cheap and ubiquitous. Living in Moshi for a month, my husband and I relied on them. Like human Tetris, they pack in passengers impossibly tight, with some hanging off sides. Our unforgettable 45-minute ride from Moshi to mountain village Mchibwe hugged dirt roads and cliffs, cornering fast for momentum. White-knuckled grips led to a magical hiking day—descent was another story!
Megan Crawford, Assistant Producer
During 2010 spring break abroad, the Icelandic volcano grounded flights. From Florence to England for midterms, we endured a 72-hour odyssey: train to Milan, Switzerland, Paris, Caen; 7-hour ferry to Portsmouth; train to Brighton; taxi to university. Exhausted arrivals drew Portsmouth News coverage: 'Four American students looked shattered but relieved.' We made our exams!
Carina Stebbins, Assistant Producer
At 15 on a Rajasthan service trip, our group split for weekend explorations. Language barriers challenged navigation. With two friends, a rickshaw tour turned chaotic: honking traffic, near-misses. We lost our hostel amid unfamiliar streets. Panic led to retracing steps with our driver, bonding despite barriers. Hours later, spotting our street brought immense relief—a dinner tale for the ages.
Jen Lee, Associate Producer
Jen shares two standout adventures.
Studying in Prague, my Czech roommate and I hitchhiked through Bohemia to camp in an abandoned medieval castle in Červená Řečice. Stranded 15 km short at midnight in a deserted spot, we called for rescue. The enchanting town made it worthwhile—few can claim Czech hitchhiking and castle camping.
Renting motorcycles in Peru's Sacred Valley, we zipped past sheep herds, salt flats, and Incan ruins. Friends crashed on a steep turn but escaped with scrapes. Thrilling, like Motorcycle Diaries.
Rudy Tomarchio, Assistant Producer
Dad and I snowmobiled Yellowstone's 140+ mile loop in one day, defying rental advice. We hit all sites, saw Old Faithful erupt, and befriended a lone elk calf.
Ben Jennings, Executive Producer
Seeking a 2014 North American driving adventure beyond cities, a Banff horse trail ride caught my eye. 'Trailride' meant groomed paths, but day one detoured a high, narrow mountain path—steeper than the horse, with sheer cliffs. A novice rider, my post-lunch horse turned unruly (even a pro struggled later). Switching mounts made the final days fun and scenic.
Blaire Constantinou, Senior Associate Producer
Australia's 70-mile Fraser Island sand expanse: We 4x4'd a rented Range Rover through root-tangled paths and dunes like Indiana Jones. Bursting onto beaches, we sped the coast, dodging waves, stopping at a shipwreck and Lake Mackenzie.
