With airlines like Southwest keeping airfares in the double-digit range, it is easy to spend more money traveling to and from airports than flying between them. Tokyo taxis may be famous for their outrageous fares, but even here in the States ground transportation can push up the cost of a vacation or business trip. Finding a taxi alternative is the most common route to savings, but our path starts before you even book your trip.

Choose the Right Airport. So many of us (and our travel agents) are accustomed to arriving at the big airports that we forget about alternative airports that may be closer to our destination, or offer less expensive ground transportation. Burbank, White Plains, Oakland, London Gatwick, Chicago Midway, and Houston Hobby are just a few examples of airports gaining prominence for their convenient and/or inexpensive ground transportation options.

Use Public Transportation. Many of us shy away from it away from home because we are unfamiliar with the options. The best way to find out about what’s available is to call the local convention and visitors’ bureau. Their staff is charged with helping visitors get to and around a destination, and they do it well. Public transportation is always a fraction of the cost of a taxi, and rail service options often beat rush-hour traffic. Check out TourStates.com for a list of U.S. tourist bureaus, or check out Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory for international ones.

Use Semipublic Transportation. Many cities have shared-van and flat-rate transportation options that combine some of the convenience of a taxi (door-to-door service, for instance) with some of the savings of public transportation. You can find complete information on SuperShuttle, the largest shared-ride, door-to-door airport transportation franchise at www.supershuttle.com. You can also get the information from the North American Business Planner, a publication of the Official Airline Guides that most travel agents have, and you can call 800-AIR-RIDE for information on the services at the three New York airports.