BY ROAD TO MIAMI

I have to get from New York City to Miami in August and am considering not going by air so that I see more of the countryside. I definitely would not consider driving, so what are the train and bus options?

— Ryan Tullen New York City and Miami are around 1 750km apart (and you can add another 300km to get the driving distance), so this is a mega-trip in anyone’s terms. You have to be a dedicated adventurer or very afraid of flying to consider any other way of travelling as there is not a huge price difference, but plenty of people go by car, train and bus, so it can't be that bad.

When it comes to rail travel, Amtrak has a very busy service between the two cities. These are known as The Palmetto and The Silver Service, but you may have to change trains in Washington, DC. Either way, it will take you 28-31 hours. Sleeper and dining options are available and fares start at around $130 one-way ( amtrack.com).

A Greyhound bus ticket will cost you about the same between the two centres. The trip takes 32 hours and you can go direct or stop in Richmond, Virginia, or Orlando, Florida. You can save money by purchasing your ticket 21 days in advance for a price of $93. ( greyhound.com). So, those are your options.

For the record, a one-way plane ticket from New York to Miami would probably cost you around 100-150 US dollars. And it would take less than three hours.