A very wise scholar once wrote, “The world is a book, and he who does not travel reads but a single page.” Some people are homebodies for whom hearth and family are enough—no need to explore beyond the village. That you are reading these words tells me that you are not one of those people, that you hope to become, in that scholar’s vernacular, a reader. Congratulations! Others have written reams of good advice for all the adventures that await you on the road ahead, but my purpose here is to help you to find your way and to travel intelligently as you set out to discover the wide world. I've gathered basic information about means of travel and tips for saving time and coins. I hope you will find them of some use.
Good luck on your journey!
Drozil
Here is a brief introduction to the principal ways I know of to travel from one place to another:
Feet
Your feet (or if you are a shapeshifter, paws or hooves) may be the best choice for short distances, especially in town. There are some places—Cut-Throat Alley in Stormwind, for instance—that are not easy to get to if you are mounted. If you are in a busy area where enemies are about, walking at a sedate pace may help you avoid attention. It makes you look just like any other local resident. And as my Pandaren friends often say, “There is no hurry.” Take time once in a while to just stroll and smell the flowers. There are lots of odd corners that contain pleasant surprises. You’ll miss them if you’re always in a rush.
Gryphons and Hippogryphs
Until you have learned to ride a flying mount on your own, the fastest and safest way to travel any distance over land is to visit the nearest Flight Master and take to the air. When you speak to the Flight Master, he or she will show you a map of all the destinations you can reach from where you are. With one or two exceptions, such as the flight station nearest the place where you began your adventuring and your own people’s capital, you may purchase travel only to those points that you have previously visited. (Death Knights who have escaped the dominion of the Lich King seem to know nearly all the flight points in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, but they can’t seem to remember how they learned them.) Fares vary depending on the distance you are traveling and your reputation with the faction operating the flight station.
When you arrive in a new place, look for the Flight Master and speak to him or her, even if you are not planning to travel on right away. This will add that point to your flight map so you can return to the new place in the future. Find your way to the Flight Master by looking for a winged boot icon on your map or asking a guard for directions if you are in town.
See “Flying Commercial”, for advice on how to save time and coins when using commercial flight services.
Deeprun Tram
Why pay good coins to fly over nasty volcanic deserts? You can travel between Ironforge and Stormwind in safety and comfort—and at no charge—aboard the Deeprun Tram. Dedicated gnomish engineers built this technical marvel. I’m related to several. Stations are located in the Dwarven District in Stormwind and Tinker Town in Ironforge. Ask any city guard for directions.
Tip: There are two trainsets in service; one on each track. If you head for the central platform, you will always be in the right place to board the next train no matter which track it arrives on.
One other thing: Should you hear sounds of mayhem while riding the tram, do not be alarmed. It’s probably just Bizmo’s Brawlpub which is located under the central platform in the Stormwind station.
Ships
Passenger service is available at no charge between several ports. See “Setting Sail” for specifics of the various routes and the services available aboard each vessel.
Portals
A portal is a transdimensional interface that connects two distant places as if they were right next to one another. There are several types of portals: In many cities you will find fixed portals that connect to other cities or popular destinations. Mages can create temporary portals that can be used by members of their party to travel to major cities. Death Knights learn to make a special Death Gate to return to the Ebon Hold. Warlocks can perform a Ritual of Summoning to summon party members to their current location. Meeting Stones have been set up by adventurers near places where adventures are to be had.
Ground Mount
One fine day when you have your feet under you, you will receive a message directing you to your Riding trainer. For a nominal fee (4 gold coins, less reputation discount), you can take Apprentice Riding training, which will teach you how to ride a ground mount. A mount will get you where you’re going faster than you can run. The creatures (and even some of the machines) that carry us about have their individual capabilities and personalities. Get to know your mount. With a little care and attention, you’ll find that your mount will take care of you as well as you care for it. Breeders want to know that the animals they sell are going to good homes. And engineers that the machines they have lovingly built will be properly cared for and used safely. For this reason, you can buy a mount from a different race or faction only if you have exalted reputation with them. Here is where to find the principal mount sellers for each race:
You will meet other mount dealers on your travels, and you may come by some unusual mounts in the course of your adventuring, but these folks are the ones from whom you will purchase the typical mounts of your own people. When you have become accustomed to riding and caring for a mount, you will be able to learn Journeyman Riding from the same trainer for a fee of 50 gold coins, less reputation discount. With increased skill, you can ride faster.
Flying Mount
After you have demonstrated your mastery of swift ground mounts, you will be directed to a flying trainer, generally Bralla Cloudwing, whom you’ll find at the Gryphon Roost in Stormwind. For a fee (250 gold coins, less discount based on your reputation with Stormwind) the trainer will teach you Expert Riding, which covers basic flying skills. On completion of your training, you will be able to fly in Outland.
Tannec Stonebeak sells gryphons to those who have completed their flight training. You‘ll find him in the Gryphon Roost not far from Bralla Cloudwing.
His Majesty King Varian has decreed that flying in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor requires a Flight Master’s License. You may purchase this license from your trainer on completion of your Expert Riding training for an additional fee of 250 gold (less Stormwind reputation discount). Your Flight Master's License is not valid in Quel'Thalas or the Azuremyst Isles. The reasons for this are beyond the scope of the present work, but if you delve into the lore of the Sin'dorei or the Draenei, I think you will find their stories fascinating. If you travel to Northrend, you will not be able to fly until you have taken special training in Cold Weather Flying. This training is available at Krasus’ Landing in Dalaran, but until you have built a reputation with the Kirin Tor, it will cost less if you visit the flying trainer in Stormwind.
A Note for my Druid friends: You will learn how to take the shape of various beasts as you follow the druidic path: to prowl as a cat, to defend your friends as a bear, to glide swiftly through the waters as an aquatic creature. When you are are ready to take flight on your own, you will learn to take the form of a bird. You can take wing in Outland immediately after learning your Flight Form, which druids learn a bit before others are ready for normal flight training. You will still need to see a flying trainer to purchase a Flight Master's License before you can take your bird form or use a flying mount in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. The license will be available for purchase at the time when you would be offered the usual flight training if you were not a druid.
You likely noticed several references to “reputation discount” above. This is important, especially as you progress in riding skill, and training fees increase. If you are friendly with a faction, you receive a 5% discount on all transactions with their vendors and trainers. The more favorable your reputation, the greater the discount offered to you. The maximum discount when you are exalted with the merchant’s or trainer’s faction is 20%. Basic flight training and licensing fees total 500 gold, but you pay only 400 if you are exalted with Stormwind. You’ll want to be sure to build your reputation with your own people so that you pay less for your everyday purchases at home and your basic riding training. But you also need to think ahead to the time when you will want your Flight Master’s License. It’s never too early to start currying favor with Stormwind—especially if you happen not to be Human.