Free and Cheap: Mounts

All classes before level 40 travel the same speed; however, if your class is a dwarf or gnome you will think that your character is faster than any other class. Whether it's the closeness of the ground or the little legs used for travel, a small character feels like it's moving at mach 3. Larger characters take longer strides so they will seem as though your movement is slower. Get in a foot race with any other race and you will notice that there is no difference in speed.

There are a few talents that make your class faster which is good for combat. But the best way to increase your travel speed after level 40 is to buy riding skills and a mount. The price of riding skills is 81 gold and the cost of a mount is 9 gold. The total price to buy a mount is 90 gold which is a steep price to pay for an alt. Choose the type of class you want to make for your alt carefully especially if your alt is a gatherer because a normal mount can increase your speed by 60% and an Epic by 100%.

Classes that have the easiest access to mounts are Paladins and Warlocks. They each have class mounts which can be acquired for a fraction of the 90 gold. In fact it's more like 90 silver. When you turn 40 check your class trainer and you should see [Summon Warhorse] for Paladin and [Summon Felsteed] for Warlock.

By learning your summon mount spell you automatically learn riding skill 75 so if you don't like your class mount you can purchase the mount available to your faction for 9 gold. Or if you are exulted in another faction you can purchase their mount too. The point is you saved 90 gold so you could purchase 10 mounts if you want and you still wouldn't be spending any more gold than other classes.

At level 60 there is a quest to get your Journeyman Riding training for Paladins and Warlocks. Look for [Summon Charger] or [Summon Dreadsteed] at your class trainer once you've finished that quest. After you've learned Journeyman Riding skill then you can purchase any mount that is your faction or exulted for 100 gold each.