As a new player... so far, I'm hating this game.

[tocsin]

some quests like the story quest made me run 200 times at one place where there is no teleporter near, just to talk to an NPC... (The waking sand)

Okay, this, a million times, until I figured out the trick. Go to limsa limosa, aerthernet to arcanist guild, look to your left, and take the ferry there for 80 gil. it takes you to almost right in front of the waking sands, in less than 3 minutes of walking.

Fastest route possible!