How to minimize typing when frequently changing directories?

The dirs -v command will list the directory stack with numbers in front of each directory, and you can give a number argument to the pushd command to have it jump to that directory. For example, if dirs -v shows that the directory you wish to change to has 2 in front of it (i.e., is the third directory in the list), executing pushd +2 will change to that directory.

To save typing, you can shorten those commands by giving them aliases like this:

alias dv="dirs -v"
alias pd=pushd

You could use wildcards:

cd ../*test1 or even cd *t1
cd ../2010*test2
cd ../*bar

They are much more flexibles and you don't need to plan a script for each different situation, once you are used to them, you will use them for all kind of directories. Examples:

cd /e*/n*k will take you to /etc/network
cd /h* to /home

They are usable anywhere (ls also of course so you can filter what to see)

bash wildcards