Go IndyGo!

My promised blog on how to use TripAdvisor will have to wait until next time because my trip this weekend to Indianapolis has inspired me to write on another subject: Airport to City Public Transportation!

Whenever I go on a city break, I try and use public transportation from the airport into the Downtown area. Obviously it is the cheapest option, often it is the most convenient and I personally feel it gives a greater sense of connection and integration with the place I am visiting. Hiring a car when you are staying in a city makes little sense. You pay for the rental then you pay $25 a night to park it in some hotel garage while you walk around. Taxis from the airport are expensive and the lazy option.

The quality of public transportation from Airport to City varies widely. Indy blew me away with its efficiency, hence the inspiration for this blog, but more on that later. First of all I am going to give you a random sample of the good, the bad and the ugly from my own experience.

London
London Gatwick is one of my favourite airports. London Heathrow is one of my least favourite. After years of flying from Dallas to Gatwick, American Airlines, much to my chagrin, switched to Heathrow. I understand why - Heathrow as the busiest international airport in the world has connections to everywhere. However, Heathrow, as the busiest airport in the world is, well, busy, and housed in an ancient sprawling mess of buildings.

Gatwick is conveniently located to the south of London and has its own main line rail station. The non stop Gatwick Express runs to London Victoria Station about every 15 minutes and takes about half an hour. Tickets cost £16.90 ($27.70 at time of writing) each way and can be bought on the train. There is ample space for luggage as these trains were designed specifically for people going to the airport. A much cheaper option at £8.90 ($14.60) is First Capital Connect trains, which run to London Bridge Station in about the same time and then on to London St Pancras, the terminus for Eurostar trains to Paris and Brussels. Please note though that they will not have quite as much luggage space and you will need to buy tickets at the station. Southern Trains at £10.90 ($17.80) run about 8 times an hour to London Victoria and take 45 minutes but these trains are packed during commuter times and there is no luggage space whatsoever. I have taken these trains when I have been going from the airport to my parents in Hampshire and needed to change at Clapham Junction. This was a nightmare when you got in on the 7am flight from Dallas and hit peak commuter time. The harassed business men in their bowlers and pin stripes did not appreciate me taking up valuable breathing room with my cases. Again, you must purchase tickets before you board the train.

Here is a useful site for London travel options:

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/gatwick.htm

Heathrow is located to the west of London. The fastest way from the airport into the city is aboard the London Paddington Express which runs every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes. It's also the most expensive train ride per minute in the world as the fare costs £16.50 ($27) with a marginal saving on a return ticket - £32. A much cheaper alternative is the Heathrow Connect train. It is a stopping train that takes 25 minutes and costs £7.40 ($12). For both of these services, buy your tickets before you board the train. The cheapest way into Central London is on the London Underground Piccadilly Line at £4 ($6.50). Trains run frequently but it will take 50 to 60 minutes as there a lot of stops. This option may conveniently drop you within walking distance of your hotel. However, do bear in mind that there is no space for luggage and these trains get crowded the closer you get into London.

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow.htm


My top cities for easy airport to city public transportation journeys are:

Barcelona http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/airport/barcelona-airport-transport.html#renfe
San Francisco http://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/index.aspx
Portland http://trimet.org/max/

Dallas
Because this is where I live, I either drive to the airport or get a ride with a friend. However, when you arrive at DFW you can get a free shuttle bus that will take you to the TRE Station where you can catch the train cheaply to either to Fort Worth or Dallas. Dallas' public transportation system (DART) is undergoing a massive expansion. By 2011 the DART train will go out to Love Field Airport and by 1013, DFW will be directly connected to Downtown Dallas.

NYC
If it's possible, fly into Newark. It may be further out than the other two airports, but frankly, it is the most convenient in terms of getting into the City. There is a station at the airport which is serviced by both Amtrak and NJ Transit trains which run to Manhattan's Penn Station. You can also get off at Newark Penn Station and transfer to the PATH system which has many stops in New Jersey and Manhattan.


This summer, I flew into La Guardia and was absolutely determined to get to my Time Square hotel on public transport alone. It was a long and frustrating journey. I took the Q33 bus from the airport to Roosevelt Avenue-Jackson Heights Metro Station (Don't do as I did at first and confuse the 33 bus with the Q33 and have the driver look at you as if you are mad). You will need $2 in quarters for the bus and it takes about half an hour. At the Metro station I bought a Metrocard and after a little bit of time figuring out the platform (signage and announcements are poor) I caught the F Line express train into the city. I just had a small carry on case - I do not recommend this journey with a lot of luggage. In retrospect, probably taking the M60 bus into the city and getting the metro from there would have been the better option.

I said in the introduction that taking public transportation makes me feel more connected and integrated with a place and in this case, being hot, hassled, stressed and irritable probably did bring me closer in feeling to the locals. Shamefully, I have to confess, on my return to the airport, I cheated and took a cab.

Indianapolis
Finally, we get to the inspiration for this blog. The beautiful Weir Cook Passenger Terminal of Indianapolis International Airport opened in November of 2008. Because it is so new and purposefully built, rather than having spread out transportation facilities, everything: parking, car hire, taxis, shuttles and buses, is located in one spot at the Ground Transportation Center, a short walk from baggage claim. Here, at Zone 7, you can catch the Green Line IndyGo Express bus straight into Downtown. It runs every twenty minutes, it takes about fifteen minutes and it stops right outside all the main hotels. Tickets cost $7 which you can buy from the driver with either a credit card or exact fare. There is plenty of space for luggage and the drivers are cheery and helpful. Admittedly Indianapolis is a smaller city and the airport is fairly close to Downtown, but I do think other cities could look to this as a model of exceptional Airport to City transportation. Go IndyGo!