Airport Transportation: What Questions Do You Need To Ask Before You Choose
Posted on: 27 February 2017
Roughly 8 million people fly every day, according to the International Air Transport Association. Whether you're headed out of town on a vacation, you're traveling for business or you're coming home, you'll need some way to get from the airport to wherever you're going. There are plenty of different transportation options that will get you from your flight to your destination point. From shuttle services to limos, you have an array of choices that vary in price and ease of use. Before picking one type of transportation over another, check out what questions you need to consider when finding the right ride home (or to your hotel) from the airport.
Is Sharing Okay?
This is all about preference. Do you want a private ride? Or, are you willing to share your transportation with someone (or several someone's) who you don't know. An airport shuttle is an easy, and often cost-effective, option. But, these types of transports typically mean riding with a packed bus that's filled with passengers you don't know. A limo service or rental car are obviously totally private options – with that privacy coming at a higher cost.
How Many People Are With You?
Are you traveling alone? If not, you need to plan your transportation based on the number of people in your party. If you're traveling with all 10 of your bridesmaids or a dozen of your former frat brothers, a taxi won't cut it. Shuttles, bus services and rental vans all work well for larger groups. Smaller groups and individuals can choose these options as well. But, they also have the choice of going with a private car or smaller-sized renal.
Are Children Traveling With You?
That shuttle bus seems like fun for the kids. It's big, it's got plenty of room and your kiddos love the idea of riding on it. That is, until you have to wait 20 minutes for the next shuttle to arrive. After a long day of traveling you might want to consider going with the easiest option possible. That means looking for a transportation idea that involves a short wait time. The specific option you go with depends on the airport, how busy it is and what options are nearby. An on-site car rental that you set up beforehand may take some of the stress out of traveling with children. Along with renting a car, larger airports that have taxi pull-up lanes (meaning that the taxis are there and waiting to pick you up) can make for an easy exit.
What's Your Price Point?
Shared options tend to be less expensive than private ones. That said, some car rental or limo services may offer discounts, coupons or other ways of cutting down on the costs (especially if you're a member of a travel/auto club or are a frequent flyer). Another way to cut costs is to pool your transportation money with a friend. For example, you're traveling to a conference with a few of your co-workers. Instead of finding individual ways to your hotel, get together and split the cost of a car service.
Getting to your destination from the airport is the final step in your travel process. Even though it marks the end of your travel day, you shouldn't wait until you get to where you're going to make a transportation choice. Think ahead, look at your answers to these questions and plan for the option that meets your specific travel needs.
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