Thursday, November 18, 2010

Travel Tales

With Thanksgiving Break on the horizon, many IU students are packing up and getting ready to travel home for a long-awaited break. My house is only a few hours from campus, so getting home will be no more hassle than jumping into my car and taking the highway north. However, for the thousands of IU students who live out of state, traveling will not be that simple. For prospective students, the thought of how to travel to and from campus can be a daunting one. But never fear! This Q&A, based upon my recent flight to Atlanta, will tell you everything you need to know about travel to and from IU via the Indianapolis Airport.

I don't have a car. How do I get to campus from the airport and vice versa?
Great question! Never fear, the Bloomington Shuttle is the answer to all of your problems. Well, this one anyway. For $15 one way, you can take the shuttle from the airport to campus and back. To be honest, I use the service even though I DO have a car. It's cheaper than paying to park at the airport ($12 a DAY), and I can relax during the bus ride. Tickets can be purchased at the Indiana Memorial Union or online. You can find out more info about the Bloomington Shuttle here.

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What is the Indianapolis Airport like? Is it confusing?
Indianapolis built a new airport a few years ago, and it is one of the easiest and most relaxing airports I have ever had the pleasure to fly from. The openness of the structure keeps that nervous, panicky "something's going to go wrong" feeling at bay while you look out at the planes landing or see the sun shining through the frosted glass roof.

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If you're hungry, there are a number of restaurants to choose from before and after security that range in price from $5 per person to $25. My favorite stop is the South Bend Chocolate Company in Terminal A, but I'm sure you'll find your own travel tradition.

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Once you enter the airport, you only choose between two terminals (A or B) and it's a straight shot to your gate from there. Getting your luggage on the way to campus is no problem: pick up your bags on the bottom level, cross a pick-up lane, and hop onto the Bloomington shuttle.

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Once you've gotten through security, the only thing left to do is relax and get comfortable! I highly suggest a favorite book. Personally, cold weather is always "Harry Potter season" for me. This past weekend, when flying to Atlanta, I read a few pages of "The Princess Bride." After your flight, be sure to enjoy your destination! Here's a photo of my favorite tourist spot in Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium:

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When traveling, just remember to take a deep breath and relax. Remember that even if something does go wrong, it's not the end of the world. Most travel issues have a solution! Best of luck, and happy travels this holiday season!

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