SmartMedTravel.com Budget Travel Advice

Public Transit Accessibility! The upside of flying into Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Randon Hall — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:32:58 +0000

Public Transit Accessibility! The upside of flying into Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

There are several options for taking public transportation when visiting Chicago. I would be hard pressed to not be able to get where I needed to go using the city’s public transit system. That stated, I will attempt to give an introduction to the system that should help give confidence that using public transportation in Chicago is your best option.

As most people know there are two major options for flying into the Chicago Area. These include Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). The best thing about these airports is they are both connected all the way to downtown by Chicago Transit Authority Trains. They are also connected to Chicago’s suburbs by the PACE Bus . This blog will deal with the cheap travel options specifically for the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Traveling to Downtown Chicago

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is approximately 20 miles NW of downtown. The CTA Blue Line services this airport. Travel time from the airport to downtown is approximately 1 hour. Once you have landed in Chicago there are tons of signs directing you towards the train station. Be aware that there is a significant walk from the baggage claim to the train station, which can be confusing if it is your first time. There are plenty of signs, but if you need help just ask. When you get to the ticket machines you’ll need to buy a transit card for $2. If you plan to transfer, it makes sense to pay an additional 25 cents that allows two additional rides within two hours after the first boarding. If you plan to use public transportation all day, just buy the day pass for $5 and you wonâ€™t have anything to worry about. For comparison the cheapest shuttle I know of costs $25 to get downtown and taxi will cost $35 dollars. Remember that you can always take the train close to where you plan to go and then take a cab the rest of the way.

Once you arrive downtown you can transfer to a variety of other CTA Train Lines. Rather than delving into which lines go to which universities and hospitals, I would suggest using the Trip Planner for official detailed directions.

Transfer to Metra

Metra is a regional rail system that serves the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The railroad serves over 200 stations on 11 different rail lines across Northern Illinois. This train travel to suburbs such as Aurora, Wheaton and North Chicago. Transfers can be made easily from CTA trains to Metra trains in the downtown area. In the following section more detailed and complicated directions explain how connection to several Metra train lines can be made by bus. . Connecting directly to one of these lines rather that going downtown to catch the train from its origin may significantly reduce your travel time.

Taking the PACE Bus.

There are two specific Pace bus routes that run from Chicago O’Hare’s Kiss-n-Fly Station to the suburbs of Chicago. The important point is that these buses make connections with four of the Metra regional rail lines. Connecting directly to one of these lines rather that going downtown to catch the train from its origin may significantly reduce your travel time.

The PACE 330 Bus makes stops at the Mannheim Metra Station on the Milwaukee District Line, the Bellwood Metra Station on the Union Pacific Line and the LaGrange Metra Station on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Line.

The PACE 250 Bus makes a stop at the Des Plaines Metra Station on the Union Pacific-Northwest Line. You can use the trip planner to coordinate your travel plans between the bus, the train and our final destination. Adult fare for any bus trip is $1.50.

In order to get to the Chicago O’Hare’s Kiss-n-Fly Station you need to hop on the Airport Transit System (ATS). This is a quick, convenient, and economical way to get around the airport. The ATS is a free, 24-hour rail system that operates between the three domestic terminals, the international terminal, long-term parking, and the Kiss-N-Fly Station. Maximum travel time on this automated train is 9 minutes.

Lastly, if you take the ATA to Kiss-N-Fly station there is a free shuttle that connects to the Metra North Central Line as well.

Due to the fact that there are so many transit options it is much easier if you use the trip planner to find out where you need to go. Simply type in your destination from the airport and the planner can show you the way.

The Long Haul to the Motor City is Certainly Worth the Bus Fare! (Detroit)

Randon Hall — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:23:00 +0000

The Long Haul to Motor City is Certainly Worth the Bus Fare!

The distance from Detroit Metropolitan International Airport to the city of Detroit is about 25 miles. As you can imagine it is quite costly to take a taxi or shuttle from the airport to Detroit. In a brief review of the travel options from DTW to Detroit it appears that a taxi can make the trip for $41 dollars plus tip. After significant research, I have found a great public transportation option that will get you to downtown Detroit.

The public transportation in Wayne County is called SMART. They provide the #125 bus line that travels from Detroit Metro Airport to Downtown Detroit. The upside is that the trip costs $1.50 and you don’t need to transfer in order to make it downtown. The downside is that the trip takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. The #125 bus runs every 30 minutes from 4:40 AM to 11:00 AM heading towards downtown.

IMPORTANT: The #125 alternates between the two terminals at Detroit International Airport. When the bus originates from the McNamara Terminal it does not stop at the Smith Terminal and vice versa. Be sure to check the schedule to see where to catch the bus at the airport. For example, If you find that you are coming into the Smith Terminal yet the bus is leaving from the McNamara Terminal you need to look for the “Airport Terminal to Terminal Shuttle” in order to transfer terminals to catch the bus.

The last stop for the #125 bus is at Larned & St. Antoine in downtown Detroit. This intersection is in the heart of metro Detroit and is approximately 1.7 miles from the Detroit Medical Center which encompasses Detroit Receiving Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Harper University Hospital and The VA Medical Center. I would suggest simply catching a taxi to your final destination if it is close by or preparing your trip using the Trip Planner if you want to take public transportation the entire way.

AAMC’s FIRST for Medical Education offers SmartMedTravel.com as resource to reduce interview related costs

Randon Hall — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:21:35 +0000

Financial Information, Resources, Services and Tools

“Created by the AAMC in collaboration with the medical school financial aid community and the Organization of Student Representatives, FIRST for Medical Education is designed to help members of the academic medicine community navigate the complexities of student debt.”

“FIRST offers a full range of Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools for applicants, medical school students, residents, advisors, and financial aid officers. Our goal is to help medical school borrowers expand their financial literacy, make smart decisions about student loans, and manage their student debt wisely.”

An article put out by the AAMC’s FIRST program entiltled, The Cost of Applying to Medical Residency, does a nice job of detailing specific costs associated with applying and interviewing for residency positions. More importantly, they recognize SmartMedTravel.com as a valuable and helpful resource in keeping residency interviewing costs low.

The article can be found at AAMC’s FIRST for Medical Education Website

Secrets of Budget Travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan

Randon Hall — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:04:21 +0000

Secrets of Budget Travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan

To be honest, there are very few options when traveling from Detroit Metropolitan International Airport to Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor is 20 miles from the airport which is about a 30-45 minute drive. Unfortunately, there is currently no easy or worthwhile way to get from the airport to Ann Arbor by public transportation. This blog will focus on the private transportation options that are provided in the area.

Without a doubt, the cheapest way to travel from the Airport to Ann Arbor is a service called The Michigan Flyer. I have personally taken this shuttle bus and it is an incredible option in a place where there are so few. To start, this shuttle bus costs $15 dollars for a one way trip, which is significantly less than the other options available. In addition, the shuttle is equipped with wireless internet as well as free bottled water. How can you beat that? The bus makes 7 trips a day from the Detroit Metro Airport to Ann Arbor starting at 6:25am and the last bus leaving at 10:20pm. The bus runs every 2 to 3 hours during that time.

It is important to note that the bus only drops off at one location which is the Four Points Sheraton located at 3200 Boardwalk Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48108. The Four Points Sheraton is located a few miles from The University of Michigan and the adjacent medical center. There is a bus that runs directly from the Four Points Sheraton to The University of Michigan, which is Route #36 on Ann Arbor Transit Authority. The bus will drop you off in a very central portion of the university, which in my opinion, is a short walk to the medical center. If you are interested in traveling directly to the medical center I would use the trip planner starting at 3200 Boardwalk Ave Ann Arbor, MI and ending at 500 E. Medical Center Drive Ann Arbor, MI.

I want to be very explicit in explaining where to catch the #36 bus to avoid any confusion or frustration. When you get off the Michigan Flyer you will see a Wendy’s adjacent to the hotel. Follow Boardwalk Ave in that direction. As you pass a section of trees separating the Wendy’s from the hotel you will see two large towers about 1 block away. The building facing you will say 777. This is not the building that you need to walk to. The closer building is called Wolverine Tower. The #36 bus picks up in the parking lot of this building. Simply walk to this building and you will see a sign marking where the #36 bus stops. Any #36 bus that stops here will be going directly to The University of Michigan.

This bus trip will cost you only 1$. Importantly, the #36 bus has no weekend service and has a different schedule when U of M is not in session. Please check the Schedules for this bus route on the AATA website or verify the schedule with the trip planner for the day you will travel. I personally traveled on a weekend and found another option using the trip planner, however it will probably not be as convenient. The other option is to plan your trip directly to your hotel from where the Michigan Flyer drops you off.

I know what you are thinking - This is way too much of a hassle. Let me do the math for you so that you will see that it is worth it. Round trip transportation using the Michigan Flyer and public transportation costs $32. The only other ways to get to Ann Arbor are to rent a car or take a taxi. By my estimates, renting a car with gas and insurance for only one day will probably cost $50 to $60. Secondly, the cheapest taxi I know of is ~$35 one way. If you include tip that is close to ~$80 round trip. Bottom line is that if you can find a great deal on a rental car and you are only planning to stay one day then go for it. However, if a rental car isn’t an option don’t waste ~$50 when you have the know how to get there for much less.

We are now on Facebook!

Randon Hall — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:15:19 +0000

In order to provide an additional community to allow medical students to share comments and advice about traveling around the country. This group is intended to act as a forum for pre-meds and medical students who will be traveling to interviews all over the country. We understand that in this economic climate the cost of interview travel will be more of an issue this year than it has ever been in the past.

The hope is that we combine our efforts to compile the most relevant information to save money for all of our colleagues. Please contribute anything from cheap hotels, travel options, tricks etc.

Join Our Group and Contribute!

North Jersey/NYC - The Endless Possibilities of Public Transportation from Newark Liberty Airport

Randon Hall — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:46:44 +0000

North Jersey/NYC - The Endless Possibilities of Public Transportation from Newark Liberty Airport

If you are flying into Newark, NJ the absolute fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get around is using public transportation. Even with an incredible deal on a rental car, if you add the hassle and cost of parking, public transportation canâ€™t be beat. If you have never used big city public transportation previously, this may seem daunting but it is actually quite easy.

The best part about Newark Liberty Airport is the AIRTRAIN. No matter where you are headed in this metropolitan region you are going to need to board the Airtrain. There are stops at every terminal and signs clearly indicate where you need to go in order to board. The most important aspect to understand is the ticketing system as it may be confusing at first glance. If you are traveling from terminal to terminal there is no charge. You can choose to buy a ticket while you are in the Newark Airport or you can buy one at the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station. Therefore, you do not actually need to buy a ticket prior to getting on the Airtrain. However, if you take the train past the last terminal with the intention of going to the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station you are going to eventually have to buy a ticket for Airtrain. It is deceiving because once you get off the train you are at the Newark Airport Train Station and think that you just got a free ride. However, because riders at this station can only have come from the airport the machines at this station automatically add the Airtrain fee to your ticket purchase.

If you purchased your ticket at the actual Newark Airport, DO NOT throw away your ticket once you are off the Airtrain. The Airtrain ticket also serves as the ticket you will use for NJ Transit or AMTRAK. When you buy your original ticket your origin will be the Newark Airport and depending on your destination the additional fee will be added accordingly. On NJ Transit trains you need to show your ticket to the conductor when they come by asking for tickets.

In addition, when traveling in the reverse direction make sure to purchase your ticket with Newark Liberty Airport as your final destination. When traveling to the airport you actually have to put your ticket through a machine at a turnstile in order to get on to the Airtrain.

The AIRTRAIN costs $5.50 and typically runs every couple of minutes between 5 AM and 12AM. It runs every 15 minutes between 12AM and 4:45AM.

To Destinations on Northeast Corridor Line

As you will see when you buy your ticket the NJ Transit train can take you to a number of cities throughout Northern and Central New Jersey.

Newark Penn Station is one stop up from the airport station and total cost is $8.50 taking about 30 minutes from the actual airport. Here you can transfer to a variety of options of public transportation. The main option would be to take the PATH Train to either Jersey City, Hoboken, or Lower Manhattan. There are also several other NJ Transit lines to all over NJ including the Raritan Valley Line and North Jersey Coastline to which you would transfer to at Newark Penn Station. The best way to decipher these options is to use the NJ Transit Trip Planner.

Trenton, NJ is a 60 minute train ride from the Newark Airport Station and cost a total of $14.75. It is possible to connect to Philadelphia from here but I wonâ€™t comment on that now.

New York Penn Station is a 30 minute train ride from The Newark Airport Station and cost a total of $15.

New Brunswick, NJ is a 30 minute train ride from The Newark Airport Station and cost a total of $12.75.

Princeton, NJ is a 45 minute train ride from The Newark Airport Station and cost a total of $14.

Southern California’s FlyAway Airport Shuttle from LAX is Cheap, Easy and Convenient – Los Angeles

Randon Hall — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:23:06 +0000

Southern California’s FlyAway Airport Shuttle from LAX is Cheap, Easy and Convenient

The FlyAway Airport Shuttle bus is one of the best deals you will ever find while traveling around the country. This is a 24 hour, 7 days a week non-stop shuttle service between LAX and several destinations in and around Los Angeles. The best part of the deal is that it only costs $4 for a one-way ticket. The three destinations to choose from include Van Nuys, Union Station and Westwood. When riding from the airport the classic blue buses pick-up passengers on the lower level of the airport terminal in areas marked by green signs reading “FlyAway Buses and Long-Distance Vans”.

To Westwood

Westwood is where UCLA is located and this service will drop you off within a few blocks of the UCLA Medical Center. Specifically, the Westwood stop is located at the UCLA parking structure 32, located at Kinross Avenue and Weyburn Place. This is a non-stop trip that takes about 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. According to the website, the LAX to Westwood Service runs 24 hrs a day and shuttles leave every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from either destination.

To Union Station

Union Station is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It is essentially the key hub for public and private transportation options such as Metrolink, Metro Rail System, LA County Public Transportation, City of Los Angeles Public Transit, Orange County Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and a few others. Essentially if you are traveling to a city closer to LAX than Los Angeles itself, I would investigate that cities public transportation options directly from the airport. For example there is a Santa Monica Blue Bus that goes directly from the Airport to Santa Monica. However, if the place you are headed to does not have a direct line from the airport then Union Station will most likely have a connection. Your best bet is to use the LA County Merto Transportation Trip Planner to ensure that you get the best route.

The FlyAway shuttle travels to Bus Stop 9 at the Patsaouras Transit Plaza at Union Station. Passengers will enter on the Vignes Street side of Union Station. Depending on traffic conditions, travel times each way can range from 30-50 minutes. According to the website, the LAX to Union Station Service runs 24 hrs a day and shuttles leave every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from either destination. However from 1 AM to 5 AM the bus service runs hourly.

To Van Nuys

The LAX FlyAway service operates from the FlyAway Bus Terminal located at 7610 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys. This is directly next to the Van Nuys Airport. Depending on traffic conditions, travel times each way can range from 35-60 minutes. According to the website, the LAX to Union Station Service runs 24 hrs a day and shuttles leave every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from either destination. From 4:30 AM to 9:30 AM the bus leaves every 15 minutes. However from 12 AM to 4 AM the bus service runs hourly.

I know LA seems like a tough sell on using public transportation. However it seems confusing because there are tons and tons of options. The best bet is to use the LA County Merto Transportation Trip Planner to ensure that you get the best route. However it is important to realize that the FlyAway service is an extremely convenient and cheap way that can get you to the central locations in Los Angeles County. The best part is that is a Non-Stop Service. From that point you can connect to a wealth of public transportation to get you to your final destination.

Simple Savings with Public Transportation in Salt Lake City

Randon Hall — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:26:45 +0000

Simple Savings with Public Transportation in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City(SLC) is a simple conservative place and so is its public transportation. If you take the time to understand its capacity it will go a long way to helping you save money when traveling to SLC. The cornerstone of cheap transportation in SLC is the new Central Station/Intermodal Hub. It is the epicenter of a variety of transportation options interchanging all in one place. It is the junction of Amtrak, FrontRunner commuter rail, TRAX light rail, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) buses and Greyhound buses.

From SLC International Airport

Basically there is one option and that is the Route 550 that runs from the airport to SL Central station. It runs every half an hour from 6:40 AM to 10:40 PM. It takes about 20 minutes to get to SL Central station if you take the express and about 45 minutes if you take the local route. The local route runs 3 times a day (6:40 AM, 7:40 AM and 8:40 AM). Otherwise the express route runs every 30 minutes. The price to ride the bus is only $2 and make sure to get a transfer because you are going to have to switch to the train.

Once you get to Central Station the next step would be to switch to the train called TRAX. Look for TRAX Route 702 -University Line (Eastbound). You won’t need to show your transfer to anyone before boarding the train, so just hop on. This train’s last stop is Utah University Medical Center. It is a 30 minute train ride to the “U”. It is as simple as that!

Personally if you are planning on doing some sightseeing or taking public transportation back to your hotel, I would suggest getting the all day pass which costs $5.

To Ogden

If you are headed to Ogden there is a brand new option that travels from Central Station. It is called the FrontRunner Commuter Rail and cost $10 to travel to the Ogden Intermodal Center. A one way trip takes about 1 hour from Salt Lake City to Ogden. This train runs Northbound from 4:25 AM to 11:25 PM.

Summary of Airline Baggage Charges

Randon Hall — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:51:33 +0000

Guide to Airline Baggage Charges

With the price of gas soaring, airlines are doing all they can to pass the cost on to the consumer. The biggest change has been the incredible charges that are levied for bringing bags on board your flight. We will do our best to break down the most recent list of fees to help you decide which airline is really the best deal. Take notice that a few airlines are now charging for the first bag that you check. It also appears that for a couple airlines if you check in online the baggage fee maybe cheaper.

AIRTRAN - First: free. Second: $10 online,$20 at airport. Third: $50.

ALLEGIANT AIR - First: $15. Second: $15. Third and additional: “Higher Fees” each. PER SEGMENT !

AMERICAN - First: $15. Second: $25.Third to fifth: $100 each.

CONTINETAL - First: free. Second: $25. Third: $100.

DELTA - First: free. Second: $25. Third to 10th: $80-$180 each.

JETBLUE - First: free. Second: $20. Third: $75.

USAIRWAYS - First: $15. Second: $25. Third and additional: $100 each.

UNITED - First: $15. Second: $25. Third and additional: $125-$250 each.

SOUTHWEST - First: Free. Second: Free. Third: $25.

SPIRIT - First: $15(Online) $25(Airport). Second: $25. Third and additional: $100 each.

SUN COUNTRY - First: $15. Second: $25. Third and additional: $75 each.

NORTHWEST - First: $15. Second: $25. Third: $100.

USA300 - First: Free. Second: 25$. Third: $25

Limited Info obtained from: GoGreenTravelGreen.com

Guide to Saving Mucho Dinero in Southern Florida — Fort Lauderdale

Randon Hall — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:15:16 +0000

Which Airports to Use

In general, there are three airports to choose from when traveling to South Florida (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int - FLL, West Palm Beach Int - PBI, Miami Int, MIA). The Miami International Airport is located 33 miles from Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beach Airport is 44 miles from Fort Lauderdale. The great thing about these 3 airports is that they are all connected by a commuter train called Tri-Rail. This allows you the option to fly into any airport and travel to your final destination very easily. I personally have taken the 45-minute Tri-Rail ride from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami, and it is cheap, clean and easy.

Fort Lauderdale International Airport

When flying into Fort Lauderdale the closest airport is Fort Lauderdale International (FLL). No matter where your final destination, access to all public transportation can be found on the lower level of the airport. There are several signs posted that will let you know where you need to go. There is only bus transportation directly from the airport. Specifically, Broward County Transit (BCT) Route 1 runs about every 20 -30 minutes from about 5:30am until about 11:30pm daily. The bus goes between downtown, the airport, and Aventura Mall. Buses can be picked up at terminal one, between terminal 2 and 3, and between terminals 3 and 4. I would suggest using the Trip Planner feature to figure out exactly how to get to your specific destination directly from the airport.

Miami International Airport

If you are intending to travel from MIA to Fort Lauderdale you want to head over to the Tri-Rail. There will be a shuttle at the bus transportation center that transports passengers to the Tri-Rail station, which is approximately 1 mile away. There are several Tri-Rail Stops along the way from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and it is about a 45-minute trip to the Miami Airport costing $3. From my experience, if you are going to the Fort Lauderdale the best option is to take the free shuttle from the train station to the airport and utilize any of the shuttles, cabs or buses that service the airport. For example, a person could take the Tri-Rail from MIA to FLL, free shuttle to airport, then free hotel shuttle. It seems more complicated than it actually is, but if you save 50-100 dollars on a flight it certainly is worth it.

Palm Beach International Airport

PBI also has quite a few budget airlines including Sun Country which is not available at Fort Lauderdale International. When traveling to Fort Lauderdale you may want to check what PBI has to offer, because there may be specific deals that would make it a more attractive option. For example, you may find a Southwest Ding Fare to Palm Beach that would be much cheaper than flying into FLL. Regardless, there is a free shuttle on the lower level of the airport that will take passengers to the Tri-Rail Station. It is about a 50-minute trip to the Fort Lauderdale Airport costing $5.00. Take the train to the FLL Airport station stop and another free shuttle will take you over to the airport. Once at the terminal you can utilize any of the shuttles, cabs or buses that service the airport.

Remember for the most up to date and accurate travel plans use the Trip Planner.
If you are in a hurry or would much rather take a shuttle there is one relatively cheap option from FLL. The Go Airport Shuttle is a great deal from FLL for about $11 to $18 to most destinations in Fort Lauderdale.

Visit the Fort Lauderdale page.