<p>I live in CT and I have loved everything I've heard so far about Grinnell. My one question is how difficult is it to travel there? I'm close to the NYC airports, white plains, and Hartford (the latter two being very limited in destinations). how do most students get to campus?</p>
<p>The best airport seems to be Des Moines as it's a bit closer and has regular shuttles at break times. We connect through Chicago O'Hare, but I've been wondering whether Detroit might be better. On our 2 winter trips there, we've had some weather problems with cancelled planes. It's the ONLY downside I've seen so far and, of course, this could happen anyplace that gets winter.</p>
<p>My son usually goes from NY to Des Moines via Chicago, though he has sometimes got non-stop flights from LaGuardia to Des Moines. Indeed flights are a bit of a hassle but the students seem to get used to it. American Airlines seem to come out as the most reliable. There are often NY kids together on the same flights which makes delays, transfers etc. much more companionable. In three years (or so) we've only had one major problem(last week - a one day delay) but even that turned out OK really. All good learning experiences.</p>
<p>We live in the Northeast and my D was dying to visit Grinnell - so we sent her out there by herself to look at the school. Her flights could not have gone worse, she was delayed in NYC and missed the connection in Chicago, arrived 3 hrs late...and they lost her luggage. Still, from the minute she stepped onto the shuttle bus from Des Moines (free for students traveling alone), she was in LOVE and applied EDII. Waiting to hear.</p>
<p>I live in Central California, and I've always flown UA from Sacramento to Denver, then Denver to Des Moines. Costs me close to $500 round trip. Then I was talking to a friend who goes to U Chicago, and he flies Southwest from San Francisco to Chicago for about $100 one way. That's what I'll do in the future and catch the greyhound or get a ride from someone in Chicago area. I'd recommend exploring your options, but the first time, it would probably be better to pay the extra to go to Des Moines.</p>
<p>I've been checking into transportation on the ground because the only nonstop to Washington DC (our stomping grounds), leaves Des Moine at 7am. (Yeah, he could go leave in the day, but he'd rather go non-stop and be home faster). We were glad to learn that there is a school-sponsored shuttle that leaves at 4am on heavy travel days, as well as a private company that runs airport shuttles somewhat later in the day.</p>
<p>And of course, there are always taxis, but I would imagine that gets very expensive-even as a share-since the travel time is an hour between the airport and Grinnell.</p>
<p>We live in SoCal. I took D to visit Grinnell a few months ago. It was much cheaper to go through LAX then our local international airport (about half the cost!). So, we drove into LAX. We went LAX to Minneapolis to Des Moines to get there, but Minneapolis airport was difficult (not enough time between flights). Then there is the one hour (easy) drive to Grinnell. On the return we went Des Moines to Nashville to Lax. Nashville seemed out of the way, but in reality the time in flight was about the same and the Nashville airport easier. </p>
<p>I will check out Denver if she ends up there. Any way we looked at it, it is a PIA to get to from Southern California, but the flights are not too long. There is no direct flight from here to there.</p>
<p>I think students just need to accept - and understand up front -- that they are likely to spend a fair amount of time waiting in the Des Moines airport. Every now and then it would work out that the shuttle arrival time and the plane departure time were well coordinated, but most of the time our son ended up having to wait an extra hour or two. The Des Moines airport isn't exciting, but it is pretty small and seems very safe.</p>
<p>Pack a few good books in your carry-on! We're hoping to put our son on the plane tomorrow am to head back to Grinnell from Cancun. Hope it works out. He's had a great break, but is looking forward to heading "home" for second semester.</p>