<p>My d will be flying home for Thanksgiving. Do most students use the metro to get back and forth from STL airport, or do they take a cab?
She will be coming back to the STL airport around 7:30 pm Sunday night of the Thanksgiving break. Is it easy to get a cab and maybe split it with other students, or do you have to reserve one ahead of time?</p>
<p>S has usually taken the metro, but he travels very light. Backpack only for Thanksgiving. But there's usually always students one could share a ride with. I was going to say, put a message on the bulletin board, but it's not done that way anymore, is it? There's probably a way of advertising that you're looking for a ride on Facebook, in the WashU groups.</p>
<p>Just call a cab the night before (or the morning of, depending on when you have to leave) - The best (and cheapest) taxi service is Laclede Cab (314) 652-TAXI . I believe it's only a $19 or $20 flat fare to the airport, and your D should have no problem finding a taxi-mate (or mates) on her floor or from her group of friends. It's also pretty easy to take the metro if you're traveling lightly, but the cab can be more convenient.</p>
<p>We just used the Metro last Tuesday and Wednesday to and from the East Terminal when we visited campus to attend D's concert. It is very clean and easy to use. We were also sort of checking it out for D. The only thing that bothered me was that the Big Bend station you use from campus did not have very many people in it and it was underground. It is well lit, but no one was there but us. However, I don't think that would be a problem with all the students that will be leaving for Thanksgiving. We stayed at the Knight Center (on campus hotel and business center). I mentioned to a fellow working there my trepidations about the 'empty' station and he said that they have never had any problems. He jokingly said you worry when there ARE people at a station! It was also very 'quiet' at the East Terminal station, but it is outside (actually elevated up above the airport parking lot). You do have to go two stops from campus, deboard, cross the platform and board another train (do the same in reverse when returning to campus from the airport). This link to a map of the Metro shows why you do this (I am a visual person and needed to see a map!) -
<a href="http://www.metrostlouis.org/MetroBus/Maps/SystemMaps/MapMetroLinkMR.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.metrostlouis.org/MetroBus/Maps/SystemMaps/MapMetroLinkMR.pdf</a></p>
<p>This is a link to the university's page on traveling from the airport - </p>
<p>ALSO, another parent on CC said the university provides transportation TO the airport at Thanksgiving. She said the students have to go to Res Life and sign up for a time and it takes the students right from the South 40 to the airport. We have no experience with this as D is a freshman. I guess you then have to take the Metro or a cab back. I don't think they provide transportation in the reverse on Sunday.</p>
<p>We allowed ourselves 45-60 minutes to get to the airport. That included walking to the stop (we did it from the South 40 to get an accurate time).
Parking and transportation does say that the campus shuttle picks students up from the clock tower on the South 40 and will take them to the Metro stop on Big Bend (and also to the Skinker stop - one is right after the other).
The thing I personally like about the Metro is that there is no traffic! You don't have to worry about an auto accident on the highway, etc. delaying your trip to the airport and possibly causing you to be late. It is very predictable.</p>
<p>Here is the link to the Campus Circulator bus route -
<a href="http://parking.wustl.edu/Campus%20Circulator_2008.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://parking.wustl.edu/Campus%20Circulator_2008.pdf</a>
and here is the link to the Campus Circulator schedule -
<a href="http://parking.wustl.edu/campus_circulator_072007.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://parking.wustl.edu/campus_circulator_072007.pdf</a></p>
<p>Hope this gives you some options!</p>
<p>MWP, thanks for putting all the transportation links in one place -- very helpful! By the way, how did you like staying at the Knight Center? I'll be trying it out next week-end.</p>
<p>CC - I'll preempt a bit here just to tell you that the Knight Center is terrific. Plush accommodations, internet computer on each floor in the conference room which can be accessed with your key (the password is pasted above the screen), and staff is friendly and helpful. You are close to the metro station - out front door, make left, make first right down to street, make left and walk to light. Nice staying on campus too.</p>
<p>CC Ryder - jimb7 is correct! The Knight Center is great! For all of our previous visits to St. Louis we have stayed at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza - also very nice, close to campus (but not walkable - maybe could access by the Metro), but more expensive. The Knight Center is beautiful inside -marble floors, stunning staircase. Hotel has several newspapers available in the lobby (along with the USA Today that they leave outside your door). They have a free breakfast each morning set up on the second floor (I didn't even know about this when I booked) that is just a beautiful thing to behold -eggs on English muffins, scrambled eggs with and without cheese, miniature scones, bagels, tons of fruit, several kinds of coffee, juice, etc. etc. - amazing! They even have a FREE guest pantry on each floor that has single serving packages of crackers, cookies, granola bars, etc. and a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and juice. The Pub is on the fourth floor - small but very nice and GREAT food - open until 10 pm, with dinner being served until 9. The bartender George was very friendly and SO helpful with any questions we had - regarding the Metro, best way to exit the Knight Center to head to the concert, etc.</p>
<p>I believe all the rooms only have a queen bed. I was thinking that it would be nice to get D out of the dorm for a night and have her come and stay with us there, but it would necessitate renting another room and then she wouldn't be with us!</p>
<p>Thanks to you both for the wonderful feedback. I am definitely looking forward to my upcoming visit!</p>
<p>WUSTL's special shuttle schedule to the airport for 2006 is still on the web, and I would expect a similar schedule for 2007 will be posted closer to the date. See: <a href="http://parking.wustl.edu/thanks06.htm%5B/url%5D">http://parking.wustl.edu/thanks06.htm</a></p>
<p>How expensive is the Knight Center? I don't see any prices on their web link.</p>
<p>$189 + taxes</p>
<p>We paid $109 + taxes Tuesday night last week - that included breakfast and free access to the guest pantry on our floor.</p>
<p>It's $109 if you are a student or related to a student. Other groups may qualify for the reduced rate, too, but you'll have to call to get the price schedule.</p>
<p>During Orientation, Parents Weekend, Conferences, Thurtene, and other special occasions is full prices; discounts only apply "low season" times.
Knight Center was created to accommodate special guest and speakers, parents could stay there depending the availability. No one under 18 years old is allowed but you could see kids sometime.</p>