<p>My first year Smithie daughter will return to Northampton after the semester break on a Saturday in January. She has been able to use a very reasonable campus shuttle service to and from the airport in Hartford in the past. This service is not available, however, on the date she returns. Do any of you wonderful experienced Smithie travelers know if the Valley Transporter is the best one way service from Bradley International in Hartford back to the Smith campus on a mid-January Saturday? Are there any other options?
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Valley Transporter is very reliable. You make reservations in advance, and when you get to the airport and collect your luggage, call their number and they'll tell you when to meet the next shuttle. I highly recommend them. All the times I've used them, the other passengers were also Five College students.</p>
<p>Otherwise, it might be possible to take a public bus from the airport to the Peter Pan station in Hartford and then a bus to Smith, but the hassle probably wouldn't be worth the savings (if there are any, it probably wouldn't be that much), or find another student to drive your D from the airport.</p>
<p>My daughter used Valley Transport from the train station in Springfield to MHC and then from MHC to Bradley the next day. They were very reliable. I made the reservations ahead of time. They gave good directions and were there as promised for both pick ups!</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick replies. That makes me feel much better. Now, if only the weather will cooperate so she can get to the airport to come home this Saturday. She said that Northampton is supposed to get snow, snow, snow!</p>
<p>Definitely go with a shuttle service of some kind. If not Valley Transporter you can use Seemo Shuttle, they're a little cheaper. Those are the two best known ones, there used to be a service called First Class Shuttle, but I haven't heard from them lately so maybe they closed down. </p>
<p>Of your two options, Valley is the nicest but also the most expensive. Seemo is a little cheaper, it's a lot cheaper if you want to order a private car as opposed to taking the shared van service. I usually use Valley Transporter as I think it's the most reliable.</p>
<p>I wouldn't recommend Seemo; they are cheaper than Valley Transporter, but I've heard enough horror stories about Seemo that I'd avoid them if possible. I don't know anyone who has had a bad experience with VT.</p>
<p>Valley Transporter is $49 from Bradley to Smith and Seemo is $42. The $7 difference is worth it for the more reliable service. Valley Transporter it will be! Thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>P.S. Our daughter absolutely LOVES Smith. We are so happy she decided to attend this college.</p>
<p>Just a followup note to say thanks again for recommending the Valley Transporter. We made a reservation online allowing about an hour between baggage delivery at Hartford and shuttle pickup time. When our daughter got to Hartford about 15 minutes early, and called Valley Transporter to tell them that she had arrived (early), they told her that they had been monitoring her flight and were ready to pick her up an hour early if she would like. She took them up on that, and they even dropped her off in front of her house. I, and she, would feel very comfortable using this service again.</p>
<p>I'm glad it worked out for you! And I wish I could be at Smith experiencing J-Term this year...</p>