Transportation question from an international

<p>While planning my trip to Smith, I'm encountering some problems. I can't find a suitable flight to Bradley, so flying to a larger airport in Boston seems easier. But if I go to Logan I won't be picked up by Smith and I have nobody in Boston who would show me where I can get a bus/train to Noho. What would you do in my place?</p>

<p>You can take the T to South Station (there's a silver line bus that goes from Logan to South Station) and then switch to a Peter Pan bus to Northampton. Alternately, Peter Pan also runs a bus from Logan. If you take Peter Pan, you'll probably need to transfer in Springfield.</p>

<p>Peter</a> Pan Bus :: Home</p>

<p>This is not a trip that I'd want to do with lots of luggage (after you get to Noho you'd have to walk a few blocks to Smith) but it's possible.</p>

<p>The best thing to do is to take a Peter Pan bus from Logan to northampton and then you can take a taxi from the bus station to campus. There's a taxi company right next to the bus station. You can also walk, but it's a few blocks and it's all uphill. </p>

<p>But as borgin said, it won't be an easy trip to do with luggage. You'll have to transfer buses in springfield, which means unloading your bags and taking them into the terminal, and then loading them back on your bus. Also, it's a two hour bus ride, so you might be totally exhausted by the time you arrive. </p>

<p>You'll save yourself a lot of trouble flying into Bradley, and a lot of difficulty, even if it does cost more. </p>

<p>Maybe as an alternative option you could fly into Boston, and then book a separate ticket from Boston to Bradley. You'd have to go and get your luggage in boston and check in again for the flight to Bradley, but I can't imagine it will be that expensive, and you might save yourself some trouble.</p>

<p>Can you fly directly from Logan to Bradley? I tried it in Expedia to see what came up, and all the flights had at least one connection. That would also add another $160 or so to the cost of travel.</p>

<p>Not sure, I've never tried it. I was just thinking about alternative routes she could travel by plane. Even if she had to make a connection, at least she wouldn't have to drag her baggage around the bus station, since at airports they have stuff like baggage carts to help out. </p>

<p>Basically, the best thing would be to fly to bradley. Not only will this cut down on her luggage dragging, but flying into Boston can be a nightmare.</p>

<p>Today at an agency I was told that a flight to Bradley will cost me about €2000. o_O And that there are no tickets to Logan left. I was suggested to fly to New York and then this way or other get to Noho by myself. I will try other agencies, air companies and routes, but the agency I contacted was the biggest one and I doubt if others would be able to suggest me something better.
About baggage – I think I will have more than 20 kg of it – 2 big suitcases. I can’t imagine myself walking around the town with them.</p>

<p>Ouch, 2000 Euro. Is it possible for you to check online using expedia or travelocity or the direct website of an airline? You might be able to get a better deal that way, or at least see if it's possible to get a connecting flight between New york and Bradley at a price that's not too bad.</p>

<p>if you are attending international preorientation, I know that last year Smith organized a pick-up at Logan. I seem to remember that my D got an email as soon as she registered for pre-o, asking her for her flight information. Don't hesitate to contact Dean Tamzarian (Int' Students). He is very helpful.</p>

<p>I want to attend ISP on Aug 22, if I am able to get to Smith by then, of course. Lost in translat, I contacted Mr. Tamzarian, but he said that they don't go to Logan, which is 90 km away. He also mentioned that the packet I will get in June will have the information about getting to Smith from other airports. I think I will fly to either JFK or Logan. How much will transportation from New York/Boston cost? Can anybody give me exact numbers? I have to include them to my travel expenses.</p>

<p>It depends on how you go. </p>

<p>If you want to take the bus from Logan or JFK, you can look up the cost at the peter pan bus lines website. </p>

<p>If you want to fly from JFK, check out American Airlines.com, they fly to Bradley, as do a few other carriers. </p>

<p>If you want to take the train from New York to Amherst, you can take a taxi from there to Smith, or you can also take a train from New York to Springfield, and then take a bus from Springfield to Smith or take a taxi. </p>

<p>For any of the New York options, besides flying, you'll need to factor in the cost of taking a taxi from JFK to the train or bus station. </p>

<p>One good idea you maybe haven't considered is asking Dean Tamzarian if he's heard from any other international students in the same boat, and/or if he can put you in touch with them. There must be some other people flying into JFK or Logan, maybe for sightseeing reasons or something, and they might be driving to Smith, maybe you could hitch up with them and ride together by car.</p>

<p>Oh, thanks SmithieandProud, that's a good idea. Then the trip would be not so scary.
Flying to NYC seems too troublesome and more expensive than flying to Boston. I will find a flight to Logan through other airline companies. Thanks everyone for help!</p>

<p>So I found a flight to Logan, but it's on Aug 17, 5 days before ISP starts. Although this seems to be the best option, I don't know where I will spend these 5 days. Most probably, in a hotel, right? How much will it cost? Can Smith help in my situation?</p>

<p>You can ask the Intl. Students dean about it, but most likely you will just be told that you have to find your own housing for those five days. You can stay at the Best Western in Noho, it's fairly cheap and central to the city, so you can walk in.</p>

<p>Today I received my packet from Intl Students and Scholars, it has all the information about getting to Northampton. It's nearly the same as it was said in this thread, but there are some additional details. So, if anybody needs it, here it goes:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>If you fly to Boston - Logan International Airport (about 160 km/100 miles from Northampton), taxis and buses leave from the lower level of each terminal. Buses go to South Station in Boston, where you can take a bus to Northampton, via Springfield. The trip will take about 3.5 hours and cost approximately $35. (Last bus to Northampton is at 8.00 p.m.). Taxi service from Logan to Northampton costs around $120.</p></li>
<li><p>If you arrive in New York - JFK - and you are unable to get a connecting flight to Bradley, you may inquire about Connecticut Limousine (tel. 1-800-472-5466 or ctlimo.com) located at the Ground Transportation level at the Baggage Claim area of the terminal. Tickets cost $85 - and it will take you to the Union Station in Hartford, Connecticut. Then you will take a bus to Springfield, MA and then to Northampton. The Northampton bus station is located three blocks from the edge of Smith. Hartford to Northampton costs $20. Total travel time JFK to Smith College will be around 5 hours.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I would also check flying into the US through Newark (NJ) and then a connection to Bradley. Good luck.</p>

<p>I think I will fly to NY through a city other than London, I found a flight at last. Thanks :)
Another question. I want to get to Hartford by bus and then go to Bradley, where I will be picked up. I understand that's stupid but I'm not willing to walk with my baggage (there are going to be 2 large suitcases) to Smith, even if it's just 3 blocks away. So, how close is Union Station in Hartford to Bradley? I really need such details because my parents are so worried.</p>

<p>Hmm, not sure how close they are, but it should be fairly easy to find a taxi. </p>

<p>Though, you know the easiest thing to do would be to go to Smith by bus from Hartford and then take a taxi from the Smith bus station.</p>

<p>SmithieandProud makes a good point about the taxi. You'd probably have to take one between the bus station in Hartford and Bradley anyway, and if you take the bus to Northampton there's a taxi station inside the bus station, so you wouldn't need to worry about walking anywhere.</p>

<p>Thanks SmithieandProud and borgin, I see going to Northampton right from Hartford Station is a better option.</p>