From Up! Magazine

Features
Cheaper By This Dozen
By Nicole Pointon
Jun 1, 2006

Think a $50 airport cab is your only ride into town? Think again

Think a $50 airport cab is your only ride into town? Think again


If your jaw hits the Arrivals level sidewalk every time the cabbie tells you the fare to downtown, read on. Forthwith, strategies for a dozen WestJet airports that will keep your travel dol lars where they belong—that’s right, in Vegas slots or in your Hawaiian shirt pocket for that second mai tai at sunset.


Calgary International Airport

WHERE: 17 km northeast of downtown Calgary

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $35


GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $15 The Airport Shuttle Express operates on a non-scheduled basis, but reservations can be made in advance.   


Public Transit $2.25 Route 57 departs the Arrivals level from Bus Bay 20, with service to and from the Whitehorn LRT Station. From there, transfer to the southbound LRT train all the way downtown.

 

HELP, I’M CHEAP!
Airport Shuttle 1-888-438-2992

Calgary Transit 403-262-1000


Vancouver International Airport

WHERE: 13 km south of downtown Vancouver

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $25


GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $13 YVR Airport Shuttle departs from the Arrivals level for downtown hotels every 20 minutes.


Public Transit $3.25 Catch the Route 424 bus from the ground level of the domestic terminal to the Airport Station Bus Terminal. To go downtown, take Route 98B or 496.


HELP, I'M CHEAP!

Vancouver Transit 604-953-3333


Los Angeles International Airport  

WHERE: 24 km southwest of downtown Los Angeles
AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $30

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle from $15 Both Prime Time Shuttle ( primetimeshuttle.com) and SuperShuttle ( supershuttle.com) pick up downtown-bound passengers on the Arrivals-level islands in front of each terminal under the orange “Shared Ride Vans” sign.

 

Public Transit $1.25 Wait under the “Shuttle & Airline Connections” sign on the Arrivals-level islands in front of the terminals. Board the “C” shuttle to the LAX Transit Center. From there, board the Metro to downtown.


HELP, I'M CHEAP!

Prime Time 1-800-RED VANS

SuperShuttle 1-800-BLUE VAN

LA Metro 1-800-COMMUTE


Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport    

WHERE: 8 km southeast of downtown Phoenix

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $10

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $7 SuperShuttle ( supershuttle.com) runs 24/7, departing from the outer island on the Arrivals level marked “Van Service.”

 

Public Transit $1.25 Catch the Red Line or Route 13 bus, which runs to central Phoenix and surrounding areas.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

SuperShuttle 1-800-BLUE VAN

Phoenix Transit 602-253-5000


Toronto Pearson International Airport  

WHERE: 27 km northwest of downtown Toronto  

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $43

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $16.45 The Airport Express ( torontoairportexpress.com) departs every 20 minutes from “Area 27” in Terminal 3, “Area 18” in Terminal 2, and the ground level at Terminal1.

 

Public Transit $2.75 The 192 Airport Rocket departs the Arrivals level of all three terminals from 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Transfer at Kipling Subway Station to the southbound subway to go downtown. From 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., the 300A Bloor-Danforth bus goes to the airport from the TTC station at Yonge and Bloor.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

The Airport Express 1-800-387-6787

Toronto Transit Commission 416-393-INFO

 

 

Victoria International Airport    

WHERE: 29 km north of downtown Victoria

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $50

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $14 The AKAL Airport Shuttle Bus ( victoriaairporter.com) departs the airport every 15 minutes for downtown hotels.

 

Public Transit $2.75 Direct bus service to downtown is available Monday
to Friday with Victoria Regional Transit, on route 70X. Check the schedule at the bus stop outside the Arrivals door, or call in advance.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

AKAL Shuttle 1-877-386-2525


Orlando International Airport  

WHERE: 10 km southeast of downtown Orlando  

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $35 to downtown Orlando; $55 to Disney World

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $15 to downtown Orlando, $17 to Disney World with Mears Transportation ( mearstransportation.com). Look for shuttle buses on the Arrivals level of the terminal.

 

Public Transit $1.50 Route 51 of the LYNX public transportation system connects downtown Orlando to the airport from Level 1 on the A side of the terminal.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

Mears Transportation 407-423-5566

LYNX 407-841-LYNX

 

Ottawa International Airport

WHERE: 10 km south of downtown Ottawa

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $25


GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $14 The YOW Airport Shuttle ( yowshuttle.com) departs from Post 13 outside the Level 1 Arrivals area.

 

Public Transit $3 Downtown-bound Route 97 departs from Bay 14 outside the Level 1 Arrivals area.


HELP, I'M CHEAP!

YOW Shuttle 613-260-2FLY

OC Transport 613-741-4390


Tampa International Airport

WHERE: 8 km west of Tampa

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $20

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $11 Shuttle service with Bay Shuttle ( tampabayshuttle.com) to downtown departs the Commercial Ground Transportation Quadrants located at all four corners of the Baggage Claim Level.

 

Public Transit $1.50 on HARTline Rapid Transit, located at the East end of the Red Baggage Claim by belt #20. Route 30 runs to destinations including central Tampa.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

Bay Shuttle 813-259-9998

HARTline Rapid Transit 813-870-8718


Honolulu International Airport

WHERE: 5 km west of Honolulu  

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $30 to Honolulu or Waikiki


GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $8 Airport Waikiki Express (islandexpresstransport.com) serves the city’s hotels.

 

Public Transit $2 on Honolulu’s “The Bus” transit system. Buses 19 and 20 depart the airport for central Waikiki and downtown Honolulu.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

Waikiki Express 808-944-1879

The Bus 808-848-4500


Las Vegas - McCarran International Airport

WHERE: 2 km north of the Strip; 7 km from downtown

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $13 to the Strip; $20 to downtown Las Vegas

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $5 to the Strip, $6.50 downtown with Bell Trans Shuttles ( bell-trans.com).  


Public Transit $1.25 Citizens Area Transit provides bus services to and from most areas in Clark County. Routes 108 and 109 serve the airport and run to central Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip. Buses stop on the airport’s 0 Level, outside the Arrivals and Baggage Claim areas.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!

Bell Trans Shuttles 702-739-7990

Las Vegas Citizens Area Transit 702-228-7433


 

Montréal Trudeau International Airport  

WHERE: 25 km west of Montréal  

AVERAGE TAXI FARE TO TOWN: $35

 

GREAT SAVES:


Shuttle $13 L’Aérobus connects the airport and Montréal’s central bus station. The company also runs a complimentary shuttle service available between the central bus station and major downtown hotels ( admtl.com).

 

Public Transit $2.50 on the city’s STM transit service. Catch the 204 eastbound bus at the Departures entrance on the ground level, and get a transfer from the driver. From the Dorval subway station, catch the Rigaud-Montréal line to Windsor station downtown.

 

HELP, I'M CHEAP!:

L’Aérobus 514-842-2281

STM 514-STM-INFO

 



© Copyright 2006 by Up! Magazine