Transportation to Ithaca from Syracuse

Dianne 99 · February 20, 2003, 12:53:07 AM

Okay, so, I was firming up my travel plans for this weekend, and discovered that the airport shuttle that I used to take as an undergrad from the Syracuse airport to Cornell (~$35) doesn't exist anymore. How do others here get to campus from the airport? The only options I've found are Century Taxi, at $123.50 ::yark::, and Ithaca Airline Limo, at $50/one way. Is there anything cheaper out there? I may have a job but I'm still poor...

Turkeybone · February 20, 2003, 01:09:52 AM

From personal experience, let me tell you there is ONE single piddling solitary bus from Syracuse to Ithaca.. it leaves at like 5pm I believe.

melissa · February 20, 2003, 07:19:08 AM

Ithaca Airline limo was what i took all 4 yrs of college (and $50.00 sounds about right for it!):-(

jtwcornell91 · February 20, 2003, 07:37:29 AM

Is renting a car an option? Sounds like that'd be cheaper than round-trip on a limo.

jeh25 · February 20, 2003, 07:56:18 AM

Enterprise does $9.99 a day weekend rates BUT they are almost never found on airport grounds because of their business model.* However, you can still probably get a shuttle to their offsite location.

(*rather than compete w/ Hetz and Avis directly for the business traveller market, 70% of Enterprise's business is contract insurance replacement. This explains why you *always* get an Enterprise rental when your car is in the shop.)

CowbellGuy · February 20, 2003, 09:23:56 AM

John E Hayes '98 '00 wrote:

Quote...rather than compete w/ Hetz...

Is that like Brom or Darmouth?

CU at Stanford · February 20, 2003, 11:46:33 AM

Dianne:
I think your best bet is to rent a car from SYR. I rented with Enterprise in 2001 when I was in Providence for the Harvard+Brown weekend, and frankly, was not most happy with them. They kept trying to upgrade me to a more expensive vehicle. This past weekend, we rented with Hertz (Rebecca has a Gold membership), and they gave us Hertz Neverlost (the GPS gadget) for FREE. Our three-day weekend rental was less than $80, but when you added in all the fees and taxes, the final bill was more like $110 (YIKES!). Last November, we did fly into SYR and rented a car to go down to Ithaca for the weekend. If I recall correctly, it was less than $100 inclusive, so it would seem to me that your better bet is to rent a car than taking the shuttle.
Tom

Dianne 99 · February 20, 2003, 11:51:00 AM

Thanks guys, I'll probably just pay the $50 for Ithaca Airline Limo. Renting a car would be cheaper if I needed transportation for the whole weekend, but once I get to Ithaca, I don't need a car, and I've got a ride arranged back to Syracuse on Sunday. Hopefully I'll meet some of you tomorrow night at the game!

Adam · February 20, 2003, 01:32:34 PM

Dianne, I would bid for a car through Priceline or Hotwire. For an Upstate NY rental, you won't pay more than $15 a day plus like $6 additional for taxes and fees. It's a waste of money to pay retail, even if you are a member of a frequent rental club. Priceline or Hotwire consistantly save over 70%.

Jim Hyla · February 20, 2003, 08:46:17 PM

When are you coming in? We are going to the game, but as JTW knows we get to Ithaca just before the game, so I don't know if that helps. Call me at 315-446-8550. Don't rely upon me picking up an email. We could pick you up and give you a ride to CU. We don't have exact plans but usually get there 10-15 minutes before the game. Give me a call to see if we can work something out. We are definately cheaper than $50.