Author Topic: Travel Options (How to get to and from home?) (Read 4169 times)

hcwfla · « **on:** April 10, 2007, 01:31 PM »

Do students travel by train to New York? and is this a safe thing to do?

JHU_Jackie · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2007, 02:14 PM »

I love the train. I would definitely say unless someone is coming to pick you up for a break in a car, a majority of students from New York and New Jersey take the train. I'm from Connecticut and I have the option of taking the train or flying, but I usually choose the train. It is a lot less hassle, especially since Penn Station in Baltimore is close. I've also taken the train into New York City, but there is also a bus for around $30 dollars. I would say the train is safe, I'm not quite sure what you mean in terms of safety, but I always feel comfortable on the train. It's very relaxing.

JHU_Adam · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2007, 03:12 PM »

I've taken the train and i love it. Its a little expensive (~$86 one way), but in terms of safety it can't be beat. the scenery is also pretty awesome and it drops you off about 10 blocks away from campus. If you time it right you can even take a JHMI shuttle from the train station to hopkins so you're as safe as safe can be

JHU_Julia · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2007, 04:22 PM »

I take Amtrak every time I go home and it's great. The trains are nice and it's about $120 round trip, but less if you have a student advantage card. And Amtrak is most definitely safe...the company is run by the federal government so really, no worries there!

JHU_Laura · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2007, 06:25 PM »

The Train to NY is great!! It's super easy and surprisingly quick! It's faster than the bus aaand incredibly easy to get work done on!!

JHU_Jackie · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2007, 04:55 PM »

to add to the getting work done on the train, I love when I get a wiindow seat with an outlet. I can plug in my laptop and watch movies or write papers...it's a beautiful thing.

JHU_Beverly · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2007, 09:47 AM »

I definitely think the train is a safe route to go epecially if you leave early in the morning...so you can make it to NY by the afternoon. Safety shouldn't be the biggest concern in that situation; I think it should be making it to the train station on time, sometimes the clocks and leaving times are a little wack and can throw you off. :)

JHU_Stefanie · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2007, 12:23 PM »

Ok, I took the China Town Bus for $20 to NYC. I was fine. But then again, I'd recommend the train anyday over buses.

JHU_Jackie · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2007, 05:51 PM »

Actually I just remembered that the train was one of the first times I traveled by myself and I felt very comfortable it's very managable to do and you don't have to be there super early either. Very convenient and safe, especially if you are going alone.

JHU_Stefanie · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2007, 04:38 PM »

That's great! The train station is also located in a better place. When I say this, I only mean that it's on the free shuttle route. The Greyhound is available, but you'll have to grab a taxi there (which requires money). So, I think trains win the race.

JHU_Laura · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2007, 11:01 AM »

Also, since it is super easy to get to the Train Station from Hopkins--it is easy to travel just about anywhere (not just NY!!), Trains will get you all around the East Coast! AND even better, you can take the Light Rail from Penn Station to BWI and Fly ANYWHERE!! (I'm from Seattle, so I like that flying option).
It's a really easy trip and wayyy cheaper than taking a cab!

Though, if you have dear friends with cars, that is an even easier option.

JHU_Josh · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2007, 11:32 PM »

For fall break I took the Amtrak train back to New York Penn Station and it was easy and safe.

I'm taking it again for Thanksgiving.

It's about an $8-10 cab ride at most if you don't like taking the JHMI free shuttle to Baltimore Penn. I decided to go with the cab because I was going with one of my friends and we didn't want to have to have the hassle of luggage on the JHMI shuttle, plus we split the cab so it was pretty cheap.

But it is definately an easy way to travel and most students from the area choose to do that so I am able to travel back and forth with friends.

JHU_Stefanie · « **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2007, 04:08 AM »

Although I've posted about how I would recommend the train, here's the big confession: I have NEVER taken the train while at Hopkins. Well, I took one from Ellicott City, Maryland (30 minutes from Hopkins) to DC but it was in a massive group so I didn't feel the thrill of an adventure.

Because I live in Memphis, Tennessee (which is on the WEST side of Tennessee ---and TN is pretty flat horizontally), I am forced to FLY back and forth. Thus, every Thanksgiving and Christmas, I get a friend to drive me over to BWI and I proceed through check-out. I have only used the taxi ONCE to get to the airport, and I didn't like that because it was a bit price-y (compared to a FREE ride from a friend).

I did endure the 15 hour car ride APART from my first travel to Hopkins with my parents my freshman year. I drove my car the summer of my freshman year ALONE. Yes, and after I arrived to Baltimore, I proceeded to go play tennis with friends. I'm pretty crazy like that. Anyway, the whole point of this post is this: I need to take the train to NYC ... ASAP.

Mom2012 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2008, 11:11 AM »

Has anyone tried the low-cost Megabus service for trips between Hopkins and home? I just read an article about it in in Newsweek; it sounds promising.

I checked the Megabus website, and I see there is a stop at the White Marsh Park & Ride in Baltimore. I

JHU_Mandy · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2008, 01:21 PM »

While I've never used the Megabus, I looked into the White Marsh Park and Ride to see about getting there and according to Google maps, it's about 12 miles from campus, and supposedly about 27 minutes by car. I wonder if it would be a cheaper cab ride (and if there'd be a lesser chance of the cab driver taking detours to jack up the cost) if your son/daughter were to take the free Collegetown shuttle to Towson University, then catch a cab from there. Here's the map I was looking at to refer to. I mapped the location as White Marsh Mall, as the Park & Ride website didn't give much information about its location, other than that it's adjacent to the mall. Also, an interesting thing to note: If you map the location from 34th Street & N. Charles (like at Wolman Hall), it says it is 20 miles, but if you map it from 33rd & N Charles, it sheds off 8 miles, so if your son/daughter were to use this service and take a cab, in the interest of not having a huge cab fare, he/she may want to get picked up at a place where they can ask the driver to take the more direct route.

JHU_Julia · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2008, 02:10 PM »

Megabus is not the best option coming from Baltimore City since it does not actually stop in the city (only in the county--White Marsh--and in Washington). If you want an inexpensive alternative to the train, your best bet is the MVP Bus: http://www.mvpbus.com/

It stops right near Baltimore Penn Station (on North Avenue) which is accessible from the Hopkins Shuttle (if you take the Shuttle to Penn Sta. it is a short walk about three blocks north from there). It stops in Philly and New York.

Mom2012 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 15, 2008, 10:46 AM »

Thanks, Mandy and Julia! These both look like good options. MVP is definitely more convenient, but looking at reviews on yelp.com, Megabus seems to be the better service overall. If we try either one, I'll report back with our review!

JHU_Stefanie · « **Reply #17 on:** September 16, 2008, 01:11 AM »

White Marsh is a very nice neighborhood, but as Mandy pointed out, it's pretty far from campus. I've driven to White Marsh on multiple occasions (as they have a lovely IKEA), and it has been a 30 minute drive one way. A cab fare could easily be $30-40 to go that distance. But I'm looking forward to hearing your review!

P.S. The "China Town Bus" now has a pick up off of North Charles Street. To go to NYC, it'll cost $20 one way. Because the pick up and drop off are very close to campus, they're even more popular. :)

JHU_Rob · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2008, 10:08 AM »

I took MVP Bus to NYC one time. YOu get what you pay for, pretty much just a seat on a bus. But the ride isnt too long and for a college student I thought it was a bargain and I will use it again. Although, not everyone has the greatest experiences with these buses, it all depends on you and your flexibility.

cga123 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2009, 08:42 AM »

I have a child who will be attending JHU in the fall. We are from Florida and are wondering what is the easiest way to get her there? Fly? (with alot of baggage) Drive? (@15-16 hours with a carload) Shop up there for everything? (Seems stressful)
Ship boxes? (Where) Any suggestions/comments on how other students relocate would be helpful.

JHU_Lauren · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2009, 12:35 PM »

I'm from New Jersey so, while I don't have first-hand experience, I can definitely share what some of my friends have done to make the trip bearable!

Flying with a lot of baggage doesn't really work out well {especially now that they're charging so much just to add extra suitcases!} unless you pack EXTREMELY LIGHT. It has definitely been done in the past but it doesn't seem very practical, considering you will have to bring quite a bit. And although driving is nice because you can prepare in advance and make sure you have everything you need {and have some family bonding time before your child goes to college .... :P}, that ride is REALLY long. It might be an experience, but probably wouldn't be the best bet.

I would vote for a combination of two options:

1) Shop at home for some things so that you will be mildly prepared when you get here. Places like Bed, Bath and Beyond are great because they have a shipping plan where you can buy in the store and they will ship your things wherever you need them to go. The freshman mailrooms open for packages at least a week before move-in day, so you can have a lot of your essentials waiting for you here when you arrive.

2) Shop here. Remember that your child isn't going to school in the middle of nowhere -- this is a city! Baltimore is great because everything you could possibly need is in driving distance. I've never done it {I know JHU_Mandy and her family have though, if you wanted to ask her a more specific question on her personal thread}, but there is a really convenient option of flying here and renting a car. With one, you'll easily be able to visit Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Ikea, drugstores, supermarkets, etc. etc.

And then bring mostly clothes and such {stuff that can be packed into small places} on the plane with you. It might seem as if all of your belongings will sort of be scattered for a while -- and you're right, it may seem stressful at first {don't worry, even I felt stressed out about getting everything here ... and I only live 2 hours away!} -- but it will be the easiest for your family and definitely the least stressful in the long run. :)

Also, remember that once you are here, Hopkins has great options for storing some of your things over summers .. that way, you don't have to worry about this every year!

Good luck!!

JHU_Laura · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2009, 08:39 AM »

Hi! I'm from Seattle, so I definitely have experience with flying over!

When I came, I brought two BIG bags, and my parents also brought a huge bag with them.

The things that I brought with me were clothes, shoes & personal things, and I also brought a comforter/quilt and some bedding with me.

When I got to Baltimore we bought a lot of stuff--lamps, pillows, storage units, toiletries, school supplies etc... In some ways this worked out a lot better, because I was able to figure out what I needed in my room to make it work better, and could buy things based on that.

Good Luck!

JHU_Terri · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2009, 09:30 PM »

I would definitely suggest using the Bed Bath and Beyond pick and ship, that way you get to pick out all the things you want early on and then tell them when you want it shipped. When my daughter moved in last year we shipped some things and went shopping when we got there. Stores like Target and Bed Bath and Beyond tend to run out of dorm room supplies by the end of August. And there is only one Target close by, with so many colleges in the area we found a lot of bare shelves. Most importantly... enjoy the whole experience. Move in day at Hopkins is such a pleasure, they do most of the work for you, it's great!!

JHU_Roxi · « **Reply #23 on:** April 06, 2009, 12:31 PM »

I moved from Texas...so my mom and I flew up there and between the 2 of us had 3 big bags. I took bedding, comforter, towel, and clothes for the winter and summer and opted to buy the rest when we got there.

Like Laura said, doing it that ways is a lot easier because you get to the room and see what sized lamp you need, if you're in the AMRs you realize really fast that you need a desk fan and you also realize what kind of decorations will and won't work. There is a lot of good shopping in Baltimore, especially up by Towson, so as long as you have a car when you get to Baltimore filling in the missing pieces shouldn't be hard at all!

LillyP · « **Reply #24 on:** July 07, 2009, 03:22 PM »

Hi, I am trying to book tickets for my daughter to come home for the Thanksgiving week (we live in the west coast). Since she has class on Tuesdays until 04:20 p.m., I am wondering if it is "normal" practice for the professors to cancel their classes on that Tuesday afternoon (since all students need to vacate the dorms by 6:00 p.m. on 11/24) as most students will be heading home any way. The airfare (at least for Southwest) is cheaper during the day than their 6:30 p.m. flight. I would appreciate any inputs on this. Thanks.

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Author Topic: Travel Options (How to get to and from home?) (Read 4169 times)