How to Get Away from the Airport

Beijing Capital Airport, headed to ground transportation
creative commons image wikipedia

How do you like to get away from the airport? Do you head to the exit to scope out the taxi situation? Look for your name on the cards held up by a driver as you exit security? Follow the hotel shuttle bus sign? Try to find an airport shuttle bus? If you're lucky enough to arrive at an airport with direct train service, do you take it? Track down the local bus? Rent a car?

Do you always do the same thing? Or do you vary your plan acvording to what airport you are arriving at? What's the best option? How do you decide?

In a recent interview on The Informed Traveler, IHateTaxis.com co-founder Steve Romaine discusses the various forms of airport transportation and tips on getting you out of the airport. Listen to Steve's advice to help you narrow down your choices, and arrive stress-free!

Listen: How to Get Away from the Airport - Steve Romaine interview

Informed Traveler: Twitter, Facebook, Blog

Related resources
IHateTaxis.com - An International Traveller's Ground Transportation Guide (100's of airports!)
Airport Arrival Advice
Dealing with Touts
Taxi Rates & Fares: Airport Taxi Advice
Dealing with Taxi Drivers

Transportation Stories from London

With the 2012 Summer Olympics underway, we thought it might be interesting to summarize some of the public transportation stories coming out of London...


Pre-Olympics Road Sign

Of course, Londoners were well warned about expected congestion during the games. And changes like these began to take place:


Games Restricted Lane Marker

And there was an interlude where signs like these were seen:


Picture Taken July 7, 2012

But, no more. The fully games transport system is in operation. Now for some stories (including why you won't see one of these on the road):


London's Hydrogen Fuel Cell "Green" Bus

Security Theatre? London Parks Hydrogen Buses During Olympics for "Security Reasons". 

• Interesting story about both London's fabulous new hydrogen buses - and why they have been taken out of service during the Olympic Games.

London taxi drivers banned from protesting over Games Lane and London taxi protest.

• As you can imagine, London's cabbies are none too happy with driving bans that effect them - and their passengers. If you are in London, just don't equate "taxi" with "fast" during the games.

London Shortening Opening Ceremonies

• They did do this: they shortened the Opening Ceremonies, at the last minute, to ensure that attendees and participants could get home before public transportation ended. Too bad they didn't think about that sooner. Read the article to learn about what was cut and you didn't see.

London's Games Lanes confuse motorists 

• The special games lanes were in place, but as London drivers stayed out of them, they expressed both confusion (as to when and where they can use them) and frustration (upon sitting in traffic while the games lanes went unused.

Uruguay to alter Olympic travel after delays 

• Imagine athletes stuck in traffic on a bus for more than 7 hours - on their way to a competition - and you can guess why this is a bad news story....

London wins early "gold" in quiet Olympic commute 

• Transportation on the first business day of the Olympics went better than anticipated, perhaps because Londoners were indeed scared off from venturing into and around their city....

Emirates Air Line Thames cable car breaks down and New cable car over River Thames opens to passengers

• London has an exciting new transport option: the Emirates Air Line is a cable car that will lift you skyward from one side of the Thames to the other. It's rather cool, as it can carry 2,500 people, per hour, in each direction. The Air Line opened with great fanfare in late June, but just days before the games began, it broke down, leaving a group of people hanging, literally, for almost an hour over the river. (It is operating again, let's hope for no further problems).

Next stop Olympic Park: sprinting star Usain Bolt steps on to London Routemaster

• The world's fastest man has been taking the bus.... and making fans very happy through his appearances, interactions and tweets. It's just one such story emerging from London - and comes with awesome pictures!

Emirates Air Line Cars Crossing the River Thames

Finally, a few interesting tweets (all with pictures):

• @londonstuff: It’s King’s Cross. It’s the 8am rush hour. It’s the Olympics. It’s the Victoria line. It’s soooo crowded. Oh. pic.twitter.com/AJ3t51m0
• @philreaysmith: Bumped into Team Egypt on the Central Line. http://pic.twitter.com/IrH9bYSg 
• @1972roses: @usainbolt hanging out with his track shoes on a double-decker bus - what runner doesn't love this picture? http://bit.ly/NLRiPs
• @CJ_Daugherty: OH on the tube in London. Driver announces 'Next stop Victoria and Team GB just won the bronze in Gymnastics!' Tube erupts in cheers. :-)  
• @MissEllieMae: On the tube with Olympic tourists who have no idea about London travel etiquette. They are jovial and friendly. I don't like it. 
• @PeteBSW1: Brilliant new service getting you totally automatic refunds for delayed Tube journeys in #London @TfLRefund http://bit.ly/Nyykyt 
• @paullantz: Video: London 2012: David Cameron rides Tube to Olympic Park via @Telegraph http://soc.li/QUkNeDm
• @sidin: London transport coping well so far: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19039072 (There are volunteers everywhere. Mostly smiling.) 
• @SouthAfricaNew1: London transport under strain with Olympic commuters: Britain's much-maligned public transport system coped with... http://bit.ly/QPSUqy
• @bolognarose: Love this: Edible Bus Stop turns London transit routes into a network of community gardens http://bit.ly/O264mF via @grist

Tip: if you are in London, or plan to be, visit Transport for London for full information on options and current conditions.

London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Volunteer transport pass

New Airport: Kunming Changshui

Changshui is a stunning beacon in the night. Image: SINA

Kunming Changshui International Airport (IATA: KMG, ICAO: ZPPP) is a brand new airport in Kunming, the capital of capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kunming Changshui. The Changshui Airport officially came into service on June 28, 2012.

Kunming Changshui Airport from the roof!

Our Kunming Changshui Airport Guide provides information on how to get to / from the airport. Most exciting is the sleek new light rail line that also opened on the same day. We have also rounded up information on other ground transportation options, such as taxis, shuttles and buses.

Kunming Changshui Airport's sleek interior

If you visit Kunming and have feedback on our Kunming Changshui Airport guide, or learn anything different about ground transportation at Changshui Airport, please let us know. We rely on travelers the world over to help keep our airport ground transportation guides up to date!

IHateTaxis.com Kunming Changshui Airport Ground Transportation Guide

All images in this post are copyright their owners. 

Here are some links to stories and pictures about the airport and its opening:

• Photos: New Kunming Airport's First Day
• Riding Into Kunming's Future

Bus Rider: World's Coolest Bus Stops



Bus stop in tiny Nowokornino, Poland (population 221)

What's the coolest bus stop you've encountered in your travels?

We've created a list... and are inviting you to add to it!

Bus Rider | World's Coolest Bus Stops

View more lists from I Hate Taxis

Join the fun!

Airport Arrival Advice

We at IHateTaxis.com are regularly visiting new locations and over the years, we have found following a routine works well and makes your arrival more stress-free. Here is our list of recommendations for arriving at a destination that you have never been before as stress-free as possible.

 

Arriving and Claiming Your Luggage

You will need some local currency when you arrive. You should be thinking about this well before you land. Are you going to exchange some Euros or US Dollars for local currency or are you going to visit an ATM? How much local currency will you initially need?

Go through immigration. Make sure you have your passport and visa (if required) ready.

Claim your luggage and make sure that it is yours! It is amazing how  many bags are black in colour. If you have common looking luggage then place a colourful ribbon or some other easy marker on it. Or better yet, only take carry-on luggage.

If your luggage is lost, visit the lost luggage office immediately.

Study the Local Currency

• If there is an option of changing currency or using an ATM before going through customs then we highly recommend doing this now. The reasons are simple as you are in a secure area of the airport and will likely not have problems or be hassled.
• If you now have local currency and are not familiar with it, take some time to study the local currency. Are the bills different colours? Are they different sizes? Stash most of your money away, but have enough for getting yourself to your hotel. If you do not have small bills or change, plan on purchasing something or asking for smaller denominations.
• Go through customs.

 

 

Being a Smart Traveller in the Airport Chaos





Shanghai chaos

Now the chaos begins and the reason behind IHateTaxis.com was created. In many countries around the world, expect to be hassled as soon as you exit the customs area. Touts live here and make very good money preying on the fresh new tourists that come through the customs area.

• Ignore all touts. You don't need to tell them your name, where you are going, where you are from, what hotel you are staying at, or anything else. Would you tell this to someone at an airport at home? Not likely, so don't do it here either. In some locations they will follow you like hungry mosquitoes, meaning that they stand to earn a healthy commission if you fall for their ploy. If they are persistent, then telling them that you have a friend picking you up or you are catching a connecting flight shortly might work. See our tips on dealing with touts for more information.
• If you did not have the opportunity to visit a currency exchange or ATM then go ahead and find one now. If you have touts following you then get rid of them, as they pose a serious security risk to you exchanging or withdrawing money. Sometimes heading up to the departures level will work "I need to catch a flight now". If you need to duck into a bathroom to check the money or load a money belt then go right ahead.

Airport Ground Transportation Options

Taxi queue at Singapore Airport

• You likely have studied your transportation options before arriving and have an idea of how you want to get to your hotel or next destination. If you are ready then follow the directions to get that taxi, airport shuttle, train, or just about anything else.
• If you are taking a taxi, some airports have a taxi desk to manage incoming taxis. They will take down your destination, possibly translate it, and tell the next available driver where you need to go. You may need to pay the desk for the taxi service or you will pay the driver when you get to your destination. Some airports will change a nominal taxi desk service fee that will be added to your bill.
• Almost all airport shuttle services have a desk where you may purchase tickets. Rarely will you pay the driver directly.
• If you are taking a public bus, then you may need to purchase bus tickets in advance of boarding from a vendor in the airport. Ask at the information desk in the airport, but be cautious of anyone hanging around the desk that is very helpful of taking you to buy these tickets (usually these are touts). Some public buses will make change, but it is always best to have exact change in the local currency.
• On any airport transfer service, ensure that you hand your luggage directly to the taxi or shuttle driver and you see that it is loaded or just load it yourself. In some countries there are scams between drivers and 'luggage loaders', which involves you handing your luggage to someone next to the taxi (or shuttle) to load it into the taxi. Then a tip is demanded for couple of seconds of services. The taxi driver will not leave until the tip is paid to the loader.

What do you do when you arrive at a new airport to navigate your way? How do you ensure you arrive stress free?

PS: if you want to do more to research ground transportation before you leave home, be sure to check out our 500+ free ground transportation guides to airports worldwide. We'd love to help you arrive stress free!

Read the other posts in our Smart Travel Advice series:

• Dealing with Touts
• Dealing with Taxi Drivers
• Taxi Rates & Fares: Airport Taxi Advice

If you've missed it, you might also enjoy reading this story about how we got our name: Do We Really Hate Taxis?