MDPKV

Ok, so I'll be a freshman at Rice this fall and I'd like to know if it's easier to travel from the campus to Bush Intercontinental or Hobby. I know that Bush is a lot farther away, but doesn't the Metro (which is free for Rice students) take you there and not to Hobby?

ifeldman

Bush/Intercontinental (IAH) is Houston's major airport, but it's a major pain to get to and from. Both airports have bus service (which will not be free when you first arrive, because you don't get your U.Pass until you get to Rice--fare should be $1.50 or $2) into downtown, and you can then transfer to the light rail, which runs by Rice. Driving time in a car is usually 45 minutes to IAH and 30 minutes to Hobby (HOU). Time on the metro is 1.5 - 2 hours to IAH, and about an hour to HOU. If you have luggage, I'd highly recommend taking a taxi or airport shuttle (check with your hotel to see if they have a shuttle service) because it's kind of inconvinent to drag your luggage from the MetroRail to your college, especially if you're at Jones, Brown, or Martel.

For trips home during breaks, I'd recommend getting a friend with a car to drive you to the aiport. It's quick, free, and easy. As to which airport to use, that really depends on where you're flying to (for example, I'm from Chicago, and only IAH has direct flights to O'Hare, while HOU flies direct to Midway only, and I prefer O'Hare over Midway) and ticket cost (Southwest flies out of Hobby).

anxiousmom

Hobby is easier. (I know your question was answered above - but I'm restating for simplicity.)