D lives in Boston and has an interview in Madison, WI. at the beginning of Nov.
The $$ to fly into Madison is around $500-600 while she can fly two one ways into Chicago for around $50 or another way which equals $180.
She is entertaining the idea of flying BOS to Madison and renting a car and driving the 2.5 hours to Madison.
Just wondering from the good folks here what you think. Is the drive going to be difficult? Getting out of Chicago?
I know there are toll roads–how much does the add?
Look up Van Galder bus from O’hare to Madison. The bus takes about 3 hours, is $30 last time I looked, and drops off on the UW campus. Ignore the other peripheral drop off site at park and ride. There is a car rental place downtown, or she can take taxis to a hotel. It is a nicer bus, with wifi.
The drive is do able, though traffic is heavy out of Chicago. I haven’t driven out of O’Hare in ages, as I always take the bus, so not sure of current tolls, which extend to the Wisconsin border.
Thanks will pass this on.
She wants to visit a friend who lives near the U of Chicago the night before she leaves for Madison.
She understands traffic problems but I do wonder if she understands missing a flight trying to get back to
Madison. Her interview ends by 2:00 and her return would be around 7pm.
So many thanks. I will see her tomorrow night and give these suggestions.
I do appreciate your comments and know that she will.
She is an applicant for a residency. It is an amazing thing that she has this
interview. Quite an honor, actually.
And, again, thanks and I will be checking back and will pass on all of your information.
I grew up in Indiana. I really love Chicago and have a wonderful memory of visiting Madison
in my 20’s. A very long time ago.
Van Galder is very reliable, but then she’ll have to find her way about in Madison. Where is her interview? Uber is reliable in Madison. The drive is not a hard one.
My son flies into Madison from Eugene, OR. Two 2nd tier airport cities-- so we’re used to terrible routes, lots of stops, and it costs a million dollars. But the upside is that the Madison airport is easy as pie to navigate. Rental cars from the airport there are strangely super expensive, though.
Yes she wants to see the friend, and yes flights into Madison are more expensive than into Chicago, but this trip is about getting to the interview on time and in good shape. I say shell out for the convenient flights to and from Madison. She can visit Chicago another time.
I would fly into ORD and take the Van Glader bus to Madison. I would recommend staying at the Lowell Center which has reasonable room rates and is on the UW campus bus route.
I agree with happy mom! Fly direct and bring carry on luggage. Let her friend meet up with her in Madison! Don’t miss the interview or show up stressed and rushed. Also, if she misses her flight back home bummer. And good luck with the interview!!
I am confused on the cost differential here. What do you mean by “two one ways into Chicago for $50?” Do you mean two separate legs into Chicago for $50 each, or did you mean to and from Chicago, for a total cost of $100? That seems unusually cheap. You also need to add the cost of the rental car or bus, though maybe not paying for a hotel would even it out.
Question being, how important is this to her? What would be the least stressful?
^I meant that she can fly BOS into Chicago for $50 and return for $50.
I have shared all of your ideas with her.
She has not yet decided and is rechecking the flights.
( I think she will fly into Madison–but all I am doing is passing on information not making suggestions).
Thanks! I will let you know.
Good luck to your daughter at her interview! As to the flights, it’s a frustrating situation. I live in a Madison suburb, and when my children fly home for visits, they almost always fly to Milwaukee or Chicago. Transport to and from O’Hare isn’t horrible but it is time-consuming. The drive to and from Milwaukee is shorter (1.5 hours one way) but traffic occasionally is heavy on the outskirts of Milwaukee and there is a lot of road construction there. Every once in a while, we book flights out of or into Madison, but the price and length of flights (usually the Madison flights have stops or require plane changes) almost always make using the other airports better deals. I wish it weren’t so; I’d love to use the Madison airport more: it’s small, easily navigable, easy to get to, and has a friendly atmosphere.
It also depends on where in Madison the interview is. The cost of getting to/from the airport to the place she needs to be can be expensive. I grew up in a Madison suburb, went to undergrad there and made plenty of trips to it for family and UW from elsewhere in the state. It can be confusing to drive there because there is virtually no grid- roads follow lakes and none of those are regular.
I would check the costs of flying into both Chicago and Milwaukee plus car rentals. Either airport would put you on an interstate easily. The problem arises when you reach Madison. Taking a bus into Madison from either airport can be done to get to campus or downtown but if her interview is away from there it could be difficult. It is difficult to navigate roads to campus and downtown because of one way streets and the two largest lakes.
If you PM any of us from there with her interview location we could give better advice and yet maintain some privacy.
She should have a gps if she drives- so easy to take the wrong turn. Madison is a wonderful place to live and work. Good luck to her.
bummer. And good luck with the interview!!