Traveling options to visit USC

NJMOM3
Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:03:38 +0000

^^ My d travels from NJ. She used the Charlotte Airport during Thanksglving break and took the Columbia Charlotte shuttle? (I think that’s the name) …they stop right in front of Russell House and pick up bus loads of students throughout the day. They are available all year but they increase the number of busses/shuttles during the major breaks. The only advice I would say is to book the airfare early and then make your reservation with the shuttle so that you get your student on the earliest one you can. The weather was unusually bad this past Thanksgiving and my d almost missed her flight…but that wasn’'t due to the fault of the shuttle company…the traffic was just horrendous due to wintery weather…so next time I would have her try to get on an earlier one. I just want to add that my d has used the Amtrak several times. It wasnt her favorite option but it worked out well and did save us a lot of money as I was able to get Value fares by booking early. I think I have gotten fares as low as 70$ one way.She takes it from 30th street station Philly and it is the one that originates in NY Penn Station. Its a longggg ride so I wouldnt have her do it for Thanksgiving, however she used it for both Winter and Spring break. The hours are weird…basically I think it leaves Columbia at around 4 or 4:30 am? and the returning one gets into Columbia I believe around 2AM?? I called ahead and had a taxi pick up my d from her dorm and was going to pay him to wait with her, however each time she’s taken it there have been several other students at the station as well as an attendant in the station itself. D has said she feels completely safe. I was really nervous the first time but after several times of her using it…I feel better. She basically sleeps or does homework. A lot of families actually use the same line to travel to Disney. Its an option if your D ever needs it. My d has many USC friends from Northeast, even as far as the New England area…they all seem to use the Charlotte airport when they fly.