IAD Transportation from VERY CLOSE?
Nov 28, 2012, 1:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 51
IAD Transportation from VERY CLOSE?
So I live in Dulles Station, very close to several airport hotels (Hyatt Dulles, Sheraton, etc), and about a mile as the crow flies from the terminal.
What's my best option for getting there? It's all but impossible to walk, and my suitcase won't fit on a bicycle. I'd go with a cab but I feel kind of sheepish paying the minimum fare to a cabby who has been waiting for hours for a fare. Driving there and paying a week of parking seems a bit asinine, and there's nobody close by to give me a ride.
Any suggestions? Can I pass the folks at Sheraton a few bucks to forget that I didn't stay there and give me a ride in their shuttle?
What's my best option for getting there? It's all but impossible to walk, and my suitcase won't fit on a bicycle. I'd go with a cab but I feel kind of sheepish paying the minimum fare to a cabby who has been waiting for hours for a fare. Driving there and paying a week of parking seems a bit asinine, and there's nobody close by to give me a ride.
Any suggestions? Can I pass the folks at Sheraton a few bucks to forget that I didn't stay there and give me a ride in their shuttle?
Nov 28, 2012, 4:15 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
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If you live within walking distance from one of the hotels I would go and talk to the manager about seeing if you can pay to use their shuttle. It may be some benefit to have some status with that hotel chain. Other option is if you know when you will be traveling you could just talk to the regular driver and pay him/her for the ride.
The other option are taxi, airport shuttle, neighbor.
As for the cab ride home talk to someone else waiting for a cab and offer them to split the cab ride home by giving them $10 for your part.
The other option are taxi, airport shuttle, neighbor.
As for the cab ride home talk to someone else waiting for a cab and offer them to split the cab ride home by giving them $10 for your part.
Nov 29, 2012, 6:06 am
#3
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I don't know the exact parameters, but when a cabby from IAD gets a very short-haul fare he doesn't go to the back of the line for his next fare - he's bumped towards the front of the line when he returns to the airport.
Nov 29, 2012, 6:45 am
#4
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Lots of options:
1. Hop on a shuttle and give the driver a nice tip. For liability reasons and licensing reasons, it's unlikely that the property can actually authorize you to ride their shuttle as a non-guest. But, the driver likely won't know and won't object to a $15 tip.
2. Take a cab and simply pay a decent amount above whatever the meter says. Consider it a giant holiday tip. I'm not sure that IAD does what some airports such as LGA do for their super short taxi runs (provide a card which moves the driver back to the head of the line).
3. Book an Uber on arrival. They are always floating around IAD, don't wait in taxi lines and are simply out of service for the period of the quick run. A bit more expensive than cabs, but hardly over a short distance.
4. Pay the neighbor's kid to pick you up.
1. Hop on a shuttle and give the driver a nice tip. For liability reasons and licensing reasons, it's unlikely that the property can actually authorize you to ride their shuttle as a non-guest. But, the driver likely won't know and won't object to a $15 tip.
2. Take a cab and simply pay a decent amount above whatever the meter says. Consider it a giant holiday tip. I'm not sure that IAD does what some airports such as LGA do for their super short taxi runs (provide a card which moves the driver back to the head of the line).
3. Book an Uber on arrival. They are always floating around IAD, don't wait in taxi lines and are simply out of service for the period of the quick run. A bit more expensive than cabs, but hardly over a short distance.
4. Pay the neighbor's kid to pick you up.
Nov 29, 2012, 2:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 312
If you want to get TO the airport, why not just call a cab? Your cab will have not been waiting in line to do a pick-up from your house.
And yes, I'd do the shuttle thing. I used to live around the corner from a hotel with an airport shuttle and would just call the concierge and book a trip. I'd tell them I was a local, not a guest, and they would arrange some fee (I forget how much) but it was not a problem for them.
Also, is there not a Loudon county bus service?
And yes, I'd do the shuttle thing. I used to live around the corner from a hotel with an airport shuttle and would just call the concierge and book a trip. I'd tell them I was a local, not a guest, and they would arrange some fee (I forget how much) but it was not a problem for them.
Also, is there not a Loudon county bus service?
Nov 30, 2012, 12:23 am
#6
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I recall there was some system for the cabbies if they got a short haul that they wouldnt be stuck in the queue again. to reward them for taking a short haul they would get into a secondary line and jump to the front.
Nov 30, 2012, 6:29 am
#7
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that is my understanding, also. so just call a cab from the airport,
Dec 6, 2012, 11:18 am
#8
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Another way is to try to work that into conversation and ask. A point blank question may not get an honest answer if they think you will tip a lot.
Dec 6, 2012, 9:36 pm
#9
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Timely thread for me. For Xmas, we're leaving out of DCA on a 5:45 am flight. If we were to leave from home, we'd have to leave at 4:00 am.
We've considered staying at the Hilton Crystal City, but the Shuttle doesnt start until 5:00 am. Any idea how to get over there from the hotel?
We've considered staying at the Hilton Crystal City, but the Shuttle doesnt start until 5:00 am. Any idea how to get over there from the hotel?
Dec 9, 2012, 9:40 pm
#10
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Well, one of these years you'll just take the Silver Line one stop. In the meantime, the only local bus that goes to IAD is the "Udvar-Hazy shuttle," which also stops at Dulles Town Center.
Even if you could arrange your suitcase on a bike (I've gone to DCA and BWI by bike), the only legal way to ride in is via 606/Old Ox Rd north of the airport. That makes it a 7.5 mile trip, rather than a one-mile trip.
To get from Crystal City to DCA, cabs have no problem with the trip -- or you can walk it like the flight crews.
Even if you could arrange your suitcase on a bike (I've gone to DCA and BWI by bike), the only legal way to ride in is via 606/Old Ox Rd north of the airport. That makes it a 7.5 mile trip, rather than a one-mile trip.
To get from Crystal City to DCA, cabs have no problem with the trip -- or you can walk it like the flight crews.
Last edited by paytonc; Dec 11, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Dec 10, 2012, 4:49 pm
#11
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In the meantime, the only local bus that goes to IAD is the "Udvar-Hazy shuttle," which also stops at Dulles Town Center.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes/981.htm
This is an "express" bus that runs between Tysons/Westpark and Dulles, with stops at Reston Town Center and Herndon/Monroe Park/Ride. It runs from early morning to late at night. Every 25 minutes on weekdays; every 50 minutes on weekends.
Dec 13, 2012, 6:25 pm
#13
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Timely thread for me. For Xmas, we're leaving out of DCA on a 5:45 am flight. If we were to leave from home, we'd have to leave at 4:00 am.
We've considered staying at the Hilton Crystal City, but the Shuttle doesnt start until 5:00 am. Any idea how to get over there from the hotel?
We've considered staying at the Hilton Crystal City, but the Shuttle doesnt start until 5:00 am. Any idea how to get over there from the hotel?
Dec 14, 2012, 9:49 am
#14
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Dec 16, 2012, 10:39 pm
#15
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It's a pretty pain-free walk (about 20 minutes) from the Hilton to the Terminal if you're two able bodied adults. You may also be able to hitch a ride on the rental car shuttle from nearby. Occasionally, hotels have even offered to cover the cab fare for similar cases when the shuttle timing just doesn't work.