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Jill Nicholson April 11th Listing Essay
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Do you ever have to go to the airport?
If you do, it's probably because you are going to take a flight somewhere.
It's important not to be late, so you need to know how to get there. So,
how do you get there? There are three basic ways to get to Portland
International Airport. |
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The first way is to take a taxi. It's
the fastest and most convenient way, but it's also the most expensive. You
can call a taxi to come pick you up wherever you are, or if you're on a
busy street, especially downtown, you can wait for a taxi to come by. When
you see one, check the light on the roof. If the light is off, the taxi is
already occupied. If the light is on, it is free, so you can hail it by
raising your hand. When you have a cab, you can load your suitcases, or
the driver will do it for you. Most taxis have an automatic charge for
luggage, about $1.00 per bag. In addition, some taxis also charge more for
extra passengers, and some have a special airport tax! Therefore, be
prepared to pay well for your taxi ride. The benefits are the speed, the
privacy, the comfort, and the fact that a taxicab will drop you off right
where you want. Don't forget to tip the driver! That's an additional
10-20%. |
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Another way to get to the airport is on
public transportation. MAX is Portland's light rail, or streetcar. MAX is
cheap; it only costs a few dollars to ride to PDX from as far away as
Hillsboro or Gresham, but it can be painfully slow. It may take an hour or
more to get to the airport, so you need to give yourself plenty of time.
You also need to carry your own luggage and get from the airport MAX
station to the airport. This can be difficult if you're carrying a lot of
luggage, or traveling with small children. The bus also goes to the
airport, and it takes passengers right to the departing flights terminal.
The bus costs less than $2.00 and runs every 15 minutes or so. It's less
convenient than a taxi, but much cheaper.
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Finally, you can take an airporter
shuttle bus. This is a van that seats 10-20 passengers. Some shuttle buses
only run between the airport and downtown hotels, such as the Hilton and
the Marriott. Other airporters take advance reservations by phone, then
pick passengers up directly at their homes or work at an appointed time.
Airporters are almost as convenient as taxis, but they are not private-you
share them with perhaps a dozen other people. They are not as fast as
taxicabs, either, but they cost less than $10 from most parts of Portland.
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So, next time you go to Portland
International Airport, how do you think you will get there? Will you go
for speed and convenience and take a taxi? Will you take an airporter
shuttle bus? Or will you save your money and take the bus or MAX? You have
a number of choices when it comes to going to the airport.
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