Public Transportation (Baltimore: hotel, work, bank)

[hula]

I'm staying at a hotel by the airport. Is there easy and safe public transportation to the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards? What about at night and on the 4th of July?? Thanks!

[sobo16]

From the airport you can take the light rail right into downtown. There are two stops right next to Camden Yards, and harbor is about a five to ten minute walk from there. Your hotel likely offers shuttle service to the airport, and from there you can hop on the light rail. Round-trip tickets are $3.20 per person (cash only), and I believe there is a senior discount.

The trains will run late on the 4th since it is a holiday and a Friday. They will likely be crowded.

[hula]

Thanks, sobo!

[krakenten]

The Light Rail is sorta fun-the bus is not!

[barante]

One addition to sobo's advice. Instead of roundtrip, you might want to consider buying an all-day pass if you take multiple trips/transfers. It goes for $3.50.

[hula]

Originally Posted by barante

One addition to sobo's advice. Instead of roundtrip, you might want to consider buying an all-day pass if you take multiple trips/transfers. It goes for $3.50.

thanks! how late do they generally run?

[barante]

Here is some information about the light rail. About the most difficult thing in its use is to figure out how the ticket machine works. Without a ticket you will be fined, if caught.

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/...6LightRail.pdf
Maryland Transit Administration

I included a map in case you visit Baltimore on a rainy day. Going to Hunt Valley is kind of fun. You go through various parts of Baltimore. Hunt Valley Mall has all types of eateries, including Wegman's, a high-end grocery store which has seating. My wife and I ride there now and then just because it's a nice ride on the light rail. We usually go to Panera's, though, because I like their Asian salad.

[hula]

Originally Posted by barante

Here is some information about the light rail. About the most difficult thing in its use is to figure out how the ticket machine works. Without a ticket you will be fined, if caught.

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/...6LightRail.pdf
Maryland Transit Administration

I included a map in case you visit Baltimore on a rainy day. Going to Hunt Valley is kind of fun. You go through various parts of Baltimore. Hunt Valley Mall has all types of eateries, including Wegman's, a high-end grocery store which has seating. My wife and I ride there now and then just because it's a nice ride on the light rail. We usually go to Panera's, though, because I like their Asian salad.

Thanks, Barante! That is so helpful!! I love this forum!

I'm familiar with Wegman's too and we'll probably stop there too!!

BTW, what's difficult about the ticket machine??

[barante]

It's slow and requires too many steps to complete a purchase. So there is often a line.
Whenever I go to Europe, I can buy a debit card for transit and reload it when it runs low. I can do that in the Washington Metro, but not in Baltimore!

[krakenten]

Unless they upgraded, those machine will not reliably accept bills.

Pick up some dollar coins at the bank.

DC had the debit system as far back as 1989-as usual, Baltimore is third rate.