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06-23-2009, 09:11 AM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2009
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Shuttle to SPI (via Brownsville)
Hello All,
In the past we've flown into Harlingen and grabbed a shuttle to SPI. I think it cost us around $70 round trip. This time we couldn't find the same shuttle service for any Harlingen airport info and decided to fly into Brownsville instead.
It looks like one can catch the RioGulf Coast Express - Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport - - to Port Isabel. It looks like it costs $2 per person. Once we get to Port Isabel we will grab the SPI Wave shuttle, which is free, to where we are staying.
My question is has anyone ever taken the RioGulf Coast Express to SPI and back to the Brownsville airport? According to the chart, it looks like the trip to SPI will take a bit over an hour. How reliable is the RioGulf Coast Express for the reported times at stops? Going down to SPI isn't so much an issue as going back to the Brownsville airport to catch our plan home at the end. I am trying to figure out how much time we should plan for or how early to leave in case there are bus issues.
I have to say I wish I had known about the RioGulf bus to Port Isabel the two other times we flew in. What a world of difference between $70 per person and $2 per person. But with the $70 you got picked up at the door of your rental and you knew you'd be at the airport on time. My worry is about how reliable the public transportation is on the way back.
Thanks for anyone's input/thoughts.
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06-23-2009, 12:09 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Dallas, Texas
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I don't know about the bus, but I can tell you that my daughter and I just took a SPI trip flying into and out of the Brownsville airport and it is tiny! Very tiny and not too busy. I wouldn't worry about arriving at the airport an hour and a half before scheduled to fly like you might with a busier airport. They don't even open the security area until just about when you're scheduled to leave so daughter and I spent a good amout of time sitting around and waiting.
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06-23-2009, 03:08 PM
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I am very curious to see how small the Brownsville airport is in comparison to Harlingen. Harlingen is pretty small too.
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06-23-2009, 05:04 PM
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Senior Member
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Location: Dallas, Texas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midwest_NE
I am very curious to see how small the Brownsville airport is in comparison to Harlingen. Harlingen is pretty small too.
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Smaller.  |
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06-23-2009, 05:37 PM
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Keep Calm and Carry On
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: la hacienda
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WHen I was last at the Brownsville airport around 4 or 5 years ago, there was only 1 gate. The Harlingen airport is very nice and has maybe 8-10 gates.
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06-23-2009, 06:10 PM
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Senior Member
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Location: Dallas, Texas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spree
WHen I was last at the Brownsville airport around 4 or 5 years ago, there was only 1 gate. The Harlingen airport is very nice and has maybe 8-10 gates.
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A bit of an exaggeration here, but to give the poster an idea of how small the airport is-as I was filling out paperwork for my rental car I felt as though I could reach over and grab my suitcase right off the carousel. Seriously, I did run over and grab the bag quickly while the nice lady at Budget was filing my drivers license and credit card info. So small, so easy. After I wasn't able to find my rental car in the correct spot, she left her counter, ran out to the parking lot and found the car and drove it up to the entrance within minutes. She could do this because there was nobody else there who needed help. It's that small! |
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06-24-2009, 09:04 AM
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Well, small isn't bad as long as our flight arrives in and out of the airport on time. We'll see after this trip if we go back to flying through Harlingen or not.
Anyhow back to my initial question - I wonder how reliable the Rio Transit system is between the airport and Port Isabel...
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06-24-2009, 09:24 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Dallas, Texas
724 posts, read 317,916 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midwest_NE
Well, small isn't bad as long as our flight arrives in and out of the airport on time. We'll see after this trip if we go back to flying through Harlingen or not.
Anyhow back to my initial question - I wonder how reliable the Rio Transit system is between the airport and Port Isabel...
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Small was great, everything went smoothly and on-time. Wish I could help you on your transit question. You may want to ask at www.spiforum.org. Lots of SPI and Port Isabel locals there who can probably answer your question. |
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06-24-2009, 04:37 PM
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Thanks for the forum tip, TXNGL !!
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06-24-2009, 08:38 PM
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Senior Member
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Location: Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex
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SPI is the airport in Springfield, Illinois  |
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