Airport Shuttle Service
The Airport Express shuttle service offers the most affordable shuttle
service to the official conference hotels. The rate from Houston Intercontinental
Airport to the Medical Center area, where the hotels are located, is
$24 per person. The rate from Hobby Airport to the Medical Center is
$19 per person. The shuttles run approximately hourly from both airports
and deposit passengers directly in front of the Crowne Plaza, Holiday
Inn and Suites, and Best Western hotels on Main St. The trip takes about
an hour, depending on traffic, from Houston Intercontinental, and about
20 minutes from Hobby.
At Houston Intercontinental Airport, the Airport Express desk is located
across from the baggage claim area in Terminal C, by a sign that reads
"Express Shuttle." You must purchase your shuttle ticket at
this desk. (To get to Terminal C if your flight does not arrive there,
follow the signs to the inter-terminal train or walkways.) At Hobby
Airport, the Express Shuttle desk is also located across from the baggage
claim area, in Hobby's only terminal.
To contact Airport Express, call (713) 523-8888.
For more information or reservations on-line
see: http://www.airportexpresshouston.com/
Taxis
The following taxi services operate out of both the Intercontinental
and Hobby airports:
Airport Taxi Service: (281) 444-TAXI
Liberty Cab: (713) 695-6700
Yellow Cab: (713) 236-1111
Fares from Hobby Airport to the Medical Center vary from $24-$28 (plus
tip). From Houston Intercontinental, the fare is capped at $48 (plus
tip). Please note that if you are arriving with a group of conference
participants, it may be more cost-effective to split the taxi fare rather
than utilize the shuttle service. The taxi driver will not necessarily
tell you that there is a cap on the fare, but there is information in
the back of the cab on the zones.
For more information see: http://www.yellowcabhouston.com/fare_info.html
Public Transport
It is possible to take a Houston Metro bus from IAH or Hobby. From
Bush Intercontinental (IAH), the bus will go downtown, where you can
take the metro tram which goes to Rice's campus and the hotels in the
area. From Hobby, the bus goes through the Medical Center and past the
Western end of Rice's campus. The trip from IAH will take almost 2 hours,
while from Hobby it will take approximately 45 minutes.
Returning to the Airport
If you choose to return to the airport via the Airport Express shuttle
service, you can arrange a pickup by calling them directly at the above
number. Please make your reservation with Airport Express at least 3
hours prior to the time of your departure from the hotel; the night
before if you are leaving in the morning. If you choose to return via
taxi, call any of the above services at least forty-five minutes prior
to your departure. Unfortunately the shuttles have a reputation of missing
pickups. They will only pick up and set down from designated sites.
Our graduate students have offered their help to do some airport
pick-ups. If you need an airport pick-up please contact us as soon as
possible.