Getting to/from RDU

Have you thought about how you are getting to and from RDU yet? 

• Maybe you are lucky and have a family member or friend who will drop you off and pick you up! (our return flight doesn't get in until nearly midnight)
  
• Or maybe you plan to drive yourself and pay for parking?
• Or maybe you are considering a taxi service?

If you are considering one of those last two options, I'll make a couple suggestions here, but would also like to hear from you, if you know of better ways to do this economically. Now- by mentioning specific companies, I am not necessarily endorsing those companies - they are simply options I am familiar with, to get you thinking on your own!
Drive and park yourself.

• You COULD use any of the airport parking lots, and of course, the further from the terminal you park, the cheaper per day it is. The cheapest rate is $6 per day. I used to do this, but got frustrated by how infrequently the shuttles seemed to run. That's an inconvenience on the way home, but if you are running a little late arriving at RDU, it can make anticipating checking in on-time a nail-biting experience. I do see that the airport lots have begun a rewards program for frequent guests. That's included on the linked page.
  
• There is a company (maybe others?) that have private lots near the airport and operate frequent shuttle service, picking you and your luggage up at your vehicle, and delivering you back to it upon your return. It also has a 'rewards' program, that give you a free day for every 8 or 10 days paid. Fast Park has all covered parking and offers a free car wash upon your return. The cost, once you add in airport fees, is about $7 per day.
  

Use a taxi/limo service.
Admittedly, I have little experience with this, but when I went to Italy some years ago, 6 or 7 of us parked at one couple's house and we all rode one van to and from the airport together. We used White Horse limo company and my foggy memory has it costing each person about $15, round-trip. Their website has a place to punch in details and get a price quote. Of course, there are other taxi companies and rates vary depending on distance.

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A great app!

I found another, VERY helpful APP last night that now resides on my iPhone.  It is called "Paris Metro- Map and Route Planner".  It is free and not only has a Metro map, but if you enter your beginning and ending stations, it will tell you the best route to take (i.e.. which station to change lines, if necessary) and how long it should take you to get there. Best of all, it works with or without an internet connection! I wanted to include the icon for this app, but can't seem to be able to save it, so here is a link to the app in the itunes store.When we travel as a group, it will be by motor coach, but on your free time, if you want to get out and explore Paris, the metro is a wonderful and fairly inexpensive way to go. (If you buy ten tickets, the cost per ride is only €1.37 or about $1.85.   If you've ridden any subway systems, you know the concept: get on the train that's bound in the direction you want to go (it will list the last stop on the line).

I am certain that our local guide will teach us about using the Metro! The important thing is to always have your ticket on you, in case the train inspectors come through.