One of the most daunting tasks, after you have booked travel, is getting to and from the airport. Am I going to have someone drop me off, and if not, what is the most affordable and convenient parking options. Well for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, I have your solution.
Now I ALREADY know there are some of you saying “This is easy, just use the Brown lot. It’s like $12 a day, and they have a shuttle that takes you to the airport”. And that’s actually a decent option. But I have an option that will get you to the airport FASTER, and also CHEAPER: The Brookpark RTA station…
The main advantage? Parking is FREE, yes FREE. They have a large lit parking lot with camera’s everywhere. There is short term and long term designated parking areas. I always park in the closer short term lot, because I don’t feel like walking. Plus what are they gonna to do, it’s FREE either way… *kanye shrug*
So after you park, you’re going to walk inside the facility and purchase a ticket for the RTA. You’ll need to purchase one for the “red line”. You’ll press R5.
You’ll then press R5 again for the $2.50 Bus/Rapid
Finally you’ll select your payment method by pressing R6 since hopefully you’ll be using a credit card for your purchase. In our travel community we want to use a credit card to gain points & miles for EVERY transaction.
The machine will spit you out a ticket, then you’ll walk (or take the elevator) upstairs to the platform and wait on the train to arrive.
It comes every 15 min. Often times I’ve got there and walked right on the train with zero wait. There’s no need to brandish your ticket to board, you’ll only need it if a ticket agent comes and asks to see it. In the dozens of times I’ve took this route, that has only happened ONCE. Mainly because the other amazing thing about this, is the ride is literally 2 min 30 sec (I’ve timed it). Yes, 2:30 and you’ll be at the airport. The Brookpark RTA station is the last stop before the airport. So you’ll get on, and the very next stop is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, so you don’t even have to “think”. You just get on, and the very next stop you get off.
The last piece that makes this “hack” so awesome, is that the RTA drops you off INSIDE of the airport. So you’ll walk off the train, go to the escalators, and proceed the boarding area.
*BONUS* If you use the middle escalator, it takes you directly to the TSA Pre-check line. TSA Pre-check is a MUST have for any serious traveler.
You’ll use this same scenario when you return from your trip, and head back to your vehicle. The first stop the RTA takes from the airport is the Brookpark station.
All in all this will cost you $5 ($2.50 ea. way) regardless HOW long you park your vehicle there. Definitely a “hack” worth knowing.
I’ll probably make a video in the future so that you can SEE the process in real time. Well Knowrisk checking out, and as always, catch me in the skies!