Flying to the United States
Start working on your travel itinerary as early as you can to arrange your trip to the US. A note of caution: the US Department of State recommends that international travelers wait until they have secured a visa to the US before purchasing non-refundable plane tickets.
Getting to Campus
By plane to Ithaca:
You can fly to Ithaca directly! Our local airport -- the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) receives flights by Delta and United Airlines, please see http://flyithaca.com .
By Plane to Syracuse:
Another option is to fly to Syracuse, NY, a larger city (about an hour and a half by car from Ithaca), which is served by most major American airline carriers. More information can be found on the Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) website at www.syrairport.org.
Shuttle Service from SYR to Ithaca:
From Syracuse, you can take a ride directly to the Ithaca College campus offered by a local transportation company such as:
Big D’s Limos – you can contact them by phone at +315-730-5931 or by email at Book@BigDsLimos.com to book your ride from the airport to campus. They also have a live chat option on their website. They charge an average of $140 for transportation from Syracuse Airport (SYR) to campus. In your initial email, mention that you are an international student looking for a ride from SYR to IC. Be sure to include the date and time of your scheduled arrival at SYR and they will assist you with the booking and offer you payment options for the scheduled transport.
Ithaca Dispatch – you can contact them at ithacadispatchcalltaker@gmail.com or call them at + 607-277-7777. They charge an average of $185 for transportation from SYR to campus. In your initial email, mention that you are an international student in need of a ride from the SYR to IC. Include the date and time of your scheduled arrival at SYR and they will assist you with the booking and payment payment options for the scheduled transport.
The transport options above are private transportation options which are available by prior booking only. You will need to provide a credit card payment to secure the booking. This will ensure that the driver will be at the Syracuse airport (which is about an hour and a half away) upon your arrival.
By Bus from SYR to Ithaca:
Depending on your travel schedule, you may be able to use a bus ride offered by public bus companies such as OurBus.com.
By Train to Syracuse:
There is no train station in Ithaca; the nearest train station Amtrak and is located in Syracuse. If you decide to take the to Syracuse from New York City or another destination, you will need to book a shuttle ride to campus. See the above suggestions for local private transportation companies. Make sure that you book your ride in advance!
By Bus to Ithaca from NYC:
Coach USA https://us.megabus.com/ or Greyhound www.greyhound.com will take you from the Port Authority in Manhattan to Downtown Ithaca. FlixBus https://www.flixbus.com/ and Cornell's C2C campus-to-campus bus will take you to Ithaca from mid-town Manhattan. Another option is the express service offered by OurBus https://www.ourbus.com/ .
A note on ground transportation from the airports in New York City:
There are three major international airports in New York City:
Each of these websites has a “To & From” section where you can find information about traveling from the airport to NYC. After you go through passport control, collect your luggage, and go through customs.
Proceed to Ground Transportation where you can select the transportation mode (AirTrain, MTA Subway or bus, taxi, etc.) to fit your needs. The Ground Transportation desk can also offer information on transportation options and answer any questions you may have.
CoachUSA operates a shuttle and an express bus that can take you from Newark Airport to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central, or Bryant Park to catch a bus to Ithaca.
If you need assistance at the airport, look for the information desk near the exit of the Arrivals Terminal at the airport or ask uniformed officials for help. Don't be shy about asking people to repeat any directions or instructions you do not understand, or you may ask them to write the information down for you. Slow down or speak more clearly if they look uncertain about what you are saying. New Yorkers are known for their fast, abrupt, and loud communication style. Don't be offended if they address you in this way, just ask for clarification. Do not accept assistance with directions, rides, or help with your luggage from non-uniformed persons. If in doubt, look for an airline official or a uniformed police officer.
Arrival Information
If you are arriving on your own (if you are not accompanied by friends or family and if you are not going directly to a hotel in Ithaca) and you would like a member of our staff to meet you at the Ithaca bus stop or the Ithaca airport, please send us your detailed travel information as soon as you have it, as well as an e-mail address and phone number we can use to reach you while you are traveling. We will do our best to assist you and will send you a confirmation e-mail with the relevant details.
How to get to Ithaca College from the Ithaca airport or bus stop
If you have notified us ahead of time, and we have confirmed a pick-up service for you, we will do our best to be at the Ithaca bus stop or the Ithaca airport to meet you and bring you to campus. If, however, something happens outside of our control or your travel plans have been altered, be prepared to make it to Ithaca College on your own by taking a taxi. Note that there are usually taxis waiting at the airport or bus station. Here is a list of local taxi companies: https://flyithaca.com/ground/taxi-service/ . Ask the driver to take you to Ithaca College. The ride should cost about $20 and additional charges for extra luggage may apply. If you have a lot of luggage, or if there are several of you traveling together, give that information to the taxi company when you call, so they can send a larger car or a van. Uber and Lyft may be an option as well.
If you are driving to IC with relatives or friends, please go to https://www.ithaca.edu/about/driving-directions for directions to campus. An interactive campus map is available at https://map.ithaca.edu/.
Phone numbers for the road
Please have these numbers with you when you travel and call us if there is a change in your travel plans or if you have an emergency. Our office phone number is 607-274-3306. You can also e-mail us: Diana at ddimitrova@ithaca.edu and isss@ithaca.edu . Or use the Discord group, if appropriate. (Do not send personal information to the chat group!)
In the event of an emergency, please call Ithaca College Campus Safety at +607-274-3333. This office is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they will be able to assist you.
Where to Stay
If you will be living on campus, you can check into your residence hall on the day you signed to arrive. If you will be living off-campus, or if you plan to arrive in Ithaca before the residence halls open, you must secure off-campus accommodations. A list of local motels and hotels is available at www.ithaca.edu/ithacaguide. Book your hotel reservations as early as possible! Please note: there is no on-campus housing for family, friends, or guests. If family or friends will be accompanying you to Ithaca, make sure they book a place to stay as early as possible!
More information
There is additional information you may find helpful on our web site www.ithaca.edu/oip/international.htm. You can contact our office by phone at +607-274-3306 or via email at isss@ithaca.edu . We will also continue to use our Discord group.
More information on the city of Ithaca is available at http://www.downtownithaca.com .
As you prepare for your trip to Ithaca, you may enjoy reading the online editions of local newspapers:
The Ithacan, IC’s student newspaper, can be found at http://theithacan.org
The Ithaca Journal, the daily city paper, is online at https://www.ithacajournal.com/
The Ithaca Times, a weekly area paper, is available at www.ithacatimes.com
The 14850, an online area news magazine is at https://www.14850.com/
