Providence, RI airport
 

Can anyone tell me how parking, etc. is at the airport in Providence? We'll be leaving there on Easter Sunday and don't know if parking is an issue like it is at Logan. Thanks.

Oops. To clarify -- we'll be flying out of Providence on Easter Sunday (also the beginning of school vacation week in MA.)

eileen. <BR> <BR>shouldn't be a problem, there is a large long term parking (outdoor ) lot and a fairly new parking garage. just keep in mind that it is also school vaca week in RI....but you made the right choice, it is a much more convenient, user-friendly airport. <BR> <BR>have a good trip!

It is $44.00 I hear for long term parking I hear.. will be using it on the 31st of March...everybody raves about this airport..Usuallly go out of Logan...

Eileen, parking is plentiful though not cheap at PVD. There are two garages immediately adjacent to the terminal; both are $15 a day (less than Boston's Logan airport, for whatever that's worth). For Easter weekend, I'd make a beeline for Red Beam garage, the farther-away of the two garages. Long-term parking is on surface lots and is $12 a day; hardly worth the difference considering that it is half a mile from the terminal and shuttle bus service is spotty.

Follow the signs to Thrifty Car Rental and park there. You will take a shuttle easily from the lot to the airport (about 1 mile). Two vans run consecutively so you never wait more than 5 minutes. I pay about $13 day but I suspect that there is also a weekly rate. Their number is 401 - 732 - 2000. You can also get frequent flier miles for parking and, if you need auto work, their facility is AAA certified. I believe that this is the easiest of all choices. Thrifty also has a medallion program and if you sign up in advance, they have your car turned on and ready to go when you get to the lot. They leave the bill attached to your key chain!! It saves a lot of time. <BR>Good luck!

Thanks for the input. <BR>Neal, can you clarify something? You suggested heading for the "Red Beam garage, the farther-away of the two garages." Can you let me know the advantage to Red Beam? Also, the Friday and Saturday travelers will obviously be there before us. Do the garages ever get full? (Again, it's Easter/April vacation week.) Thanks again for your help.

i have also used Thrifty Car Rental...and found it incredibly convenient and easy. The shuttle runs continuously, they help you with your bags, and your car is very safe. Prices are comparable, i think. It is very close to the airport, too.

Eileen, I suggested the Red Beam garage because the first of the two parking structures -- the one accessible from the departures area -- is more likely to be full. When I park there for business trips I'm usually consigned to the roof deck, and that's during a "normal week." <BR> <BR>Emily and maykb's suggestion regarding the Thrifty lot is worth investigating (though I've not used them). Because I have used the long-term lot at PVD and found the shuttle bus service to be excruciatingly slow, I've grown used to paying the $3 a day difference between garage parking and "discounted" long term parking.

The garages are occasionally full and I have seen folks running to get their planes cause they couldn't find a parking spot. I park at the airport 1- 2 times per week for the last 3 years and I have tried every spot - Thrifty is by far the least amount of hassles, they help you with your bags, and they drop you off at the door for your airline.Since there are 2 vans the wait is never more than 5 minutes.

We have been using the Providence airport much more often than Logan..it is far easier to negotiate, parking is easier, and your flights generally depart and arrive when they are supposed to. Much less congestion than Boston, and just as easy for us to get to as Logan. We live about 1/2 hour west of Boston. Providence is a very good choice!

Thanks for the good advice. I feel better about going there blindly now. <BR>I have another question. Since we're flying Southwest (to Utah) and they don't serve meals, will we be able to pick up a sandwich to take on the plane early in the morning? Our flight leaves around 7:00 am and we'll be driving down from north of Boston, so we won't have good options on the way down. <BR>Thanks!

Eileen, there's a Dunkin Donuts stand across from the Southwest gates, but given that you

Sorry for the interrupted message. Given that Southwest boards first come-first served, you'll want to be at the gate about a quarter past six. Pickings at PVD are pretty slim that time of the morning.