IETF-71: Philadelphia - 2008

Do I need to rent a car?
NO, we recommend you do not rent a car.  The IETF meeting is in “Center City” Philadelphia, which is in the center of the urban downtown.  Most people will arrive at Philadelphia International Airport.  From there, you can take a train downtown or you can take a short taxi ride.  From regional locations, such as NYC or Washington D.C., you can take an Amtrak train.

Arriving by Air - International
The closest airport to Philadelphia is the Philadelphia International Airport.  You can find direct flights to PHL from many overseas airports.  Once you arrive, you will arrive in Terminal A, which is the International terminal, where you will pass through customs.  You can find a handy terminal map here.  You will then exit in the International Arrivals Hall.  From this point, you can either (A) take a taxi downtown, or (B) take a train downtown (see below for more info).  The airport is just seven miles from downtown.

Arriving by Air - Domestic
The closest airport to Philadelphia is the Philadelphia International Airport, which is a major domestic hub.  You can find a handy terminal map here.  When you exit your flight, head directly towards baggage claim, passing through the exit next to the security line for your terminal.  Between that security exit for your terminal and baggage claim, you can look out the windows in the corridor and notice that you are passing over the train tracks that could carry you downtown.  From this point, you can either (A) take a taxi downtown, or (B) take a train downtown (see below for more info).  The airport is just seven miles from downtown.

From the Airport (PHL) to Center City: By Train or By Taxi
The train is the recommended method for getting downtown during peak rush hour times.  The train is inexpensive ($7 each way), runs on a regular schedule (every 30 minutes), and takes a precise amount of time to get downtown (25 - 35 minutes).  In comparison, a taxi is more expensive (~$25).  While a taxi could get you downtown more quickly (10 - 15 minutes), this is in reality only possible during off-peak commuting times, as the time for a taxi to get you downtown during weekday rush hour is highly variable.  If you arrive on Sunday, or other off-peak times, a taxi will probably be the fastest way to get downtown, though it will be more costly.  The train will drop you off directly underneath the meeting venue.

• From the Airport by Train: The rail platform is between the terminal and baggage claim.  So if you retrieve your bags from baggage claim, head back up the escalator and towards the terminal, following the well-marked overhead signs for the train.  The train is a so-called “Regional Rail” line which is operated by SEPTA (South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority).  You will board the ”R1″ train, heading to “Center City.”  While the R1 is your only choice heading to Center City, on your return, there are many train lines, so you will need to specifically look for the proper platform for the R1.  The R1 schedule can be found here for your reference.  There are three stops in the city: first 30th Street Station, then Suburban Station, and finally Market East Station, which is underneath the meeting venue.  You will exit at Market East Station (see Google Maps).  You can then follow signs to the Philadelphia Convention Center, and then make your way directly to the Philadelphia Marriott (entirely underground).
   
• From the Airport by Taxi: Follow signs for ground transportation / taxi.  At each terminal, there is a taxi queue that you can stand in.  If there are no taxis available, just wait a few minutes (there is a large taxi staging area 5 mins from the terminals).  All Philadelphia taxis take credit cards, so you can pay via credit card.  However, sometimes the card reader inside the taxi is not working properly, so you should double check with your driver before you get underway that his/her credit card reader is working, or make sure you have enough cash on-hand.  Taxis charge a flat rate of $26.25 to get downtown, or to travel from Center City to the airport, regardless of the number of passengers.  It is common to round up a few dollars to tip the driver ($3 to $5; many people simply pay $30 for the trip).

Arriving by Amtrak Rail
Philadelphia is well connected by rail to nearby cities, thanks to the old Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Railroad lines (which you may recognize from the “Monopoly” board game).  Amtrak trains arrive regularly at 30th Street Station, which is a short distance from the Marriott.  High-speed Acela and other Amtrak trains arrive from NYC and Washington regularly and are quite convenient.  30th Street Station is 1.4 miles from the Marriott Downtown (see map).  You can either take a taxi there, which is likely the fastest route, or you could take the subway.  If you take the subway, please note that there are multiple lines.  You will want to take the Market-Frankford El, a.k.a. The Blue Line, Eastbound towards Frankford, exiting at 11th Street / Market East Station.  Important money-saving note: If you arrive on an Amtrak train at 30th Street Station, you can take a SEPTA Regional Rail train towards Market East Station for free as long as you have your Amtrak ticket stub with you.

Arriving by Car
Please avoid driving into Center City if possible, and certainly avoid renting a car unless you plan to travel outside of the city some distance.  Should you decide to drive downtown, you can use the valet parking service at the Marriott.  There are also a number of other parking lots downtown, and you can find more information about those lots here.

Arriving on Foot
It could be a long walk, you may want to reconsider or start walking now…