New Students: Travel Suggestions
All Costs and Times are Subject to Change!!!
A travel agent will provide the best assistance in arranging for transportation and baggage shipment. A few suggestions are as follows:
- Buy domestic airline tickets outside the U.S. as part of your overseas flight, to avoid 10% U.S. sales tax.
- Have a clear idea of the cost of baggage shipment, particularly since more than one company may be involved. Arrange to collect baggage shipped to your port of entry as soon as possible after arrival, as there is often an additional charge for "dock" storage.
- Parcels mailed to you at the University of Delaware will be held for you in Room 110 of General Services Building. Wrap them securely and mark with your name, c/o General Services Building, Room 110, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-6410, USA. A $5.00 handling fee will be assessed on each package and must be paid at time of pickup.
Most scholars coming to the University of Delaware arrive in the United States at JFK Airport - Newark, New Jersey, or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The most convenient way is via Philadelphia. You should purchase an add-on ticket to Philadelphia from New York at the time you purchase your ticket to the U.S. It will be more convenient and less expensive. Once you arrive in Philadelphia, take the Delaware Express Shuttle to Newark. You must make a reservation and it requires a 48-hour notice. You can make a reservation on-line at www.delexpress.com or call 1800-648-5466. The cost is $38.00 plus a $6.00 tip. Please mention the University of Delaware discount to avail of this rate. If making a reservation online, use code 129676 to get a discount. We encourage you if at all possible to make arrangements to arrive in Philadelphia. Do not take a taxi to Newark (Delaware) from New York.
Those arriving in New York City can reach Newark by bus. To travel by bus to Newark when you arrive at Kennedy International Airport, take the Shuttle Bus to Eastside Terminal in Manhattan (cost $15), and they will transport you to Port Authority for free. Bus service from Port Authority to Wilmington, Delaware leaves at frequent intervals (cost $32). Once in the U.S. call 1-800-343-9999 for bus schedule information. Be sure to take the bus to Newark, DELAWARE, (150 miles from New York City) rather than to Newark, New Jersey, (across the Hudson River from Manhattan). The bus arrives at 2nd & French St. in Wilmington across the street from the Amtrak train station. There is Dart bus service at the train station. The Dart bus goes to Newark several times a day (cost under $3).
The Office for International Students & Scholars (OISS) is located on campus at 30 Lovett Ave, Student Services Building. You are required to report to this office with your passport as soon as you arrive on campus. If you let us know your plans, we will try to have someone meet you when you arrive in Newark. We cannot provide transportation from the Philadelphia Airport. We will try to provide a host family, find another student for you to stay with, or take you to a motel if we know your travel plans in advance. In order to do this, you must inform us of your specific plans by mail, fax, or telephone. A host family or student can only provide housing for 2-3 days. It would be helpful if you would telephone us when you arrive in New York or Philadelphia. We may be reached between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at (302) 831-2115. If you arrive after 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday or on Saturday or Sunday, you should go to the Office of Public Safety, 413 Academy St. They will take you to your host family, student host/hostess or to a local motel ($50-60 per night), if you have not contacted us ahead of time for a host family or if one is not available. At Kennedy Airport in New York, dialing assistance is available at the Bell Telephone Center in the International Arrival Building. Should you have financial difficulty or need any other assistance immediately upon arrival, contact the Traveler's Aid Bureau in any large transportation terminal.
