The Third q-bio Summer School: Travel Information

Unless you were informed otherwise in the Summer School acceptance email, all expenses associated with getting to Los Alamos for the school are your own responsibility.

Flying in

You can fly either to Albuquerque airport (ABQ) or to Santa Fe airport (SAF). Service to Santa Fe is very limited and expensive, though the airport is closer. From our personal experience, you may want to avoid the last flight of the day to either of the airports, and especially to Santa Fe. Both airports are quite small by big-city standards, and rebooking may be a problem if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to weather or other problems.

Getting to Los Alamos from the airports

Shuttles to Los Alamos from both airports are about $80 or more, and they need to be reserved in advance. Currently, the shuttle companies are

• Roadrunner Shuttle (1-505-424-3367)
• LA Shuttle (1-505-695-9407)

A viable alternative is a one-way car rental from either airport to Los Alamos. You should be able to get LANL contracted rate if you rent from Hertz and supply the LANL Hertz corporate discount number 72120 at the time of reservation and, more importantly, rental. This might be cheaper than other rental options since you will be able to decline those insurance coverages that are built into the contract rates. The Hertz car rental dropoff at Los Alamos (at Los Alamos County Airport, which has no commercial air service) is within a walking distance from the school hotel. Hertz rents only to those 21 years old or older.

Driving time to Los Alamos from Santa Fe and Albuquerque airports is about one and two hours, respectively. Traveling on a shuttle will take longer.

Transportation in Los Alamos

Atomic City Transit (the Blue route and the Trinity Shuttle) provides free scheduled service between the school hotel (County Offices stop) and the LA Research Park (TA-3 Park and Ride Stop, and then 5 minutes walk), where the lectures will be held.

Weekend Transportation

There is no bus service on weekends. If you want to explore the Los Alamos vicinity, go to Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument, or elsewhere, you will need to rent a car. You won't be able to use LANL contract rates for these personal rentals.

Parking

If you are bringing your own car, The school hotel has ample parking. Parking near the LA Research Park, where the lectures will be held, is by permit only. The permits will be available for all needing them in the school booklet, which you will receive on the first day of classes.

Transportation to the q-bio Conference

We anticipate that many of you will able to share car rides to the q-bio Conference at St. John's College in Santa Fe in the morning of Aug 5, 2009. Those who cannot get a ride this way, will be able to get to Santa Fe using public transit and/or a van provided by the organizers.

Meals

Continental breakfasts will be served at the hotel. Lunches will be catered at the school classrom during weekdays. For the rest of the meals, you should plan for $7-15 for lunches, and $15-25 for dinners at Los Alamos town restaurants. Note that very few places in town remain open late (and late means past 7pm in Los Alamos).

Entertainment

For things to do during the weekends, see What to do in the vicinity of Los Alamos. Also, keep in mind that we will organize some weekend trips for interested students, like rafting, hiking, etc.