RE: Missouri University of Science & Technology
Transportation Shuttle & US Arrival Suggestions
Congratulations on
your admission to the Missouri
University of Science
& Technology (Missouri S&T)!
Our entire staff looks forward to greeting you on our
campus. The Office of International Affairs in coordination with the
International Student Club and the India Association here at the
Missouri University of Science & Technology would like to provide
all new international students a transportation option upon your
arrival to St. Louis, Missouri.
Shuttle Service from Airport to Missouri S&T
The local shuttle company, USA Express, can provide you transportation
from Lambert International Airport (airport code STL) in St. Louis,
Missouri to the Missouri University of Science & Technology in
Rolla, Missouri. Their vans run approximately every two hours between
9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., as long as they have a paid reservation to
pick up or drop off at the airport. The Office of International
Affairs has negotiated a reduced shuttle rate for our newly arriving
students, and will partially subsidize the shuttle fee for students
arriving one week prior to orientation; Saturday, July 25, 2009 through
Monday, August 10, 2009.
The student's cost for the shuttle is $50.00 USD per person. If you
have more than two standard-size suitcases and one carry-on or any of
your bags are oversized, there is a charge of $20.00 per additional or
oversized bag. (See our later section on suitcase / baggage
restrictions.) You will need to identify yourself as a "New Missouri
S&T International Student," and pay the driver at the time of your
pick up at the airport. USA Express accepts USD currency (cash) as
well as MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express credit cards.
(These are the only credit cards they can take at this time.)
If you have further questions for the shuttle company, you may call *
them at 573-368-4656 or email them at
(* USA
Express has one operator who manages their 24-hour phone. Please try
to place your calls to USA Express between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm
US Central Daylight Savings Time.) {approximately 6:30 pm and 8:30 am in India}.)
As you arrange your flight to the United States, please
try to schedule your arrival in St. Louis for no later than 9:30 p.m.
This will allow you enough time to deplane, collect your baggage and
catch the last scheduled shuttle (10:00 p.m.). If you arrive after
9:30 p.m. you will have two options:
◊ You may schedule a special pick-up for after 10:00 p.m. by calling
USA Express directly at 573-368-4656. The cost of a special pick-up is
$147 USD. This must be reserved at a minimum of 48 hours in advance of
your arrival in St. Louis.
◊ You may wait in St. Louis until the next day to catch the shuttle to
Rolla. Please see the hotel options below if you have to stay in St.
Louis overnight. The airport security prefers that students find a
safe place to stay, rather than sleeping in the airport.
To welcome you, we have student Ambassadors meeting our newly arriving
students at the airport. The Ambassadors usually are available from
10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. and wearing a Missouri S&T t-shirt. You can find the Ambassadors
at the Welcome Table in a section of the airport called the "Meeting
Place," which is located in the Main Terminal, Lower Level, next to
baggage carousel M1. The "Meeting Place" is now wi-fi!
◊ Before you leave your home country - To help us coordinate the
shuttle and our student Ambassadors, as soon as you have booked your
flights, (at minimum - four days prior to your departure), please
contact:
o If you are from India, please e-mail the India Association at:
o If you are from any other country, please e-mail the International Student Club at:
◊ We ask that you include the following information in the e-mail:
§ your full, complete name (Family Name, Given Name);
§ your home country
§ your Missouri S&T ID number (on your admission letter);
§ your flight arrival information (day, date, airline, flight number, arrival time, and connection city prior to St. Louis);
§ the number of suitcases, bags, and carry-on bags you'll have;
§ and whether or not you need a temporary place to stay in Rolla. The
India Association and International Student Club have been most helpful
in finding places for new students to live until they find their own
housing. This assistance is available to all new International
students.
◊ After you arrive in the St. Louis airport - Please call USA Express
at 800-872-9399 or 573-368-4656 to check-in with the dispatcher. You
will need to provide:
o your Full Name (Family, Given);
o your Missouri S&T ID number;
o and confirm the New International Student standby rate.
This step is very important so that they can plan to
have enough vehicles ready to pick up our students along with other
passengers.
Another Transportation Option
Greyhound Bus Lines does have service from the St. Louis airport to
Rolla. If you choose to make other transportation arrangements with
Greyhound, please confirm before purchasing a ticket that you are
traveling on a direct route from St. Louis to Rolla. You will also
need to email the India Association that you will be arriving on
Greyhound so someone can meet you in Rolla as it will drop you off at
the local McDonald's restaurant. You will need to make arrangements
for someone to meet you there and bring you to the campus.
It is highly recommended that you bring at least $100 to $200 USD in
small cash denominations or traveler's checks with you. Sometimes,
before you reach a currency exchange center, you need U.S. money for
miscellaneous expenses that may occur during your trip here (i.e.,
layovers, food, hotel rooms, etc.). For other important travel tips to
the U.S.A., please visit Education USA: http://educationusa.state.gov/predeparture/travel/plan.htm
Suitcase / Baggage Restrictions
◊ Airlines in the United States
Ø Please be aware that many U.S. carriers are now charging passengers
for their checked baggage. You should review the U.S. portion of your
trip and then refer to that airline's web site for any notes, updates,
etc. about this relatively new practice. The web site should also be
able to tell you what size and weight are considered acceptable for
standard suitcases and baggage.
◊ USA Express (shuttle)
Ø Suitcases must weigh less than 50 pounds and may be no larger than
26 inches high, 19 inches wide, and 10 inches thick. Carry-on bags
must be able to fit comfortably on a passenger's lap, if necessary.
USA Express drivers carry a scale and tape measure and may measure
baggage. If a suitcase or carry-on bag does not fit the stated
criteria, the student will be charged an extra fee.
Ø If USA Express is not informed of extra baggage there may not be
available space for it in the shuttle. Neither the Office of
International Affairs nor USA Express is responsible for baggage that
will not fit into the van, if either the Office of International
Affairs or USA Express was not informed of the number and type of
additional or oversized baggage.
Ø Boxes, trunks, and similar packing items are not considered suitcases or carry-ons, but are considered baggage.
Hotels in St. Louis and Rolla
If you are in need of temporary hotel options close to the airport in
St. Louis or upon your arrival in Rolla, here are a few suggestions for
you:
St. Louis, Missouri
♣Days Inn at the Airport
4545 Woodson Road
Telephone:
314-423-6770
Toll
Free: 1-800-329-7466
♣St. Louis Travelodge
9645 Natural Bridge Road
Telephone:
314-890-9000
Toll
Free: 800-578-7878
♣St. Louis Airport Hotel
10232 Natural Bridge Road
Telephone:
314-427-5955
(tell them you’re a new Missouri S&T student & show your
admission letter)
♣Drury Inn
10490 Natural Bridge Road
Telephone:
314-423-7700
Toll
Free: 1-800-278-7946
♣Peartree Inn
10810 Peartree Lane
Toll
Free Telephone: 1-800-378-7946
Rolla, Missouri
(tell them you’re a new Missouri
S&T student & show your admission letter)
♣Quality Inn
1507 Martin Springs Drive
Telephone:
573-364-8200
♣Best Western
Coachlight
1403 Martin Springs Drive
Telephone:
573-341-2511
♣Budget Deluxe Inn
1908 N. Bishop Avenue
Telephone:
573-364-4488
♣Sooter Inn
2001
North Bishop
Telephone:
573-364-1333
♣Drury Inn
2006 North Bishop Avenue
Telephone:
573-364-4000
Toll
Free: 1-800-378-7946
(ask
for “Cheers” rate)
Transportation Within Rolla
Taxi
Companies
♣ABC Taxi 573-341-3100
♣American Cab 573-364-6021
♣City Cab 573-341-3733
Checking In With Missouri
S&T International Affairs
If you arrive in Rolla before August 10th, please come
visit us in our office, 104 Norwood Hall, to check-in. You need to
bring the following with you:
ο your passport, ο I-20 / DS-2019, ο and your I-94 card (you'll receive this on the plane entering the US or at the airport after you land).
If you arrive in Rolla on or after August 10th please bring these same documents with you directly to the Orientation.
Best regards and safe travels. We look forward to seeing you at our
Fall Semester Orientation on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.
New Students 
