Besides avocados and artichokes, there is one other thing that is actually cheaper in California than in Vermont: airport shuttle services. As some Monterey travelers have discovered to their dismay, a van ride from the Burlington Airport to Middlebury costs twice as much to cover half the distance as a similar service in California. We recommend that MIIS visitors to the Middlebury campus rent a car to save their travel budgets. But if you are coming to Monterey from Middlebury, consider taking the Monterey Airbus. It has regular service to both the San Francisco and San Jose airports, you can register and prepay online with a P-card, and in addition to saving money, you avoid having to navigate the always-crowded freeways. And if you are lucky, your driver will be the Jazz Man, who plays mellow jazz all the way. The Airbus station in Monterey is literally next door to the MIIS campus. There are several hotels, and plenty of restaurants and local attractions within walking distance of campus.

-Amy McGill