Travel in Style: St Andrews Shuttle

Living in a town isolated from the hustle and bustle of a big city is ideal in many ways, especially when you’re looking for that small-town comfort and community. It is less ideal, however, when you’re an international student trying to get to Edinburgh Airport at 5 am with three large suitcases. St Andrews Shuttle diminishes this anxiety by delivering an assured cost-effective, dependable, and safe service.

While we students benefit from free bus travel, which is great for transport throughout St Andrews and surrounding cities, making bus changes while carrying around heavy luggage can be stress-inducing, especially if you’re an international student and don’t understand the bus system quite yet. The most popular, and by far the easiest option for transportation to and from the airport is, of course, St Andrews Shuttle services.  

Operating since 2008, St Andrews Shuttle has provided regular shared shuttles. You don’t need to worry about hauling your luggage through the town as they provide a door-to-door service starting from £30. You will often find students having a quick nap in the comfortable shuttle if they have an early, late or even long flight ahead. Once booked, your seat is guaranteed, your luggage is secure in the vehicle with you, and your quote is guaranteed unless the booking is changed. Payment can be flexible too — you can pre-book online or the driver can take cash or card on the day when they pick you up. At around £30, the price is a great deal compared to private taxi services, which usually cost over £130. The shared shuttle is about the same price as the train to Edinburgh Airport but takes half the time as you don’t have to take any additional bus rides and trams to get there.

What differentiates a shared shuttle service from a private taxi is that you usually share a large van with around five other students who signed up for the same time slot. Despite serving our large body of international students, I’ve personally never run into any issues signing up for a time slot for the exact time I need it, and have even managed to book up to the day before when I had an emergency flight. The company also boasts a zero-cancellation policy, meaning your journey is in the company’s safe hands upon booking. Even if you’re the only one in the van, they won’t cancel on you. Their cost-effective shared van service takes place during the university holidays, but outside of those weeks, you can use their private transfer service. Even when the buses and trains aren’t running, St Andrews Shuttle services are always available.

Safety is paramount when it comes to student transportation, and St Andrews Shuttle excels in this area indefinitely. Their vehicles are regularly maintained, fully insured, and routinely inspected to meet safety regulations. The drivers are all local to the St Andrews area, are knowledgeable, and exceedingly professional. If you have any issues, you can email or call Wendy and Gordon at St Andrews Shuttle, and they’ll take care of it in no time. The drivers always go the extra mile to ensure passengers feel safe, comfortable, and well-informed about their journey. They’re patient with international students who might be unfamiliar with the area and are always willing to offer tips or answer any questions. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or it's your first time navigating the journey to or from Edinburgh airport, their friendly demeanour and professionalism always make the experience stress-free and pleasant.

This is the service I’ve depended upon countless times for journeys to and from Edinburgh airport, and I wish I was told earlier of how easy and reliable the service is. It's always a relief, especially on holidays, to hop off a cramped Ryanair flight and spot your driver in their black & yellow shirt waiting. Whilst a free bus ride sounds great in terms of saving some money, it truly is worth every penny when you see how much time and peace of mind you’re saving. If you’re a fresher looking to figure out transportation for holidays or going back home, St Andrews Shuttle’s long-standing reliability and high safety standards should put them at the top of your list.

This article was kindly sponsored and paid for by St Andrews Shuttle.

Photos provided by St Andrews Shuttle