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Hi was hoping to get some advice please.Im going to florida in september this year and it will be my 4th time ( im so excited ) Anyway everytime we go we always choose to get taxis every where we go, baring in mind we stay on international drive, theres 6 of us 3 adults and 3 kids, like i say we get taxis everywhere disney parks seaworld universal, shopping malls, Im now thinking this time to get a hire car, i have been quoted and the cheapest being Budget at £556 for 3 weeks, Im not sure if we spend this much on taxis, Also will i need a car for the whole 3 weeks or just 2 of them,And last but not least im very dubious about driving in a different country, is it really as easy as everyone says, Its things like you can turn right on a red light that worries me, How about the parking in the disney parks and the toll are they exspensive, Please Please Please can you give me some advice as im pulling my hair out on what to do, especially when my hubby thinks we should just stick with what we know, but at the same time im the main driver in the house so the decision is mine??????????????
Driving in Florida is so much easier than in the Uk (in my opinion). I would always book a car just for the convenience and also, I've paid before I go on holiday. Why not book a car for your first week and see how it goes? You could always then decide if you want to go back to taxies.
You don't necessarily need to use the toll roads. We use the odd one just to save time and accept we need to pay for this.
Parking at Disney is I think, $11 per day.
ShirleyD
28-02-2009, 16:57
I hate driving in the UK and when I had to drive in Florida, was very worried. However it really is easy even in the crowded areas such as I-Drive. If you are worried about finding your way around, hire a sat nav. Having a car gives you the freedom to come and go as you please and see much more of the area.
As Mark suggests, you could rent for the first week to see how you go, but if you decide to keep the car for your whole stay, re book through the site above and don't just extend with the car hire company as this could cost a lot more
Albert the Frog
28-02-2009, 17:47
I'll add my two'pen'worth-I find driving in Florida a whole lot easier than the UK-basic common sense and courtesy work wonders and on the occasions when i've forgotten that i can turn right on a red there's a beep behind me to remind me. The only other thing that i found confusing at first was the positioning of street name signs above the road but anytime i've gone wrong it's just a matter of thinking it through and then not panicking.
I find also that people drive more slowly in Florida-so much so that I find myself doing the same when I return home-very sensible!
Cost wise I can see the advantage in taxis but you are paying for the convenience of having a car on your drive on demand and the flexibility of going where you want/when you want
Thanks guys for your advice its much appreciated. Can i also ask ive read somewhere in the forum that car hire from sanford airport is not that good well not as good as orlando international, Ive pretty much decided if i decide to hire a car that i will be booking through us car hire and opting for Budget rental as its the cheapest, Is Gold inclusive the best way to go? Will i get to choose the vehicle i want when i get there? And with the sat nav hire will that be available immediately so i have no trouble getting from the airport to my hotel..
Thanks again guys
I have found no problems at Sanford with Dollar. For 3 weeks I would suggest silver would be the way to go but if you want all 3 adults to be able to drive, Gold.
Sanford, being a smaller airport has slightly less cars in all the hir efleets than Orlando International.
You can only choose your car if you use Alamo. No other supplier gives you a choice....
If you order satnav from this site, it will be delivered to you in UK pre-progammed with your Florida address. You take it with you.
GET A CAR!!!! YOU WILL DISCOVER PARTS OF FLORIDA THAT YOU MISS JUST JUMPING INTO A TAXIS! THE DRIVING IS VERY EASY, AND THE CARS ARE FAB TO DRIVE!! GO FOR IT, IF YOU ARE THE MAIN DRIVER THEN ITS UP TO YOU. GOOD LUCK
Ok guys last question on the topic i promise:D I need to get a 7 seater would you recommend the minivan or the premium 7 seater, I was sort of hoping to get a crysler voyager,,
freddiehollie
01-03-2009, 21:57
We always get the 7 seat minivan,(the last few times from the above site) and there are only 4 of us[msnwink]
With the 8 (yes 8) cases and 4 flight bags[msnwink][msnwink] we have plenty of room
for the fortnight and space for all those bags.
One of our cars here in the UK is a voyager, they are easy to drive. You will also find that
the parking spaces in the States are huge compaired to the UK so parking not a problem.:D
Dads_Taxi
02-03-2009, 14:07
On the two occassions that I booked a minivan I have had a voyager by one name or another - I think it was called a Dodge Caravan on one occassion but it was the same car. I loved it so much I considered buying one until I read the reliability reports which put me off. So I bought an Espace which just kept on breaking down!
Doh!
freddiehollie
02-03-2009, 20:14
Quote:- I loved it so much I considered buying one until I read the reliability reports which put me off. So I bought an Espace which just kept on breaking down!
My wife has had one for over 3 years now. Never once has it broken down[msnsmile2] Ive had 4 BMW's the reliability of them has been awful[V]
Decided to go for a Volvo. Told not to get one. (by a BMW dealer!!)
Had an XC90 now for 10 months great car[msnwink]
I think the best thing to do is try whatever you fancy and "make your own mind up" as everyone has a different opinion on cars[msnwink]
Thankyou so much everyone for all your advice, Well thats me ive bit the bullet and gone ahead and booked my car hire, ive opted for a 7 seat minivan and booked with budget through uscarhire.com, ive also booked the sat nav which gets pre programmed with all the address you want before you go, it gets delivered to your home address, which i thought was really good.
Im now super excited about going back to florida and have already decided where im going to visit once im there one of them being miami, We was going to do the coach trip there so now ive got the car i might as well drive, depending how i find orlando driving first, were not planning on doing miami untill our third week so i can get some good practice in first, Please feel free to give me any tips on driving to miami and where to stay in miami just over night.
Thanks again guys
28 weeks 4 days and counting WHOOP WHOOP
XXX