OK Villa booked, now...

[MJG]

Our booked villa is in Rotonda.

What's the best way to get there from the UK??

I'm guessing direct into Orlando from Manchester or Gatwick with a follow up drive of 2 to 2.5 hours.

Or is there a better way, into Tampa perhaps??

Any advice welcome...

TIA

[florida4sun]

Tampa would be good if you can get flights.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MJG
Our booked villa is in Rotonda.

What's the best way to get there from the UK??

I'm guessing direct into Orlando from Manchester or Gatwick with a follow up drive of 2 to 2.5 hours.

Or is there a better way, into Tampa perhaps??

Any advice welcome...

TIA
[/quote]

[andrewmckay5]

Or to a hub in the US and then internal down to Fort Myers. Less than 60 minutes drive from Fort Myers.

Andrew

[Katys Grandad]

Any of the above really.

BA fly direct to Tampa from Gatwick if you don't want a stop. Otherwise I'd go with Andrew's suggestion and connect to Fort Myers. It's right next to I4 and has all the car rentals on site - much easier than Tampa or Orlando.

[Clare R]

Martin - use the Sat Nav you are going to book and either fly into Tampa or Fort Myers. My personal preference is Tampa - 100 miles north of Rotonda.

[ShirleyD]

It is an easy drive from Tampa :D

[MJG]

Hi everybody thanks for the info.

Just done a quick search for flights on Expedia and we can fly UK to Charlotte in 8 Hours 50 minutes and then Charlotte to Fort Myers in 1 hour 59 minutes making a total flight time of just under 11 hours.

Given I can get from the UK to Orlando in around 8 hours and would then have around a three hour drive from Orlando to Rotonda - surely taking into account check in and baggage collection times direct into Orlando is the better option?? - or I'm probably missing something - and I need to check direct to Tampa yet.

Thanks again.

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MJG
Hi everybody thanks for the info.

Just done a quick search for flights on Expedia and we can fly UK to Charlotte in 8 Hours 50 minutes and then Charlotte to Fort Myers in 1 hour 59 minutes making a total flight time of just under 11 hours.

Given I can get from the UK to Orlando in around 8 hours and would then have around a three hour drive from Orlando to Rotonda - surely taking into account check in and baggage collection times direct into Orlando is the better option?? - or I'm probably missing something - and I need to check direct to Tampa yet.

Thanks again.
[/quote]

Don't forget that when you arrive at Fort Myers you've already done the Customs and Immigration at Charlotte so you're straight out of the terminal after picking up your bags and across the road (literally) to the car rental desks. I fly into airports all over the US and Fort Myers is hands down the most pleasant and stress free experience of any of them.

I'm honestly not exaggerating here, but it never takes me more than 20 minutes from getting up from my seat on the plane to driving out of the airport in the rental car. You'll be on I4 in 5 minutes and on your way without heavy traffic or tolls to deal with.

It's also way better coming home because it's the first terminal in the US built after 9/11 so has been specifically designed to accommodate the security checks now required of us all. I turn up no more than an hour or so before departure and still have plenty of time for a drink airside before boarding - try that at Orlando International.[msnwink]

If you want a direct flight then BA's Gatwick-Tampa service will still get you there quicker (although not earlier) but Fort Myers is a very good alternative if you can save money using it.

EDIT - If you're travelling before the end of June 2010, have a look at BA's current sale. LGW-TPA for £310.

[mfairhurst]

Martin why not fly into MCO do a night in ORLANDO or drive to Lakeland going west on I4 which will take approximately 1and half hour ,
There are many hotels just of the I4 .
Your journey to ROTUNDA will be a nice 2 & half hours .With Virgin you can get a extra day for same price as we have done in the past .
Then you can drive the return journey back same day if you fly out 6 or 7 o"clock .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[MJG]

Thanks Maureen I'll have a look at that -