Help Needed

We are going to Florida in July for just over 3 weeks and we need some help with planning and places to stay.

Our first night we are staying in the airport hotel in Miami so that we can set of the next day fresh and relaxed.

We then have 7 nights before we have to be in Orlando for the villa we booked.

I was thinking 3 nights around the Keys, 2 nights at Naples and 2 nights at Clearwater. Also after the villa in Orlando for 2 weeks we have one night to spend on our way back to Miami.

Any ideas on places and hotels to stay in would be greatly appreciated.

Or would we be better just going and deciding were to stay day by day.

Thanks Baz

Baz,
to save on the driving a bit you could head straight to the gulf from Miami( about 2 to 3 hours) and use the link below to get to Key West for a couple of nights:
www.keywestshuttle.com
andrew

With your planned itinerary you might find half the week is spent in the car. If you left the Keys for another time then you could spend some decent time in Naples and Clearwater.

I would agree, the keys and the Gulf Coast are in opposite directions, seems an awful lot of driving. I have yet to "do" the keys for this very reason.

Sonofsos-I have sent you a dm as we did a very similar trip

Hi Baz, we love the Gulf coast and now like to spend some of every trip there relaxing. I would recommend you find an area that suits you, rent a private villa there and use it as a base for exploring all the Gulf coast has to offer:)

Two weeks in Orlando in a villa followed by a week on the Gulf Coast in a villa would be heaven, the third week being for relaxing at the beach or by the pool at the villa. Then save the keys for another time, a good excuse to go back to Florida.[msnsmile2]

Baz,
I personally would not miss the Keys. Half the fun is the drive on the 7 mile bridge. Key West has a charm and uniqueness that would be a shame to miss.
Key Largo is not that far a drive from Miami, we have spent a few days there in the past, and you can swim with the dolphins.
Then head on to Key West, I think it is fantastic.
I love the gulf coast too, but Key West is worth a visit IMHO.

We have been to the Keys on several occasions, we learnt to dive there and I swum with dolphins at 3 different locations. However if you have young children I would avoid the keys until they are older and stick to the Gulf coast which is a lot better for children in my opinion:)


<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by linda allen
Baz,
I personally would not miss the Keys. Half the fun is the drive on the 7 mile bridge. Key West has a charm and uniqueness that would be a shame to miss.
Key Largo is not that far a drive from Miami, we have spent a few days there in the past, and you can swim with the dolphins.
Then head on to Key West, I think it is fantastic.
I love the gulf coast too, but Key West is worth a visit IMHO.
[/quote]

You have to realise the distances you are travelling. The Keys to Naples is a very long way. The first part of the Keys is not particularly interesting you have to get down to the furthest third of the Keys before they become really nice. Miami to Key West is 155 miles and there is one road there and one road back!! Miami to Naples along Alligator Alley is a good 2 hour drive, with rest areas only near the Miami end. Make sure you have plenty of fuel for the trips.

Naples is very nice, expensive. Clearwater is real family seaside. Naples to Clearwater unless you just dash up the I75 is about a 4 hour trip.