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Just got back - it was gorgeous!! Glorious sunshine - yes in the afternoon there was some rain & brilliant thunder storms but when the rain or heat got to us we just retreated to the air conditioned luxury of the villa! Speaking to someone who has just returned from Spain, I think we had a far more comfortable time! We go every year in August because of summer hols for kids & teachers, I would highly recommend August!!
Looking around for next year the best value for us would appear to be B.A, because Aer Lingus plan to s[bad language filtered out] the Orlando route after January , I am looking at around 600 euros for next Summer which is the only time we can travel with a school child .Perhaps I should look at flying in to Sanford airport , that may give us more choice bu it means a longer drive for my husband. I have no problem with the weather in July or August , just the fact that we hit high season for both flights and accomodation. If we were not bound by the school calender we would travel May or October.
I actually love to go in July / August
Just love all those thunder storms, although this year we went mid July for two weeks and saw rain once, amazing really and i was a little disapointed.
Next year we have booked for Easter so looking forward to that but i will long to go over in summer
Still you never know [msnwink][msnwink]
Dawn
I helped my sister book flights a couple of weeks ago for the end of August 2005. We found that there seems to be a "cut-off date" of 23rd August after which time even the August flights go cheaper but you may end up keeping the kids off school for the first couple of days of the new term. The saving was quite good though.... just try searching before the 23rd August and after it to compare the difference in air fares. It may well save you a few shillings.
We have just booked for next Easter not going to Florida we are going to fly into L.A and driving around California Got a great price with Aer Lingus less than 2000 euro for 4 of us
Compare prices flying into Tampa International Airport. It adds about 20 minutes to the drive time to our villa but nice airport and direct flight prices can sometimes be cheaper than into Orlando.
Thanks for that useful tip Julie , I did try Tampa because where we will be staying is very close to your villa so it would be the same time but Tampa worked out the same as Orlando but that may change in the coming months. We will keep a tight eye on the flights , also I still reckon Aer lingus may reconsider their decision to keep the Dublin / Orlando route open.
I have heard that Aerlingus may go for a permanent route Dublin /Orlando instead of charter. It depends on open sky policy (changes next year) and staff stop overs being agreed. Fingers crossed xx
Hi Nigel,
We are also tied to school holidays, most schools allow upto 10 school days a year off if pre-arranged, but obviously this depends on the age of the child and what stage of their education they are at.
Hewever, we have just returned from 4 weeks in Florida. Yes, it was very hot but not unbearable and as others have mentioned we had late-afternoon / early evening thunderstorms which clears the humidity a bit. We travelled around for some of the time staying in a couple of hotels which reminds you of the benefits and the freedom of staying in a villa or condo. In a villa you tend to be in and out of the air-con to get drinks, snacks or just pottering about which all gives a break from the heat. The pool screens do also take a little bit of strength out of the sun's rays. During the afternoons our kids often disappeared into our games room to play table tennis or darts as the temperature was comfortable in there. The parks are very hot but there are always water-rides to cool you down or air-con in the shops and restaurants.
TIP! The park are quieter from the beginning of August when alot ot the American kids go back to school.
On the subject of flights we usually book 10 or 11 months in advance but this year we didn't book until April for July/ August and by taking an indirect flight with 1 change (Zurich)we only paid £505 each with Swiss Air into Miami. An excellent flight and a pleasant drive to Orlando with a few stop-overs along the way to see other parts of Florida.
Our Management company tell me they are desperate for rain as the grass needs a good soak. So seems to be Ok from a guest point of view.
I have been Aug twice and was ok both times.