Has anyone ever done this type of trip?

Hello,

Im going over to Orlando in May 2009 for a very special occassion, but Ive been to Orlando a few times before so rather than stay there for 2 weeks, me and my girlfriend were looking to spend:
5 nights in Orlando, then the remaining 9 or 10 days driving to the Gulf coast, The Everglades, The Florida Keys then back to Orlando for the flight home. Does this sound ok? We've never drove any further than Tampa on previous trips, so any tips or advice is more than welcome.

Thank you

something we wouldve liked to have done, wasnt brave enough to try it, but this year we will be staying over at the gulf coast for a change, would have liked to have driven down to miami but not brave enough again, we have driven up to daytona,
but apart from daytona and tampa thats it, i would love to go to the eveglades......

We have done similar types of jaunts and think it is great to see more of some of the wonderful places Florida has to offer. We drove west and down the gulf coast and into the Everglades. It was in the Everglades that we stumbled upon Ted Smallwood's store which is now a museum. We have then followed this through to Miami and then driven down to the Keys. It also depends on whether you like 'living out of a suitcase' as we only stopped a few nights in each place. We did spend a lot of time driving so an alternative might be to find a villa on the gulf coast and use that as a comfortable base to take some trips out to various places. Next time you could fly into Miami and then drive to the Keys for a few nights.

Thanks for the positive replies. We have kinda took the attitude that its going to be a 'road trip' after Orlando so we are prepared to live out of our suitcases just stopping over night here and there.

Just remember Florida is a big state. Sometimes it doesn't appear that way when you see it tagged onto the rest of the USA but you will have several hours at a time in the car. Road trips can be great fun but you might not want to spend 4 days or so just driving. Another plan "could" be Orlando, then a base on the Gulf for a few days. Get rid of the car and get the shuttle boat from the Gulf to Key West. Don't really need a car in key West so just then hire one when you leave to go up the Keys to Miami and the Everglades.???? Just a thought,
andrew

We did something similar to thing a couple of years ago, It was great to see different style of Florida, but was also hard work living out of suitcases. especially with two teenagers and driving.

First we stayed one night over on the space coast as we had a latish flight into Orlando, got an early start for the long day down to the Keys, we went all the way down to Key West, had a great 4 day trip and did not use the car once. then over across the everglades and did a whizz bang day trip across the everglades on the air boats. then we went straight across to the gulf coast had to do a one night stop in Venice beach before another 4 day relax on the gulf, and then back to Orlando for the the final 4 days in the Disney parks.

Would I do it again. Well I would not do the whole thing again, but I would certainly split up the trip again and have half the time either Orlando, Gulf or Keys.

We actually did thing again last Christmas and New Year, We did Disney for Christmas and the Keys for New Year, a bit more relaxed than the first time.

I would say go for it but plan your last nights accommodation to be not too far from Orlando.

Hi Jock
I wouldn't hesitate to explore other areas in Florida take your time don't overdo the driving all in one go.We love the Everglades and the Keys wellworth the journey [msnwink]

Next year we plan to do a few nights in Orlando then drive over to the Gulf coast for the rest of the holiday. Look forward to your trip report to see if i can pick up any tips! [msnwink]

Hi Jock
A few years ago we did a similar trip we stayed in Orlando as our main base and then spent a few days in Naples on the Gulf coast it was great.
This September our Plan is to Fly into Miami Spend four nights there, Then down to Key West for Three nights, and Finaly seven nights of rest and relaxation in a villa in kissimee.
A bit of driving, but I find it easy compared to UK (which reminds me I must see Roger sbout car hire[msnwink]).

Have a good time I know we did.

Chris

I would fly into Miami, do a bit of exploring for a few days then drive up the coast to your villa. Otherwise you could have a two centre holiday with a villa on the coast, then one near the parks. If you spend time in a villa, then have to squeeze into a small hotel room for your travels, you might not enjoy it as much

Way back in time when we gor married we did a flydrive for our honeymoon. we flew into Miami and then spent the next two weeks drving around Florida and just stopping where we felt like it. We had a fab time.
We have since done a few trips where we start in one place and finish in another, renting homes in both locations. Would really recommend it

If this is a special occasion, as you say, I wouldn't go for the living out of the suitcase in various locations bit. I admit we have done some road trips - one from Texas via New Orleans to Orlando -BUT a hotel is a hotel, and you spend half your day planning the next one. I would suggest a week [or however many days] in Orlando, and the rest in a villa on the Gulf coast- there is a lot to see, and you will have a luxurious base to do it from -everglades or anywhere is in reach -and one thing that makes you very confident and the trip very easy - a Sat Nav.

Thanks for the constructive feedback, can anyone suggest a good area of the Gulf Coast to stay? Ive never been there before.

We have wonderful gulf villas on the sites, here just do a search on the links above.

Personally Jock I would suggest doing the trip in reverse. Do the travelling first and then settle for a few days before you come back. That way, although you will probably be tired from the parks you haven't got the drive back to do as well. Otherwise when you come back you might not feel like you've had a holiday.

Thanks Steph, after a bit research from advice here, it does make sense to do it in reverse.

When you look for flights Jock, it probably won't cost you any more to fly into Miami and out of Orlando (if you are going with a scheduled airline. If it is a charter flight them you won't have that option, but even if it is a little more then you'll save that on gas for the trip rather than do the drive twice.

Thanks, does anyone know when May 2009 flights are likely to be released?

There are a number of owners from the Rotonda area on the forum; check out the Gulf section for ideas.
90 minutes south of Tampa. Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples within east reach.A swamp Buggy Tour at Babacock Wilderness for a taste of the natural Florida(photos below.)Shuttle catamaran boat from Fort Myers to Key west only 3 and 1/2 hours. Great beaches, bars, restaurant, golf, fishing,boat tours etc.
andrew
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by jock
Thanks for the constructive feedback, can anyone suggest a good area of the Gulf Coast to stay? Ive never been there before.
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Jock If you check out the flights link at the top of the page you may find that Charter Travel have an allocation that can be booked now.

Jock,
just found some Rotonda area photos if you want to get some idea of the area.
andrew

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Andrew,

I was interested to hear of the Shuttle catamaran boat from Fort Myers to Key west, does it operate a daily service and do you know times ? If so, I would be very grateful of any more information, as this sounds very interesting.

Thanks,

Clair.
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/495.aspx

our first florida trip was 9/10 days in villa in kissimmee as we flew into orlando
then 3 nights naples, then 3 nights st pete, then 3 nights key west then 3/4 nights miami then flew back from miami

very very enjoyable BUT we did do lots of driving....... so maybe it is better to do it in reverse

the road to key west (and back to towards miami) takes 3 hours and dont break the speed limit even if you are tempted there are police cars everywhere........

My family did a similar thing last year, Heres what we did we flew into Miami sayed there for 5 nights then drove to Marco islans (was paradise) drive took 2 hrs stayed there for 5 nights then drove to saresota took 2 hours stayed 4 nights then went on to disney stayed 7 nights and flew home from orlando .
We done this with a 3 year old and an 8 yr old and it was fantastic we booked it through virgin, though should have done it the other way round and done disney first to stop my children nagging to get to disney. hope this helps .. I also have been to disney lots of times and that was a great holiday got to see different parts of florida everglades etc that we have never seen before.
Enjoy

Clair hope the following information is of some use.

The shuttle to Key West from Fort Myers Beach runs daily departing at 08.30 and arriving in Key West at 12.30 it departs Key West and arrives at Fort Myers Beach at 21.45. The fare is $73 adults single and $129 return, children $53 and $68 and 62+ $73 and $119. This also operates from Marco Island same departure and arrival times but departs at 5 pm arriving back at 20.30. The phone number is 1-866-KWFERRY or 1-866-593-3779

If you want scheduled flights, they are usually available 11 months out. I recently picked up a bargain for this July- direct BA flights to Tampa only £508pp at Expedia. they were £700pp on the BA site for the same exact flights.

And we do this kind of trip most times in FL. We go to orlando for a few days/I week then elsewhere for the rest. I highly recommend the Gulf Coast, or the Mid Keys like Islamorada/Marathon.

Hi. I know Virgin have released their prices now, and they've got some great two centre holidays, including travel (I think) so you can choose where you want to go and not have to worry about driving so far.