Fly into Orlando or Tampa

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

Lee

I know Air 2000 do a charter flight from MAN - BFS - SFB so if you don't mind the drive up to Belfast you could get a direct flight.

John & Sarah Rooke
www.floridadreamvilla.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.vacation-rental-villas.com
www.park-tickets.com
www.orlando-guide.info

[phil moloney]

Hello Lee,
virgin are supposed to be flying directly from Dublin to Orlando in the summer months. When I fly from Dublin to NY , Boston or one of the US cities I clear immigration before leaving Dublin, then you go straight through when you get to the US. When I went via the UK I did not have this advantage. Your waiting time in London can be long.
Avoid stopping in Shannon if possible, as that makes it 3 flights.


phil moloney

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

Phil has a good point.

Ireland is one of the few countries that actually has US immigration onsite (Canada being the one other one I can think of) so you can clear customs before you board the plane saving valuable time when you arrive in the US.

[Lee]

We went to Hawaii a few years ago and I can remember unexpectedly hitting imigration in Dublin airport before we left.

I tried looking at flights on Expedia's UK website but that seems to have the same booking restriction as the US website (i.e. UK credit cards only). I could arrange for it to be done through relations but I'm curious as to why this is imposed. I'll probably ring anyway when we're ready to book.

Thanks for the Virgin tip Phil but at the moment their website indicates a stopover. Also, their prices are well above the odds. If I look at their most expensive price, it's £20,089.60 for 3 adults and a 2 year old on a return journey!

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

Lee

You could look at www.netflights.com who we've used in the past and have very good fares. Might be able to do it from Dublin with them.

[phil moloney]

Lee, Try the Dublin based operators Tour America 01 8780400 and world Travel 01 4167097. They will not have the specials for July / Aug released for another 2-3 weeks.
I spoke to them a few days ago. Prices are up on last year!
Phil

[Lee]

Will do. Thanks Phil.

Thanks everyone.

[porky]

Caroline,

Julie is right, it is the same exit of the I-4 (55)to get to Southern Dunes. However, to do that you have to travel up the I4 then come back down the 27. I intend to do what I did last time and take exit 48 to Lake Alfred. You then follow the 17,) and will come out 1 traffic light down from Southern Dunes.

When are you friends going? I'm going over there in the next few weeks and can get some proper miles and directions for them from Tampa if you'd like.

Jacqui

[caroline]

Thanks for the offer Jacqui - their not going until August next year but they've just been trying to book flights and there's 10 of them so it's proving tricky - you'd think that it would be easy for next August! but they've been told by the person that owns the villa that Tampa is closer to Southern Dunes than the International airport ?? - I was really just trying to get some drive times for them.

[porky]

Caroline,

A list I have on distances (provided by a Haines City website) staes that Tampa International is 55 miles and 1 hours drive away and McCoy is 35 miles and 30 minutes away. I shall see in a few weeks time just how acurate that is. We once got to McCoy in 20 minutes from Southern Dunes - mind you it was 6.00 am and we weren't hanging around

Jacqui

PS Martin, I have taken heed of your speeding warnings for this next visit[8D]