Hi! Is there any transportion that would pick up in Tampa to meet a cruise ship in Maimi? Then bring back us to Tampa or should i just rent a car and drive there? Thank You
Is this what you were looking for? There are probably other companies out there as well, but have seen these buses on the road frequently.
www.connect2cruise.com/鈥?/a>
Thank You very much Kris48 .....that%26#39;s what was needed
O.K...I took the great advice that I was given a few weeks back and did some research.
Besides experiencing a few bars for two nights (Alonzo%26#39;s then Conch Republic one night and a few on Duval the other night) my wife and I like the more laid back atmosphere and have some ideas of where we are going to eat and drink for our trip around New Year%26#39;s. However, are there any places that do anything out of the ordinary for New Year%26#39;s or are known for a great New Year%26#39;s night of eating and drinking.
There are three major areas to ';do'; NYE. On Upper Duval you have Sushi dropping in a shoe at midnight, at Sloppy Joe%26#39;s the Conch shell drops at midnight and at Schooner Wharf Bar there is the Wench drop. In between you will find many places having their own little celebrations.
Do you have to make reservations at these places, or just show up?
Just show up. Follow the crowd.
There are many restaurants that do great dinners on NYE. But the key is to just pick someplace you like, call to see if you need reservations than go and enjoy. We are a bit low key here. If you show up without a reservation you will probably get a seat...if they are busy you may have to wait.
BTW
Just for the record, ';Sushi'; is a drag queen. They don%26#39;t actually put raw fish in a shoe.
Just so you know, New Years%26#39; is like a smaller version of Fantasy Fest. The streets are crowded and there is body painting; we were there for New Years and it was a lot of fun!
Duval on New Years Eve is absolutely HEAVING!
We had our laziest day / night last year on NYE - sunset cruise, drinks and dinner at the bar at Conch Republic and then back to our accommodation for a float around the pool with a bottle of bubbly (plan to do the same this year) - Happy New Year!
However, have heard that the %26#39;dropping of the drag queen%26#39; is an institution!
Sushi has been one of three %26#39;live%26#39; location shots for CNN for the past three years... New York, and Las Vegas were the others.
The dropping of the Conch at Sloppy Joe%26#39;s is the one that I avoid at all cost. The corners of Greene and Duval is completely over-crowed. You can not move!! It took 45 mintues to get from in front of %26#39;Ricks%26#39; over the %26#39;Last Flight Out%26#39; on Greene. Damn near getting crushed to death in the process.
i second that i go every year for both fantasy fest and new years i cant wait . I would go see the drag queen drop from the shoe myself
Ya gotta love the %26#39;Lowering%26#39; of the Wench at the KW Bight. (Evelina makes it EXTREMELY clear that it%26#39;s a lowering, not a %26#39;dropping%26#39;. Heads will roll otherwise!:-)
This will be our third NYE on the ';Rock'; 2005 we were front and center for ';Sushie'; What an awsome time. The ';ladies'; put on a great show from about 9 til Midnight. It is definitly crowded so plan on that, but it is a BLAST. We will be there this year, and are absolutly looking forward to it.
Hi Guys
well we fly back to the UK tomorrow! Just starting to pack . We have been at Wet n Wild today and its scorching! Its been hot all week so I guess we will notice a difference when we get back to the uk!
Anybody about to go, pack plenty of sun cream!
Fi
Oh poor you, packing to leave is awful. Safe journey home and look forward to hearing all about it.
Yeah safe journey
Its been lovely here today, hot for England anyway!
Certainly, there must be a place on LBK where I can talk to strangers, drink wine, and hear stories.
I%26#39;m here solo all week and would enjoy meeting some new people.
Where are you staying?
There are lots of places to drink wine, hear stories and talk to strangers.
Have you tried the Haye Loft at Euphemia Haye?
Have you gone to Cork or 15 South Straight Up on St. Armands Circle?
Do you have a car? Downtown Sarasota has lots of places, too.
What age group? Male/female??
~SRQgirl
[quick reply, srqgirl! You spoil us!]
M/35. Vacationing near The Colony. I do have a car but I was hoping to stay on LBK or at most St A Circle. Most places I can think of, I think, are a bit too stuffy or expensive - I was thinking E Haye fell into my stuffy/expensive category. I%26#39;ll admit I%26#39;m wrong if you tell me so.
Your first problem is that today is Thursday. Historically a slow night for restaurants and bars. As you know, it is also off season....
Try Cork or15 South for a start. Also, Lido Grille, Lynches Pub etc. If that bombs...
I would put my money on downtown Sarasota. Take a cab.
Start at the Gator Club on the corner of Main/Lemon. Mattison%26#39;s City Grille is across the street and has an open air bar.
Other places are the Selva Grill, Sports Page, Bijou Cafe, Patricks,
Marina Jacks etc etc.
Many of the more inexpensive places are in different parts of town.
To save $$, drink slowly....;-)
~SRQgirl
We are planning a trip next spring to Key West and looking for a nice 2 BR private home with private pool for 2 couples with no children. I have found on my search that there are just too many to choose. Looking for suggestions/comments and warnings of any private homes to stay away from. Pictures can sometime be very deceiving.
I can%26#39;t recommend anything specific but check www.vrbo.com and then ask if anyone is familiar with the ones you are interested in. Also if you research the key west forum I think you will find lots of good suggestions there.
Try this
www.vacation-homes-of-key-west.com
They have some beautiful homes.
Thanks for the info. and I have checked out many different sites and have come up with a few houses we are interested in. Has anyone stayed at Abaco Dreams, Key West Dreaming or Tropical Dreaming through Cristal Clear Rentals? We were also considering Key Lime House through Historic Hideaways. WE are having a hard time choosing. Any advise?
If these are in Key West, post the question under the Key West Forum. You will get a lot more feedback.
Is the bay view or Gulf of Mexico view better at the Tween Waters Inn?
All thoughts/information will be much appreciated!
It depends. The Gulf is across the street from the resort. You have to look out over the trees in order to see the water. The Bay view has nothing blocking your view, but it isn%26#39;t an ocean view either. It also depends on the building. If you are staying in a building right on the bay, I would opt for a bay view. If you are staying in another building, I would opt for the Gulf view.
The buildings fronting the Gulf are, to the best of my knowledge, are undergoing renovations. The cottages are done. I believe the rooms that face the bay are done. here%26#39;s some good aerial views:
http://marinas.com/view/marina/4090
There are almost no trees up front, but there are shrubs [trimmed seagrape] that block some of the first floor units that front the Gulf but the second floor units mostly have good views. You must walk up the stairs to the rooms, so if you have little kids or lots of stuff, it can be a hassle. The cottages are all historic original units and sit on the sand. The folks who stay there say they see the Gulf. I wonder myself.
Hi, we%26#39;re traveling to Miami in October with 2 kids (18 months and 6 years old) and grandparents to spend 3 days. We%26#39;d like to stay near the beach or near Bayside mall.
I think a suite hotel would be better..Any suggestion?
Lu
Most of the kid friendly hotels which offer suites are located in North Miami beach (Sunny Isles Beach ). I can recommend two, Doubletree Ocean Point Beach and Acqualina, they are both located directly on the beach and are within five minutes of Aventura Mall.
Lu%26gt;
Check this link for South Beach Magazine info -
southbeach-usa.com/features/features1/family鈥?/a>
AG
I travelled to South Beach earlier this year with my sister and her kids. We rented a suite at the Bentley hotel on Ocean Drive. the Bentley is perfect for kids, it%26#39;s quiet, the staff are freindly and you are right on the beach, literally a minute away.
There%26#39;s a large roof terrace with pool and a roped off shallow area for children. Pets are very welcome, we took our dog and he received VIP treatment, was really pampered by the staff. Staff were fantastic, they arranged some extra rollaway beds forn the children.
Directly opposite from the hotel is a park complete where the kids would play netball each day, there%26#39;s also a long boardwalk for jogging. We were given access also to the Bentley Beach pirvate beach and gym.
Each morning we%26#39;d have breakfast at nearby Johnny Rockets, we loved their pancakes with maple syrup.
The best thing about staying at the Bentley is that you can walk everywhere, you don%26#39;t need a car. We could walk to Lincoln Road cafes for an ice cream or check out the galleries. The kids pent hours on the beach building sandcastles or playing in the water, and we were back in the hotel in a minute when we needed to shower or to rustle up some lunch.
Our suite had a fully equipped kitchenette, a stove, fridge, pots pans and cutlery. The concierge gave us directions to some nearby supermarkets on 6th and Meridian where we stocked up on groceries salads and fruit as eating out can be expensive when you have a large family group with children.
.We got a good deal by booking via an owner which we found on a vacation rental website. Here are the details:
thebentleyhotel@yahoo.com.
We saved 50% by booking directly.I can highly recommend the Bentley as a kid and pet friendly hotel.It%26#39;s also perfect in terms of direct access to the best beach in Miami.
Thank you all for the responses. Lu
We stayed w/our two children for 3 nights at the Newport Beachside Resort. You can find my review on here also...was a great place, not sure of proximity to Bayside Mall, but we did have a two bedroom jacuzzi suite w/balcony...had 2 bathrooms, 2 king beds and a queen and it had sliding doors to seperate the entire suite into 3 bedrooms. I highly recommend the resort. It is in North Miami Beach - Sunny Isles.
Is the pool heated??? Planning a late October visit
Yes it is.
Hi,
I am getting married next March 29th, and I am looking for a good upscale but reasonably priced resort/hotel/accomodation along the gulf coast. I have been looking at St.Pete beach, Treasure Island, Siesta Key etc. So far the Bilmar looks good at about $1070 for gulf view for 4 nights. And Sunset Vistas is around $1300 for four nights.
We really want a place on the beach with a pool and a beach side bar, not overrun by families but also not overun by college kids. I know this is asking alot but if you have any suggestions that would be great.
Thanks, Nick
Check out the Island Inn also. It is ocean front, has a pool with a bar. No dining room or restaurant though. Check out their ';staterooms'; these are ocean front efficiencies with terrace and a small kitchenette. The view of the beach and the sunsets from the terrace is gorgeous.. Avoid the bayfront rooms and suites. You would have a view over part of the bay and the sunrise, but you will be facing the Gulf Boulevard with high traffic and lots of traffic noise. On the oceanside you will only hear the waves of the gulf.
In St. Pete%26#39;s Beach the Don Cesar is just wonderful, but pricey. I am sure no spring breakers here.
The Tradewinds Resorts also in St. Pete%26#39;s are famous for their children%26#39;s activities, so they will attract a lot of families with kids of all ages.
Besides Siesta Key you could also check out Lido Key in the Sarasota area which would put you into walking distance of St. Amand%26#39;s Circle with all its shops, restaurant, bars and entertainment.
Have a great time.
PS: The area has a website www.floridasbeach.com. If you have not already checked it out, I can recommend it. On that site you can also order a printed brochu\re which a lot of information (honeymoon, shelling, excursion) that are not included on the website.
Hello.
Plaza beach resort on St. Pete beach. Can%26#39;t go wrong with one of the four rooms @ the end of the hotel. Those four open up onto the beach. No bar so no noise @ night. Walk down the beach to other hotel bars. Now thats the ticket.
I have reserved a 1 bedroom unit at Long Beach in October and when looking at the photos of the building, I am wondering is the back of the building (street side) open. when I get off the elevator will we walk along a long balcony to our room, or is there inside corridors? (I hope you tell me inside corridors, because I hate the exposed walkway if the weather is bad)
long beach resort had exposed corridors, but we were just there during the first days of august and hardly had a bad weather, i think it rained once and there was no problem on the corridors it wasnt wet or slippery after it rained.
Thank you, after I posted the question, I remembered my friend and her family had stayed at Long Beach and she explained that the building was had a exposed or open corridor on the street side.
Of course this keeps all the units ocean front. She said the only problem they encountered was that the luggage cart was too tall to get thru the exterior door so you had to unload from the corridor , which she said was a wide area to walk. Can%26#39;t wait to hit the beach!
We just returned from Long Beach and had a great time. They put a hump on the top of the luggage cart to keep people from stashing them in their rooms the night before they leave. At first I did not like having to unload in the hall but it sure was nice not having to hunt down a cart! They are kept in a room right by the elevators. At other condos we have stayed in it was sometimes hard to find a cart. Hope you have a wonderful trip.
we have booked 3 nights at the Winter Haven hotel in late November. The address is 1400 Ocean Drive, which I think is at the junction with 14th St. When I looked at the hotels own website, the map shows somewhere completely different. Have they made a mistake on their website, or am I missing something? Is there more than one hotel with the same name? Would be grateful for any advice. Thanks.
I agree with you- I think they must have a mistake on their website- 14th and Ocean is their location- but it%26#39;s not the location pinpointed on their map. The written directions take you to the actual site.
It%26#39;s a great location to be in South Beach. Maybe I%26#39;ll drop them an e-mail questioning their map.
Have a great trip!
We have some friends coming down to stay on Fort Myers Beach, can anyone tell me if there is a Top Notch (classy) resort/hotel on the beach? We are new to the area and do not know anything about it. Thanks.
Our best two are Diamond Head Resort %26amp; Spa and the Pink Shell Resort %26amp; Spa. If your friends have young kids, Pink Shell is better. Otherwise, for adults, either is great.
FMBWaterSports
Thanks!
Just got back from 9 days at Diamonhead, and while a nice hotel, friendly staff and clean rooms, it would be a stretch to call it a ';top notch resort';. Don%26#39;t know about Pink Shell, it was on the other side of the pier and I don%26#39;t think we even saw the outside.
Pink Shell you won%26#39;t go wrong, only plan for something after 10pm because everything closes down.
Try the other Sunstream properties too -- Gull Wing and Pointe Estero. Being condominiums, they do not have hotel/resort amenities (spa, restaurant, etc) but their condos are fantastic, the pools lovely, a wide beach that is to die for, and nice staff. Check out their ratings on TA.
Shangri la seeker
You seem to know what is what at FMB. We are planning a stay at Seawatch on the beach any tips?
The other suggestions are correct. If you are still looking for a true 5 star resort you will have to go a little south to Naples. Try the Ritz-Carlton or Edgewater Beach... both world class and very close to FMB for your visitors. Ciao
I woudl try Pointe Estero, it doesn%26#39;t all the amenties of resort, but the rooms are awesome, the location is good and the pool is wonderful. I love the beach area in front of the hotel.
We stayed at Pink Shell in July and loved it. I%26#39;d highly recommend it. Definitely true resort.
We also stayed at Pink Shell in July and loved it. It%26#39;s a wonderful resort for kids but even if you don%26#39;t have kids you would have fun. We%26#39;re looking forward to going back.
Hello. I would like to take my family with young children to Miami next year. I am interested in staying at the Days Inn Miami Airport or at the Days Inn of North Beach. Has anyone been to either? The reviews don%26#39;t help me. Some say it is the best hotel they%26#39;ve ever been to, and some say it is the worst. ANYTHING you can tell me about them is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
I don%26#39;t know about either, but this year I took my family to Miami for the first time and we stayed at Newport Beachside Resort in Sunny Isles (North Miami Beach)--We loved it. Lots of children%26#39;s activities, we had a free room upgrade, the beach had enough light at night where we could swim and feel completely safe. Just really liked everything about it. You can email me if you%26#39;re interested in anything else!
I haven%26#39;t stayed at either as I am a local. But location wise, the Days Inn North Miami Beach would be a more vacation style hotel. But it isn%26#39;t close to where everything is on Miami Beach. The Days Inn by the airport would be for someone that is catching a flight out the next day, a one night kind of place. Not much around the hotel.
If you want to be able to walk to things like restaurants, shops, sites, the beach, entertainment, then stay in South Beach on Miami Beach. Most of the stuff is located between 17th street to 5th street. Try to get a hotel close by.
BTW, if a hotel has mixed reviews I would avoid it, the bad reviews are there for a reason, just my opinion.
Can anyone tell me if they know are TCD getting new planes, if they are when and will they be having the seat-back tv%26#39;s.
Thanks
Rumour has it they were going to borrow an Airbus 330 off MyTravel for the winter season but this has fallen through because MyTravel want to send to the HAJ.
TCD dont own any aircraft, they use the services of Excel Airways ( Air Atlanta etc, etc ) who actually own and operate the aircraft on there behalf.
TCD/excel getting 2 x 330%26#39;s from their partners in france next summer, so them old 747%26#39;s will be chugging across the pond for a while yet, take your binoculars to watch the tellies!!! mytravel and thomas cook have 7 x 330 which they have no intention of getting rid of (apart from during HAJJ which is nov - jan)
What does HAJ mean?
pilgrimage to mecca
Hi there, has anybody recently returned from St Augustine? I have exhausted all of the theme parks, and wanted to spend 2 weeks touring florida, with my family, startin with St Augustine. Can anyone recommend it? Also, any Hotel recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Looking forward to any responses.
Woffer73, Yes, there are a lot of wonderful places in Florida other than the theme parks, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. As far as accomodations, there a lot of really wonderful Bed %26amp; Breakfast in the Old City. I have stayed at the St. Francis Inn and the Kenwood Inn several times and enjoyed them very much. The last time I was in the Old City we stayed at the St. George Inn and I really like it, it is in a great location. Do some searches on St. Augustine, there is a lot of information on the web to help you plan your vacation. I would also recommend you visit Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach which is north of St. Augustine, very beautiful area. Have fun.
Thanks so much for your reply. This is my first ever post on trip advisor, and i%26#39;m very grateful for your suggestions. I%26#39;m really looking forward to seeing some of the original culture of florida. Thanks once again!
Woffer
St Austine is lovely, another option is to stay on the beach, we have had some great times there, very relaxing.
We stayed at the Days Inn, which is fairly new and fairly priced and a short drive to the town or there is a shuttle bus from the beach.
Don%26#39;t miss the Fort for a day out in the old town, so interesting, the guides are brilliant.
You would be amazed how much you can see of Florida in 2 weeks- we used to do the Orlando thing but now have travelled to most places in Florida.
Our favourite is St Pete Beach (!) on the Gulf Coast but we also love Miami and Fort Lauderdale, there is so much more to Florida than Orlando.
Going back in 3 weeks for 3 weeks, we will have 2 nights in Orlando(for the shopping) then to Titusville, Miami, Naples and St Pete.
Any more questions please ask and welcome to Trip Advisor!
GP
Hi woffer73,
We visited St Augustine about a week ago and it is a fantastic place, after reading some of the posts on here I decided to go and was not disappointed, there was a tram that took you arround all the interesting places for $20 and the ticket lasted 3 days. I also wanted to visit Fort Laurderdale but never got there.
Max
Saint Augustine is a wonderful place and one town I wish that I could visit more often. Have a look at the Clarion Casa Del Mar.
I shall repeat my spiel: pick a top rated B %26amp; B on this site or a top rated hotel/motel. All other hotels will be old and moldy no matter what their website looks like. I go by reviews that says a place excels. What%26#39;s your criteria?
You can always drive out to the beach for the day or every day; but the historic old city is the place to be! Then you can walk to wonderful restaurants in the evening. Read the reviews and believe them!
Service is key for me. And a quiet area, an excellent breakfast and on site parking. And onsite owners running the place (not just run by employees).
A showplace is not what gets me. I go by reviews that say a place excels. What%26#39;s your criteria? I mean there are so many websites available for resort reviews like Trip Advisor and lots more, but some people just book their vacation and hope for the best and these are the people I find who complain the most after the fact. Preparedness certainly can impact how you enjoy and rate your vacation.
Don%26#39;t book at a dump here with bad reviews and then complain later. If you find a place that has an outrageously lower price than everyone else and seems too good to true....................you know the old saying............ It is always wise to do your homework like this.
Believe the reviews and you will be fine. 50 - 100 reviews don%26#39;t lie! Enjoy our great city! You will love it here! See ya soon!
Definately trust the reviews. I have stayed at a few hotels on the beach.......BEFORE i was a tripadvisor member......and the reviews are pretty much right on. I wish i had found this website before i had stayed at those places......St. Augustine Beachfront Resort was one of them! I love St Augustine and love walking around in the shops in the historic district. I have never stayed at a B%26amp;B or hotel in the district but will do this on my next trip there. We usually stay on the beach but it%26#39;s hard to find a decent hotel. We did stay at the Castillo Real which in my opinion is one of the nicer hotels but it%26#39;s not directly on the beach. I would prefer to stay in the historic district where you can walk to everything.
Daysinn on st aug beach has good reviews and beach is just 2 minutes by walking and 5 min drive into historical sites of st aug. If u stay in town and you can still easily drive to the beaches in 5 minutes whenever you want to come to the beach.
Woffer, you will love the Old City. I would stay in the Old City unless you are a total beach lover. Then you can jaunt out to the beach for the day or afternoon and come back to the ambiance of the city at night - walk to restaurants, pubs, etc. There is so much to do and see and many many wonderful restaurants - amazing for such a small town.
Enjoy, and let us know ALL!!! We need feedback !
We just spent another week in St Aug. in July. We stay out at our timeshare on the beach and it is only a few minutes to the city by car. We love the beach area. We have a one bedroom sleeps 4 on St Augustine beach in Nov not sure yet if we%26#39;ll be able to get away, but I can always rent it if we can%26#39;t make it.
Be sure to visit the lighthouse great view!
We are two adults arriving at Stanford and will need to make our own way to the Disney area. Has anybody got any recommendations for transfers? Is it better to book here or to see what is available at the airport? Any advice appreciated
Thanks Ann
As its a 43-45 mile journey i wouldn%26#39;t leave it till you get there.
There are shuttle buses and you may have to book these in advance
But I dont know this cos I ';Always'; have a car and wouldn%26#39;t go to the US without one unless I was going to stay in New York or San Fransisco.
Public transport is almost none existent and what there is is time consuming, and lots of places are simply impossible to get to without a car.
There those that will tell you its doable and it is but very restricted
I Haven%26#39;t had a single advocate who has been able to tell me how to get to Old Town and back , Which is at the bottom end of I Drive.
On a Saturday Night to see the vintage car rally, from the top end of I Drive near Wet %26amp; Wild. By the public bus service.
This is just from one end of one road to the other end..
And once dropped of in Disney its like a desert island , easy to get on easy to travel around within. But if you want go to Islands of Adventure at Universal or any other place that%26#39;s not Disney difficult to get off.
Do yourself a favor and hire a car
Hey guys
Are there any special events/festivals happening in Miami during 26th August - 6th September?
I know it%26#39;s Labor Weekend at the end of the month, anything happening then? Oh and does everything shut down (e.g shops etc) during this time or do they remain open?
Mets xxxx
For a list of local events in Miami Beach, anytime of the year, visit the City of Miami Beach Website. web.miamibeachfl.gov/visitors/default.aspx鈥?/a>
As to things shutting down, they don%26#39;t and usually stay open (Clubs and Resteraunts, passed 2:00 am.
If you are looking for a great place to stay anytime of the year, try our private studio condo at the Shelborne, Alyssay%26#39;s Beachloft. We have lots of available dates in Oct, Dec, and most of the Spring and winter months
Jim --- http://www.freewebs.com/alyssasbeachloft/
Hello,
Were spending 2 weeks in Florida in September. The plan is to fly into Miami and fly back from Orlando. We%26#39;ll probably spend 2 nights in Miami then drive down to Key West for 1 or 2 nights (is that enough time?) before spending our last 7 days in Orlando.
The question is can anyone suggest good places for breaking up the journey on the drive up to Orlando. Looking for a bit of culture/shopping/relaxation....
We plan to visit Kennedy Space centre but could probably do that trip from Orlando, also thinking of visiting the Everglades, is that a day trip from Miami or would it be best to find a hotel nearby..
Thanks in advance.
The Everglades is only an afternoon trip from Miami - depending on if you decide to take an airboat ride.
Shopping - the Sawgrass Mills mall. You could spend an entire day there.
Relaxation - if you are not in a hurry to get to Orlando, take the scenic drive along A1A. It is not one continuous road so you have to come back on the mainland and then catch the next bridge across to continue on it. A Florida map will show you where the crossovers are.
Culture - The say the South Beach area of Miami Beach is a culture on its own, especially at night.
I%26#39;d definitely stay 2 nights Key West , not 1- There is a nice museum in Palm Beach, the Norton Gallery and also a lovely Japanese Garden and Museum , the Morikami, in north Boca Raton, which would both be between a half to an hour drive up from Ft. Lauderdale. Morikami frequently has special programs like the traditional tea ceremony. Las Olas Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale is a lovely street lined with small galleries and sidewalk cafes- and there is a Museum of Art at one end there too- let me check on what is going on there in Sept- I haven%26#39;t been paying attention. Ft.Lauderdale is about 4 hrs north of Key West- you might want to consider it as a nice stop off on your way north.- Sawgrass Mall- about 30 minutes west of the beach area is really a shopping mecca- hundreds of outlets - some designer. Orlando is almost exactly 200 miles north of Ft Laiderdale- about three hours by car- so you could easily spend late morning, early afternoon at Morikami and /or Norton on your way and still lbe in Orlando by early evening.
www.norton.org
and
tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34179-d53鈥?/a>
Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art is closed for refurbishing till Sept 7- at which time a famous touring quilt exhibit will be their ';grand reopening';
http://www.moafl.org/
Ta very much to both of you for your suggestions, very helpful :)
Looking to stay in a hotel that%26#39;s close to or within easy reach of a beach, restaurants, and shops. I don%26#39;t want to rent a car, looking to spend a relaxing time on the beach, but with the option of going to the shopping mall or outlets. Lauderdale by the Sea sounds like a relaxing place, but not sure how easy it is ie distance/cost to get to shopping Mall etc. Any suggestions greatfully received
Lauderdale by the Sea is a small town. Most of the hotels are within a block or two of the beach. The shops in the area are mostly touristy places, beachwear things.
You could get to several shopping areas easily using a bus. The bus costs $1. The buses run regularly but I don%26#39;t know how strictly they stay on schedule. The Galleria Mall is the nicest one in the area. They have Macys, Dillards, Neiman Marcus, Sacks 5th Ave. It is probably 20-25 min. by bus. I think a taxi would be about $15
A little closer is a mall with lower end but very nice stores. Target, TJ Max, Old Navy. That is on US 1 and Oakland Park Blvd.
Furthest away with many great bargins is Sawgrass Mills Mall. One of the largest in the country. If you go expect to spend much of your day there. The bad news is it would take over one hour to get there by bus and I am sure it would be difficult to carry everything you will probably end up purchasing. A taxi there would probably be close to $100.
I%26#39;ll post a link to the bus map. You will have to enlarge it unless you have very good eyes. Lauderdale by the Sea is in the area of A1A and Commercial. You will see that there are several bus lines that run through there.
http://www.broward.org/bct/pdfs/sm_sys.pdf
Have a great trip.
Thanks for that, it%26#39;s really helpful. I was looking at High Noon, the reviews look good for this. Just two other questions, what about transfers from the Airport, I guess we%26#39;ll be flying into Miami, any ideas of the cost of a cab, or is there a bus that goes from Miami to Lauderdale by the Sea? What%26#39;s the weather like in November? Many thanks again for your reply
The weather in November should be wonderful.
I think the Miami shuttle company is called Supershuttle. You could email them and ask for a quote. supershuttle.com
Another option could be to fly into JFK and then take a lower cost carrier down to FLL. Jetblue usually has good fares. A shuttle from FLL to LBTS is $13 per person. A taxi about $30 total.
There is no train close by to LBTS. You might be able to use a bus but it would involve several transfers and after flying overseas I am sure that you will want to get to your hotel and start your holiday as soon as possible.
Not to get excited natives and go running to read all the cutesy sayings---yet a third blonde moment this week--trying to think of the name of a QUALITY tee shirt shop on Duval, there are two locations and if I remember correctly, the name Hawaii or Hawaiian is in the name. They usually have key lime tees and sweatshirts in front. Ringing any bells, thanks, Linda
Crazy Shirt ?
lin -
The shop I always suggest for a nice souvenir of Key West, T-shirt, cap, tote, fisherman%26#39;s shirt, women%26#39;s wear, etc is Summer Salt at 606 Front St. and in the Mall just off the Mallory Docks. It%26#39;s a small shop with mid-range prices, but all of their things seem very nice, with nice colors and fabrics, to me. They usually runs sales.
Pjk
I%26#39;m pretty sure you%26#39;re talking about Crazy Shirt. They got their start in Hawaii, bought my first one of their shirts in Honolulu a very long time ago and for some strange reason actually hung on to their punch card, buy 10 items get one free. After a couple more trips to Hawaii and many to Key West, I think I%26#39;m on my third punch card. Their clothes are good quality, hold their shape and colors and don%26#39;t shrink.
But Crazy Shirt I think only has one location on Duval. I think its around the 500 block.
There was another Crazy Shirt closer to the north end of duval... I can%26#39;t remember where exactly but I think it was close to Duval and Front Sts.
We went into the other one that Arnie is talking about... they have some very cute sayings but I wanted Key West printed somewhere on the shirt and I don%26#39;t think they did at Crazy Shirt.
We wanted one with a picture of an empty beer pitcher and it said ';What%26#39;s wrong with this pitcher?'; ~ wanted to get that for my brother in law. Cute t-shirt. :)
~Megan~
They do have 2 locations. One on each side of Duval.
Where on Duval Flat? I can only picture the one on the 500 block. I think there is one on Green Street or maybe Front Street.
503 Duval, that is the one I know too. The other is at the corner of Duval and Greene, 425 Greene
Thats gotta be the other one Philly, thanks.
I think we parked our scooters in front of the one on Greene.
We are loooking for a beach hotel for a girls getaway in October. After reading the forum I am very confused. We%26#39;d like a hotel at the beach that%26#39;s walking distance to some nightlife. Is there such a place?
Moderate in price: Sheraton Clipper or Sheraton Yankee Trader
Best Western Oceanside
Expensive and upscale: Hilton, St Regis, or the best of the best
Atlantic. These three and the Trader
are walkable to some good restaurants
and some night life.
You should also take a look at Doubletree Galleria. They are located on the Intercoastal. It%26#39;s a two block walk to the beach in one direction and a 1 block walk to a very nice mall with some nice restaurants and bars. Blue Martini has a very nice ladies night.
Enjoy your trip.
I am looking for somewhere to stay in Miami, I am flying to Orlando but want to travel south and visit the keys for a few days in September. Can anyone recommend somewhere nice on the beach, that has a great pool, and would be suitable for a 4 year old.
Thanks x
Depend of your budget! but the Fontainebleau is great with children( fabulous swimming pool)
Search the Miami Beach forum for messages by Advisor Girl - depending on your budget, there are several hotels to choose from.
I hope you are planning to hire a car as your planned trip from Orlando to Miami and the Keys will be much more difficult without a car.
Thanks for the replies so far, the Fontainebleau looks great, and this would be the type of hotel I would book.
I dont really have a budget, and yes I have the car booked and ready to pick up from Stanford Airport, as we are not only doing Orlando, Miami, the Keys, we are also wanting to go over to Naples for night aswell.
Thanks
I can also recommend the Bentley Hotel. It%26#39;s right on the beach, it%26#39;s reasonable. The suites are very comfortable, with fully equipped kitchetnette stove, cutlery fridge etc. A little home from home on the beach.
The roof terrace has some stunning views of the ocean and the staff are fantastic. Best of all they love kids and pets. So pet lovers need not worry when planning a trip to Miami, the Bentley is a pet%26#39;s paradise.
I recommend the Newport Beachside Resort for children. Have two pools, hot-tub, and beach is cleaned daily. Great lighting at night for evening swims. Very safe area.
i recommend the Raleigh, beautiful pool and on the beach close to everything.
Hi, everyone,
I am a new grad currently living in Midwest, just got a job offer in the south end of Coral Gables. I am looking for nice and safe areas to rent a decent apartment/condo, my budget is $1000-12000 for a 1/1 unit with W/D, prefer something real close to work so the commute will be minim(10 min for public transportation and 20 min for driving on a worst day). I will not have a car for at least for the first 3 month or so. I am more of a surburb person, not into night life and clubs.
My 3 days apartment hunting trip will be targeting around the south miami area and coral gable area. Knowing that coral gable is upscale and expensive, I don%26#39;t have to stay in the area, if I can save a bit on rent, it would help my budget.
1) Is 34th and coral way a good area to rent? Given my preferences, can people in the area reconmmond some good places to look? Street address would be very helpful.
2)Is renting in south miami cost less than coral gables? Can you live in Miami without a car? Is riding bus or metrorail dangous?
Thanks for your suggestions.
happister, this site is geared to travel related topics. You may want try posting the exact same question on this forum city-data.com in the Miami section for more help on this topic.
Good Luck
34th Ave %26amp; Coral way is a good area
South Miami could be cheaper than the Gables
Miami w/o a car would be difficult
Bus and Metrorail are not dangerous, but very time consuming
You should come, look at the area where your new job is, ask the people there for help, walk that neighborhood. If it is near 34 Ave %26amp; Coral way you may find a place that you can walk to from work. That is a residential neighborhood.
All parts of the Gables are not upscale, although many are very upscale.
Practice your spanish, Miami is like a Latin American country.
Hello happistar,
Check the areas %26amp; decide where you want to be. It%26#39;s the right time to rent because the real estate market is slow %26amp; many property owners that can%26#39;t sell are willing to rent. Negotiate the prices. Let me know if you have any questions. Miami is a great city but it has gotten expensive!
Good Luck.
Try some of the apartment/condos around Dadeland and Datran near the Metrorail station. The area there is overbuilt, and some people who bought units during the housing boom, as investments, are finding themselves renting them out in hopes that the market goes up in the future. You will find yourself located near loads of shopping, public transportation, and the U of M.
I encourage you to search the Miami Herald on line classifieds to scout out some possible locations before you go to Miami. Dadeland is the farthest south that the Metrorail travels. I find it to be fairly safe. There are quite a few rentals near the South Miami metrorail station. I don%26#39;t know anything about that area though. I can tell you that driving in Miami is h3ll.
Good luck!!
Best thing is to make a trip to Miami before you move so you can check out the neighborhood in person. Rent a car for a few days and just drive around the neighborhood and find apartments...
This is a big step in your life and you want to be sure to live in the best area as possible!
Wish you good luck in your new career
i highly recommend checking out miami%26#39;s craigslist. Coral Gables is generally safe, but nothing in miami is walkable, you will need a car ASAP. Downtown there are alot of nice new lofts available for rent now. there is a place called Coral Sea View, llok it up on Craigslist, they are nic apartments in the coral gables area. Also try Douglas Grande apartments. that complex has a Pubix supermarket right beneath it.
As for south miami be careful, it can go from high end to semi ghetto between US-1. and 57th ave near the UM area. And I would avoid Coconut Grove.
get a car! i cannot stress that enough! the metro and bus are not really dangerous its just not that great here. Coral Gables has a new trolley system, but i know it has its limitations.
We are looking to travel in Oct- is this advisable?
In October, while still hot during the day if it is sunny, when the sun goes gown it will be cool. By the middle of October, the oppressive Summer humidity starts to disappear. By the beach it should be really nice.
October is ok not a bad month, not the best month to visit however (Jan, Feb, March, April best months). We get less rain in October, as it is at the end of our rainy season, so you will not have to worry about rain as much. October usually is still hot and humid upper 80%26#39;s or low 90%26#39;s, not as bad though as July, Aug, and September. Nights will be comfortable upper 70%26#39;s.
We have had cool fronts make it down in October, so if we do get one it will cool us off for a couple of days then get hot again. October is traditionally a slower month for hurricane season, usually we don%26#39;t get them that time of year, but no guarenty though.
all i can say is that on halloween night it is pretty humid and hot outside! lol
I want to rent a place at Bonnet Creek for next year but can%26#39;t get anywhere can someone please tell me who to contact because you can%26#39;t even look at a room on the website unless your a owner.
Maybe it%26#39;s too early to book for next year unless your an owner. You can get resevations if you plan on going this year on expedia.com.
Go to the timeshare forum and ask the same question you may get a batter response.
I used ebay. Type Bonnet Creek in search and it will bring up 1-2 pages being auctioned. What I did was see who was listing mulitple timeshare accomodations with high positive feedback. I have had no problems. I currently purchased a 1 week 2bedroom stay for $500.00. I have purchased accomodations several different times on ebay with no problems.
We%26#39;ll be in Miami for 2,5 days in August ..should we rent a car if we want to make most of our time there ?
AL%26gt;
If you want to relax and enjoy South Beach, you can book a hotel south of 21st Street and need no car to get around the area. There are restaurants, bars, shops, clubs, museums, beaches, spas, theaters, symphony performances...
All close enough to walk.
If you want to tour the city, you can take a DUCK tour and see the sights by land and sea - launch is on Lincoln Road.
Maps:
southbeach-usa.com/maps/miami-beach-maps.htm
AG
I agree with AdvisorGirl that if you want to just relax and hang on the beach and you are staying on Miami Beach then you probably don%26#39;t need a car. However, in every other situation you will most definitely need a car. Taxis are very expensive and a lot of the interesting sights are much more easily reached if you have a car. It really depends on what you want to do with your time while you are here.
Thanks guys, we%26#39;ll be staying at the Hyatt, we have 2.5 days before and 1.5 days after the cruise.
What is the best way to get to SOBE from the Hyatt ?
Should we stay one night on SOBE instead of renting ?
Al%26gt;
Defintely consider staying on South Beach rather than the Hyatt (Downtown). You can taxi to South Beach or take the elevated train from the Hyatt (get on the ';Omni loop'; it%26#39;s free) to the Omni exit and then transfer to the A bus eastbound to Miami Beach ($1.50) Just know that in August - it%26#39;s REALLY hot to wait for thhe bus...
You might just be happier overall staying at the beach the entire time.
Maps and links to hotel info here:
southbeach-usa.com/maps/miami-beach-maps.htm
AG
I stayed at the Hyatt downtown for a business meeting and it is a nice enough hotel, but I would not want to use it as a base for a Miami vacation.
If you are staying there because you have a really good rate and decide to rent a car check on the cost of parking. My guess is $25. or $30. per nite.
I would suggest if you can change your reservation at the Hyatt to a hotel on South Beach do it. This way you will be in walking distance to restaurants, entertainment, bars, clubs, shops, the beach, etc. Like others have said stay as close to 17th street south too 5th Street, this is where everything is for the most part.
As far as a rental car, it depends on what you want to do? Yes if you want to go out the Everglades (really hot though at this time of the year and the alligators and other animals are hiding from the sun, so harder to spot them this time of the year). Or if you want to take a day trip down to Key Largo. Or see Coconut Grove, Viscaya or Coral Gables a car will make it a little easier to see Miami a lot faster.
But if you just want to hang out and relax on South Beach then no.
too much annoying traffic and alot of bad drivers! i would not rent a car if you want to relax :)
My husband and I are spending a week in Sanibel in mid October. Besides J.N. (Ding) Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Captiva Cruises and bike riding, what should we make sure we see?
We like history and culture more than beach going, although we will spend time at the beach. We love exploring new places in general.
Is it worth going to Fort Myers to see the Edison-Ford Winter Estates?
Is it worth a day trip south to the everglades?
I enjoyed the Ford and Edison estates, but I%26#39;m a history buff and spend a lot of time in museums and such so I%26#39;m probably not the best judge. I think everyone enjoys seeing Edison%26#39;s lab. Otherwise, they are just houses but the tours make them a good experience.
I think the Everglades is worth the trip, but Corkscrew Swamp is my preference. With the drought, call before going.
Lover%26#39;s Key is beautiful. A half day or whole day on Cayo Costa is even better.
If just spending a week then definitely go to Corkscrew- it is wonderful and is much closer to Sanibel than the Everglades. You can swing over to Naples for some shopping or dining on the way back to make the day trip complete if you like.
I personally don%26#39;t think I would make a dedicated trip to the Edison/Ford houses but again you could tie those into a trip to Corkscrew for a different one day activity.
Honestly, when we cross the bridge into Sanibel, it is very hard to leave!
I would take a ride to the Edison-Ford Estates, but don%26#39;t plan on spending an entire day, I agree Corkssrew is worth a trip, lunch in Boca Grande is not a bad idea also. Naples is definitely only for a lunch/shopping experience not much more.
If you are going merely for sun and sand, stay right where you are, relax and enjoy!
If you can tear yourself away from Sanibel a day trip which would combine history, shopping and wildlife would be as follows:- Ted Smallwoods store in Chokoloskee followed by lunch at the Seafood depot in Everglades city. On way back to Sanibel stop off at Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk ( bug repellant advised) and see the Seminole Indian reserve adjacent. Finally if you wallet can stand it visit Tin city and Naples before heading back to Sanibel for the sunset
Overall roundtrip distance about 200 miles but thats small change for you guys
If you are looking for restaurant information MenuVenueSWFL.com has all of the area%26#39;s restaurants on it. They also have menus and coupons I think.
Enjoy your time here and be sure to see the everglades and all those gators!
Hope I helped
MenuGuy
Further to my advice of yesterday :- if you do head towards Everglades city do take the interstate till you get to Naples and then the Tamiami Trail (US41) from there. US 41 from Sanibel is certiainly the scenic route but it%26#39;s also SLOOOOW! After Naples it%26#39;s virtually traffic free so you can put your foot down.
Enjoy the area and look on cuisine scene.com for local restaurants.
With water and and everything else being so expensive in the Parks I had heard that there were services where you could order cases of water and have it delivered to your hotel room before you even get there..
Does anyone know the name of the service???
www.gardengrocer.com
I did use this service (unlike the wagon one) and it worked out great. You could order all kinds of groceries, including beverages (water, milk if you have a refrig.), to be delivered to you hotel. Even though you%26#39;re staying at an on-site hotel, it still is good to have snacks to eat and drinks in the room (esp. with kids). Also, we brought water and snacks to the parks to hold us over until meal times. This service saves you a trip to the grocery store and the prices weren%26#39;t too bad either.
I should just go directly to you. You are full of information.
I have been to the parks 9 times. But, again.. always with my family or friends never with my own child. So, I want to make sure that I have as many comforts of home as possible, As he will only be 2 years 3 months when we leave.
Because I have had the experience of spending $50 on just a days worth of water.. I know I needed to do something else. So.. this is GREAT!
We do have a refrig in our room...
Thank you and I completely understand where you%26#39;re coming from. Last year was my first time as an adult (where I needed to plan everything), let alone with 3 children. Luckily, my sister has been going every other year for about 20 years now, so she was able to help me with everything.
The best advice with little ones is probably to plan everything that you can, but remember that not everything will go as planned. So just relax and go with it.
Can you rent these on the beach at this resort ? Has anyone stayed here this pass July? If so, how crowded was it in the pools? How big is the hot tub ? Is it true that the cafe cooks only on a George Foreman grill !!!
Are there ouside grills ?
thanks so much,
Yes you can rent them on the beach I don%26#39;t think they were thru the hotel, not quite sure went up the road to CVS and bought chairs for about $6-$8 dollars and had them for the week. I read your other posting as well and it is a great family vacation spot we were there last week of June into July had a great time rooms were great plenty of room for the family views were great pool was nice. My kids were 11 and 16 they had a great time as well , I did notice the kids pool had to close a couple of times due to young kids having accidents in pool area but in my travel experience that happens quite a bit with young children. I think you will have a great time we did I read some reviews was a little leary as well even called hotel direct about my concerns and was assured all would be fine and it was, I to was worried because I was driving all the way from Chicago and did not wan%26#39;t to be disappointed and I can say we were not at all !! Go and have a great trip and as for your other question I think that is all new construction sure looked like it from our room. Have fun !!
Thank you very much Happytraveler from Chicago...........
Did you have a Gulf Front view or a pool view? And did you rent thru the property? How did you like the beach..............are there shells?
Were you allowed to bring a cooler to the pool area and did you see any grills there?
thanks again.
the seasheller in Cinti
We had a partial gulf view overlooking the litlle kids pool, we had a great view of the beach as well. There is a grass area on main level and I did see some grills I am not sure if they were the hotels or if people brought them with, I am sure you could and ask. I found this place on the Internet but called the hotel directly to see about weekly rates and we got a better rate that way. We brought a small cooler with pop and water and snacks people had there drinks as well, nobody seemed to bother anybody about that. The kitchen is very nice sized so I did alot of cooking in hotel as it is very hot there at that time of year, we also went up the road to a place called Gators they have excellent food. Beach was very nice, there are alot of shells, the kids were in the ocean a couple of times and the dolphins swim pretty close to them, they don%26#39;t seem to mind people, and the Sunset is beautiful as well. This place is very nice and we would love to go back again. The only thing I would probably change is the side we were on they were doing construction on a new hotel the were building next store, but they did not work weekends and they stopped fairly early mid day so never really heard them and it may be complete by the time you go, so again that is another question you could ask if you should call them I am not sure how you booked your vacation, but the people were very nice %26amp; I am sure they could answer questions for you. Have a Great Trip !!
I am going to be going to Orlando on 9/28 with a friend and we love going to Japanese steakhouses. We actually went to one with our spouses last weekend and had good time. We aren%26#39;t bringing our spouses on this trip though. Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a good one.
I saw Kobe, Shogun, Taipan of Tokyo
Let me know your thoughts
There%26#39;s also Ran-Getsu (sp?) on I-Drive as well. There used to be Kanpai of Tokyo by Sweet Tomatoes by I-Drive and Kirkman. I went there and found it good a few years ago, but stick to the fried rice; I was the only one who got it. The others in my party got steamed rice, and were not impressed.
There%26#39;s also a Benihana at the WDW Hilton by Downtown Disney.
If you%26#39;re also interested in non-Steakhouse Japanese, try Aki Japanese Restaurant at Universal Blvd and Carrier Dr., behind Wet n%26#39; Wild and Westgate Palace (the two huge white towers). Also, there%26#39;s Amura Sushi in Restaurant Row (on Sand Lake Rd. west of I-Drive).
Kanpai of Tokyo may be still there, but I%26#39;m not sure.
The one at Marriott%26#39;s World Center is quite good.
Kobe%26#39;s is great - not quiet, if you are looking for that, but food is very good. I have been to the location on I-Drive many times, and others as well.]
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the Shogun at Rodeway Hotel, I Drive. Food and service was lovely and it wasn%26#39;t too expensive.
We are heading on a 3 night disney cruise..and wonder if there are any must do%26#39;s aboard the ship. Which shows would you recommend? We will definately do castaway cay...great reviews. We are wondering abou Nassau...should we stay on the ship and enjoy what%26#39;s there when it%26#39;s less crowded, head into Nassau and sightsee...we have 6 and 11 year old girls...is safety a concern. Another option is to take a bus or water taxi to Paradise Island just to check it out. I think we%26#39;ll pass on the excursions though...quite expensive..thought we%26#39;d make our own excursion. Anyone who%26#39;s been on the cruise...PLEASE...let me know all about it. Thanks
I went on the Disney cruise several years ago. I didn%26#39;t care much for the bahamas so we did a little tour and then hung out on the boat. As soon as you get off the ship you have a bunch of people trying to get you to do tours and buy such and such items, which I know is their livelyhood but I found it annoying.
But castaway cay was very nice. We rented bikes that you can take all over the island.
We went on a four night cruise several years ago. I think all of the night shows were great. The last night show that was about a girl and her dreams was the best.
I wasn%26#39;t impressed with Nassau. We got off the boat, took a horse drawn carriage ride around, did a little shopping in the straw market and went back to the boat early.
Castaway Cay is great!!
Enjoy!! We had a great time when we went.
We went on a 4nite cruise in May this year and loved it.We stayed on the ship when docked in Nassau,seen it a few years ago %26amp; wasn%26#39;t impressed at all.We really enjoyed using the facilities on board(there was no crowds at all,most people had disembarked!!!!).
You must dine at Palos,fab fab food and service.we used the kids club and felt safe doing so and our 6yr daughter enjoyed spending time with other kids.
Wasn%26#39;t impressed with the Hercules show,in fact I found it quite boring!!!Other shows were very impressive.
Castaway cay is WOW.Sugar white sand and crystal clear water.The BBQ lunch is really good considering how many people they are catering for at the one place.We renting our bikes and rode around the island.I really enjoyed doing that.You can rent helments and along the cycle path are free water fonts.
That%26#39;s all I can say,I could go on and on.We really enjoyed the cruise and would do it agian in a heatbeat
enjoy
Thanks for the info...for the person who went to Palo%26#39;s ... is it extra $$
$10pp but WELL worth it,by the way it%26#39;s adults only,which is nice,adults time with the hubby,don%26#39;t know about you but we dont getr much time on our own(especially in a lovely restaurant like Palo).You need to book this in advance so do so to get the time slot you want
Has anyone used Hotwire Deals? It is scary because you do not know where you are booking, only the general area. I was interested in a 3-3.5 star condo they had for $84-106 in the Lake Buena Vista area. I%26#39;d like to stay close to the parks and preferably not rent a car. We%26#39;ve stayed at Downtown Disney Double Tree in the past but the rates are higher now. Thanks for any feedback.
Check www.betterbidding.com for the list of Hotwire hotels and condos. I%26#39;ve never used Hotwire because they have no advantage over Priceline-which I use a lot-and their prices are much higher.
I sue Priceline too, not hotwire.
But if you really must not drive you really needy to pick your actual hotel. I%26#39;m not sure how much you will save after paying for a taxi to/from the airport plus extra ones etc.
So keep checking prices online at the hotel%26#39;s own website, or on other websites like Hotel.com, expedia as they have specials. Or branch out slightly. If you go a mile away from the Doubletree, you get the Staybridge Suites, and Cypress Pointe which will have rooms under $99 per night (the CP ones with 2 beds, full kitchen and w/d). These are walking distance to 5-10 restaurants depending on how far you like to walk and how hot/rainy it is. Also have a pharmacy and grocery store nearby. And less than a $10 taxi to DTD for the evenings, plus they have shutlles to the parks.
that should be use not sue of course ;-)
Hi,
My friend just use priceline last week and got the The Palms Hotel and Villas in Orlando. She was not very happy with this hotel and ended up checking out early. Hope this helps!
I%26#39;ve used Priceline to stay in Miami 3 times, plus San Fran, Wash DC, Heathrow. And rented a car in Ohio. Never had a problem, sometimes a place wasn%26#39;t as good as I%26#39;d hoped, but for the prices I paid (like $55 a night) I was always happy enough.
I don%26#39;t use it if exact location/amenities are important ie beach Front etc.
I saw some mis-information on another thread... someone said that British people cannot belong to car hire rental companies%26#39; ';frequent renter';/';express collection'; programmes. That is a load of rubbish...
I am British and belong to the Hertz%26#39;s programme. I know other Brits who belong to Avis%26#39; and Dollar%26#39;s programmes.
I highly recommend joining the one for the car hire company that you most frequently use - it can cut down a LOT of queueing!!
For example, at Hertz, I just get off at the seperate Gold bus stop. I read my name on the Gold board and it will indicate a car parking space. I go to that space, load my luggage in the back and drive off (keys in the car). I show my drivers licence and hand-in the bit of paper that says I want to pre-pay my fuel at the booth at the exit to the car park. That is it - no queueing...
With Hertz you generally need to rent direct through their website to get their gold service (assuming you have signed up for it). But I believe that with Dollar you can use the express line no matter how you rented your car (if you have signed up for the express service).
Hope that makes life easier for some :-)
UCC
I%26#39;m in the UK too , have joined the Dollar Express program and used it sucessfully earlier this year.
If you book via uscarhire.co.uk they even RECOMMEND that you join.
That was going to be my question. I have booked via Carhire3000, but I will be collecting the car from Dollar. I really like the sound of the Express service, but wasn%26#39;t sure if I could join since I didn%26#39;t book directly with Dollar.
Wingnutz, how did you get the Dollar reference number that they require for joining?
Thank you.
ClareGirl70,
go on the the Dollar website (the US .com one NOT the UK .co.uk one). Sign up for the Express programme. You will then get your membership card posted to you. Once you have the card with your number you can either e-mail them with the details of your current car hire details and get them to %26#39;add%26#39; it to your Express membership (the address is under the membership FAQ page) or if it%26#39;s a new booking quote it then.
Hope this helps...
Clare
You don%26#39;t need a reference number, do you?
Have you tried registering here - dollar.com/expressmember/鈥?/a>
UCC
Thanks a mil. Will get on to that a.s.a.p.
ok, so I have never been snorkling before and would really love to go when we are in key west. My fiance doesnt really want to do it and may just stay on the boat. any suggestions for a good provider for beginners? also, are the dolphin excursions worth it? TIA
Check this out...
tripadvisor.com/Travel-g34345-c3631/Key-West鈥?/a>
It has a section about what%26#39;s best for beginners. And I have a friend who doesn%26#39;t snorkel but who loves to get out on the water on these trips.
Pjk
wow, great article, thank you!
Have your fiance buy an inexpensive mask and snorkel at your local Walmart/Kmart in Charlotte. Pack it and practice in your hotel pool, so he/she can get the hang of breathing and getting the depth perception as least partially down. Should make him/her much more comfortable.
he%26#39;s more afraid of whats IN the water, not so much his inexperience. he%26#39;s just silly, thank you tho!
Well then you just tow is a$$ into the water !! The stuff in there.....fish.....are a heck of a lot more afraid of you !!
heelgirl, as for snorkeling, go. It is awesome!!! I sent you an IM.
And yes, the dolphinexcursions are terrific. The most difficult part is choosing an operator. We really do have a number of good ones.
Just get him on the boat. He won%26#39;t be the only person not snorkeling, but be sure that he listens to all of the comments about what people saw - parrot fish, a ray, big fish, little fish, schools of fish. Yellow fish, blue fish, striped fish. Fish sleeping in the protection of a reef. He%26#39;ll start to get interested and you%26#39;ll have an excuse for going again.
Stay wet!
Pjk
any benifits for mature travelers in orlando bin 3 times but just hit the big 60 also is it worth takin blue badge any info welcomed goin in 2 weeks ty
Early bird dinner at Denny%26#39;s :))
Reduced room rates at Hyatt for seniors!
liverpoolloo,
There are senior discounts at restaurants and entertainment venues all over town. Some start at 55. Others start older. Since they are not allowed to ask your age, you have nothing to lose by asking everywhere you go.
CTR
Wonderworks does a discount.
thank you for promt repllies only 13 days to go
Many places in the U.S. offer seniors some sort of discount, but they don%26#39;t often ';post'; or advertise them.
So, whereever you go, simply ask if the restaurant has a senior meal discount or similar. You may have to ask to get one.
been to disney many times and stayed inside the world all times. would like to see universal this trip with an easy journey to disney also. is it possible? need to keep it as cheap, but nice as possible also. single mother of two young teens. thx:)
I haven%26#39;t been but I have heard that the Holiday Inn Nickeleon Suites near Universal are awesome. I know you have teens and they may be a little old for the theme.. But, the great part about this hotel is that it is really close to Universal (considered one of their hotels I think) but also provides transportation to Disney. It is cheap. I think you can get a room for around $99 a night. I don%26#39;t think you will find that much better anywhere else.
Locationwise, staying near SeaWorld would put you 1/2 way between the two main areas of Universal and Disney.
If Universal is your main destination, I-Drive is usually the place to stay.
I%26#39;ve booked 2 weeks at the Marriott Springhill Suites on Universal Boulevard for next April (yipee...soooo excited!!) ...then I found out about the disney Dining Plan. The hotel is a %26#39;Disney Good Neighbor%26#39; hotel and I know I can buy tickets there, but does that mean I%26#39;ll be able to purchase the dining plan? If not, am I better to get my tickets elsewhere in advance to get a better deal?
I%26#39;ve phoned the hotel, but the stroppy Frenchman I spoke to just kept repeating that they sell the tickets there or I can search the internet and buy them online. Wouldn%26#39;t give me a clear answer about the dining plan!! GGRR!!
Also, I%26#39;ve heard about %26#39;Pal Mickey%26#39;...Little stuffed guy who gives you hints ans tips and talks to you as you go around the parks. Anyone had one and thought it was worth the $65 (+ tax) price?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
You can%26#39;t buy the Disney dining Plan unless you are staying at a Disney hotel so your hotel doesn%26#39;t qualify.Pal Mickey is only worth it if you are willing to carry a large stuffed animal around all day,
That%26#39;s correct.
You can only purchase the Disney Dining Plan if you purchase a Magic Your Way package deal from Disney which includes lodging at a Disney resort and purchase of theme park tickets.
Looking to stay in a hotel that%26#39;s close to or within easy reach of a beach, restaurants, and shops. I don%26#39;t want to rent a car, looking to spend a relaxing time on the beach, but with the option of going to the shopping mall or outlets. Lauderdale by the Sea sounds like a relaxing place, but not sure how easy it is ie distance/cost to get to shopping Mall etc. Any suggestions greatfully received
You may want to post this on the Ft. Lauderdale forum and also research that forum. You will find lots of good info there.
Does anyone know if they race on the ocean side or gulf side and is it hard to get a spot to watch them?
Aargh. I miss them not. However, for the sake of fairness...
They are on the Gulf side. And it is simple to get ';a spot'; to watch them, as any place on the West side of the Island from the Historic Bight down to Fort Zach is occupied by the races.
(Navy mole by Fort Zach area is apparently where all the ';main action'; happens.)
I imagine premium viewing is to be had behind the Westin, as well as at Zero Duval.
For the record.
Mallory Square is also a good place to watch them. The boats race by mayby 50 feet from the pier.
They race gulf side. Several years ago they raced ocean side for one year but it pissed off the hoteliers on the Gulf. There are races Wed, Fri and Sun and there are at least a couple of races each of those days. Most rooms with a water view will already be booked by now. A lot of people watch the races from the Ocean Key Pier. Pier House use to do something but I am not sure what they will do since their deck is under construction. Fort Zack is another idea but you will not see the whole course.
You can also buy a seat on a boat in the middle of the harbor and they go right around you!
And exactly when are they this year guys?
November....2nd week (?)
Nov. 7-11 Wed-Sun
Is this a bad time to visit? I was planning a long weekend for our 20th wedding anniversary that weekend.
Not at all. You%26#39;ll see them if you%26#39;re looking for them. Once in a great while, you may hear them as they thunder by but it%26#39;s a great time to visit.
It can depend on where you stay. If you were in one of the hotels on the north side at the pool or beach area, it becomes very noisy. There are the powerboats themselves and then there are the chase, news, and medical helicopters flying aound after them.
Pjk
My fiance %26amp; I are looking to save some $ on our honeymoon and were thinking of driving to Destin from Texas. Is it typical beach weather in late November? I%26#39;m from the gulf coast so I know it may be cooler but is it still warm enough to even visit the beach? Do you guys even recommend Destin as a honeymoon spot? We%26#39;re looking just to relax %26amp; have quality time. TIA!
Temps should be in the 70%26#39;s. Might not be warm enough for bikini weather but usually warm enough to sit in a beach chair and enjoy the solitude. Get a place with a heated pool - the gulf may be too cold (or not)
It will be the off-season so you should have plenty of alone time.
We are stopping in Orlando on our vacation and only have 1 day for visiting Disney and staying a night. Its just my husband and I, no kids.
Are we nuts? The day at Disney will only be from 2pm until closing. Should we get a park hopper? Would be nice to see the %26#39;must sees%26#39; at MK and Epcot.
Also, should we stay our one night at the resort ? (we were thinking PO French Quarter) Or off site. Talked to AAA and for about the same we can either stay onsite or at a hotel outside with AAA discount and buying tickets when we get there.
We are hoping that since we are going Sept 5th, 2 days after Labor Day, that it will work to our advantage.... less people with lots of kids just starting school etc.
Our trip just drops us down there for that short time and I couldnt imagine going to Orlando and not visiting Disney. We have never been there. My husband has been to other places in Orlando. This is my first time down to Florida.
Are we nuts? Any ideas? Anyone done a 1 day trip?
If you cannot arrive at a Disney park until after 2:00 PM, you probably are wasting your day and money if you go to a theme park.
Most parks in the off season close early (some as early as 5:00 PM like Animal Kingdom; 9:00 PM at the latest). You would have only enough time to cover a very few things and you%26#39;d be disappointed about that I%26#39;m sure.
Instead of spending a huge amount of money to go to a theme park for only a few hours, how about going to Downtown Dinsey and Pleasure Island instead. You%26#39;ll have later hours to stay, plus parking and admission is free to Downtown Disney. Pleasure Island stays open late (2:00 AM, I think), and you only pay for the clubs you go into.
I say go to Downtown Disney and get a ';taste'; of it without spending lots of money for too short a time.
Kats right, although MK and Epcot are later to close. They are connected via mono rail but travelling, entry, exit all eat into your time.
Check whether Wishes fireworks are on that night, if not see the Epcot ones. You%26#39;d need to decide whether or not to split the time between parks but, personally, I%26#39;d not as you simply don%26#39;t have enough time to do more than half a park. If it was me, I%26#39;d opt for a shortened Epcot, but if you%26#39;ve never been to MK before, you might want to do that instead.
Epcot is more adult than MK.
Hi rainbwblu,
I would agree with chinners and go to Epcot. You will have 7 hours of wondering. Ending your short visit with Illuminations would be lovely and give you that Magical Feeling. You would still have a little time after to head to Pleasure Island to have abit of fun, if you wanted. Any time at Disney is worth it, IMO.
Someone may have posted this already, and if so, sorry for the repeat.
Chef Mickey%26#39;s is offering a buffet lunch from August 28 through September 8 and from September 16 through September 22. The times are 12:30 p.m. 鈥?3 p.m. (last seating at 2:40 p.m.) and cost is $20.99 (ages 10+) and $11.99 (ages 3-9).
Kat- is it a Character meal like the breakfasts/dinners they offer?
Well, the post I saw didn%26#39;t say specifically that it%26#39;s a character meal, but I think the implication is there that it is.
All the meals at Chef Mickey%26#39;s are character meals, so as bad as it is to assume, I would say yes it is.
I%26#39;m pretty sure that when I first read about the Lunch at Chef Mickey%26#39;s, It was my understanding, it was to be a Character Meal. Perhaps I%26#39;ll ring Disney and try to fit one more Reservation into my Holiday. Was a little bummed we couldn%26#39;t get the Breakfast.
Is it better to fly to Ft Myers or Naples? I%26#39;ll be flying from Orlando at some point and want to spend a few days at Sanibel. Anyone know who flies from Orlando to those two cities direct?
The Ft. Myers airport is much closer to Sanibel -
Southwest Airlines has several direct flights daily from Orlando to Fort Myers - website is www.southwest.com
You will want to check flights from Orlando, FL - MCO to
Ft. Myers, FL - RSW
RSW/Ft Myers....naples would probably cost more anyway...and the drive from ft myers to orlando is only a few hours and isn%26#39;t bad at all....
probably southwest, delta, usairways and american would fly...BUT you could try to do an open jaw an fly into one, rent a car and fly out of the other.....we actually did this a couple years ago and found a rental car without a drop charge....i think it was alamo......just an idea.
RSW by far ----also Naples (APF) will discontinue Delta service on Oct 1st so there will be no major comercial airlines serving Naples
Thanks to all for the information!
Hello!
So i just booked our tickets to vacation in clearwater in november! We are flying in to tampa and i am wanting to stay directly on the beach, not the bay. As I am looking at hotels, I was wondering your thoughts.... does it matter if we stay on clearwater, north reddington, st. petersburg beach? which is the best for the price? can you tell a difference in clearwater beach or st. petersburg? are all these beaches walking distancesf rom eachother? i am just trying to figure out a fun place to stay directly on the beach...any thoughts?
thanks sooooooo much!!!
The main difference between Clearwater and St. Pete I think is that Clearwater Beach is a smaller area of beach, so it is a little more crowded (not too crowded). And more active. There will be folks playing frisbee, volleyball, catch etc. A somewhat younger crowd sometimes. Alot of the restaurants/bars/shops are all in the same area so alot can be accessed by walking. The Hilton is directly on the beach, right in the middle of all activity in Clearwater Beach, Great location!
St. Pete/Treasure Island/Mediera Beach/Reddington/Indian Rocks on the other hand, is a very long stretch of beach/shoreline. You *could* walk between them, as they are basically one long stretch of beach, but to walk from Clearwater to St. Pete would take a VERY long time, no one does this, everyone will drive, or take the beach trolley. People tend to hang out near their hotel, so one area doesn%26#39;t really get that crowded, except maybe near the larger hotels or parking areas. The restaurants/bars/shops are all along the coast here so a short drive or trolley ride may be needed to get to some.
We booked the entire week, from Sunday to Saturday, at a resort near Disney THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
There will be 7 adults and 5 kids. We selected this date for the weather and the hope that most kids would be in school resulting in shorter lines at the rides.
We%26#39;ve been getting feedback that this is NOT correct. In fact, it is the exact opposite. Others claim that this is the PEAK time and one of the busiest for Disney?? Are they right? We figured that summertime is when kids and families were on vacation, not November?
What is it like at Disney during that week?
I%26#39;d think the week prior to the holiday won%26#39;t be too bad. Even quieter would be the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and the first few weeks in January. Those are really the slowest travel times.
Yes, kids are out in summer so parks are busy, but it%26#39;s so darned hot here, that it%26#39;s miserable, and that keeps a lot of people away. Crowds in November may be more related to great weather (cooler, humidity gone, little rain) than the holiday... That said, I%26#39;ll bet only that last weekend of your visit will be very busy. During the week should be pretty nice.
I%26#39;m sure someone in Orlando can give you more specific info, but that would be my take on it.
Hi ..last year we were about to book a hotel the week before Thanksgiving...and thankfully, the girl taking our reservation at Comfort Suites Maingate East, told us the Monday and Tuesday may be okay, but by Wednesday and Thursday...high season!! She said, lots of families take off early for Thanksgiving...thus making the week before very busy as well. We therefore booked one week earlier, so we were out of there before that week started. Crowds were minimal...always somewhat busy...it is Florida!! But, really no line ups for anything at Magic Kingdom or Typhoon Lagoon. Excellent weather as well.
Hello,
The week ';before'; Thanksgiving this year (Sun-Sat) is Nov 11th through 17th.
If this is the week you will be in Orlando, you shouldn%26#39;t have too much problem with crowds. The ';best days'; indicates ratings of ';5'; almost every day, which is a good rating.
I%26#39;ve been to Disney during that particular week in the past, and it was one of the least crowded times I%26#39;ve gone (it also rained, so that contributed to the smaller crowds).
Weather could be ';iffy'; so come prepared for any season and bring things you can layer if necessary.
This is the week we like to go--the week b4 Thanksgiving, not the week of Thanksgiving. It is not crowded. If you stay on site the extra magic hours are really empty. The only smewhat busy days are on the weekends. It%26#39;s a great time to go. If you really want to do waterparks, you may have trouble, depending on the weather. That%26#39;s about it.
xJeff, you should be fine. We have gone at this time and the crowds are NOT overwhelming. We have even been there on Thanksgiving and to be honest, it was no where near being as crowded as Easter, Summer or Christmas.
We are staying at Disney Resort in December and wont have a car. What is the best way to get to Universal Studios from the resort. Any ideas how much a taxi would be and how long is the journey. None of the guide books I have bought tell me this. Many thanks.
The All-Star resort is a good 10 to 12 miles from the Universal parks, and drive time is about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day.
I%26#39;m not sure how much a taxi would be, but I would guess at least $30 or more round trip.
probably more like $30.00 one way .
Yes, that%26#39;s correct. I meant to say $30 each way, not round trip.
Thanks for the correction; my brain has been in a fog.
Can anyone recommend must - see sights/events for us as we drive down from Cincinatti down to Florida?
We are planning to ';leisurely'; drive from Cincinatti to Florida in 5 days, hoping to see more of that part of the States on our drive.
We would greatly appreciate any recommendations!
If you are flying into Chicago as your Chicago post said, you might like the following websites:
www.choosechicago.com
www.indy.org
www.amishcountry.org
www.parkecounty.com
www.roamrandolph.org
www.visitrichmond.org
www.in.gov/visitindiana
From Cincinnati south these are helpful websites (especially if you plan to take Interstate Highway 75):
www.cincinnatiusa.com
www.discoverohio.com
www.visitlex.com
www.berea.com
corbinkentucky.us/cumberlandfallsstatepark.h鈥?/a>
www.tnvacation.com
www.gatlinburg.com
I%26#39;ll let others here on this forum give you the best Florida websites!
I have visited all of the above locations so if you have questions, let me know!
Lily
I forgot that you%26#39;ll also be passing through Georgia.
www.georgia.org
Have a great trip!
Thanks a million (as the irish say)
We%26#39;ve got alot of planning to do now. Good to have more direction.
You%26#39;re welcome!
Have a wonderful trip!
We like the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area in Tennessee, then drive down thru Maggie Valley. Ashville is nice and the Biltmore House is a great place if you don%26#39;t have young children. I think most kids would be bored. They have a winery and horseback riding trails as well as the tour of the mansion.
Atlanta, Ga has the worlds largest aquarium and the Coke bottling plant / historical tour. They also have lots of good shopping malls. If you end up on the east coast then Savannah is great and St. Augustine.
Contact the chamber of commerce of these cities and they will send you an info package wich has things to do and hotels listed.
Right at the Interstate-75 exit #77 in Kentucky (about 100 miles south of Cincinnati, there is a state handicraft store. Because it%26#39;s so close the interstate, and really has such interesting top quality items, you really shouldn%26#39;t pass it up. It is probably the best handmade item gallery I%26#39;ve been to. (It%26#39;s similar to the Tamarack in Beckley, West Virginia). Check out this review:
kaht.com/links/appalachia_magazine_07-05.htm
Plan about 1/2 to 1 hour in there. DON%26#39;T MISS THIS! They have a snack bar and restrooms too.
A little south of Lexington Kentucky, there%26#39;s Berea, famous for it%26#39;s handmade arts and crafts. Stop in to see the log house
www.berea.edu/studentcrafts/lhcg/default.asp
It has lots of handmade items from Berea College, which is known for its arts and crafts making. It%26#39;s a few (about 3-5) miles off the interstate in downtown Berea.
In Asheville, NC, you might want to look at the Biltmore Estate. There are tours of this residential home (the largest in the country and once home to George Vanderbilt). This would be pretty much an all-day event.
P.S. Are you from Dublin Ohio (near Columbus) or Dublin Ireland?
We are South Africans living in Dublin IRELAND!
Check out the Chattanooga, TN forum; a lot of things to do in Chattanooga, which I-75 goes right by. There are some so-called ';touristy'; attractions such as Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway (though it may be closed) that you could take or leave, but The Tennessee Aquarium (which has a second, ocean oriented wing now) is really nice. It wouldn%26#39;t be as spectacular as the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, but the one in Atlanta would be more of a hassle and may be more difficult to get into. Plus its just plopped down in the middle of a big city, whereas the Tennessee Aquarium is right next to the Tennessee River, which works better in my mind; not to mention some attractive development has sprung up around it.
Also, there are a number of Civil War sites around Chattanooga, the biggest being the Chickamauga Battlefield (one of the best preserved and largest American Civil War battlefields) to the south of town, just over the border in GA. Point Park is also a Civil War site on top of Lookout Mountain, with great views of Chattanooga and also views to the west and east from the mountain. Plenty of hiking trails there too. Also, Hamilton Place Mall is one of the bigger malls in Tennessee.
The Biltmore Estate and Asheville, NC in general would be a nice place to visit, but of course would be significantly out of the way. But if going that way, and taking I-26 to I-95 by the beach, Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA are definitely worth a visit, with wonderful historic districts. You could also check out Myrtle Beach, though thats more of a big touristy area.
BTW, if you follow golf, Dublin, OH is home to the Memorial Golf Tournament, which is hosted by Jack Nicklaus. But if you like to play it, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama features 7 courses by the late golf course designer, all very reasonably priced.
Thank you, so much for all the replies!! So much to do and so little time!! Will take our pick from the recommended sights. Two weeks left before we %26#39;hit%26#39; America!
Moonfire, to avoid confusion, you should amend your location to Dublin, Ireland. Have a great trip to Florida. Whereabouts in Florida is your destination?
