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[pedroMV6]

Looking to go over again, but this time flights seem so much more expensive, even looking at cheapflights.com flying cattle class, muchas more than when we last went in 2008 - so much for a recession!!!
Unless it's better VFM to book a complete holiday as we have done in the past?

Just fancy a Florida fortnight as a treat for when my daughter leaves school.

Any of you Alan Whicker types got any flight ideas? Accomodation in Fl. is plentiful and cheap.

[I_want_an_Omega]

A few years we flew via Ireland with Aer Lingus to Boston. Tne transatlantic hops were about 220 each way each, so we had a day or two in Dublin/Boston also.

[Plomien]

see how much it would be to fly from amsterdam as you can normally get there fairly cheaply

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Used Thomson just before Christmas to fly to Florida, using their First Choice Airline, stayed in the Quality Inn Plaza, International Drive and had on hire a car from Alamo for the two weeks. 8-) 8-) 8-)

For the money we paid first class!

[pedroMV6]

We flew with Thompson's own airline in 2008 - which was an experience.....not great, let's put it that way!

Thing is, first time I ever flew (in 2002 to NYC) it was with BA, so I've been a bit spoilt I suppose!

Is the Race Rock Cafe on IntAve open again?
It was closed, undergoing some repairs or work of some kind in June 2008 - we went there in 2005 for some lunch....simply couldn't eat it all!!
Petrolhead's diner heaven that place.

[RobG]

Went twice last year. First time, package jobbie with Virgin into Orlando International in May. Second time booked private villa for 14 days (last wk. Aug into Sept) and flew direct with AA into Miami, picked car up from Dollar drove up to Orlando. Found it cheaper overall. Going again April/May, Virgin flights, Dollar car & private luxury villa round the 3K all in. You can get flights at a reasonable cost if you`re not going direct but takes a lot of searching

[Lizzie_Zoom]

We flew with Thompson's own airline in 2008 - which was an experience.....not great, let's put it that way!

Thing is, first time I ever flew (in 2002 to NYC) it was with BA, so I've been a bit spoilt I suppose!

Is the Race Rock Cafe on IntAve open again?
It was closed, undergoing some repairs or work of some kind in June 2008 - we went there in 2005 for some lunch....simply couldn't eat it all!!
Petrolhead's diner heaven that place.

Yes Pedro, I'm afraid you pays your money and receive accordingly.  I considered though that First Choice for a package airline was good for the money paid, with good seating and excellent food for the money paid 8-) 8-).

But of course if you travel in a scheduled BA or Virgin business class you do get so much more.......but the price for a family....!!!

[pedroMV6]

Went twice last year. First time, package jobbie with Virgin into Orlando International in May. Second time booked private villa for 14 days (last wk. Aug into Sept) and flew direct with AA into Miami, picked car up from Dollar drove up to Orlando. Found it cheaper overall. Going again April/May, Virgin flights, Dollar car & private luxury villa round the 3K all in. You can get flights at a reasonable cost if you`re not going direct but takes a lot of searching

Hahaha! Starting to find that out, Rob! Went to travel agent last few times and would have again, but thought I'd be a pikey this time!
Like the idea of Miami for a change too.............Art Deco hotel area has gotta be as cool as!

[alunonhisown]

I am going Virgin Upper Class end of June and it was £615.00 per person.
I used up a load of Airmiles with that as well .

[bertiecbx550]

Hey lizzie is that the 1 opposite wonder works? if so i stopped there twice in the last 5 years....

[damon80]

We flew with Thompson's own airline in 2008 - which was an experience.....not great, let's put it that way!

Thing is, first time I ever flew (in 2002 to NYC) it was with BA, so I've been a bit spoilt I suppose!

Is the Race Rock Cafe on IntAve open again?
It was closed, undergoing some repairs or work of some kind in June 2008 - we went there in 2005 for some lunch....simply couldn't eat it all!!
Petrolhead's diner heaven that place.

Was there last summer, and nope - still closed, with no signs of being re-opened again.

If anybody reading this is planning a trip over to FL and booking a package holiday - be sure to tell them to p***-off with their hire car.  You WILL get stung with extra insurance when you get there. 

The "free" car they offer you comes with 3rd Party-Only insurance.  You need to upgrade that to fully-comp for peace-of-mind (do you really want to have to fork out for the full price of repairs if you are unfortunate to be found at fault in an accident over there?)

Knowing these "scams" that the UK holiday firms tend to pull with their "free hire car offer from past experience, (which if you haven't been before, you only find out when you go to the car hire place at one of the Orlando airports), when booking last year we enquired as to how much this "free" car would cost in additional insurance to make it fully comp and to add the missus as a named driver.  It came back as just over £550 for the 3.5 weeks we were over there(!)  And that was for an Intermediate class car - Ford Focus or equivalent.

So I shopped around online before we set off, and got a car - still picking up and dropping off at Orlando airport - for the same duration, for just over £400.  That was with all insurances and waivers included, plus up to 3 named drivers, plus a full tank of fuel (pick it up full, drop it off empty - no hunting around for a petrol station on the way back to airport).  And that was for an SUV-class vehicle - we had a Chevy Blazer.

Hope that helps 

[damon80]

Hey lizzie is that the 1 opposite wonder works? if so i stopped there twice in the last 5 years....

Yep, it is - stayed there ourselves a couple of years ago.  Cracking Sizzler next door to it 

Stayed at Econolodge last time (used to be Best Western) a couple of blocks further back down I-Drive towards Sand Lake Rd.

[bertiecbx550]

Mmmmm i loved the olive garden restaurant that was approx 500 yds from the quailty inn.....