Florida Keys

Umiq88

Hoping to travel to florida in september looking for a bit of advice as not very familiar with travel.

16day trip or less.

What airlines to go with or what website for booking flights. Do i book now or will there likely to be sales i.e. how long do i leave it. Also where can i check if theres sales on dont want to be checking flights everyday with 5 airlines for the next 4 weeks. What airport is the closest to the keys??

Accomodation. What area is a good place to go to thats reasonable but clsoe to everything. Are hotel prices reasonable or would self catering be alot cheaper. Woulda a airline hotel package be better or just book hotels or motels a few days before while over there.

Car rental. I'm 21 full irish license from novemer 08 is this an option or will he prices be ludicurous.

Basically looking for peoples experience from being over there what you did how much it cost you what would you recommend.

Thanks

Savman

There's an airport in Key West. Or you can rent a car in Miami and do the unique drive down. There'll be an U25 premium though.

Enii

If you rent a car, get it one way. You will not need a car in Key West! Rent a bike while you are there.

3qsmavrod5twfe

Went to Miami and the Florida Keys a year and a half ago. Excellent trip. We flew with Delta airlines from Dublin to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Miami (flights cost approx €550 return pp). Miami is class, definitely recommend it but if you are on a tight budget I wouldn't bother. I was staying with a friend so I didn't have to worry about accomodation for the week but any of the nicer areas (Miami Beach, Bayside etc.) are very expensive for both accomodation and going out - example - 4 of us went to go out one night just to go on the tear and do night club etc. Went to a bar and a round of drinks (2 bottles of beer and 2 glasses of wine) came to around $60. This would be fairly typical for the Miami Beach or Bayside area. Entry to the night club was $40 each and that didn't even entitle you to a seat or to get on the main dance floor - again fairly typical!

The Florida Keys is a different story though. It was AWESOME! If you have a chance you should definitely go. I spent a couple of nights in Key West which I couldn't recommend enough. Way more relaxed that Miami - in Key West getting dressed up means changing out of your shorts and putting on jeans. The boardwalk area is cool and there is plenty to do both drinking-wise and tourist-wise. We did a glass bottom boat trip which was cool (saw loads including barracudas) and there are tours round the city as well. The drive from Miami to Key West takes about 3 hours on Route 1 aka the Overseas Highway. It seems like one giant bridge te whole way down.

We did rent a car but both of us were over 25 so I don't know how the rates would vary for yourself. Have a look online and make a decision then. If you do rent don't be afraid to tell them what you want (within reason ) They will try and pawn the crap off on you first but don't let them, simply ask them for something else. If you are polite they are always willing to oblige.

Enjoy your trip!

Umiq88

Thanks for the feedback.

Any other feedback on things to do we're both not really into drinking night life its more a relaxed holiday with the beach and a few activites.

What im kind of thinking at the mo is fly to miami or even better key west dont bother renting a car stay for a week soak up the sunshine and a bit of snorkelling or the like just enjoy ourselves.

Then for the next week - 10 days hire a car drive up possibly do a day trip to disney land and maybe go to the jfk space station and visit a few more attractions and just book into motels in the evenings.

budget isnt to bad after flights should have 2000dollars over there for car rental accomdatioin so should have at around 500 to play around with.

Savman

Key West to Miami is a nice drive. Key West to Orlando is not. Will take you the guts of a full day, I wouldn't even attempt it.

As already mentioned, Miami Beach is ridiculously expensive - worse than New York, LA, Vegas, Dublin, London or Paris in fact. It's the most expensive place we'd ever been to, and by some considerable distance.

I think the week in Key West would be cool, its a great little place.

Rabeile31

I went last year and going again this august

Rent a villa if ur staying in the one place for a week or more do not stay in a hotel most of the villas have their own pools which is great!

We flew with Virgin from london and they were great to fly with either way it will be an expensive flight

id book asap and try to plan everything in advance so as to fit as much in

American holidays is a really good travel agent... their reps came to visit us out there to see if we needed anything