TRAVEL INFORMATION
Florida is the top tourist destination in the US, and is
well served by flights from all over the world. The state’s chief gateways are
Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, and the growing number of charter flights is raising
the profile of other airports. Flying is also worth con-sidering if you plan to
travel any distance within Florida. The hop between Miami and Key West, for
example, takes 40 minutes, compared with four hours by car.
However, when it comes to getting around the state, the
car reigns supreme, with fast interstates, major highways, and quieter county
roads to choose from. Trains and buses provide an alternative for those willing
to plan their routes carefully.
ARRIVING BY AIR
All the major US carriers, including Continental,
American Airlines, United Airlines, USAirways, and
Delta Air Lines, have hundreds of scheduled domestic
services to Orlando and Miami, as well as to
Florida’s other main airports. Most offer direct flights
from abroad too, but this will normally entail a stop at a US airport en route.
From the UK, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have
scheduled direct flights to Miami and Orlando; British Airways also has a
service between London and Tampa. American Airlines runs daily flights to Miami
from London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Delta Air Lines flies to Florida
from Ireland via
Atlanta, Georgia or New York. European carriers such as
Air France, KLM, and Iberia also offer a range of flights. Qantas and several
US airlines offer one- or two-stop flights from Australia and New Zealand.
For flights into one of Florida’s smaller gateways,
consult a travel agent, who can route you to wherever
you wish to go. Increasingly, charter flights are
offering direct access to some of Florida’s smaller
resorts such as Palm Beach and Fort Myers. Most charter
flights emanate from Canada, the
Caribbean, and Latin America, but there is a growing number
from Europe, offering service to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando from Gatwick,
Manchester, and Prestwick in the UK. The choice of charter flights to Orlando
has been further boosted by the upgrading of nearby Sanford airport.
AIR FARES
The cheapest round-trip fares to Florida are generally
economy or APEX tickets on a scheduled flight (which must be booked in
advance). The competition between travel agencies and between the numerous
airlines serving Florida means that it is worth shopping around. Keep an eye
out for promotional fares, and some specialty operators offer good deals on
charter flights.
Fares can be
surprisingly cheap in the off season, and you’ll often get a better deal if you
fly midweek. During vacation periods, by contrast, seats are in big demand and
air fares can rocket to more than double their normal rates, being highest in
December.
Note that US airlines sometimes offer discounted seats on
domestic flights if you buy
an inbound ticket from them.
PACKAGE DEALS
The cheapest vacation deal to Florida is a package that
throws in car rental and/or accommodation with the cost of the flight.
Fly-drive deals offer a rental car “free” or at a vast discount, but be warned:
there are heavy surcharges to pay.
Flight and
accommodation packages are common and often a good bargain. What you lose out
in terms of flexibility, you may gain in peace of mind. Double deals are very
popular – combining, for example, a week in Orlando with a week at a Gulf Coast
resort. Package deals to all the major theme parks are worth considering if
you’re spending the whole time there; information is available from travel
agencies.
FLORIDA AIRPORTS
Florida’s top international airports are reasonably well
equipped with information desks, banks, car rental desks, and other facilities.
If you’re collecting a rental car, you may be taken by bus to a pick-up point
nearby. If you are heading into town, check out the shuttle buses (or “limos”),
which offer a door-to-door service to and from the airport; they operate like
shared taxis but are cheaper than regular cabs. Major hotels usually offer a
courtesy bus service to their guests.
MIAMI AIRPORT
Miami International Airport is one of the busiest in the
world, which can mean long lines at immigration. The walk between concourses
and gates is often long too.
Tourist information desks are found outside all customs
exits, and car rental counters, taxis, private limos, and shuttle buses are on
the lower level concourse. Companies such as Super Shuttle run 24-hour shuttle
bus services to all the main districts of Miami. City buses in theory serve the
airport, but these services should not be relied upon.
ORLANDO AND SANFORD AIRPORTS
Orlando International Airport is generally rated as the
country’s number one airport for overall customer convenience. Moving walkways
and the automated monorail system make getting around the two terminals easy.
Multilingual tourist information centers by the security checkpoints are
open from 7am to 11pm.
Many hotels have
their own courtesy buses, but there are also shuttle buses; the Mears
Transportation Group serves most destinations in the area. A less expensive way
to travel to International Drive or down-town Orlando is by Lynx bus. Services
leave from outside the “A Side” terminal every half hour. Both trips take about
50 minutes.
The newly revamped airport at Sanford is much quieter than
the main Orlando airport.
Facilities are still being developed, but there are taxis
and several car rental outlets, which are conveniently located right outside
the terminal building.
DIRECTORY
AIRLINE NUMBERS
American Airlines
Tel (800) 433-7300.
British Airways
Tel (800) 247-9297.
Continental
Tel (800) 525-0280.
US Airways
Tel (800) 428-4322.
Delta Air Lines
Tel (800) 221-1212.
United Airlines
Tel (800) 864-8331.
Virgin Atlantic
Tel (800) 862-8621.
SHUTTLE BUSES
SuperShuttle
Tel (305) 871-2000.
Mears Transportation
Group
Tel (407) 423-5566.
Driving in Florida
Driving in Florida is a delight. Most highways are uncrowded,
and Floridians are generally courteous and considerate drivers. Gasoline is
inexpensive and car rental rates are the lowest in the United States.
You can get by without a car in Orlando (see p395), but wherever
you are life is much easier with one. Incidents of foreign motorists being
victims of crime on the road have deterred some from driving, but safety
measures are improving. Many rest areas on interstate highways are now covered
by 24-hour armed security patrols, and direction signs have been improved in
Miami.
ARRIVING BY CAR
There is a good choice of routes into Florida from the
neighboring states of Georgia and Alabama. The advantage of using the main
highways is that you will find welcome centers just over the border
dispensing fresh orange juice and general information.
They are located on the Florida side of the state line along I-95, I-75, I-10,
and US 231.
ROADS IN FLORIDA
Florida has an excellent road network. The fastest and
smoothest routes are the interstate highways, referred to as I-10, I-75, and so
on. These usually have at least six lanes with rest areas located every
60 miles (100 km) or so. Interstates form part of the
express way system of roads (sometimes called “freeways”), to which access is permitted
only at specified junctions or exits. Among other express-
ways are turnpikes and toll roads. Chief among the latter
are the Bee Line Expressway (between Orlando and the Space Coast) and the Florida
Turnpike, which runs from I-75, northwest of Orlando, to Florida City south of
Miami. The toll you have to pay is dependent, logically, on the distance
covered; if you travel the entire 329 miles (530 km) of the Turnpike, for
example, the trip will cost around $30. Tolls can be paid to a collector in a
booth or, if you have the right change and don’t need a receipt, dropped into a
collecting bin, where the money is counted automatically.
Be warned that local drivers change lanes frequently on expressways.
Stick to the right to stay out of trouble and take care when approaching exits,
which can be on both sides of the highway; most acci-
dents occur during left turns.
Other routes include the US highways, which are usually
(but not always) multilaned, but slower than express ways and often less scenic,
lined with motels and gas stations.
State Roads and County Roads are smaller and better for
touring. Unpaved routes exist in some of Florida’s more rural areas; note that
some car rental companies may not permit you to drive on these.
ROAD SIGNS
Most road signs are clear and self-explanatory. If you
are caught disregarding instructions you might be fined.
Generally, road numbers or names rather than destinations
are marked, and different types of roads are indicated by signs of different
shapes and colors. Directional signs are usually green.
NAVIGATING
A good road map is vital for touring Florida by car. The
Florida Transportation Map, available free from most Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus
and Florida tourist offices abroad, is adequate for general purposes; it gives
the location of rest areas on inter-state highways and includes maps of the
main cities. If you plan to spend any length of time in a city, however, you should
try to pick up a local detailed map. The city maps in tourist offices are often
inadequate for driving – in which case a good book store would be the best
source.
Navigating your way around Florida is comparatively easy.
East-west routes have even numbers and north-south routes odd numbers. Signs on
the roadside, including mile markers in the Keys, tell you which road you are
on; while the name hanging over intersections is not the road you are on but
the one you are crossing. Junctions have two numbers – when through routes
follow the same course for a time.
SPEED LIMITS
Speed limits in the US are set by individual states. The limits
in Florida are as follows:
• 55–70 mph (90–105 km/h) on highways.
• 20–30 mph (32–48 km/h) in residential areas.
• 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h) near schools.
Speed limits can
vary every few miles, so keep a close eye out for the signs. On an interstate
you can be fined for driving slower than 40 mph (64 km/h). Speed limits are CAR
RENTAL Car rental costs in Florida are already cheap by most standards, and you
can save even more by booking and paying before leaving home. Fly-drive deals
can knock more than 50 percent off the cost, but don’t be
fooled by offers of so-called “free” car rental. Hidden
extras like state tax and insurance will not be
included in these offers. If you wait until you arrive to
organize your car rental, it is usually cheaper to rent a vehicle at the
airport rather than from a downtown outlet rigorously enforced by the
Florida Highway Patrol, whose representatives issue
tickets on the spot. A fine can set you
back as much as $150.
All you need to rent a car is your driver’s license,
passport, and a credit card. If you don’t have the latter, you’ll have to pay
the deposit in cash. The minimum age for car rental is 21, but drivers under 25
may need to pay a surcharge.
Make sure your car rental agreement includes Collision Damage
Waiver (CDW)
– also known as Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) – or you’ll be
liable for any damage to the car, even if it was not your fault. Rental
agreements include third-party insurance, but this is rarely ade-quate. It is
advisable to buy additional or supplementary Liability Insurance, which should
provide cover-age of up to $1 million. These extras, plus taxes, can add $35–40
to each day’s rental.
Some companies add a premium if you want to drop the car
off in another city, and all charge a lot for gas: if you return the car with
less fuel than it had initially, the difference can cost you as much
as $3 per gallon.
The majority of international car rental agencies offer a
reasonable range of vehicles, from economy models to convertibles. All rental
cars come equipped with an automatic transmission, power steering, and airconditioning.
TIPS FOR DRIVERS
• Traffic travels on the right-hand side of the road.
• Seat belts are compulsory for both drivers and
passengers, and children under three must sit in a child seat.
• You can turn right on a red light unless there are
signs to the contrary, but you must come to a stop first.
• A flashing amber light at intersections means slow
down, look for oncoming traffic, and then proceed with caution.
• Passing is allowed on both sides on any multilane road,
including interstate highways.
• It is illegal to change lanes across a double yellow or
double white solid line.
• If a school bus stops on a two-way road to drop off or pick
up children, traffic traveling in both directions must stop. On a divided
highway, only traffic traveling in the same direction need stop.
• Don’t drink even one beer. Driving under the
influence (DUI) is very serious; you can be fined hundreds of dollars, have
your driver’s license suspended or even be imprisoned.
GASOLINE
Unleaded gasoline is used by most modern cars and vans and
comes in three grades – regular, super, and premium – and diesel fuel is
usually also available.
Gasoline is inexpensive by most standards, but the price varies
a great deal according to the location and service. Almost all gas stations are
self-service; it is rare to find one that has an attendant to fill the tank,
check the oil, and clean the windshield. Gas prices are marked inclusive of tax
per gallon – the US gallon, that is, which is 3.8 liters, about a liter less
than an Imperial gallon. At most gas stations you can pay with cash, a credit
card, or traveler’s checks, and can use a card to “pay at the pump” without
going inside the station. Occasionally you are expected to pay in advance. If
you drive along back roads, make sure the car is topped off with oil, gas, and water,
as you won’t come
across many filling stations.
BREAKDOWNS
If your car breaks down, pull off the road, turn on the emergency
flashers, and wait for the police. On expressways you can make use of the
emergency phones. If you are traveling alone, you may choose to rent a cell phone
– offered at a small cost by most car rental firms.
If you have rented a car, you will find an emergency
number on the rental agreement, so try that first; in the event of a serious
breakdown, the rental agency will provide a new vehicle. The American Auto-mobile
Association (AAA) provides its own breakdown vehicles and will assist its members.
Or, call the State Police or the emergency number on your gasoline credit card.
PARKING
Finding a parking space is rarely a problem at theme parks
and other major tourist attractions, shopping malls, or in most down town
districts. The main places where you may have difficulty are in the vicinity of
city beaches – for example in Fort Lauderdale or South Beach (see p394).
You’ll find small and multi-level parking lots in cities,
but usually you’ll have to use parking meters. When you find a space (ideally
in the shade), feed the meter generously: the fee varies from 25c to $1 per
hour. Overstay and you risk a substantial fine or the possibility of your car
being clamped or towed away. Be sure to read parking signs carefully.
Restrictions are normally posted on telephone
poles, street lights, or roadside walls or curbs. Cars
should not be parked within 10 ft (3 m) of a fire hydrant: this is the surest
way to get towed away.
For those prepared to pay, valet parking is available at many
hotels and restaurants.
BICYCLING
Bicycling is becoming more and more popular as recreation
(see p373) or as a means of keeping fit, but on the whole bicycles are not used
as a practical form of transportation. Cycling in most urban areas is not very agreeable,
not least because drivers are not accustomed to sharing the road with bikes, and
can be hazardous.
The places best suited to bikers are smaller cities or seaside
resorts such as South
Beach, Key West, Palm Beach, or St. Augustine – where the
roads aren’t too busy and where car parking can be a problem. Bikes can be
rented for about $10 –15 per day. In line skating is also very popular in these
vacation areas, and skates are easy to rent.
MOTORCYCLE RENTAL
If cruising Florida’s streets and highways on a Harley-Davidson
is your dream, you may want to visit Orlando Tours, in Orlando. Harley-Davidson,
in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, offers a similar range of motorcycles for rent. Charges
exceed $100 for 24 hours plus a substantial deposit, and the minimum age is 21.
You may get a discount for advance booking.
RV RENTAL
Recreational vehicles (RVs) or mobile homes are great for
groups or families. It costs $500 and up to rent one for a week. RV rental
outlets are surprisingly scarce. The largest in the United States is Cruise America,
which also has agents abroad, or, for another good outlet offering RV rental, try
RV Sales and Rentals.
Rental conditions are usually similar to those for car
rental. Size and facilities vary greatly, but most RVs have every imaginable
convenience.
SAFETY FOR DRIVERS
Miami has the worst reputation for crime against
motorists, but take care wherever you are. Various measures have been introduced
to safeguard foreign drivers. For example, the license plate code identifying
rental cars was dropped, and in Miami road signs were improved: an orange
sunburst sign guides drivers along the main routes to and from the airport.
Here are a few tips to help you stay safe:
• If arriving in Florida by air at night, you could
arrange to pick up your rental car the next morning in order to avoid driving
in unfamiliar territory after dark.
• Avoid having handbags or other valuable items visible inside
the car; pack them out of sight in the trunk.
• Keep car doors locked, especially in urban areas.
• Ignore any attempt by a pedestrian or motorist to stop you,
e.g., by pointing out some alleged fault on your car or, less subtly, by
ramming you from behind. Another ruse is to stand by a “broken down” vehicle,
signaling for help.
• If you need to refer to a map in a city, don’t stop
until you are in a well-lit and preferably busy area.
• Avoid sleeping in the car off the highway, although
some rest areas on expressways have security patrols.
• Avoid taking short cuts in urban areas. Stick to the
main highways if possible.
DIRECTORY
CAR RENTAL
Alamo
Tel (800) 462-5266.
Avis
Tel (800) 230-4898.
Budget
Tel (800) 527-0700.
www.budget.com
Dollar
Tel (800) 800-3445.
Enterprise
Tel (800) 325-8007 (US).
Hertz
Tel (800) 654-3131.
Kemwel Car Rental
Tel (800) 422-7737.
National
Tel (800) 227-7368 (US).
Thrifty
Tel (800) 847-4389.
BREAKDOWNS
American
Automobile
Association (AAA)
1000 AAA Drive,
Heathrow, FL 32746.
Tel (407) 444-7000.
AAA General Breakdown
Assistance
Tel (800) 222-4357.
NOTE: Rental companies provide
24-hour roadside assistance.
MOTORCYCLE RENTAL
Harley-Davidson
Tel (954) 545-3200.
Orlando Tours
Tel (800) 303-5107.
RV RENTAL
Cruise America
Tel (800) 327-7799.
RV Sales and Rentals
Tel (407) 299-1917.
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