theDIBB - Keep Calm and Have a Cocktail : Miami, New Orleans and Largo March 2018

Its almost that time !

Yup 11 days of cocktail sippin’, shopping trippin’ ,burger flippin’. :d:

Shocking grammar there. You see when you have too many trips close together, you just run out of witticism.

Here we are again, off for a bit of March mayhem .

Mixing it up a bit this time though .

For someone who isn’t that keen on flying, I am still pondering how we manage to fit so many additional flights into these trips. :erm:

Anyway, here is the not so incredible plan. It gets vaguer as it goes on - its actually quite nice not having a mega plan.

The bits we have planned , look like this …

Pre travel day
Its just the two of us travelling - DS1 is still at uni and DS2 is at school - both will no doubt be studying super hard the whole time.

At some point we will be making our way to stay overnight at the Cambridge Hotel , Gatwick

Bargain at £72with Holiday Extras including Breakfast and holiday Parking !

Travel Day

Flights £775 total with Norwegian LGW to FLL - these were the Lowfare + and include and extra bag on the way home . Keeping an eye on the reservation but for the moment still saying 1455 departure and 1935 arrival in Fort Lauderdale

I have booked us into the No1 Lounge at Gatwick so will get the Premium Security access as well.
I have booked seats that look like we should get decent leg room but who knows what we will end up with !

Arriving at FLL , Collect car from Alamo ( £63 for 2 days) and make short drive to

Royal Beach Palace

Where we have the honeymoon jacuzzi suite no less, £302 for 2 nights ;)

Pop over the road to the Ocean Grille for dinks and eats before collapsing in a heap.

Day 1 Miami

Explore Miami - not yet planned what that looks like , no doubt drive along to see some of the iconic buildings but not sure whether to head to Wynwood district or Little Cuba. Not in a rush today but will no doubt be up at stupid o clock anyway.

We have pre booked dinner. In our continued quest to find the best steak in the Galaxy we are heading to

Looking forward to it already :tongue:

Day 2 New Orleans
Up early doors for our flight to New Orleans with this lot

£100 each inc bags and priority boarding

Leaving the hotel around 5.45 and arriving at 0825 in NOLA :omg::zzz:

Taxi to Hotel , the fabulous Bourbon Orleans

£700 for 4 nights - a tad pricey but its such an amazing place and a brilliant location

Drop off our bags and straight out to the Superdome - grab a bite to eat in the area and then
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Ta Dah
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The New Orleans Homes and Garden show :pgig:

Not because we are old fogies and bathroom fittings are really quite exciting (although this is of course completely true), but because the show finishes today and its our only chance to get a look inside the venue .

$15 per ticket but I got some $5 off vouchers - Go me !

After a mooch round there, make our way to Congo Square to take in
“Ancestral Ritual Spiritual Drumming Dancing Singing and Chanting Libation Pouring Celebratory Ceremonial Cleansing Offering Grassroots Community Holistic Healing Gathering”

According to the website ! Well, who can resist a bit of Libation pouring on a Sunday afternoon !;)

Dinner might be at the Grapevine Bistro opposite the hotel .

Day 3 New Orleans

Weather dependent as we may see some rain while we are here - but if its fine , today might consist of

And possibly a spot of high rolling here after dinner

Food wise today - I am hoping at some point we can get to Mothers ( as per Man V Food) as its in the area. But not sure what the other plans area. Cocktails to be consumed on the boat and in the casino.:D

Day 4 New Orleans

Assuming we didn’t break the bank last night , a lazy morning , possibly lunch at the posh Hermes Bar to sample a Po’Boy and then off to explore Frenchmen Street for some jazz and food.

Evening plans are being finalised but looking like a basketball game - the in house basketball expert (DS2) informs us the NO Pelicans are a decent team and worth seeing.

Currently pondering on whether to go cheap and watch from seats that are just about below the International space station or go expensive and sit close to courtside . Decisions, decisions.

Day 5 New Orleans

Another lazy morning , with the afternoon at Frenchmarket for cooking demos and live music from 1-5 .

Our last evening will be along Bourbon Street somewhere . Be assured, cocktails will be consumed :thumbs-up

Day 6 Orlando

Leaving New Orleans , 1125 flight with Southwest , arriving Orlando 2.25 . Flights were £100 each.

Pick up car from Alamo and check in here

The Point Suites. Not sure what this is going to be like :erm:

Then Shopping !

Dinner - Its going to be a close run thing between Texas Roadhouse or Longhorns

Day 7 Largo

Up early for More of this

Before driving to see Andys family at Largo.

Dinner somewhere locally , probably. Be on the look out for random pigs . :omg:

Day 8 - St Pattys Day Largo

Hoping to make our way our way here at some point

Leprechaun madness abounds.

We need to do better than our feeble effort last year. :nonono:

Day 9 Largo

No doubt recovering from too many medicinal Guinessess :drinkbeer will require much lounging by the pool and a BBQ . Sounds pretty perfect to me

Day 10 Fort Lauderdale

Going home time - Drive to Ellenton - Shop - Drive to FLL - eat
Arrive airport by 9pm Sad Faces . :cry:

Day 11

Just after midnight …………Fly home . Arrive Gatwick lunchtime and home mid afternoon

And poof ! The £3k getaway is over :(

Time to plan the next one …….