Tell me about the Florida Keys

[JudyC]

We have made tentative plans for a budget trip to Orlando next April. Was planning on 9 nights at the Clarion with only one day at Hollywood studio's, Kennedy Space Centre, and maybe Sea World/Aquatica.
Now my brother who lives in San Diego has suggested the Florida Keys for a few nights. Suddenly a 9 night budget trip is looking less likely Has anyone flown into Orlando then out of Miami. Would this normally be cost effective...
Can I justify a few extra days to visit the Keys, I'm not sure how much accommodation would be.
Can someone sell the idea to me before I broach the subject with DH

[Carolynmf]

We are flying into Miami and out of Orlando later this year so it is possible. We are driving from Miami to Islamorada for 3 nights, then up to Orlando and back from there. Flights were around £50 more than in and out of Orlando.

[Lulu Belle]

In my experience Miami flights are cheaper than MCO however accommodation in the Keys is pricey compared to Orlando. Obviously there’s the travelling from Orlando to Keys to consider too.

Saying that, the Keys are so worthy of a visit so if you can make it work, I say do it!

[JudyC]

Thanks both or you. My brother is always happy to hire a car and drive as he lives in the US which is great for us. I think we'd book an Airbnb place as we've used them several times before successfully

[macy]

We have flown into Miami and out of Orlando with BA, it was a fly drive picked the car up in Miami and returned it in Orlando. Love the Key's it's well worth a visit. We tend to stay around the Islamorada area but visit other places during our stay.

[cornishfrogboy]

Swings and roundabouts. Flights in to and out of Miami are generally cheaper than Orlando.
Accommodation on the Keys can be very expensive (you have to bear in mind that accommodation in Orlando is some of the cheapest that I have found in the USA). The Keys are also a rather long, return drive if you are aiming at Key West. (The views are fantastic though).

As an alternative, have you considered any one or 2 of the beaches on the Gulf Coast as part of a drive up from Miami?.. or even a couple of day trips from Orlando to Anna Maria, DeSoto or similar as this will lower your accommodation costs.

I am certainly not knocking the keys, I absolutely love them. I am merely suggesting that there are alternatives that involve an awful lot less travel and that are less time consuming as well as more budget friendly.

P.s
You could fly indirect into Key West via Atlanta and then cut your driving time in half.

[JudyC]

We all stayed for three days in Anna Maria island a few years back and really liked it. Think my brother fancied the Keys for a change and I'm happy to go with that.
I'm sure I can juggle the figures if DH is happy to extend the holiday. He can only have two weeks off work and his main concern is not feeling too jet lagged on return if we go for the full 14 days. I'm thinking 12 days would give us plenty time, 9 in Orlando and 3 at the Keys

[archibald]

If you want the Keys on a budget, I would suggest staying at Florida City/Homestead at a fraction of Keys prices. You easily visit Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon and you can drive the Seven Mile Bridge to Bahia Honda in 1hr 30, or continue to Key West if you really want to (we didn't). Florida City is only about 40 minutes from Miami International too.

It's also really close to the Everglades National Park Visitor Centre.

A messy link to a report of our visit to the Keys https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...1#post11684131

[JudyC]

Thanks again. Where would be the best place to stay to explore the Keys , maybe Key Largo. Don't worry I've already thrown the budget out of the window 😁 We can manage an airbnb up to £250 per night between four adults.

[cornishfrogboy]

We stayed at Harks Cay Resort on Duck Key. This is a few miles N of the 7 mile bridge and placed us really well to do all the things we wanted to do.

Whilst we visited Key West (my second ever visit) and obviously did other things, my absolute highlight was a walk on the old 7 mile bridge from the North Side. It was a totally surreal feeling with all that water around you and the views were amazing. At the entrance there were an awful lot of wild Iguanas and there was a really nice open sided restaurant under the entrance to the new bridge.