Miami - Keys - Gulf - Orlando

[fatblokeflorida]

Looking for some advice on how best to plan our next trip please. Its a bit of a late additional trip so we have an idea but not much more at this point. Just me and the wife this time and all we have currently are flights into MIA and out of TPA 2 weeks later with car hire booked for the full 14 days.

We have no interest in staying in/around Miami so will be heading straight for the Keys and current thinking is a max 3 nights with the first night in KL in order to limit driving immediately after arrival.

Next day, we do the top half of the Keys (down as far as say Marathon) and then head straight down to KW, hopefully in good time to get out and about and take in a sunset.

The following day we see more of KW before heading back up the Keys (doing the bottom half back as far as say Marathon) before another night back in KL which would then put us in a good position for the drive across the Tamiami the following morning.

Stop at Buffalo Tiger airboat ride on the way across to Naples, and after that is the part of the trip that we really arent sure what to do.

We only want to spend a max 3 or 4 nights going up the coast, seeing Naples, Venice, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and then fnishing in/around the AMI area (we've already been to Siesta Key, Sarasota, Bradenton, Clearwater, St Pete etc so happy not to spend any time there this trip).

Ideally we'd like to spend a couple of nights in/around AMI so that would only leave us 1 or 2 days to do Naples,Venice etc so is that possible or recommended?

The last 7/8 nights of the trip we intend to spend in a villa in/around Orlando doing not very much. No parks again this trip other than possibly DC which we always find to be an enjoyable day.

No intention of going anywhere near the chaos of MCO as we always find TPA a much better airport to depart from.

Would be interested in any thoughts and ideas from those who have done something similar.

[Eeyore14]

Hi we stayed at Ocean Pointe Suites in Key Largo, but that might be a bit roomier than you need as they are 2 bed apartments.
If your just spending one or two nights in the Naples area I wouldn’t worry about Cape Coral, it’s very residential. What about staying on Sanibel? It’s lovely with a really quaint villagie vibe, you can hire bikes and cycle round so could forget about the car after all your driving, before heading out on the road again.

[fatblokeflorida]

Thanks. Will take a look. We really are unsure what to do or how long is required through Naples, Venice etc to have seen the area if that makes sense. I think ideally we would like to be spend max 1 night and then base ourselves somewhere for say 3 nights before moving on again. Maybe that could be Sanibel. Will have to take a look but thanks for replying and offering your advice, it's appreciated.