Realistic budget for BA fly drive in August?

[lovemickey]

Our provisional term dates for 2021 have been released and they go back much earlier than this year meaning we won’t be able to take advantage of cheaper prices coming back in September.
So would a budget of £4500 for 2 adults and 3 kids, 16,12 and 7 be realistic? We’d be looking to fly from Gatwick and are happy to go indirect, ideally aer lingus as we’ve done this before.
We’d need car hire for 13 days and we’re hoping we can book a night at universal in that to.

I know nobody has a crystal ball but am I being completely unrealistic with my budget? Flying out 13th August and back 30th if that helps.

[kiwiinabd]

Well if you look at BA website and use your dates for 2020 then the answer is no.

However if you go on other websites such as expedia and use your dates for 2020 you can get flights for less than £4K so maybe its doable !

As you say who has a crystal ball for 2021 ! Impossible to answer at this time but unless there is another Thomas Cook moment or major catastrophe I think its possible your budget might work !

[lovemickey]

Originally Posted by kiwiinabd

Well if you look at BA website and use your dates for 2020 then the answer is no.

However if you go on other websites such as expedia and use your dates for 2020 you can get flights for less than £4K so maybe its doable !

As you say who has a crystal ball for 2021 ! Impossible to answer at this time but unless there is another Thomas Cook moment or major catastrophe I think its possible your budget might work !

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Thank you! I had priced up for this year to compare and the prices coming out are scary! But I know BA tend to do some good deals on fly drives when they’re not long released, so I guess I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed!

[TheHughesCrew]

Not sure if Miami would be an option for you?

We booked on day of release; BA fly drive for 28 nights. Indirect out from Heathrow to Miami via Madrid. Direct home, back into Heathrow. We are 2 adults, 2 teens. Paid £2478. We have never seen prices as low since. Also, we initially booked a slightly different route, but got this deal by phoning them up...

[lovemickey]

Originally Posted by TheHughesCrew

Not sure if Miami would be an option for you?

We booked on day of release; BA fly drive for 28 nights. Indirect out from Heathrow to Miami via Madrid. Direct home, back into Heathrow. We are 2 adults, 2 teens. Paid £2478. We have never seen prices as low since. Also, we initially booked a slightly different route, but got this deal by phoning them up...

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That gives me hope! We really wanted into Mco as we’re looking to do Disney for the first few days so wanted the magical express. But at that price we’d just look at extra days car hire!

[TheHughesCrew]

Originally Posted by lovemickey

That gives me hope! We really wanted into Mco as we’re looking to do Disney for the first few days so wanted the magical express. But at that price we’d just look at extra days car hire!

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I think Tampa had good prices the day we booked to, as it was a thread about those flights that reminded me that my booking window was open! Won’t solve your magical express issue, but might a bit closer to Orlando!

[Procrastinator]

If you are flexible then yes i think that is plenty. Just because there is not a lower price available today for 2020 does not mean there won't be or hasn't been a lower price. Prices go up and down a lot. I would suggest having a read through the Aug deals thread to see how the prices evolved over time.

As long as you are flexible, direct, indirect, include car, exclude car, tpa, mco, allow your dates a bit of flex, then i think you should be quite a bit under budget.

Also, be ready to book the moment you see a bargain. The best prices don't last long.

[Sew109]

Originally Posted by lovemickey

That gives me hope! We really wanted into Mco as we’re looking to do Disney for the first few days so wanted the magical express. But at that price we’d just look at extra days car hire!

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Car hire is cheaper from MIA than it is in MCO

We flew MIA last time and for the savings we would do it again we got off the plane about 2.30pm and were on our way to Orlando at 4.30 (had a meal and a problem with the car) and got up there about 9pm with two stops.

[stepmead]

Definitely look at flying into Miami as it’s so much cheaper. We are flying 24 July this summer (so earlier than you’d like) but staying for 5 weeks. We are two adults and three children and direct flights from London including 5 weeks SUV hire have cost us £3200.

[NewtoOrlando]

We’ve paid anything from 2300 to 3400 going in August. First 2 trips we flew in and out of Miami which was a good £1000 or more cheaper than Orlando. This year we’re flying into Orlando and out of Miami & have paid £3400 for 2 kids and 2 adults (kids are 14 & 12) with a surburban or similar - my parents are coming with us & need a bigger car, they’ve booked their own flights. We usually come back a few days into September and get a decent price but it’s my dads 70th on 1st September this year so we’re leaving on the 31st, and I think that’s made it more expensive. I always budget 3k for August. Slightly more this year coz of the return date and the bigger car which might patents are paying half off.