Flying into Miami!

[redemma13]

Evening all,

Has anyone ever flown into Miami instead of MCO? Was the journey OK after the flight? Easy enough drive? Its looks pretty straight forward on Google maps.

The difference in price is really significant. We would be hiring a car anyway so that wouldn't be an extra cost.

Em
xxxx

[BufordTJustice]

Piece of cake. One consideration, if you’ll be late arriving and worried about being tired, would be to stay over at the airport hotel and collect the car next morning. As well as removing the issue of tiredness, especially considering immigration timings - as with any airport - can be hit or miss, you’ll save one day of car hire cost.

We’ve also arrived at both MIA and MCO and there have been substantial waits for the car hire, which is the last thing needed after such a long travel day. The above approach takes this worry out of it, and leaves you more alert to dealing with the inevitable upsellling attempted by certain car hire agents when you sign the paperwork.

Beyond all this, the drive is dead easy and well worth the cost saving.

[millerj]

We did this a few years ago and would have done again October 22 if hadn’t got such good prices for MCO

We wouldn’t do the drive all the way to Orlando straight after as getting through MIA to the point of getting the car and then getting through traffic can take a lot longer than expected.

We drove to Fort Lauderdale about an hour up the I95 and stayed ina courtyard Marriott near Fort Lauderdale airport grabbed some dinner a a couple of hours in the hotel pool and then with the early morning time difference/jet lag was up and left about 6. We made rope drop for Animal Kingdom on our first day and it was all very stress free

[7SeasSailor]

These days I wouldn't drive further than about an hour north of Miami. Plan to book into a hotel near Palm Beach Airport. Early start the following morning and into Orlando before lunch time.

[redemma13]

Thanks for all the replies. Good to hear what everyone else does.

The flights I am looking at are ABZ-LHR-MIA. Arriving at 15.25 local time. There will be 3 adults who can drive so thinking we would drive a while,stop for some food and then keep on going to the villa. The kids will be 3 &6 so think they would prefer this to the faff of a 2 connection flight. Going home isn't an issue as we do nothing on the last day anyway except stock up on food to take home! 🤣

Em
xxxx

[NewtoOrlando]

Yes, we have done Miami a few times. Never flown into MCO as won’t pay the price, have always saved loads of money.

We usually stay overnight about 40-60 mins from the airport on that first night as we’re always too shattered to drive the whole way. We normally stop at Deerfield beach or West Palm beach, then get up early the next day & drive to Vero beach for brunch, then to Orlando. We’re never in a hurry, like to take our time and feel like we’re on holiday! The drive is fine, boring but fine. Plenty of places to stop for a toilet break or some snacks.

[bogof1]

Originally Posted by BufordTJustice

Piece of cake. One consideration, if you’ll be late arriving and worried about being tired, would be to stay over at the airport hotel and collect the car next morning. As well as removing the issue of tiredness, especially considering immigration timings - as with any airport - can be hit or miss, you’ll save one day of car hire cost.

We’ve also arrived at both MIA and MCO and there have been substantial waits for the car hire, which is the last thing needed after such a long travel day. The above approach takes this worry out of it, and leaves you more alert to dealing with the inevitable upsellling attempted by certain car hire agents when you sign the paperwork.

Beyond all this, the drive is dead easy and well worth the cost saving.

See more...

Wont necessarily save a day on car hire costs. Depends what time the hire starts and finishes. The flight home will be late evening but picking up the car will be in the morning so you will have to drop the car off in the morning somincur an extra days charge to keep it till the evening or late afternoon, thereby saving nothing

[JAF]

We have often flown into Miami and work on the basis if we can leave the airport before 6pm then we drive straight up to Orlando. We use the 27 which is an easy drive and stop half way up for something to eat and drink. If we are on late arriving flights we get a hotel which offers transport to and from the airport and then collect a car the following morning from the airport and drive up. As mentioned you don’t necessarily save on car hire but it just makes things easier.

[123]

It's a simple drive, but boring as hell. Given you will all be tired I would certainly suggest the option of a night or two in Miami first before driving up to Orlando

It's like getting off the plane in London after a 9 hour overnight flight and then deciding to drive to Newcastle, yes it is possible, but it isnt going to be fun

[lizzie145]

im flying into Miami, with BA, in February but have a connecting flight to MCO so all being well will be at the hotel in Orlando for about 8pm.