Heathrow to Miami

[mike4scuba]

Have been looking at Heathrow to Miami flights direct as most of the virgin flights seem to be via Timbuckto and the use of a lot of airmiles from Gatwick or Manchester.

travelling in a car is around 3 hours 40 on a good day and the flights is at 17:55 would you travel and fly the same day. I was thinking of setting off around 9am and stopping for a break at a halfway point and carrying on to the airport to arrive around 14:15 to hand car back and get into the airport

or would you have a few more hours at Disney and drive to miami or Fort Lauderdale mid afternoon and stay over in a hotel and catch the flight the next day

[tigger48]

We’ve tried both of your suggestions when flying home from Miami although we’re usually on the 20.40hrs flight. My personal preference is to drive and stay overnight in Fort Lauderdale ideally Largo Mar Resort 😉 spend the morning on the beach, catch a bit of last minute shopping and then an easy and short drive to MIA. Driving down on the same day is definitely doable, but less enjoyable, and depending on traffic rush hour or not/day of the week, can be more stressful. Sorry just realised that’s probably not terribly helpful!

[Carolynmf]

We have been nearly 6 hours getting to Miami due to traffic, missed our flight as we had to be there 2 hours beforehand, lucky got booked onto the flight the next day, so I don't think I would travel down the same day again.

[stupet11]

We stay over, and head to shopping mall before flight.

We've left Epoct late afternoon before - tiring drive. This year we had a day at Vero beach the day before, stayed overnight there - only 2.5 hr drive to airport.

[Wizz]

We’re booked on the 20.40 flight out of Miami and we’re planning to drive back same day.
Plan is to leave as soon as we check out of villa, so prob around 9am

[NewtoOrlando]

We’ve done both. Twice we have driven down the same day as the 8.40 flight. First time it was fine, got there with plenty of time and stopped at Vero Beach on the way for lunch. 2nd time we got caught in so much traffic and the weather was appalling, we were late dropping the car off. We didn’t stop for lunch. Left the villa in Davenport at 10.15 and got to Miami at 6pm! Both times was the start of September.

This year we drove to Deerfield Beach, and stayed overnight, had a lovely dinner by the sea, a few beers and spent the next day walking down the beach front, enjoying the ocean views and a lovely late lunch before getting changed and driving down to Miami for our flight at 10.15pm. This was in October. It was such a relaxing way to end the holiday, we’re doing the same next year (end of August) and spending 2 nights at Lauderdale by the sea before our 8.40pm flight home.

[Pussycat Doll]

We were going to do the drive on the day of our flight but have decided to spend the last 3 nights in Naples which is only 1.5 hrs from Miami.

[welshwiz]

Maybe we've just been lucky but we fly via MIA regularly as LHR is easier for us and the evening flight times work well with checking out times in Orlando and we've never been close to missing a flight or had to rush although traffic near Miami can seem busy at times and driving in summer storms is stressful.

Given a choice and not needing to be in Orlando then staying nearer MIA would be a good option. In that case I'd opt for a special deal at an FHR hotel for late check out and perks and just work it into my itinerary.

Traffic and weather conditions play a huge factor but more recently MIA has proven to be a better overall option for us (cost, planes, closer for us in UK, traffic consistent with expectations compared to MCO/TPA)

It depends on your priorities of a late last night at the parks of a relaxing last day at day Vero Beach.

Both options are reasonable options imho.

[mason1]

When we’ve flown from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, we drive down on the day. Usually set off just before 10am for a 5.50pm flight. We have lunch at the services on the way and aim to be at the airport for 2ish. If time is an issue, we just grab food at the services to eat in the car. The sat nav tells us of any delays ahead, so can plan accordingly.

[JimmyCricket]

We drove down the same day from Orlando the journey wasn't too bad think we left at 10am got down there around 2.30pm. However, I would probably go down the night before as a long drive then jumping on a plane wasn't that much fun!