Miami Airport

[kubota]

Hi to everyone

This is my first post so I hope I'm doing this correctly.

I'm looking for advice on flying into Miami and then driving up to Orlando. We've been to Orlando several times before, but always flown into MCO. However, we've found some reasonably priced flights into Miami for March 2008, but I'm a little wary about the reports of 'off airport' car hire etc.

I'd appreciate any feedback from anyone who has done this, and particularly any recommendations on Miami Car Hire companies.

Thanks in anticipation, and congratulations on an excellent forum.

[JuniorMickey]

It'll take you about 4 hours or so to drive to Orlando from MIA. Of course that depends on the time of day you get in. You'll also have gas. I drive a dodge neon, 12 gallon tank and it's 3/4 a tank to get to Orlando plus tolls on the Turnpike (you couldn't pay me to take 95 up) which without a Sunpass will run you close to $20 (each way)

[kubota]

Thanks for the info. Have you any knowledge of the Car Hire companies based around Miami Airport.
The flights get in around 4.00pm and return flights are at 5.00pm. So I assume traffic will be heavy at that time.

thanks

[JuniorMickey]

That's the dead of rush hour through the tri-county area (you'd be going through Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties)

If I leave work at 5 to go to Orlando, it's close to 4 hours and I'm an hour north of Miami. It could easily take you 5-6 hours getting in at 4.

I live here so I don't rent cars (and I usually fly in and our of Fort Lauderdale) so I can't help you on that front, but here (http://www.miami-airport.com/) is MIA's website

[OKWTink]

If the fare is considerably less than MCO, then go for it. It's not a bad drive at all. :D I do it as often as I can. I love Miami!

You could stay over the first night you were in and then take the trek up from Miami early the next morning.

Can't help you with rentals, but just to be safe go with Hertz, or Avis, or National... one of the well known companies. The smaller ones are usually the scarier ones. (Experienced a few pretty nasty rentals)!

[kubota]

Thanks for all the advice.

The flights to Miami will probably save about £400 in total for the 4 of us. So even factoring in the cost of fuel/tolls etc it seems to make sense to go for this option. It would give us a lot more spending money, which I'm sure will come in handy !

[JuniorMickey]

I'd think about Tink's suggestion about staying overnight before driving. The drive from down here to Orlando can be quite boring with no much to see, so being tired after a long transatlantic flight can be a bad thing

[Barbeegirl]

We've just come back from miami and rented a car through holiday autos, which used alamo. When you come through the airport we found the car hire desks and were directed outside to find a coach loading people to take them to the hire car office. At this point i didn't even know the hire car office wasn't at the airport! We hopped straight on and got to the hire car office in about 10 mins. We received our car there and were off!

We stayed in miami so can't offer any advice about driving up to orlando.

Returning the car was just as easy as picking it up, just another 10 minute journey to the airport and we were checking in. No problems what so ever, although Miami airport is nowhere near as nice as orlando!

[Mermaid]

We drove to Orlando.....we stayed one night in Miami......we picked up the hotel shuttle bus from the airport then later we picked up our car from the Alamo car and drove to Miami Beach it was lovely...I was always wanted to go to Ocean Drive....the following day we headed over to Orlando....it took us 3.5 hours...we set off around 10ish....we were thinking of taking the scenic route....but decided to do the Turnpike Route as we just couldn't wait to get to Disney!!...

That is an excellent price...that you got...

[kubota]

Just picked up your replies thanks, all very helpful.
Mermaid could you let me have the hotel you used for the overnight stay in Miami please (assuming it was okay) and how did you collect the car from Alamo or did they deliver to hotel ?

[Mermaid]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn Miami....it was fine for us as we were only staying there for the night....and that is what we did just slept.

The reason why we booked it was because it was our first visit to Miami and didn't want to venture to far out after a long flight. But we managed to go to the beach which was great it took 20-25 mins from the hotel and we ate at TGI's

Next time I think we'll probably stay closer to the beach...but this hotel was great being our first time and only 5-10 mins from the airport. We booked the hit the road rate.

We used the hotel shuttle to take us back to the airport where we caught the Alamo shuttle to the rental place.

Hope this helps....

http://www.hamptoninnmiamiairport.com

[tweenie123]

Mermaid, how far is the main beach area from the hotels which are around the airport?
We are staying one night in Miami and are at the Marriot but I'd love to have a wander around if we get the chance. Our flight arrives at about 14:30pm.

[OKWTink]

Biscayne Bay is about 8 miles from the airport. You can then go north or south to which ever beach area interests you the most.

[Mermaid]

We went to South beach which I believe took us about 20mins.....next time I'd like to go to see Art Deco and Star Island.

[tweenie123]

Thanks both of you - I'm hoping we get to have a look round.