Florida for non drivers.

[divegirl]

Hi, I'm hoping to go to Florida this year with a mate and will probably do a week at the parks and a week on the Keys.....not looked into it in any detail as yet.
Neither of us drive and I was wondering how easy it would be with out a car?

Lisa x

ps...bit ambiguous a question I know but was just sitting here fantasising about some sunshine in my life!

[MarkRae]

America without a car is, essentially, impossible without a car unless you want to remain in the main urban centres.

[erin-x]

I'd love to do a whole road trip of the East Coast. I know I wouldn't be the one driving though! :)

[pips1]

I've just come back, had a fabulous time but sorry to tell you a car is essential, we wouldn't have seen anything without one.

[divegirl]

[woo hoo Erin xxx]

So are there no shuttle buses between the hotels and the parks? And although we don't drive, we're not exactly broke...surely there must be some some of transport links out there....it's 'merica after all!

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Awww Pips....not what I wanted to hear :0(

[237SJ]

Try the coach companies. Train services in Florida are a bit dire.

[jno]

Yes, Orlando hotels have shuttles to theme parks, though you'd have to check with individual oens to dind out details.

What's mroe, you can get down the Keys by bus

http://www.floridakey.../gettingtothekeys.htm

[jno]

lordy, please excuse my horrible spelling

[erin-x]

I just need to win the lottery then I can get a chauffeur driven limo to drive me :) hehe!

How you feeling anyway Lisa? xx

[Buenchico]

The Florida Keys chain is about 120 miles long, with limited public transportation (to use the American phrase).

However there's a bus service running along the Keys 6 times per day, in each direction. It starts from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and then calls at Miami International Airport, Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine and Key West:
http://keysshuttle.com/schedule

Greyhound Buses also serve the Keys. Route map (use the zoom feature in Adobe Reader to see the detail):
http://www.discoveryp...outemap_final_web.pdf
Website:
http://www.westernair.co.uk/greyhoundusa.html

You can also fly to Key West International Airport from Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Fort Myers, Charlotte or Tampa. Operators listed here:
http://en.wikipedia.o...International_Airport

The tiny airport at Marathon, mid-way along the keys, is served by Seacoast Airlines but only by special arrangement:
http://www.seacoastairlines.com/

Chris

[divegirl]

That's more like it Chris, thank you for taking the time to look for me :0)

Hey Erin, not too bad hun, life goes on doesn't it and I'm just trying to take time to sort my life out and make me a better and healthier person. Unfortunately it seems to take a scare like the one I had to make you realise life IS short and we are not immortal! Hence the holiday lol

Lisa x

[ojread2]

If you are prepared to take a little more effort than most average car drivers, you can go anywhere in the world as a non driver and enjoy the area you are staying in

How on earth did Christopher Colombus, Sir Henry Morton Stanley, etc get discovering? By car? lol

[divegirl]

So true OJ, I've travelled to Borneo and Malaysia as a non driver and managed so I'm sure the USA shouldn't be too bad.

Lisa x

[mushroom25]

the Orlando area is served by a reasonably comprehensive transit system, which includes buses to the tourist attractions from downtown Orlando.
http://www.golynx.com/

[jamesnan]

My daughter and family have had 3 holidays in Florida, and have never bothered with a car - they use the bus etc, or if necessary, a taxi.

[VHG]

While many people go to Orlando without a car there is not doubt it is easer WITH a car.

However it is not impossible without a car and there are shuttle buses. Try to get a hotel in the main International Drive hotel area and there will loads of shuttle buses.

However note that the Disney complex is huge, as large as Manchester, and each of the Disney theme parks are a long way from each other (you cant just stroll from one Disney theme park to the other).

The Disney parks are also a fair distance from the main International Drive hotles area as well.

I believe if you stay in a Disney hotel there are free buses to get you from the
Disney hotels to all the Disney Parks, but of course Disney hotels cost more.

There are parks near the international drive area, Universal's two parks (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure) are quite close, as is Wet and Wild the water park. But most other parks are some distance away.

You can buy guide books to the area, and it is well worth spending the £10 or so for a book or two as it gives a wealth of information. Here is the Brits Guide to Orlando for about £11. The money you spend on this book will easily repay itself many times over.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[VHG]

Not sure when you are going, but note that our summer (August) is one of the worst times to go to Orlando / Florida.

It is very hot and humid and walking round the theme parks in August is no fun at all (the parks are packed as well which makes it worse).

I went for a 2 week holiday in February a few years ago and we had temperatures in the 80s and we were walking round in shorts and t-shirt. We were out playing crazy golf a 9pm at night.

See here for someone who asked about going to Orlando in August

http://answers.yahoo....20080102122957AAjP58w

[Booldawg]

you'll be alright with the parks. most hotels have shuttle services to the main ones every 30 mins or so.

The keys will be trickier.

[divegirl]

erm....Thank you to all that have answered and have given some excellent replies that I am sure will come in useful to someone one day....but....erm...sorry to have wasted your time but I just booked two weeks in Thailand instead......WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lisa xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[maclarencat]

Good choice! I have been to both several times and Thailand beats Florida hands down every time. Infact we are going ourselves in 2 weeks time and staying 7 weeks Oh the joys of retirement