Christmas in Miami/Naples, Florida.

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

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Kinda random but it's the most exciting think that's (not yet) happened to me in a ong time.

I've never been away for Christmas and I've not had a holiday this year so I started looking at places to go. After an hour or so I remembered I have a friend who moved to Florida a few years ago so thought I'd be cheeky and send him an email.

After a few emails we've come up with the makings of what should be a great trip. He's working right upto Christmas day but is free the following week until just after NYE. So I'm thinking of flying to Miami just before Christmas, spending a couple of days there then driving over to Naples (around 2 hours away) to meet up with him around 6pm Christmas day. One of his friends throws a great NYE house party which I'll go along to plus the week I'm there I get to use his boat, jetski etc.

Now, the only issues I have are flights and car hire as I've never done either to/in the US. Dates are flexible a couple of days either way but I'm thinking the 23rd Dec to 8th Jan. I understand I'll be paying more for my flight then but I won't be paying for a hotel apart from a day or two in Miami. What site/airline are the usual suspects to fly?

Any info on flights, car hire, things to do in Miami etc would be really appreciated :)
 
Virgin state on their site that other sites can't beat their prices so try Virgin.

Booking.com perhaps, meant to be good.

And i'd get quidco setup as you'll get a nice bit of cash on these purchases.

Have fun.
 
Flights are going to be expensive direct.(£1100 ish)

Net flights, have American Airlines via New York for £557
 
I've been to Florida the last two winters, but i've normally gone early December. Flights anywhere seriously hit the roof during the xmas and new year period...expect to pay nearly twice the normal price!!
 
Weather will be perfect that time of year. Clear blue skies, around 25c. I live in Naples and can guide you to whatever you want to do. Every Christmas I sit back and think there's probably no-where else in the world where I'd rather be right now. Naples is very upscale, actually one of the most upscale parts of the USA. Go anywhere west of the US41 and you'll go wow.. How can somewhere be so clean, so pristine. All the beaches are pure white soft sugar sand. Its a very relaxing place. You'll not find a single chav anywhere, nor will you find a single bit of graffiti in the entire town. To some, one potential downfall is its not exactly a party city. Don't get me wrong, there are some decent bars and a few clubs all of which are very friendly, but for going really wild you are probably better off on the East Coast, Fort Lauderdale, which is a lot more buzzing. Shopping is fantastic on either coast. Travel light, return heavy if you are after some deals. Miami for the most part is a complete toilet. There are vast parts of it that no English is spoken and quite run down. Of course there's nice parts. South Beach the Art Deco area's are good fun. Biscayne Bay and anywhere towards the water. Personally i think you are better heading up north a little to Fort Lauderdale, then cutting across the I-75... Failing that, find the US41, and drive right through the heart of the Everglades until you hit Naples. You'll know as soon as you hit Naples cos you'll be wow this place looks nice.

Car hire is best from the UK. Get a convertable. netflights.com is a good place, and i still use my UK drivers licence when i need a car, and get a pre-paid voucher from netflights since its the least expensive way.
 
Thanks for that mate. I may have a few quesstions nearer the time :)

I'll find out where my mates lives and see if it's anywhere near you.

I was thinking of a few days in Miami as it's where I'd be flying to. The other option is to fly on Christmas day then drive straight to my mates house.
 
Orange Peel said:
Thanks for that mate. I may have a few quesstions nearer the time :)

I'll find out where my mates lives and see if it's anywhere near you.

I was thinking of a few days in Miami as it's where I'd be flying to. The other option is to fly on Christmas day then drive straight to my mates house.
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Well I would also recommend visiting South Beach and the Art Deco area's, since you are in that neck of the woods. Two days is more than fine.. I made the mistake of spending 3 days in Miami back in 2001.. I had no idea where to go at the time, it was jump in the car and drive. Unfortunately we ended up in all the bad places. So plan ahead and do what you are doing by getting some recommendations from people that know.

Also for hotels, i use hotwire.com and go for the random in that area 4stars. Always got a top deal.. Also in most McDonalds, you'll find a Travel Saver guide book, which will give you some decent coupon discounts for all the hotels in Florida. If you are planning a bit of a fly drive to see more of Florida?

Also worth mentioning since it's only 3 hrs away is take a trip upto Orlando. (if you are with a g/f) The parks are fun to go visit. May aswell get it all in.
 
I'll start some serious planning once I know when I'm flying. Just wating to hear back as to what dates I can crash at my mates. So far it's looking like Christmas day onways until around mid January! (Hope I can get an extra weeks holiday)

I'll be going alone or with a mate from here. Hoping to sample the US ladies when there so will be making the most of my single status :)
 
Update.

Flights booked! I'm going out on Christmas day and coming back on the 10th Jan.

The flight was only a few punds more expensive than going out on the 28th as I'd originally planned so in true Planes, Trains and Automobiles way I'll be travelling on Christmas day. Flying direct to Miami then driving across to Naples.

Really looking forward to it.

thedoc46 - I'll probably fire some questions your way soon :)
 
Make sure you take Highway 41 and not the Interstate 75! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamiami_Trail

It's a lovely drive through the Evergrades, I've never seen so many wild Alligators by the roadside!!

florida_alligator2.jpg


..and lovely sunsets over the ocean in the west coast of Florida (see sig.)
 
I was looking at the 41.

I'll be driving over around 7pm local time. What kind of daylight does Florida see in December/Janurary?
 
Get a quote for a car from Hertz - google for 'Hertz Mastercard CDP' and use the CDP code for 10% off. All insurance is included with zero excess and the pricing is competitive. Then you get a further 10% back via Quidco.
 
[TW]Fox;17425888 said:
Get a quote for a car from Hertz - google for 'Hertz Mastercard CDP' and use the CDP code for 10% off. All insurance is included with zero excess and the pricing is competitive. Then you get a further 10% back via Quidco.
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I just gave that a quick try. Hertz want £600 for their Chevrolet Cobalt or similar which is the cheapest car available. If I enter the code it goes UP to £900.

Carhire3000 want £260 for the same car and service!?!?!

I'll phone Hertz and see what they're playing at!
 
Wzd said:
I rented my Chevrolet Tahoe with Thrifty

...love a car with a big ass!! :D
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My parents hired a 6.2 litre top-of-the-range Chevrolet Tahoe for 10 days when we went to Houston, TX in March. I drove it 90% of the time and it was a real joy. :)
 
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Orange Peel said:
I just gave that a quick try. Hertz want £600 for their Chevrolet Cobalt or similar which is the cheapest car available. If I enter the code it goes UP to £900.

Carhire3000 want £260 for the same car and service!?!?!

I'll phone Hertz and see what they're playing at!
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Hey Orange, use UK sites for car hire.. I do and its cheaper.. They give you a pre-paid voucher.. Daylight hrs are around 6am to 6pm during Christmas.. Place gets busy... And the American women are very approachable very friendly towards the English. ;)
 
Watch out for the Miccosukee cops on the US41 and on the I75 for that matter (Mile Marker 60ish) THEY are there 3/4 times with a radar gun.. cos nothing and i mean nothing else goes on around that neck of the woods, other than the poor occasional speeder getting caught.
 
If you are coming down the US41 and want to see Alligators, then stop off at Shark Valley. It's a 15mile loop road in the Everglades.. You'll literally see hundreds and some will only be feet away from the path. They are dosile creatures and not going to eat you. Unless you go near the newborns or swim in the water, then good luck with that! I'm personally not into wildlife, but those who are do rate it highly.
 
thedoc46 said:
Watch out for the Miccosukee cops on the US41 and on the I75 for that matter (Mile Marker 60ish) THEY are there 3/4 times with a radar gun.. cos nothing and i mean nothing else goes on around that neck of the woods, other than the poor occasional speeder getting caught.
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If hes gonna be driving and not driven in the states before its a good idea to read up a little... when I was in Michigan awhile back it was quite confusing because in some areas you could turn right on a red and others you couldn't.

Seems to be a favorite of the state troopers to wait just outside a built up area, usually trying not to be obvious - but everyone knows they are there - and pulling in anything not doing exactly the speed limit.
 
Rroff said:
If hes gonna be driving and not driven in the states before its a good idea to read up a little... when I was in Michigan awhile back it was quite confusing because in some areas you could turn right on a red and others you couldn't.

Seems to be a favorite of the state troopers to wait just outside a built up area, usually trying not to be obvious - but everyone knows they are there - and pulling in anything not doing exactly the speed limit.
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In Florida you can turn right on a red, providing you stop. Look overhead at the lights for a sign, a small percentage of lights have a sign saying 'No Turn On Red' Everything else is the same.. Beware US drivers are not aware of their surroundings, they just chuck it in drive and go.. There is no anticipation, no nipping in here or there. Its just straight, stop, start. Get use to dumb americans not knowing what to do at a roundabout.. Like stopping half way going around to give way to you, cos they are unsure of what they are supposed to be doing.. also be careful of STOP signs at crossroads.. I ran a few when i first got here, cos in England we just don't get them... Make sure you stop for 2secs, Look at the sign, if it says 4-way, you take it in turns to whoever gets there first.

Naples has a lot of policemen out to catch speeders, I personally have a radar detector that gives me plenty of advance warning of their presence.
 
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