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Airfare prices (again)
#293869
01/12/2023 02:04 PM
01/12/2023 02:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,071 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Posts: 2,071
Clearwater, FL
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Even though we're on the Gulf Coast of FL, decently priced direct flights from that area are not very plentiful. So, yesterday we booked out of Miami RT for $500 each, for Economy +. We'll make the 3 hour drive the day before. We were used to driving 2 hours when we lived in Philly to EWR. We've never flown out of Miami, so hotel ideas would be appreciated. We're not going 'til July - 7/11 to 7/26. First visit in 1 1/2 years, anxious. Thanks.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: Biturbo]
#293871
01/12/2023 02:21 PM
01/12/2023 02:21 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 80,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Central Florida!
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Good luck with finding something reasonable in Miami that includes parking. We have looked several times for about 10-11 days parking and the cost really seemed excessive. I don't want to scare you, but some folks in the past have reported getting their cars stolen and/or vandalized, at hotels in the Miami area.
We drive 3.5 hours one way when we fly out of Miami, which is where we normally fly out of. It makes for a very EARLY morning, especially considering AA did away with the noon flight from Miami and now there is only the 10:30 AM. Now, we always park at ParknFly, which is across the street from the airport. EXCELLENT parking service. You drive up and they help you with your bags, take your keys and valet park your car, and you walk to the waiting shuttle to the airport. Upon your return, they call the garage when you get on the shuttle and they have your car sitting there in the waiting area for you when you arrive. We usually don't even have to bother to call them to come pick us up at the airport, as they seem to have shuttles constantly circling there. You book online and if you do want to do that, recommend you do it ahead of time, as the garage does fill up. Last June we booked ahead of time and saw signs up there when we arrived that said they were fully booked.
Carol Hill
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: MrWhiskerssammy]
#293875
01/12/2023 03:59 PM
01/12/2023 03:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 80,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Sammy--we live in the sticks, so to rent a car here is kind of a production, to pick up the car and to return it. Park N Fly costs about $14 a day, more or less. I don't worry about it being stolen or tampered with there, as the cars are stored inside their facility.
Carol Hill
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: marisol]
#293879
01/12/2023 06:18 PM
01/12/2023 06:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 80,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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marisol--that is another option, to do a hotel the night before, and then still do Park N Fly, who does a great job. We have always been extremely disappointed with the shuttle service from hotels--only available every half hour, limited hours available, and often having to wait FOREVER for the shuttle on the return, etc., etc., etc. That is the worst part for me, when I'm ready to go home, it annoys the h*ll out of me to wait so long for the hotel shuttle. And, as I said, at hotels, they seem to take ZERO responsibility if something happens to your car, parked there, even though you pay for parking.
Carol Hill
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: Biturbo]
#293882
01/12/2023 07:15 PM
01/12/2023 07:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,071 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Wow, lots of ideas. Thanks. So, for a 10:30 flight we should arrive by 7:30. If we leave here at 4 we should be OK. One good thing is FL weather. I can remember waiting for the transport bus in Newark in winter and freezing.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: Biturbo]
#293892
01/13/2023 09:48 AM
01/13/2023 09:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 80,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Biturbo--I REALLY hate that early wake up call, but it seems that we often are scurrying around the last night, getting things ready to go. So, if we wanted to drive down the night before, we'd have to take another day off work and lots of times, we just don't have the extra time. If you do decide on Park N Fly, please do make a reservation. One time we made the mistake of planning on parking at the Miami airport. Somehow, we missed where any long term parking was and we ended up in a garage, at like $25 a day. 
Carol Hill
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: Biturbo]
#293896
01/13/2023 12:06 PM
01/13/2023 12:06 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,071 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Clearwater, FL
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After discussing with my wife, we've decided to go that route. It's still 6 months away. I know, we're night owls and late sleepers, but for St. Martin it's worth 1 early day. Thanks again, after years of flying from EWR, it's a whole 'nother routine We'll see how far in advance Park N Fly will take reservations.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: Biturbo]
#293898
01/13/2023 01:20 PM
01/13/2023 01:20 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 80,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 80,044
Central Florida!
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Biturbo--I think I have made reservations at Park N Fly several months in advance. You do have to pre-pay when you make the reservation, but if your plans change, you can get your money refunded.
Carol Hill
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Re: Airfare prices (again)
[Re: Biturbo]
#293924
01/13/2023 07:23 PM
01/13/2023 07:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,071 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Posts: 2,071
Clearwater, FL
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We've already booked our 2nd week there.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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