Driving down for Christmas

[Bertie9396]

We are driving down to Orlando for Christmas vacation from Barrie, ON. We will be taking I-75 because it is the route we are more familiar with. Anyway, last time we drove it was late March/early April and only stopped one night on each way there and back. This time, we are giving ourselves an extra day and want to stop two nights. My question, would you recommend booking hotels before leaving? Last time we really lucked out and were able to get rooms but we've never gone over Christmas before. A lot of it depends on weather but we plan on leaving early the morning (meaning 3 or 4 am) of Thursday, December 18th and getting to our rental home in Kissimmee sometime on Saturday, December 20. Hubby's parents will be driving in a different car with their little dog so if anyone can recommend some pet friendly hotels along the route as well, that would be appreciated. We aren't really following each other as they will take an extra day or so to drive as they need to stop more often because Mom doesn't drive so they can't switch like DH and I can. We have offered to drive with them so we can all take turns but Dad gets car sick if he is not driving and while I'm OK sharing a rental home with them for two weeks but the drive there and back would be too much family togetherness for all of us.

 

[Pumpkin910]

Hi,

We are leaving from near Newmarket on the 17th or 18th December as our rental also starts on the 20th. We will also be taking the I75.

I have booked various hotel options already because we are a family of 5 with 3 kids 10 and under, so I need to know I will have a room big enough for all of us. So if you have any kids that may be something to think about. Also, some of the places I booked have gone up in price already.

Otherwise I know a lot of people recommend stopping at each state's rest area and getting the hotel/motel discount book.

This is our first time driving so I bought the I75 book to help.


ETA: My parents will also be joining us. Looks like we are having the same vacation,lol.

 

[Bertie9396]

Hi,

We are leaving from near Newmarket on the 17th or 18th December as our rental also starts on the 20th. We will also be taking the I75.

I have booked various hotel options already because we are a family of 5 with 3 kids 10 and under, so I need to know I will have a room big enough for all of us. So if you have any kids that may be something to think about. Also, some of the places I booked have gone up in price already.

Otherwise I know a lot of people recommend stopping at each state's rest area and getting the hotel/motel discount book.

This is our first time driving so I bought the I75 book to help.

ETA: My parents will also be joining us.looks like we are having the same vacation,lol.

Sounds like it we are having similar vacations! LOL I bought the I-75 book last time. I loved it and will buy the newer edition for this trip down. My advice for you is to take 402 to Sarnia and cross at the Blue Water Bridge. We found it much easier than going through Windsor into Detroit.

We will only have one child with us so as long pretty much any room is OK for us as long as I'm not stuck in between Hubby's snoring and DD's grinding teeth all night. LOL

 

[Pumpkin910]

My advice for you is to take 402 to Sarnia and cross at the Blue Water Bridge. We found it much easier than going through Windsor into Detroit.

Thanks for this tip. I had read this before but was skeptical because on paper it doesn't make sense to me. We will try it. I guess we will see you on the road somewhere,lol. We are aiming to leave about 4am. Seeing as it is our first drive we are planning to stop 2 nights on the way down. Depending on how the kids do, we may do only one night on the way back.

The rooms I have booked I can cancel up until 6 pm on day of arrival, so I am planning to check on route if any better deals come up and then I will take the deal and cancel our booked room.

 

[wendyt_ca]

We are doing the same since flights are so high that time of year except from New Brunswick. We have never driven down before but we are going to book the hotel rooms in advance just to be safe.

 

[greenclan67]

We are going at Xmas as well from Northern Ontario. We were lucky and got flights 3 Fridays ago on Southwest, Buf to Mco for $112.80 each way non stop on Dec 20th return Dec 27th. Buuuut we weren't supposed to go Xmas as we went last year for the first time then 60 days later for March Break. Both trips were 10 days. And we went to Virginia this summer. But we decide to fly at Xmas and drive for March.

 

[nutc4disney]

I've used this link for searching motels, phone numbers, etc. and also printing motel coupons before we left (saves stopping at welcome centres for books).

http://travelcoupons.com/index.htm

 

[wendyt_ca]

I've used this link for searching motels, phone numbers, etc. and also printing motel coupons before we left (saves stopping at welcome centres for books).

http://travelcoupons.com/index.htm

Would it be risky trying to get these hotels at that time of year?

 

[Pumpkin910]

Would it be risky trying to get these hotels at that time of year?

I wondered this too given the time of year so I have booked rooms in advance.

 

[Bertie9396]

Thanks everyone! I think we will go ahead and book some rooms in advance.

118 days to go!!!

 

[tim1964]

My wife and I are leaving the 19th from Owen Sound area. We cross at
Sarnia also. It is quicker and beats all that construction at Windsor. We usually
drive straight down. Stops for gas, washroom and food.
Coming back last year we stopped for on nite at Corbin Kentucky. We had heavy rain Kentucky to almost Atlanta.
Enjoy your trip

 

[krazy4crusing]

We will also be driving down and leaving the Saturday of the kids Christmas break. We leave around 4 am and take the 75. We pack a lunch, drinks and snacks for the drive and stop for dinner around 7 pm. Then we drive until 11 pm or so. We priceline our hotel an hour or so before we plan to stop and find a location on the map close to the interstate. We always get a 2 1/2 star or higher hotel for $50-$60 a night. The farther south you go the cheaper the rooms will be. We usually drive from Toronto to Macon GA (south of Atlanta) on the first day. It's a long drive but the 2nd day it is much easier, we sleep in and take our time getting to Orlando. On the way back we usually stop 1/2 way instead of motoring through. Dave Hunter's book is indepsensible, his Fl. Highway book is great too we have both and they make the drive interesting for everyone.

Hope the weather is good for all of us. We usually have a snow storm on our drive so I am hoping to break that cycle this year.