Fly Drive

[PudseyChancer]

Looks as though we're doing a fly-drive for our next Florida holiday, we're tempted to not book any hotels at all and just see what we can get once we're over. Has anyone done this previously, I've always booked a package before and am a little nervous about doing this.

My fellow traveller has travelled independently before and reckons that you can roll up to hotels etc and bargain with them and they'll do a deal as you could just walk out to the next hotel?

Also, I'm sure that you have to put an address for where you're staying on that green form you fill in on the plane?

 

[alisonbestford]

You could book your first night's accommodation and then just go where the fancy takes you

That way you get to put an address on the waiver form and don't have to worry about where you're sleeping when you're tired from travelling

 

[wayneg]

3 times I have had people at checkin trying to book rooms, if these are anything to go by then I would book in UK.
1. Courtyard by Marriott LBV we paid £25/night($50) guest at side of me was charged $95+tax/night
2. Homewood suites Universal we paid £22/night($44) get this, walk in price was $159+tax
3. Comfort suites LBV (Xmas £20 $40/night) They turned 3 away no rooms available, always book in advance at Xmas.

I would say do you homework, know the prices and watch for a bargain.
We get great rates in UK thru companies like Alpharooms, Hotelopia etc.
Our prices usually include tax and resort fees (this can add a lot on if paid locally)
If you leave it til you get there then yes you might get a cheap room, you might not. Always rooms available somewhere but would you want to stay in some of them?

 

[Hilary]

Are you planning to stay in Orlando, or to travel around?

Will you be excited at the prospect staying somewhere you might never have chosen but getting a real bargain deal, or worried that you might be staying somewhere you wouldn't have chosen because it's not what you'd choose?!

We've talked about doing this on a trip next spring, but would do it for only a couple of days here and there, as we are always on the move from one place to the next anyway. I wouldn't do it if I planned to stay in one place for two weeks - but I'm a bit of a control freak!

I agree with the suggestion to, at least, book your first night. This might even be an immigration requirement now.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We always book a fly-drive, however I like our accomodation booked before we go.
Over the years we have become more fussy over the quality of our holiday accomodation, and whilst we do not plan our activities for each day in advance I find part of the fun of the holiday is planning and booking where we are going to stay.
In addition with Joshua I like everything to be sorted and have everything covered well in advance.

To be honest you will not I would have thought find many who wait till they arrive before they sort out hotels etc, personally it's not something I will ever consider.
However, it's all about different ways of doing things, as Wayne says I would have some sort of ideas of where you want to stay.

I think you will find accomodation without too many problems, although that could depend on where you want to stay and when you are going.

 

[Hilary]

I find part of the fun of the holiday is planning and booking where we are going to stay.
In addition with Joshua I like everything to be sorted and have everything covered well in advance.

Absolutely agree about enjoying the planning , and I also have to say we would never have considered NOT arranging everything when we were travelling with DDs. Now, if it's just me and DH, we are slowly becoming a little less prescriptive!

 

[Jakey Rowling]

I'd back up wayneg's advice regarding doing your homework, know the prices and watch for a bargain

Be aware of walking up and getting a "deal", especially if it's based on the walk in rate.
I've always been surprised at how much the walk in rates are in any hotel I've stayed in.

I've booked the odd night or two away from Orlando when I've been over there using the coupons readily available to get some good prices, but even then they are restricted and not always available.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Absolutely agree about enjoying the planning , and I also have to say we would never have considered NOT arranging everything when we were travelling with DDs. Now, if it's just me and DH, we are slowly becoming a little less prescriptive!

I fully understand that Hilary, ours is a special case with Josh's autism, we really need cooking facilities so for example next year we have booked Saratoga Springs, Omni Villas at Champion's Gate and a private villa for our 3 week stay.
We used to be more flexible with our plans and travel around a lot more, just find these days we stay in Orlando area with the odd day trip to the beach.

It must be great to have that freedom to just stay at and go anywhere you choose, the beauty is we all have different views and ideas.

 

[PudseyChancer]

It must be great to have that freedom to just stay at and go anywhere you choose, the beauty is we all have different views and ideas.

I think that's the appeal to be honest, I'm going with my flat mate so whilst the hotel room would need to be secure and 'decent', it's not an overriding issue for us - can understand that families have different requirements. Have stayed at hotels at both end of the spectrum so I know pretty much what's available, but quite fancy the idea of being able to go and do what we want - be it a stay in Orlando and then over to the coast or even a drive down to Key West - they're all things we're considering.

Thanks for all the advice though, may book the first week and then see where we decide to roam - I'll just point out though, one thing we will be booking is a convertible!

 

[PhilReid]

Has anyone done this previously, I've always booked a package before and am a little nervous about doing this.

The wife and I did this the first time we visited Florida, I was a bit nervous about it, but it worked out fine.

The best advice I could give would be to book rooms through the local tourist information booths, there is one at the top end of I Drive.

They get a much better rate than walk-in prices, and can get you anything from a room to a suite in most price ranges.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I think that's the appeal to be honest, I'm going with my flat mate so whilst the hotel room would need to be secure and 'decent', it's not an overriding issue for us - can understand that families have different requirements. Have stayed at hotels at both end of the spectrum so I know pretty much what's available, but quite fancy the idea of being able to go and do what we want - be it a stay in Orlando and then over to the coast or even a drive down to Key West - they're all things we're considering.

Thanks for all the advice though, may book the first week and then see where we decide to roam - I'll just point out though, one thing we will be booking is a convertible!

Sounds great, just don't take too much luggage - convertible boots (trunk) are on the small side.

 

[mnoble_uk]

I think you *need* to book your first nights accommodation to stay within the rules of the visa form (you might want to check this out as it may have changed recently that they want where you will be the whole time).

On saying that I've done this myself. The 1st time I did it in the US I put 'touring' down as my address (on the bad advice of a guide book). The immgration officer rolled his eyes and said I had to put an address and wrote 'Motel 6' on the form himself. This was pre 9/11 - I dont think they'd be so understanding now !

My one bit of advice - get the coupon books at tourist offices, libraries, anywhere you can see them. In Kissimmee we've got rooms at the Howard Johnston for $29 a night when walk ups in the queue in front of us were paying much more than that - by simply producing the coupon - same story in Denver and Annaheim (though not quite as cheap). You may waste some time driving round to get available rooms but particularly if its off season you should have no problems. Only war story I have is around Bush Gardens - couldnt get a room close by for love nor money and ended up in a truckers motel (cant remember the name its a chain with a pineaple as a logo) in a *real* trashy area. However the price (with a coupon of course) was $25 a night - the room was clean and there was a subway (sandwich place) beside it which was full of all sorts of interesting people (think Jerry Springer). Good times :-D