help..looking for a needle in a haystack in Melbourne, FL.

[hmwnick]

My DH is leaving for the Melbourne area to help the insurance co. adjust hurricane damage so home/business owners can get their $$$. Here's the problem...he can't find a hotel any closer than Orlando. You guys are FL experts so I thought you might have some ideas. I even thought about time shares but I know little to nothing about time shares. Thanks for your help!

 

[Deb & Bill]

My guess would be the hotels in Melbourne and surrounding areas have been damaged and are not open. The timeshares in the same area have also been damaged. Orlando will probably be his best choice and he will have to drive to Melbourne everyday. Not all that far. Maybe an hour or two.

 

[FroggyinArk]

Discussed going out ourselves, ( owns a prefered contracting service, state farm approved ) the people we all talked to recommended getting either a travel trailer or staying a cpl hours out of the damage area. otherwise theres no places toi stay. one crew that went from herer took 5 trailers along for the 15 people that went , and are rotating through ,, `10 working 5 off eacvh day

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Hi! I live in Melbourne. There are so many displaced homeowners and disaster workers (like your DH) in the area. The problem is that in Brevard County most hotels are located on the beach and many have been damaged in the Melbourne area. I was over beachside yesterday and not ONE of the major hotels over there was open.

Orlando is only about 1 hour and 15 minutes away.

Has he tried talking to a local agent in the area? They might help him find a room in someone's house or have additional ideas.

 

[wuv tigger]

We sent her to a hotel in Lake Buena Vista as she is still w/o power.

We've driven it from Orlando. It's 1 hr & 1/2. Not TOO bad.

Hope your dh is able to bring some peace of mind to some storm ravaged souls!

Judy

 

[hmwnick]

FroggyinArk: DH is also a preffered State Farm contractor but will be adjusting. He leaves tomorrow.


Miss Jasmine: How bad of a drive is it from Orlando to Melbourne? I have found several places there.

 

[windsong]

It depends on where you leave "from" in Orlando.

I left Disney's All Star Movies last Thurs at 1 PM. I headed West on Osceola Parkway and then North on 417 to 528 East (Beeline). I then turned South of the Beeline onto 195 South. I exited at exit 195 at SR 502. The total drive took me 1 hour and 25 min and I was towing a 5th Wheel RV at 50 mph. The only stops I made from Disney to here were toll booths.


The toll roads cost money but they are faster and don't seem to have backups like I-4 or East of 417. If I had to commute to Melbourne I would stay at Disney or as far east and South in St Cloud I could get and then take 192 into Melbourne.

I was in Cocoa Beach today and the best I could tell the Best Western near the pier was renting rooms. Not much damage there.

Hope this helps!

 

[hmwnick]

are you familiar w/ 192? we found a place in kissimmee that shows to be 79 miles from Melbourne via toll road.

 

[CyranoJones]

192 goes straight into Melbourne. That's the road we used to take most of the way from our house in Melbourne Beach to WDW. From Kissimmee to Downtown Melbourne is a little over an hour, but I don't know to which part your husband is heading.

 

[windsong]

hmwick,

192 heads out of St Cloud straight south east into Melbourne. There is major construction creating a four lane about 12 miles before you get into Melbourne.

The only toll road that would head out of Kiss is Osceola to 417 to 528. The route I mentioned before.

It really makes a difference as to where in Kiss he would be staying. Taking 192 out of Kiss can be a major crawl depending on how far West he is staying. Like I said, if he wants 192 to be his route than he is better off in East St Cloud than in Kiss.

If he wants to take the toll route he needs to be very close to Osceola Parkway or the 417 or he runs into a traffic problem getting to these roads. If he is not opting for Disney than I would look for lodging right off John Young Parkway or Orange Blossom Trail AND Oscelola Parkway. Otherwise I would opt for South East St Cloud and taking 192. You can make Melbourne on 192 leaving South East St Cloud in about 50 min, providing construction and traffic cooperates.

Heads up. There is nothing, I mean nothing on either of the routes. No coffee. No restrooms. Nothing. Once you are 5 miles south of St Cloud or once you are on the toll or once you hit 528 heading East.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

hmwnick, we go over to WDW a lot, and the drive is not bad. Depending on WHERE your DH stays over there will play a lot in the route he would take into Melbourne. Personally, I do not like 192 and go I-95 North, 528 West and 417 South to go to WDW (I also refuse to do I-4 if there is semi-convienent way around it).

I have StateFarm insurance and would be happy to give you my local agent's phone number if you think that might help in any way. I wish I could offer your DH a place to stay. I am so thankful to everyone coming here to help.

And please PM me if you need any other local information or directions. One place he may want to check is the Radisson at Port Canaveral. It is a bit expensive and it gets crowded the day before cruises (so that would be Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) It is is open and may have rooms.
Radisson Resort at the Port
8701 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral Florida 32920
Reservations: 800 333-3333
Telephone: (321) 784-0000 Fax: (321) 784-3737
Email: rada1a@aol.com
http://www.radisson.com/capecanaveralfl

I am going to ask around further and see what else I come up with.

 

[hmwnick]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help you have given. This is a kinda crazy time for us...DH worries about me & the kids ...we worry about him. Keep the tips coming.... Thanks again!!!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ohhh I thought of one more thing...try calling Brevard County Emergency Operations because it may have some information on hotels or other places to stay for disaster workers. The number is 321-637-6670.

 

[hmwnick]

MissJasmine, you are an angel!

 

[hmwnick]

does anyone know anything about Ventura Resort Rentals Cape Canaveral ?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I never heard of it, but then I am not familiar with time shares and such in that area.

I think that the Holiday Inn Express in Cocoa Beach will have rooms availble starting October 6.
COCOA BEACH
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
5575 NORTH ATLANTIC AVE
COCOA BEACH, FL 32931
UNITED STATES
Local Phone: 1-321-8682525

 

[hmwnick]

thanks..I think DH will stay there. I'm now looking for a place to stay 10/14-17 for myself & the kids. My 7yo DS is really going to miss his dad so I think we are going to fly out to FL for a visit. We have days left on our WDW passes. I'm trying to decide whether to stay in Orlando or nearer to Melbourne. We have two days off next week.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

If you or your DH need anything else, please PM me!