Just booked flights! Advice on hotel?

[Rach78]

Just booked my flights, October 11th - 28th, dates I wanted, from Edinburgh - London - Tampa with BA. So excited! This is first family trip and now I am really going!!

We are flying in to Tampa on thur night and have stay booked at OKW starting on fri. Should we stay in Tampa overnight and drive down in the morning? We have very early start from Edinburgh with two kids 5 and 13. Or should we drive down and stay in hotel in Orlando? Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels in either Tampa or Orlando? Easy to find would be good!! Our flight arrives in Tampa at 4.40pm.

Thanks xxx

 

[scotlass]

Just booked my flights, October 11th - 28th, dates I wanted, from Edinburgh - London - Tampa with BA. So excited! This is first family trip and now I am really going!!

We are flying in to Tampa on thur night and have stay booked at OKW starting on fri. Should we stay in Tampa overnight and drive down in the morning? We have very early start from Edinburgh with two kids 5 and 13. Or should we drive down and stay in hotel in Orlando? Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels in either Tampa or Orlando? Easy to find would be good!! Our flight arrives in Tampa at 4.40pm.

Thanks xxx

first off....

We have done this route the last two years and will be doing it again in October.
We are also staying at OKW.

The drive from Tampa to Orlando is not so bad,the traffic might still be heavy at that time tho.
If I remember right it took us about 80/90 mins to get to Disney last year.
But a guy was treatening to jump of a bridge and the police has closed 1 lane !!

I would just drive up and get settled then you are ready to go on the Friday.

I dont have any advice about hotels sorry.

 

[Rach78]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. What dates you going?
Can I ask you if you just check your bags at Edinburgh and then don't need to see them again until Tampa? There was only 50 mins between flights in London and I thought it would be rushed so opted for an earlier flight. How are BA for food/entertainment on board?
Yes I have decided that we will prob just drive that night to Orlando as would rather be closer in the morning!
xxx

 

[scotlass]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. What dates you going?
Can I ask you if you just check your bags at Edinburgh and then don't need to see them again until Tampa? There was only 50 mins between flights in London and I thought it would be rushed so opted for an earlier flight. How are BA for food/entertainment on board?
Yes I have decided that we will prob just drive that night to Orlando as would rather be closer in the morning!
xxx

We leave the week before you on the 5th.

Once you check your bags at EDI you do not get them again till Tampa.
You so did the right thing gettin an earlier flight,50mins would not be enough time for your luggage to get from one plane to the next.
Last year out flight down was delayed so we only had an hour beteen and we arrived in Tampa to no luggage.

The BA entertainment is usually really good.
Very current movies,some still in the cinema....one of the highlights of DS holiday was gettin to see The Hangover 2 before his friends !!

 

[wayneg]

Flown into Tampa 3 times now, all indirect arriving later than 4:40pm (6-9pm?) wouldn't dream of staying down there, if the traffic is clear it is exactly 1 hour to Disney, last Oct we arrived 6pm ish I4 was crazy traffic all the way up to LBV exit and it still only took 90 mins.
If I was staying down near Tampa for a few days (clearwater or St Petes) then OK but I would rather get upto Orlando day I arrived.