Planning my trip!

[freddykrueger]

Well here's the deal - I'm not really Freddy Krueger but have a wee boy of 11 and in the planning stages of booking a trip to Florida in April. Dates are pretty much fixed 3rd April until 17th inclusive.

Have been looking at package holidays but I think the way to go is to book separately myself - last time I went I took a car but have no plans to do so this time as hardly used it to be honest! Wil probably take the Magic Express that Disney lay on to get the initial transfer to hotel

Looking at a 2 centre holiday starting at Disney (maybe POP Century) and then going for last 5 days to Universal (probably Royal Pacific as I can get a good rate there due to my last stay!.....long story).

Question is I'm stumped about flights - have no idea where to start. As I am up in Glasgow there are very few direct flights but this doesn't bother me - does anyone have any ideas where to look for good and relatively inexpensive flights??

I'm sure I will have lots of questions but you seem a friendly lot so hope you won't mind me asking or stating the obvious

 

[wayneg]

Probably missed the best priced flights now, very late to be booking for this April.
Check travelsupermarket.com had a quick look, around £500 with 1 stop or £380 with 2 stops.
Might be best looking at, Thomas cook, thompsons etc see what they all have to offer.
Good luck

 

[freddykrueger]

Well I've managed to book flights for what I thought was a reasonable price - flying from Glasgow down to Heathrow and straight onto MCO. Have also booked 1st 9 days holiday as ASMu as Expedia seem to be doing some good rates at the moment - got most nights at £41 per night Now just need to book the other hotel, travel insurance, tickets etc etc - it's like a military operation

 

[wayneg]

Glad you found something, Expedia are usaully a bit OTT with hotels but for your dates not too bad, same price as direct with Disney.com

 

[freddykrueger]

Glad you found something, Expedia are usaully a bit OTT with hotels but for your dates not too bad, same price as direct with Disney.com

Was quoted by Globespan over £3000 for the flights alone - they don't seem to be very competitive nowadays! Ended up getting the flights for £1200 for the 3 of us which I thought was reasonable

Travel agent tried to get me to take their insurance on the spot but thought I should come back and get a few quotes first - does anyone have any recommendations for insurers as I was going to try direct line etc?

 

[wayneg]

Globespan used to be so cheap we considered a few times to drive upto Glasgow from Yorkshire to use them but like you say prices have got way too much with them, and not a good reputation either.

Insurance, I have used insure and go for past 2 years, never claimed but they are one of the leading insurers. They offer 5 different annual policies prices for us range from around £60-£130/year. With us going abroad upto 10 weeks a year I take their top cover (Black) If you use rpoints.com(free to join) you can get 10% cashback on Insure and Go policies.

The do short term insurance also but never looked at prices.

Don't just take cheapest insurance, as I did with Asda a few years ago, I gave up on a claim in the end the were so difficult to get money out of. They have since changed their underinsurers.

 

[eyoreaud]

Hi there,
Glad you finaly got your flights booked, well done Are you flying with BA?
M&S are usualy quite reasoable for hol ins and their policy covers almost everything, also if you have a royalties account with RBS then you have free built in travel insirance through them
Let us know how you get on please

 

[KayleeUK]

Glad it is all coming together for you

 

[freddykrueger]

Thanks guys for all your comments - my wee boy is so excited Flying with British Midland down to Heathrow and then using US Airways over to Orlando. I flew with them previously but they have pulled out of Glasgow for whatever reason.

I will go and check M&S insurance and let you know how I get on. Even though I will only be 9 days at Disney I still think I will get the 14 day ultimate ticket as that looks best value for money from what I have seen and read on these forums - last time we never got to any waterparks so will need to make a point of going this time!

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Hi there,
Glad you finaly got your flights booked, well done Are you flying with BA?
M&S are usualy quite reasoable for hol ins and their policy covers almost everything, also if you have a royalties account with RBS then you have free built in travel insirance through them
Let us know how you get on please

We also have the RBS royalties gold.
£12 per month now but with the discounts in addition to the travel insurance it makes good sense for us.
We've never claimed but only heard good things from those that I know who have.

 

[freddykrueger]

Managed to get travel insurance through Columbus Direct via money supermarket - personally had not heard of them before but they seem to be an established insurer etc. Some of the quotes for single trip were ridiculous - it's not as if I am going tightrope walking over Niagra!!

 

[scottishsue]

Thanks guys for all your comments - my wee boy is so excited Flying with British Midland down to Heathrow and then using US Airways over to Orlando. I flew with them previously but they have pulled out of Glasgow for whatever reason.

Hi there !! We are doing much the same as you - flying BMI to Manchester, then Virgin out to Orlando.

Can I ask - what part of Glasgow are you in? (I'm originally from Glasgow).

 

[freddykrueger]

Hi there !! We are doing much the same as you - flying BMI to Manchester, then Virgin out to Orlando.

Can I ask - what part of Glasgow are you in? (I'm originally from Glasgow).

Hi Sue

Not quite Glasgow but just outside in Blantyre.

Grant

 

[freddykrueger]

OK folks I have another question about transfers! This time I am not getting a hire car as frankly I hardly use it However even though I am getting Magical Express from the airport to Disney when I arrive I still need a transfer from DIsney to the Universal resort after my initial stay at Disney and also a transfer home from Universal back to MCO.

I have looked at Mears online but it only seems to let me book one of the limo things - should I book transfers before I leave the UK or just organise when I get over there?

 

[wayneg]

Personally wouldn't even goto Florida without a car, that freedom makes it for us, nipping to Old Town for an evening, Celebration, over to see a shuttle launch etc etc so many places we would miss. But you have been before do know what you want.
I would say get a rough estimate of what its going to cost for transfers and any taxis you might take, we once compared and it was cheaper to rent the car. Just looked at dates 3-17th Apr a small car with tank of gas, £192 incl all insurance (£177 without gas). Knock off any other transport you are going to have to pay how much extra is it for the convenience?

 

[Jakey Rowling]

OK folks I have another question about transfers! This time I am not getting a hire car as frankly I hardly use it However even though I am getting Magical Express from the airport to Disney when I arrive I still need a transfer from DIsney to the Universal resort after my initial stay at Disney and also a transfer home from Universal back to MCO.

I have looked at Mears online but it only seems to let me book one of the limo things - should I book transfers before I leave the UK or just organise when I get over there?

I doubt there's a need to book over here as you can't be sure of exact times.
Here will give you an rough cost for a taxi.

http://www.mearstransportation.com/TaxiFareEstimator.asp