Flights and Car Hire
Flights

This is definitely one area where you should shop around as prices vary incredibly.
Airport
Distance (miles)
Time
Tampa (TPA)
100
1hr 30mins
Fort Myers (RSW)
45
1hr
Orlando Sanford (SFB)
185
3hrs
Everglades
100
2hrs
Miami (MIA)
200
3hrs

Our favourite flight from the UK is the direct BA flight from Gatwick to Tampa. We have seen this at between £400 and £500 recently. As the only direct flight currently into Tampa from the UK, it is very popular and can be expensive. Our second choice is the direct Virgin or BA flight into Miami often at lower prices due to greater competition. Although it's a longer drive, the flight arrives earlier, and it's a straightforward journey. Recent visitors have flown charters into Orlando, Sanford and not found the drive to Rotonda too long. Watch out for obtuse transfers via Newfoundland. In our experience do NOT travel via Newark as the immigration delays there can be horrendous!

We have used Expedia, Travelocity, Opodo and eBookers for our research. Failing that UK Teletext Holidays has produced some unbeatable fly-drive bargains. Our personal favourite is Travelocity. For the lowest price flights, you'll need to fly into Orlando or catch a sale. Our favourite flight search engine is now Kayak.

Car Hire
Most fly-drive packages include basic car hire. When you arrive, you often find the car hire company is located off-airport (to keep their costs down) so you have to wait, then catch a bus. At Tampa all of the major car hire companies are a 2 minute stroll across the road. When you collect your car, you may find out that collision damage waiver (CDW) costs £20-£30 per day in addition.

Most of the UK based car hire agencies now include CDW in their pricing.

We have also found out the expensive way that additional drivers typically cost $5.99 +tax per day. In a fortnight that adds up to £66 per driver. If you choose the "gold" option you get up to 3 additional drivers and a tank full of fuel for about half that!

Price Guide (including CDW - and including Gold package)

Our favourite car hire company - who we've used a number of times now - is Floridacarhire.net. They act as agents for all of the major car rental companies and have offered lower prices than anyone else for recent trips.