Getting Around
Since distances in Florida are relatively short, driving from the west to the east coast takes a little over two hours. And traveling from Miami to Pensacola can take about six hours. If you're taking a bus, the trip will take much longer. Flying is probably your best option if you plan on visiting several areas on your vacation.
By traveling early or later in the day and midweek, you can fly between cities in Florida for about what it costs to travel by bus. A one-way flight between Miami and Jacksonville, for example, will cost about $99 and take under two hours. The same trip by bus will cost $60, but it will take over eleven hours, while a similar trip by train will cost $49 and take nine hours.
Though buses used to be the least expensive method of travel within Florida, they aren't anymore. Greyhound is the only long-distance service, linking all major cities and many smaller towns. Buses connect the major cities 24-7, stopping only for driver changes and meal breaks. If you're traveling through the Florida Keys, you can flag down a bus anywhere along the Overseas Highway or board at scheduled stops. As with airline fares, you'll pay less if you travel on weekdays and use special companion, military, or student discounts.
Traveling by train between Florida's coastal cities takes time and may limit your itinerary. Though Amtrak links major coastal cities, service is limited to one or two departures a day.
Taxis in Florida's coastal cities are relatively expensive. For the most part, travel here is more suburban than urban, except in the largest cities. Because of this, rental car rates are often low.
Renting a Car
Renting a car to get around a particular area is probably your best option. All the major companies — Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, and Thrifty — have rental locations at airports. Others, like Dollar and Enterprise, have locations nearby. If you plan to rent a car anyway, check for fly-drive packages that offer discounted car rental rates when you buy an air ticket. They're usually cheaper than renting on arrival and often give you unlimited free mileage. But you may do better if you buy a cheap air ticket and combine it with a holiday or weekend car-rental package that includes unlimited mileage. If you plan on renting a car for a week or more, you should use the fly-drive option, as the cost of mileage could be as much as the car rental itself. Remember, if you plan to drive a car to a different city and drop it off, you'll might have to pay a drop-off charge that's often as much as a week's rental. The following companies offer car rentals in Florida:
Alamo: www.alamo.com
Avis: www.avis.com
Budget: www.budget.com
Dollar: www.dollar.com
Enterprise: www.enterprise.com
Hertz: www.hertz.com
National: www.nationalcar.com
Thrifty: www.thrifty.com
TRAVEL TIP
Check with your auto insurance carrier to see if you're covered while driving a rental car. If yes, check “No” for the Collision Damage Waiver on your car rental agreement of insurance. This waiver often isn't included in the initial rental charge, but you should take it out. At $10 to $12 a day, this can add substantially to the total cost, but without it you're liable for every scratch to the car — even if none was your fault.
Driving in Florida
To make the best time, ride the interstate highways — odd-numbered ones run north and south and even-numbered ones run east to west. Some of these are toll roads, such as the 318-mile Florida Turnpike. Usually you'll pay a toll according to how far you've driven. Also, along Florida's coast you'll have to pay tolls to cross a number of bridges and causeways.
TRAVEL TIP
Whenever possible, park in the shade. If you don't, you may find your car too hot to touch when you return. Temperatures inside cars parked in the full force of the Florida sun can reach 140ºF. Purchase an inexpensive cardboard windshield screen at a discount or auto store. It will keep your parked car a lot cooler.
To really see Coastal Florida, amble along scenic roads like Highway A1A, which runs parallel to U.S. Route 1 along Florida's east coast. But be aware that back roads are often just two lanes.
The official speed limit in Florida is 55 miles per hour, raised to 65 miles per hour on interstate highways. The speed drops to about 35 miles per hour on roads through smaller towns. Keep an eye out for speed traps, since the speed may change within a few yards, not enabling you to slow down fast enough. Fines for speeding can start at $75. And make sure your front-seat passenger fastens his seat belt — it's the law in Florida.
Bicycling
Bicycling around Coastal Florida's major cities can be dangerous because of heavy traffic and lack of bike paths. However, you'll find it a great way to explore smaller towns and villages using marked cycle paths along the coast. You can rent a bicycle for $8 to $15 a day or $30 to $55 a week from many beach shops and concessionaires in some state parks. You'll find the best cycling areas in the Panhandle and along the northeast coast.
For safety and visibility, wear a brightly colored helmet and cycling gloves. And always keep your water bottle filled and drink from it frequently to avoid getting dehydrated in the hot Florida sun. For free bicycle touring information and detailed maps of cycling routes, contact the Florida Department of Transportation (605 Suwanee Street, Tallahassee 32399-0450, 850-414-4100, www.dot.state.fl.us).
