George wrote:
> I live in Montreal and was planning on going to Florida with the family. I
> noticed on the internet that SouthWest has specials starting Aug 18 for $98
> US return from Albany NY. Even with taxes and currency exhange this is still
> an amazing amount of savings compared to flights leaving from Montreal
> (about $1000 of savings for four people). I was wondering if anyone else has
> tried the same thing and would like to hear about your experiences.
> (Burlington Vermont airport is closer but the rate from ALbany is much
> cheaper).
Have you checked New Hampshire? The rates to Orlando seem cheap.
Dunno if it's any closer though.
> I have a 6 and 4 year old. Is the 3.5 hour trip to ALbany too much
> for them?
Followed by 2 hours in the airport, followed by a 2.5 hour flight,
followed by another hour to your destination? Let's see, 3.5 + 2.5 +
2 + 1 = 9 hour day. Seems a tad long to me.
> Is the Albany airport easy to navigate? Do I park my car in a long
> term parking lot there? Is it expensive and safe? Do I require passports
> even though I am only ravelling within the US?
No, not for the airline. Border patrol might care.
> One nice factor that
> SOuthWest has over the competition is that some of the flights to Orlando
> are non-stop.
Yup.
> I think that is convenient when you are traveling with two
> small kids. I was thinking of flying into Orlando and renting a car to head
> over to Clearwater.
Same day? That's 1.5 - 2 hours.
> I would like to stay at a beach for 5 or 6 days and then
> a few days in Orlando before returning home. Is Clearwtaer OK for kids that
> are 6 and 4?
Practically built for 'em.
> DO they have any Midways or attraction around there at night?
Oh, there are mini-golf and that kinda thing. This place:
http://www.beachgameland.com/ Of course there's Busch Gardens too.
> ANy advice would be appreciated.
You could drive to Albany and spend the night to rest up the
kids before flying the next day. You could spend some time in
Orlando before proceeding on to Clearwater. You could dump
Clearwater and go to either Cocoa or Daytona which are carbon
copies in many ways (unless you're a real beach freak).
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