Travelling from Orlando using public transport.

Hi there, my family and I am travelling to Orlando for 3 weeks in October. We have been to Orando a few times before and usually stay around the International drive area as we are non drivers. For the 1st week there will be 4 of us and we were thinking of travelling further a field for a few days. Can any one advise us if it is possible to travel to some where like Miami or St Pete%26#39;s using public transport???? If it is possible how do we go about it???

Many Thanks

Swisstony

Travelling from Orlando using public transport.

swissstony,

The easiest and less expensive way would be by renting a car. It will take you less time to go to your destinations as well. Sensibly less. You need to consider that there will be four of you travelling and when you add up the cost of each fare, you will come to the conclusion that the car option is cheaper. You should not be concern about driving in the U.S. There is an excellent good signage system to assist you beside other road efficient assistances.

Having said that, Greyhound (bus service) and Amtrak (train service) could be maybe the best options. The problem is the considerable time you will spend and, in the case of Amtrak, its always extremely unreliable service.

In any event, for further information, visit www.greyhound.com and www.amtrak.com.

Finally, there is a group of vans operated by particulars (not really companies) that often take people from orlando to Miami and viceversa. It cost about $40-60 p/p. They advertise their services in The Orlando Sentinel. www.orlandosentinel.com.

Hope this helps.

PELUCH

Travelling from Orlando using public transport.

pelluch is right... They are very unreliable.

I wouldn%26#39;t suggest using public transportion mainly because it is not like europe in orlando. We dont have a highly sophisticated system nor is it convienant. We use our cars for everything! Renting a car to st augustine or in your case flying to miami would be better. Miami is a four hour drive from orlando. For you it will take you a little long since you are unfamilar with the road system... www.southwest.com has cheap jumper flights to south florida and ft myers/naples area. You can get cheap rates if you go in advance perhaps as little as 70 a person. Yes that is more than driving however you said you are a non driver.

http://www.transfloridian.com/

is a private bus system. but as you will notice the time invovled is more significant than driving yourself.

Thanks for a prompt and helpful response!!

Swiss.

Sadly, unless you are in New York City, Chicago, or Boston, public transporation pretty much stinks in the U.S. Orlando, and Florida in general, is no exception.

Americans love their autos as evidenced by the gridlock on the highways and the lack of public transportation. There%26#39;s no demand for transit means, therefore it simply doesn%26#39;t exist.

Perhaps when Americans begin having to pay $5 or $6 per gallon of gasoline, things will change. That could be coming sooner than any of us expect too.

Kats-cub-fan,

Last report from the economic/financial sector indicates that we should expect to pay around $3.00 per gallon at the pump this summer. So, maybe, as you said, the public transportation system hopefully will start to change...for the better.

PELUCH

Just think what will happen if another hurrincane season brings more destruction to the gulf coast. We might see $4 or $5 if that happens.

I%26#39;m beginning to regret moving 25 miles out of town; 50-mile-a-day commutes is taking a toll on my budget.

I wouldn%26#39;t suggest using public transport to get to miami from orlando - this is going to be a long enough drive even in a car - if this was a proposed %26#39;day trip%26#39; then you ought to reconsider. Traffic in Orlando is bad enough and is just as bad around Miami. Roadworks add to the frustration!!! You%26#39;ll be spending more time travelling than visiting.

If you really want to visit Miami then one of the better options would be to fly. I flew Miami-Orlando last year and it was a quick flight (despite the delayed departure!)

Whilst i always say the cheapest most conveint way to travel in the US is by Hire car.

What a lot of Americians dont relise lots of British people dont drive, dont have a car, dont need either.

Not until they come to the Us that is. Thank goodness. If they all did our roads would be just a parking lot.

Many people from Bririan holiday all over europe without ever needing a driving licence.

This also throws a spanner in the works when they come to the US as lots of places ask for ID.

As we have NO ID cards. they have no Driving licence. Doing a simple opperation like cashing a travelers check can be a daunting excersise. This means that they have to carry their pasport almost every where they go, as US citizans find it impossibale to understand that they can get through life without needing either an ID card, or one of the new driving licences. Our own standard driving licence often is not suficiant for some.

Your Posts, ';get a car'; may just be shouting at the deaf.