Orlando & Florida - Questions & Answers (Part 1) *CLOSED*

Murphy_The_Cat

koru wrote:

So you reckon the UK rate includes insurance? Maybe that's it, but it didn't say so. I wonder if the difference is US tax?

Hi koru

if you go to (say) hertz.com and get a quote as an American, look at the price and select the "what does this include" and then do the same as a Brit - I feel that this will show the difference.

MTC

koru

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

Hi koru

if you go to (say) hertz.com and get a quote as an American, look at the price and select the "what does this include" and then do the same as a Brit - I feel that this will show the difference.

You're right. If I select the specific car it makes it clear that the UK rates include insurance. The US rates also exclude taxes, so if you add tax plus insurance, a US resident would actually pay more, not less!

Murphy_The_Cat

koru wrote:

You're right. If I select the specific car it makes it clear that the UK rates include insurance. The US rates also exclude taxes, so if you add tax plus insurance, a US resident would actually pay more, not less!

A result !!

I love this site.

MTC

koru

It has probably been said before, but if you just want flights, check out fly-drive prices (and just don't use the car).

I'm planning two weeks in Orlando next Feb, for me, wife and 2 kids. Cheapest Virgin flights I can find (Airline Network): £1762, including tax and surcharge.

But according to the Virgin Holidays website a fly-drive holiday would be £1387. That definitely includes surcharge and I assume taxes. So, by agreeing to have a rental car (which I won't use), I will pay a quarter less!

(That price is based on the cheapest rental car. I won't use the car, because Virgin charge rip-off prices for the insurance on the car. With Airline Network, I can rent an intermediate car, including all insurance and an extra driver, is £276; to get the same with Virgin Holidays, I would have to pay an extra £50 to upgrade from compact to intermediate and £336 for insurance.

The other option would be to take the Virgin car but buy the insurance elsewhere (£100), and just pay the tax and airport fees when you pick up the car (about £100, I think). This might be a touch cheaper than £276, but I don't think by much.)

Bobsworlduk

koru wrote:

It has probably been said before, but if you just want flights, check out fly-drive prices (and just don't use the car).

I'm planning two weeks in Orlando next Feb, for me, wife and 2 kids. Cheapest Virgin flights I can find (Airline Network): £1762, including tax and surcharge.

But according to the Virgin Holidays website a fly-drive holiday would be £1387. That definitely includes surcharge and I assume taxes. So, by agreeing to have a rental car (which I won't use), I will pay a quarter less!

(That price is based on the cheapest rental car. I won't use the car, because Virgin charge rip-off prices for the insurance on the car. With Airline Network, I can rent an intermediate car, including all insurance and an extra driver, is £276; to get the same with Virgin Holidays, I would have to pay an extra £50 to upgrade from compact to intermediate and £336 for insurance.

The other option would be to take the Virgin car but buy the insurance elsewhere (£100), and just pay the tax and airport fees when you pick up the car (about £100, I think). This might be a touch cheaper than £276, but I don't think by much.)

There are a lot more cheaper and better options than Virgin.

koru

Bobsworlduk wrote:

There are a lot more cheaper and better options than Virgin.

To be cheaper for direct flights to Orlando you must mean a charter. BA are much the same price as Virgin. Personally, I have never had a pleasant charter flight, so I'm not willing to take a chance on them. Virgin are among the best flights I have had. But of course YMMV.

Murphy_The_Cat

koru wrote:

To be cheaper for direct flights to Orlando you must mean a charter. BA are much the same price as Virgin. Personally, I have never had a pleasant charter flight, so I'm not willing to take a chance on them. Virgin are among the best flights I have had. But of course YMMV.

I'd rather have piles than take a charter flight again.

MTC

p.s. what does YMMV mean ?

koru

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

I'd rather have piles than take a charter flight again.

MTC

p.s. what does YMMV mean ?

Your mileage may vary.

Bobsworlduk

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

I'd rather have piles than take a charter flight again.

MTC

p.s. what does YMMV mean ?

Have you had a look at the new First Choice product. It compares favourably with the scheduled airlines.

The premium economy packages on most charters are also worth looking at, most of the time they come in at less than the Virgin economy fares.

37 days until we fly MyTravel Premiar Gold

Murphy_The_Cat

Bobsworlduk wrote:

Have you had a look at the new First Choice product. It compares favourably with the scheduled airlines.

The premium economy packages on most charters are also worth looking at, most of the time they come in at less than the Virgin economy fares.

37 days until we fly MyTravel Premiar Gold

Hi BobsworldUk

I've looked at it, but regardless of my distaste of Charter flights, it does not go to where I want to be in Florida, it doesn't fly on the days that I want to fly, has a paltry baggage allowance and it is several hundred pounds dearer than flying with AA. If I upgraded to Premium Seating - which would take the cost of the flight to double the price of AA.

But i have had to many absolutely pants/rubbish/poor/crappy experiences with Charter airlines to ever risk ruining my holiday by flying with one of them again. I'm 6ft 3in tall, big with it, and the thought of flying long haul with me doing an impression of a veal calf leaves me cold.

I'd rather not go.

MTC

BTW, Koru's price of £1387 for 2 adults & 2 children incl a car isn't to shabby - especially if you insure the car independantly. The figure £99 for a years car hire insurance keeps getting passed around. Mabye upgrade to a bigger car, take out the insurance with the specialist guys and you're quids in.