NY, Miami & Bahamas

YoungBaker

Me and my OH have worked hard and got ourselves through uni and both working in good, full time jobs. Got married this year and got our first house.

Whilst we have done all this, we have managed to go some nice holidays but nothing in the US yet and not a big holiday. It is one of our dreams to go to NY and down to Miami.

We have started planning for next year and are about to book flights for our following plans, and would appreciate any thoughts you have:

- Flying to NY and staying for 4/5 nights
- Travelling down to Miami (Possibly stop at Orlando)
- Stay in Miamia (South Beach I think) for 5 or 6 nights
- Go on one of the many cruises around the bahamas (Have seen a lot of these online which are running in July 2014 and are only like $120 per person? Any experiences)
- 1 or 2 final nights in Fort Lauderdale / Miami
Fly back from Fort Lauderdale


Would appreciate any advice, feedback, experiences before we book. thanks

NiftyDigits

Shame that you recently missed a good deal for next year. We are doing a similar trip, but with Rio de Janeiro thrown in for good measure. Over the Carnival period too. Just over£500 all in.
Will send you a PM if it comes up again.

YoungBaker

Where was that deal from and what did it include?

NiftyDigits

Flights. What did you think?

BA/TAM/AA from what I remember.

Miami/NY/Rio.

YoungBaker

ah right

We are planning on flying lon - ny, then mia - lon back the way

not quite planned for definite how we are getting from ny - lon yet! Considered driving with a stop in between / train / flight. Main thing is getting the outward and backwards flights booked for now I think!

KarenG

YoungBaker wrote: »

ah right

We are planning on flying lon - ny, then mia - lon back the way

not quite planned for definite how we are getting from ny - lon yet! Considered driving with a stop in between / train / flight. Main thing is getting the outward and backwards flights booked for now I think!

Why would you not book the flight from NYC to MIA (I assume that's what you meant) at the same time? It should not cost any extra, will give you a free bag allowance (equal to your transatlantic allowance)?

Use the multi city option on any carrier.

It's a heck of a long drive from NYC to FL, and the train journey is long as well. Flight will be two and a half hours or so. Unless you have a really long holiday I'd just fly and get there in short order.

NiftyDigits

This was the deal: http://www.holidaypirates.com/flights/round-trip-flights-madrid-miami-rio-de-janeiro-new-york-city-madrid-for-only-eur495

You could fly from other cities than Madrid.

Archergirl

How long are you planning to go for?

vegasvisitor

I definitely wouldn't drive from NY to Miami!! You also probably don't need a car in Miami.

While Miami was nice out at South Beach, I wasn't very keen on the other areas. We stayed downtown and went on a cruise from there (with Carnival, who are a good fun cruise line). Personally I preferred Fort Lauderdale, and also Tampa area (St Pete's downtown and St Pete's beach are nice). For someone younger though Miami might be better. I really don't think you want to be driving though to be honest...there's no-where to park and hotels charge a fortune for parking too.

You should be able to fly with Delta to Florida via NY. That's what we did and had a stop at NY on the way back.

July will be hot and sticky in NY, and probably worse in Florida. It is also hurricane season. Do you have to go in July? Wouldn't be my choice for a July holiday, but perhaps others can advise on the weather.

I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you decide

NiftyDigits

lesley74 wrote: »

I definitely wouldn't drive from NY to Miami!! You also probably don't need a car in Miami.

While Miami was nice out at South Beach, I wasn't very keen on the other areas. We stayed downtown and went on a cruise from there (with Carnival, who are a good fun cruise line). Personally I preferred Fort Lauderdale, and also Tampa area (St Pete's downtown and St Pete's beach are nice). For someone younger though Miami might be better. I really don't think you want to be driving though to be honest...there's no-where to park and hotels charge a fortune for parking too.

You should be able to fly with Delta to Florida via NY. That's what we did and had a stop at NY on the way back.

July will be hot and sticky in NY, and probably worse in Florida. It is also hurricane season. Do you have to go in July? Wouldn't be my choice for a July holiday, but perhaps others can advise on the weather.

I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you decide

Huh? What? Really? Seems I need to look into this

Backbiter

lesley74 wrote: »

You should be able to fly with Delta to Florida via NY. That's what we did and had a stop at NY on the way back.

July will be hot and sticky in NY, and probably worse in Florida. It is also hurricane season. Do you have to go in July? Wouldn't be my choice for a July holiday, but perhaps others can advise on the weather.

I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you decide

It's very hot and humid in July, but I think the hurricane season is more August - October:
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/caribbeanfamilyvacations/qt/hurricane_seaso.htm

I'd also be amazed if you can find a July cruise for $120pp, although they do do 3-night cruises. There are still some great deals, though, so it's worth looking into.

As said above, the multi-city flight option (LON>NYC>MIA>LON) is the way to go nad can be booked easily online. This summer we flew LON>WASHINGTON>MIA>LON, and it was cheaper than return flights to MIA (with United, who we were very happy with). A mate did LON>SFO,>LA, then Vegas back to London, for less than return flights to Vegas. Also with United. Flights found on Kayak.