Fly Drives!

Mrs_P_10

Hi all, I want to do a fly drive to New Orleans and Florida Panhandle in late Sept with my husband. Can anyone offer any advice of the best (& cheapest!) way to do this?

Also, I've read lots of reports that the are hurricanes and bad weather conditions in late Sept. so would this not be a wise time to visit?

Thanks

Mrs P

aerostar

You might like to look at

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004atlan.shtml?

and

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2438.htm


If I go to Florida, I go any time mid to end of November/1st week December - cheap flights and motels and no hurricanes, or any time from january to April/May, avoid the UK halfterms and Easter hols.

Robert5988

Nearly all the cheap fly/drives go into Orlando(Sanford) and are normally for a fixed 2 weeks - althogh some odd dates are available. They normally 'sting' you for excessive car insurance. That said in late Sept there are some very cheap last minute deals. Sanford is an easy day's drive from the Panhandle.

Scheduled flights vary greatly in price depending on destination and airline, there is no easy answer on cheapest way to fly - you need to check all the airline websites as well as Expedia/Opodo etc. You are probably better to hire your car separately from a UK agency.

As for hurricanes. Last year was the worst in living memory and although there was masses of damage there were virtually no casualties - and most injuries were to those who ignored official warnings to evacuate.

The storms are tracked and those in an affected areas are given several days notice to move out. For tourists staying in an affected area it is nothing more than an inconvienience. It really is not a factor in my opinion.

Finishrich

Mrs_P wrote:

Hi all, I want to do a fly drive to New Orleans and Florida Panhandle in late Sept with my husband. Can anyone offer any advice of the best (& cheapest!) way to do this?

Also, I've read lots of reports that the are hurricanes and bad weather conditions in late Sept. so would this not be a wise time to visit?

Thanks

Mrs P

The link that aerostar posted gives details of the hurricanes last year. We were there during Hurricane Jeane at the end of September. 3 others Hurricanes hit florida before that last year. What we experience wouldn't put me off going at that time again. Basically the storm just brewed up around us Saturday evening , it passed through around 4am Sunday morning, when it chucked in down with rain and the wind howled. Uprouted a few new trees, knocked out some power lines (but not where we were) and knocked down some taffic lights. There was a curfew in place to stop people from going out onto the streets. But on Monday morning the sun was shining and there wasn't a breath of wind. Which for me was the strangest thing. At home you're used to bad weather in the winter when it blows a gale and rains for days, and you never see the sun!

skr80ab

we got October flights with delta (via expedia) for £220 lgw / atlanta for an 16 day stay. Aim to see gracelands, before heading down thru louisiana to Orleans, then round to Florida area (still trying to figure out if theres a good beach other than St petes for that bit)

Car hire varies so suggest read thru the usa thread to see who is currently offering best deal

Baz-Bee

New Orleans is a relatively easy drive from Atlanta or Houston. Be careful as from the UK only Delta fly direct to Atlanta. If you hub through another aiport then you will normally arrive in the evening US time. Do not try and drive to New Orleans if you do not fly direct as you will be tired and do not want to have an accident.

Gracelands is worth a visit but is not really in the right direction for either New Orleans or the Florida Panhandle. It would add at least 2 days on to your itinerary.