Transport from Sanford to International drive

[Toon86]

Hi

I am flying into Sanford and I will be staying at the Quality Inn PLaza on International Drive.
I am not hiring a car.
Is there a bus service/shuttle from Sanford to International Drive for a reasonable price?

Also I beleieve that the Qulaity Inn Plaza has curtesy travel to Sea World and Universal but charges $17 to go to Disney. Does this seem quite a high price or am I being a cheapskate? (thinking about 5/6 days at Disney and there are 3 of us at $17 each works out at over $300 during our stay!)

Thanks for your help

Peter

[irenemac]

http://www.orlandosanfordairport.com/taxi_limo_shuttle.asp

Check out the above link for all info on transport from Sanford

[Susan Veness]

Hi Toon86.

You aren't being a cheapskate. Quality Inn charges $15 round trip per-person, which is a LOT. Mears is $16 per adult, free for 3 and under. You'd be better off hiring a car!

Alternatively, you could take the I-Ride Trolley to SeaWorld, then get the Lynx bus to Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center, then take a Disney bus to your park of choice. It would cost far less, but take MUCH more time.

[Mr Orlando]

hi there, if it is possible - get a hire car - much easier than messing around with busses and taxis.

[Tiggers Friend]

I agree with Susan and Mr O. Don't be put off by the idea of driving - it's quite easy in Florida and a car gives you loads of flexibility. See other posts on this forum for info on driving. :)

http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2976&highlight=driving+tips

[Simon Veness]

Of course, if you do decide you don't want to drive (we understand it can be a bit daunting and/or expensive for some), there are several shuttle services you can use from Sanford Airport to I-Drive, and it will cost around $50 per person round trip. Mears Transportation are the biggest operator in the Orlando area but there are several others from Sanford, including Orlando Carriers Inc. You can look them up for a quote on mearstransportation.com and orlandocarriers.com.

[Toon86]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I was in Orlando a few years ago and I did hire a car. Driving is pretty easy when you've got an automatic and it doesn't bother at all me to drive in USA. However, we are staying on International Drive and eating places are all within walking distance. Transport to Universal, Seas World is free from the Quality Inn Plaza and there's a shuttle bus to Busch Gardens. So it's just really WDW and the transfer to and from Sanford. I will be doing that on my own because I am meeting my brother and his son at the hotel cause they are travelling separately.

I was thinking that car hire will be a bit expensive for the use it will get (i.e. Sanford to International Drive and then 4/5 days to disney - and the charges for the disney carpark). Unless it is a lot cheaper than I imagined? (I was thinking it would cost £300 - £350 for 2 weeks including all charges).

[Simon Veness]

I've just done a quick check on 2 weeks in July on our special discounted Brit's Guide rate with Alamo, and a basic car comes up at around $385 (or 195 quid at today's exchange rate). Does that sound more attractive? Petrol is currently around $3 a gallon, so you can count on another $40-$60 in fuel costs, but you could easily spend $400 on airport transfers (from Sanford), plus a few cabs and other shuttles in the space of 2 weeks, and having a car obviously cuts out the hanging around for shuttles, etc, and gives you the freedom to come and go as you please :)

[Toon86]

Thanks Simon

Does that price include all the necessary (and recommended) insurances and taxes etc.?

BTW - I have just got a copy of your Brits Guide to Orland and I think it is fantastic. What a massive amount of information. I don't go until 24 May but I think that it will take me at least that long to read it! Many thanks to you and Susan.

You mentioned a Brit's Guide rate with Alamo. How do I get that?

[Simon Veness]

You can either go their dedicated BG website at "www.alamo.co.uk/brits" or simply call on 0870 400 4571. All their rates are fully inclusive of the main insurances and taxes.

[Tiggers Friend]

We've used Alamo for the last three or four trips and found them to be excellent. :D

[Mr Orlando]

try skycars.com I use them and they use Alamo.

Alamo are great -- you can pick your own car from a selection of cars. Fantastic.