Florida Travel Guide - Getting There

From London to Miami is 8 hours 10 minutes, and from New York is 2 hours 40 minutes. From London to Orlando is 9 hours, and from New York is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Miami International Airport (MIA) (website: www.miami-airport.com) is 9km (6 miles) west of Miami (journey time - 25 minutes). To/from airport: There is a 24-hour shuttle service to the central bus station and hotels on request. Public buses are also available to the city. Taxi, van and limousine services are also available; fares are fixed. Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222, in the USA only; website: www.greyhound.com) runs daily services throughout the Florida Keys and to destinations in the north. Facilities: ATMs, car hire and currency exchange.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) (website: www.tampaairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) northwest of Tampa (journey time - 15 minutes). To/from the airport: A bus service runs into the city; limousine and taxi services are also available. Facilities: ATMs, car hire and currency exchange.

Orlando International (OIA) (website: www.state.fl.us/goaa) is 15km (9 miles) south of Orlando (journey time - 15 minutes). To/from the airport: There is a 24-hour shuttle service available to any hotel in Orlando. Coach, bus, taxi and limousine services are available. Facilities: ATMs, car hire and currency exchange.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) (website: www.fll.net) is 8km (5 miles) from Fort Lauderdale (journey time - 10 minutes). To/from to airport: Limousines, taxis and bus services are available, with rail connections to the surrounding counties. Facilities: ATMs, car hire and currency exchange.

St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) (website: www.fly2pie.com). To/from to airport: Limousines, taxis and bus services are available. Facilities: ATMs and car hire.

Main ports: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Port of Palm Beach, St Petersburg and Tampa. Information can be found at www.flaports.org.

The port of Miami has been called the ‘Cruise Capital of the World' and offers ocean liners for business meetings, weekend getaways and extended luxury cruises. The port of Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, is the second most important cruise port in Florida. Other cruise ports on the east coast include Port Canaveral and Port of Palm Beach. The main west coast cruise ports include St Petersburg and Tampa. Numerous major cruise lines call at Florida's ports.

Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245, in the USA only; website: www.amtrak.com) is the rail service provider. Amtrak's Miami Station is 11km (7 miles) northwest of the city centre. It is the southernmost point on the network, marking the southern end of the main east coast line from New York (and ultimately Boston). Amtrak also serves Jacksonville, with services running through Orlando to Tampa (a branch line terminates at Sarasota, a few miles south of Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico), and west through Pensacola.

The best major routes through Florida are: Daytona Beach to St Petersburg (I-4), Jacksonville to the Alabama border (I-10), St Petersburg to Tampa (I-275), the lower West Coast to Fort Lauderdale (I-75), the North-South highway (I-95) or (I-75) and the East-West cross-state highway from Clearwater to Vero Beach (State 60). Florida's Turnpike is a 723km (449 mile) system of limited-access toll highways, which passes through 11 counties from north Miami to a junction with I-75 in north central Florida. Most roads are excellent throughout the state.

Approximate driving times:
From Orlando to Fort Lauderdale is 4 hours 30 minutes, to Key West is 8 hours 45 minutes, and to St Petersburg is 2 hours 30 minutes. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits.

Approximate Greyhound travel times:
From Miami to Jacksonville is 11 hours 15 minutes, to Tampa is 8 hours 15 minutes, and to Tallahassee is 14 hours.

Miami's transport system includes an elevated Metrorail system running a north-south route through the city (website: www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/metrorail.asp). The Downtown Metromover combines the fun of a theme park with the convenience of above-street-level travel. Metrobuses operate frequently through most areas of Greater Miami. Fares are moderate and transfers are available. Taxis can be expensive in the Miami area; you can usually hail them but delays may be encountered at rush hours. Taxis can also be booked by telephone.

Most major car hire and camper van hire firms have offices at the airport or in central Miami. Many provide a drop-off service in other parts of the state. Major hotels can often arrange immediate car hire. Road signs marked with an orange sun on a blue background indicate routes to major tourist attractions.