[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by EnglishJW

We are in Watchung but have lots of family in both Point Pleasant and Brick. Do you fly or drive or both? If you fly, is it always to Orlando? We will be visiting for the first time but traveling (flying) through Tampa to see relatives in Clearwater. Are there better/worse times to fly from NJ to FL? Have you ever flown from PA?

Thanks.

We drive since we are both retired, have been doing the trip for years to visit family and Disney and we enjoy a leisurely trip looking for all the things that change from year to year. We now have family in each of the Carolinas so we have added overnights there, too! Neither of us enjoys flying and will likely hop aboard Amtrak if the driving ever gets to be a burden.

Our NJ snowbird friends always fly - from Atlantic City on Spirit airlines because of the low, low rates they can get with some $9 club that Spirit has - only goes into Orlando or West Palm Beach. Both couples have golf carts and one has a car, so transportation once they are shuttled here from the airport there is no transportation issue.

Best time to fly here - whenever the rate is low enough. Worst time to fly here - holidays, spring break and NJ teacher convention week! Fares are highest and deals are not as easy to find - requires flexibility!

Only one friend ever flew from PA - Southwest out of Philadelphia. Good flight but one needs to be familiar with the '3 line boarding procedure' if SW is still using that.

What with where you live, my guess is that Newark is your easiest airport and Jet Blue the airline. I'd suggest you look into what JB might offer for a frequent flyer program. We also have friends that have been known to take the train into Newark and then hop the train that stops at the airport - they then ride the tram to the terminal. Takes as much time to do that as the flight takes! I don't include that as a travel suggestion unless one is looking for a different kind of adventure! Of course, another adventure if one wanted to use Atlantic City airport would be to book a hotel room the nite before one's flight and the night of one's arrival - more fun than taking the train to Newark I'd say! But I do believe the cost of long-term parking @ the A C airport has increased quite a bit since our friends bought here 8 yrs ago.