visiting

[jmemc46]

Hello Everyone,
Could anyone tell me what airport is the best to fly into when going to the villages.
Thank You:coolsmiley:

[Kelsie52]

Orlando is closest ---about 55 minutes away :beer3:

[jmemc46]

Thank you for the info. i am coming in June. can't wait.
:clap2:

[elevatorman]

Orlando is the closest and it has TV Shuttle Service. Tampa is a bit further, maybe 10 miles and is less crowded. Sanford-Orlando has limited flights to regional airports mostly on the east coast. Sanford is very small and is easy to get in and out of. It is a bit more of a drive but we use it if we can. Rental cars at all airports as well as in TV.:wave:

[DougR]

Yeah, Orlando is the closest of the major airports. Remember, Disney is there and is a childs favorite vacation spot. So prepare yourself for alot of little kids on the plane. I made the mistake of selecting an aisle seat and the kids next to me wanted to get up and use the restroom every 20 minutes. That particular Continental flight from Cleveland was like a kindergarden room. LOL.
Tampa airport is alittle farther from TV and seems to be more expensive from Cleveland. :blahblahblah:

[villager964]

Orlando is fine, but there is a lot of construction on Florida's Turnpike right now. And the Turnpike is a toll road (we have a Sunpass).

Tampa has a little construction close to the airport too. No turnpikes to Tampa, just Interstate the whole way.

Just posted this since someone else hasn't mentioned it.

[Kelsie52]

We are coming back in June also ----I did say Orlando is closest but we have been there twice before but coming from NY --Tampa flights are a little less full --either one is fine but we also found rental cars cheaper in Tampa --

good luck I am sure you will love it in TV --:pepper2:

[Yoda]

Orlando is closest ---about 55 minutes away :beer3:

Please tell us your route of travel. It takes me 90 min.

Yoda

[Kelsie52]

Please tell us your route of travel. It takes me 90 min.

Yoda


Yoda --I beg your forgiveness :22yikes::mornincoffee:--I meant to say its 55 miles away --not minutes--- 90 minutes is about correct ---give a take a few ---

[swrinfla]

People have forgotten that Gainesville is also an option, roughly as far from TV as either Orlando and Tampa. Biggest problem is lack of flights. They're served only by Delta Connection/Atlantic Southeast Airlines and USAirways/PSA Airlines and will all be small planes.

But, it is an option!

SWR
:beer3:

[ijusluvit]

Tampa or Orlando? During non-peak traffic hours, Tampa is just a few minutes and miles further. However, because of road conditions on I-75 and 275, I find the drive to Tampa safer and much less stressful. It is cheaper because there are no tolls. Now that construction is complete, the Tampa airport is easier to enter and exit.
There is only one major route to the Orlando airport and there can be major delays caused by accidents, construction and rush hours. If you are faced with a possible delay, Tampa has an excellent option, the Veterans Parkway, an under-used toll road (only $2), which goes directly to the airport from an I-75 exit well north of the heaviest traffic areas.

[DougR]

...Tampa has an excellent option, the Veterans Parkway, an under-used toll road (only $2), which goes directly to the airport from an I-75 exit well north of the heaviest traffic areas.

Hi luvit,
I took a look at mapquest and saw that the Veterans Expressway goes north right from the airport. But it appears that it does not connect directly with
I75. What route do you use to travel between the two and pay only $2 toll on the Expy? I will seriously investigate this as an alternative to Orlando, especially since someone here said that car rentals in Tampa seem to be less expensive than Orlando. Also, I'll have to look into the Gainsville connection for flights between there and Cleveland or Akron. Thanks for all the good info here! :beer3:

[Hawkwind]

DougR

Look into Air Tran out of Akron Canton as they have a number of flights into Orlando. Most stop in Atlanta but there are a few non stops and you have a much easier time going through CAk over Hopkins. Another thing the rates may be a lot lower that flying out of Hopkins.

Also Air Tran does not fly into Gainsville.

[DougR]

DougR

Look into Air Tran out of Akron Canton as they have a number of flights into Orlando. Most stop in Atlanta but there are a few non stops and you have a much easier time going through CAk over Hopkins. Another thing the rates may be a lot lower that flying out of Hopkins.

Also Air Tran does not fly into Gainsville.

Yep, we have an Air Tran flight from CAK to ATL to MCO in July. Great cost at $99 per seat going there and $79 back to CAK. I'm still investigating options for getting to TV from MCO.
Thanks.

[ijusluvit]

Hwy 589, Veterans Parkway starts at the Tampa airport and heads north. Exit at Hwy 54 and go east about 14 miles to I-75. Hwy 54 is a divided highway with some intersections, but even at 5:00 one weekday afternoon I averaged 40-50 mph for the whole stretch. On that occasion I came into Tampa on I-275. Traffic was moving, but slow, but in the northbound lane it was backed up for a couple of miles due to an accident. I knew I would get caught in this delay on my way back, so I took Veterans instead. It added about 10 minutes to my entire trip. My best recollection is 3 toll booths: .50, .50 & $1. On another occasion I was approaching the junction of I-75 and I-275 on my way to the airport. Suddenly the traffic slowed and I decided to get off I-75 at exit 275. It leads to Hwy 54 and Veterans. Again, smooth sailing all the way to the airport. (Note that Exit 275 from I-75 is NOT I-275, which splits from I-75 just a mile or two south of exit 275). My advice is that you thoroughly familiarize yourself with where each route is so that you can concentrate on the traffic conditions and make a last minute decision depending on the situation.

[DougR]

Thanks luvit,
I will certainly take your advise and give this a try in future Villages trips. It sure sounds less stressful than getting hungup in Orlando construction delays.

[jojo]

Major vote here for Orlando. I fly every week and have never had a delay getting to the airport. I go to the Sarasota area fairly frequently and always have rush hour backups in the Tampa area. Usually make it to the Orlando airport in 75 or 80 minutes.

[Barefoot]

If you drive, the possibilities are endless.

If you don't drive, (and many seniors don't care to drive), I recommend Orlando Airport and The Villages Shuttle Service. One reason we decided to buy in The Villages was the wonderful option of using The Villages Shuttle, quite economical.

[JohnN]

Interesting, everyone has an opinion. Try different ways , maybe they're all about the same.

Tampa is a rough ride, you go all the way through town. During rush hour (or near it) and you're toast.

I find Orlando pretty easy. 528 beeline out of the airport to I-4, I-4 north couple miles to the Florida Turnpike (yes it's toll) to highway 27, and 27 north to TV. Takes an hour flat.

I prefer driving if it's a day or less drive (mine is, though I've flowin many times at the start). No car rental, no airport hassles.

Safe travels.

[jmemc46]

I just want to thank everyone for the great info.
We found a great price of $190. direct flight round trip from Boston to Orlando. We are going to be taking the villages shuttle so we don't have to worry about the drive.
We are coming on June 2 can't wait. Staying in Duval.:pe
Thank You All Again,
Jmemc
:pepper2::pepper2::pepper2:

[elevatorman]

We once had a flight out of Sanford at 5:30. We did not know exactly how to get to the airport. After driving around we found it at 5:15. Parked and ran to the door. By 5:25 we were through TSA and at the gate. We were the last to board but we got on. It sounds to good to be true but it is true, 15 min. from parking lot to plane.

[BlueHeronFan]

From experience when booking, for me Orlando has always been most convienent due to the number of flights per day, which also has been the cheapest because of that number. Orlando is considered a destination area. I tried booking Gainsville, and Tampa in the past, and Orlando always had better fares/flights...way better.

[villagerjack]

Alternate is the Villages Airport Yellow Cab 352 /241-2000 it is door to door from airport and is $35.00 per person. No need to take a taxi from town.