Looking for Suggestions for Traveling from The Villages to Fort Lauderdale/Miami
 

Hi All, A friend will be visiting me next month flying in from the Northeast. From here she would like to go to Ft. Lauderdale/Miami to visit family. Does anyone have experience or knowledge of the best mode of transportation? Options we discussed were car service, bus, rental car and Uber. She understands cost will be high. Many thanks for your suggestions/advice/recommendations.

I would think a rental car would be the easiest and cheapest way to go.

Fly,then rent a car.

Take Amtrak.

Would you get it in Sanford?

Just heard rental car prices are sky high because rental agencies sold off most of their inventory because of Covid and now demand is high and their inventory is very low. Don’t assume prices will be reasonable.

You will need to contact Amtrak, but there was a "terminal" in Wildwood for a while, it was actually a bus that took you to the closest Amtrak station. Not sure if this is still available.

I just did a check on this - you can rent a car from the Orlando airport, standard size car (VW Jetta, Camry, or similar) at Budget for around $500 for 7 days, starting May 9 at noon and ending May 15 at noon. If you pay online in advance you save $20. The same is true for Alamo. Thrifty is the same if you pay at the counter, but you save $40 if you pay in advance.

So it's definitely more expensive now than it was the last time I rented a car, but it's less grueling, and you have much more freedom to come and go as you please, if you rent. If you take Amtrack you're at the mercy of their scheduling, plus once you get to your destination station, you still need some way to get around.

Try cruise connections.travel which has regular buses daily to both destinations from The Villages, and you could take a local cab from the teeminal when you get there. Rates very reasonable for return trips or one way.

Just rented a car from Budget in Leesburg, dropped off at Miami Airport for $59. Paid $13 tolls and $36 gas. Great drive on Florida Turnpike.

Looks like its still available.
https://www.amtrak.com/stations/wwd

I travel between lauderdale and the villages quite often. Easiest and cheapest is Red Coach bus. They even have pick up spots in Ocala and another just 15 min north of where Nancy Lopez is, or 2 locations near orlando airport. They are new, clean, comfy, and have wifi. Drop off can ge right at lauderdale airport. Costs are from $39 to $89 depending on class but all are fine. I’ve also looked for good rates on SW airlines and flown as low as $49.

CAPRI Transportation service. Based in The Villages. 353-268-2609
Ask for David A.
352-268-2742

And ask for David A.

Rent a car
 

..
She should rent a car..
Its close to a 4 hour drive or more depending on where she is going