Reliable Ride
 

Mrs Fox and I have to get to MCO for an 8am flight

Normally we would use Workman/Groome/Village Vans but their timings don't work well early morning so we would like to use a ride service (we don't want to rent a car). The one we have used in the past no longer operates, but we have seen the following recommended on TOTV recently:

Creative Concierge, DrivenbyScott, Capri Transportation, Safe & Secure Transportation, Victoria car service.

Any other recommendations before we start calling for quotes and availability?

Thank you

I've found that it's often less expensive and always much more convenient to drive myself and park in the garage at the airport.

Even if it's a bit more, the convenience of being able to get into your car and drive home as opposed to trying to find the van or car service and then waiting for other customers on later flights and then making several stops on the way to your house is well worth a few extra bucks.

Of course if you're going to be away for a long time it doesn't work.

The same thing happened to me on my last trip and I used Dave’s Transportation 3522234696 who was highly recommended in Nextdoor and I was very pleased

Joe Byers 352-391-2894

I know Creative and Capri are licensed and commercially insured, but the last two you named, heard from neighbors that they don't have the required commercial insurance so be careful whom you choose there.

We've used Joe Byers several times; prompt and courteous.

Assuming 2 people, it is generally lower cost to drive yourself and pay for parking if you are going to be away for up to 2 weeks. This is based on assuming $200 roundtrip for two for a ride and about $9 per day for parking plus mileage and tolls.

Second Joe.

If you're worried about parking you can go to way.com and often it is as low as $3 a day

To all the other commentators and readers, a lot of people don't like driving on the turnpike or the highways themselves anymore so they need a driver

I have always found to be more convenient to drive to MCO and avoid the scheduling of a carrier. For me, the worst part of a door-to-door service is that I am usually the last one to be dropped off and that adds another 30 minutes to the ride. There are several long term parking lots that will cost less than the $200 round trip of a transportation carrier. If I am going to be away for more than 10-days or so, I rent a car and drive. I'm sure prices are higher now but the rental used to cost about $100 each way but it is worth the convenience.

We’ve used Creative Concierge a couple of time and were very pleased with their service. Picked up at home on time and pickup at airport for return was very efficient. Very comfortable ride.

Roads to Orlando Airport
 

There is a way - easy but slow - to get to Orlando Airport from The Villages without driving on a turnpike or highway.

You *never* need to turn off once you are on Hwy 441, though you watch for a fork. You go straight to the airport - no turns to watch for, just one fork in the road to watch for.

Take 441 until you are south of Apopka - take the left fork, which goes uphill. This is highway 436 - it is labeled before the fork. Hwy 436 will take you straight to Orlando Airport.

(It is assumed you will stay on 441 at the point Hwy 27 forks off to the right in Leesburg.)

I am in the north Villages so this is almost 2 hours for me, but the extra 45 minutes or so can save a lot of money on car services. Few live as far north as I do, so the time will be less for them.

I promise this is an easy route where you only have to take the one fork and you go straight to the airport.

Uber or Lyft. You pay per trip vs. per person so for 1 its more expensive but for 2 people its a wash. About $70 one way plus tip.

There are also hotels that have a stay, park and fly option. If you google it, several will pop up. You do have to pay for the hotel room the night before, but with such and early flight, your wake up time will be later. You leave your car in the hotel parking lot, take their airport shuttle, and use it when you return. Have a good trip.