Best Price
 

Hi everyone,

I will be planning to make a lifestyle visiting during the summer months (June-Sep). Which is the better airport to fly into at that time - Tampa or Orlando?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Both are good airports but a bit longer from Tampa to TV. Check prices into both. They can vary substantially. Traffic to MCO from TV has been awful due to construction on the Florida TPK. I-75 from Tampa is usually open and moves quickly. Enjoy your visit! Watch out or you may buy a home like we did 10 years ago on our visit!

Orlando airport has hour and 1/2 bus service to villages, plus it closer to villages. I read where they was going to start service to Tampa airport, but have no other information? Stanford not quick trip to villages but, they have more non stop fights to and from off routes. If plan on renting car at airport Orlando easiest to and from villages. Tampa further and more traffic, Stanford kind of close but no direct route by interstate. Either got to cross country or down to Orlando and up to Stanford which takes through heavy traffic on 408 and I4 north.

Thanks to everyone that pointed out Groome now offers the shuttle between Tampa and the Villages, that wasn’t available last time I booked a trip. It’s great to have options, will be checking that out versus Orlando in the future. One question, I have heard the traffic to/from Tampa can be a hassle. Are there certain times Tampa should be avoided?

I would highly recommend Groome to and from the airport of your choosing. I believe a lifestyle visit still includes 2 bicycles and a golf cart. This is a great way to get to know what is like to live here. You can easily stay a week and never need a car, and if you do feel the need, use uber or Lyft for a one or two off trips. Have fun

Actually, I hear on the radio there is a shuttle from TV to TPA now!

Groome now offers service to Tampa

I live near Eastport and fly multiple times per month for work. MCO is my first choice with TPA being my second. MCO is about an hour from me and TPA 1.5. There are traffic risks for both of them. For Orlando, try not to fly and land during morning or after work traffic, and the same goes for Tampa. Other than that, pick your best flight options and prices. Both airports are fairly easy to navigate. Good luck.

I live near Eastport and fly multiple times per month for work. MCO is my first choice with TPA being my second. MCO is about an hour from me and TPA 1.5. There are traffic risks for both of them. For Orlando, try not to fly and land during morning or after work traffic, and the same goes for Tampa. Other than that, pick your best flight options and prices. Both airports are fairly easy to navigate. Good luck.

Orlando

Orlando is a nightmare. Inside with people and outside with cars …….

Any airport is like that anymore. Flying is not fun. It’s a chance you take on what time of the day you fly. Certainly summers and holidays are the worst. Been flying out of Orlando for 22 years, no problems.

Disney Families
 

Everyone loves their children/grandchildren, but not those of others. If you don't want to listen to some inane video game or movie or have the back of your seat constantly being kicked, you need to be very observant when selecting a seat on planes with "open" seating when flying in/out of Orlando.

As a frequent flyer on these airlines, usually Southwest, but going all the way back to PSA in California in the 1960's, I had a habit of asking the first cabinet attendant I would encounter about the number of passengers in the hope of caging a row with an open seat.

On my first flight out of Orlando, I asked this of the attendant. She gave me a look as if she was seeing an alien life form and answered: "Sir, we are flying FROM Orlando. EVERY seat is filled and half of them with passengers under the age of 10!

I laughed all the way to my seat.

I prefer Orlando. It is quicker with easy on/off of the Turnpike and 4. Tampa is a parking lot around the airport as traffic comes to a crawl and it is not a friendly longer-term parking area either.

For Tampa, during rush hours to avoid city traffic try exiting 75 @ 52 to Suncoast Pky (589).