Transport

Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport is the primary airport serving the Miami area eight miles northwest of Downtown Miami. Miami International Airport is also one of only eight U.S. airports to accommodate the Airbus A380 jumbo jet, and is the largest U.S. gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean. Over 44 million passengers travelled through the airport in 2016.

Fun Facts:

• Did you know Miami International Airport has Burrowing Owls, which are a protected species, living on the airfield?
• The airport uses 18,736 gallons of soap each year which is enough soap to fill a swimming pool!
• The airport provides one out of every 4.1 jobs locally.

Orlando International Airport

Orlando Airport is an international airport six miles southeast of Orlando, Florida. It has over 120 shops and restaurants for you to enjoy and is the 2nd busiest in the state of Florida. As of 2015 over 40.2 million passengers travelled through the airport making it the 14th busiest airport in the U.S.

Fun Facts: Pilots at the airport love their Disney. There are five approach procedures they all follow, called CWRLD ONE, COSTR ONE, PIGLT ONE, MINEE TWO and GOOFY FIVE.

Orlando Sanford International Airport

Orlando Sanford International Airport is in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. This is Orlando area’s secondary commercial airport but it is farther away from downtown Orlando and the major theme parks than the primary airport, Orlando International Airport. As of 2016 over 2.7 million passengers travelled through the airport.

Fun Facts: In 1992, parts of the action film Passenger 57, starring Wesley Snipes were filmed here.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is in both Sarasota County and Manatee County, Florida. The airport is three miles north of Sarasota and six miles south of Bradenton. Much of the airline service occurs during winter and spring because the area is a tourist destination and home for snowbirds during this time.

Fun Facts: The airport dates back to 1939 when local government prominent businessmen from the counties of both Sarasota and Manatee decided to combine forces and a build a joint airport. It was completed in 1941 at the cost of $1 million and used immediately by the US Army during the war.

Southwest Florida International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport has grown to be one of the top 50 airports for passenger traffic in the U.S. and served 8.6 million passengers in 2016. 14 airline partners serve this airport with nonstop service throughout North America and an international service to Canada and Germany. While people are shovelling snow off their driveways elsewhere, Southwest Florida residents and visitors enjoy picturesque golf courses, outdoor activities and experience that best that nature has to offer. Visitors can go from bag claim to beach in under 30 minutes.

Fun Facts: Fort Myers is the midpoint between Miami and Tampa. You can dine and entertain at more than five large shopping complexes and hundreds of restaurants – all within 15 miles of airport. There are nearly 50 miles of world-renowned beaches and more than 150 golf courses. This is currently the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins baseball teams.

Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport is a public airport six miles west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport has 34 restaurants and 45 shops and considers itself as the gateway to the West Coast of Florida. In 2016 the airport ranked 29th amongst U.S. airports and had 18.9 million passengers.

Fun Facts: Did you know portions of Edward Scissorhands, Lethal Weapon III and Oceans 11 were filmed in the Bay area. The highest passenger traffic month was March 2016 (1.9 million) and the lowest was September 2016 (1.2 million).

Car Hire, Sat Navs & More

On this page you can find out more information on hiring a car, using the tolls and more.

Sat Nav Hire – (UK Customers Only)

Sat Nav Hire for 2, 3 or 4 week hire for US, Canada, Mexico, Europe. Also custom dates available if these dates don’t work for you. Cheapest reliable place around at a fraction of the cost of other places and the cheapest on the internet. Includes everything and return postage all for around £16. Car Hire companies charge around £80.

Sat Nav Hire is from burley10_0 at a fraction of company prices - http://www.ebay.co.uk

Here are some useful links:

Car Hire

There are a number of car hire companies out there, such as Alamo, Budget, Dollar, National, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, Europcar and more. Here are some links that you could begin you search with:

Interstates

There are six major roads that connect Florida, these are called Interstates and usually seen together with the number of the road. For example, Interstate 4 is known as the I-4.

They are Interstate 4, 10, 75, 95, 275 and 295.

Road Rules

There are various road rules to follow and these are strictly enforced so make sure you are aware of these if you intend to drive. If you want you can get used to some of the signs before you travel and you can also try out some of the Florida Driving Tests for free online or in the app store on your mobile device to see how you match up..

Driving Tips

• First, please remember to drive on the ‘Right Hand Side’ of the road.
• Driver’s Licence: You do not need an international driving permit to drive in Florida at the moment. See this link for information supplied by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at www.flhsmv.gov/IDP.htm on this. It is up to you and not Florida Sun Direct to ensure you can drive on these roads so please give yourself sufficient time to check before you go. Other than this, you just need a valid driver licence, issued in your name, from your state or country of residence.
• Car Rental: to rent a car you must have your driving licence and passport with a valid credit card. The minimum age for car rental is 21 but some places will charge more for drivers under 25. You can also pick up and drop off at different locations, please check with the company you are hiring from to see if they allow for this and at what cost. Keep your driver licence, proof of insurance, registration or car rental documents with you at all times.
• Speed Limits: These are a guide only. They are posted on the right side of the road, are as follows and subject to change. Some areas even inform you that you are coming into one of these zones up ahead.

  School Zones:	10-20mph.
  Business/Residential Districts:	30mph.
  Other state highways:	60mph
  Four-lane highways:	65mph.
  Interstates:	70mph.
• Right on Red: You may turn right at a red light after coming to a complete stop, unless a sign indicating ‘no right on red’ is posted at the intersection.
• Headlights: Your headlights must be on from dusk to dawn, as well as in fog or rain. Remember to turn off your wipers when stopping at toll booths.
• Move over act: If and when you see any law enforcement vehicles in one of the ‘break-down’ lanes, either assisting a motorist or pulling one over, you MUST move to the far lane away from the police, or slow down to 20 miles per hour below the speed limit. If the speed limit is 20mph or less you MUST slow down to 5mph.
• Seat Belts: You must wear a seat belt in an operating vehicle if you’re the driver of the vehicle, a front seat passenger of any age, or under 18 years old.
• Child Car Seats: EVERY driver in Florida must provide for the protection of any child of 5yrs or younger by using a crash-tested, federally approved car seat. For children up to 3yrs the restraint must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. For children aged 4 to 5yrs, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a booster seat may be used and are usually available from your car rental company.
• Cell/Mobile Phones and Texting: It is illegal to text while driving but there are currently no talking bans on talking on a cell/mobile phone whilst driving. Though we wouldn’t recommend it anyway. Please pay attention.
• Drinking and Driving: Driving while drinking alcohol or while under its influence is illegal. Appoint a ‘designated driver’ in your group who’ll drink only non-alcoholic beverages and drive everyone home safely. Look on the bright side, some places may stamp the designated drivers hand with a ‘Designated Driver’ stamp and they receive free non-alcoholic drinks! Ask the barman.
• Getting real-time traffic information: For detailed traffic information, including traffic incidents and construction, traffic cameras, message boards, and estimated travel times for roadways across Florida, visit http://www.fl511.com. For traffic information on the go, dial 511 on your cell phone.

• About the Turnpike: The Florida Turnpike, known as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, encompasses 483 miles of toll roads that make traveling more efficient because of fewer exits and less traffic. It’s operated by Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation, and is largely paid for by drivers who use it. Toll revenue goes to operate, maintain and expand the Turnpike system. See a map here or use the link at the top.
• Toll Roads in Florida: Some interstate highways have tolls. Besides the Florida Turnpike (Ocala to Homestead), Alligator Alley (1-75 between Miami and Naples) and the Bee Line Expressway (Orlando to Cape Canaveral) also charge tolls. In addition, some coastal islands have bridges at which a fare is charged.
• How much do Florida Tolls Cost: They depend on the section of which toll road you’re driving and how far you're going, but are priced by mile and by the number of vehicle axles. See a toll calculator for the Florida Turnpike here.
• How to pay tolls: Signs will let you know what kind of toll booth is coming up and the toll amount.
• Paying with cash: At cash booths on Florida toll roads, you pay the toll and can get change; at unmanned cash booths, you’ll need exact change in coin.
• Paying with SunPass: If you have a SunPass, it’s scanned by an electronic reader and tolls are deducted from your prepaid account. It discounts tolls about 25 percent and saves substantial time at toll booths.
• Paying by Toll-By-Plate: Where all-electronic tolling is in effect, you can pay by this method. A camera takes a picture of your license plate, and you’re mailed a bill for tolls plus a service charge approximately $2.50.
• Areas that don’t accept cash: These are popping up more and more. The Miami section of the Turnpike and the following locations don’t accept cash:
  • Mid Bay Connector (Destin);
  • Veterans Expressway (Tampa);
  • Selman Expressway (Tampa);
  • Sawgrass Expressway (Ft. Lauderdale).
  
  Hollywood Boulevard (Exit 49) and Griffin Road (Exit 53) in Broward County are also now all electronic. So you need to use SunPass or Toll-By-Plate.
• Paying with a rental car: Most major rental companies have programs allowing customers to use the Toll-By-Plate electronic collection system where tolls and service fees are automatically charged to the credit card used to rent the vehicle.
• Paying with your own SunPass transponder in a rental car: Just let SunPass know the rental car’s license number. Remember to remove the transponder when you return the vehicle!

More about SunPass

SunPass is the prepaid Florida tolls program. To use it you need to buy a SunPass device called a transponder that attaches to the inside of your windshield. When you drive through a SunPass toll plaza, the toll is deducted from your prepaid account.

How much does it cost?
There are two types of SunPass transponders, both require $10 minimum balance to activate:

(a) SunPass Portable approximately $20 plus tax and attaches to your windshield with suction cups. Removable and can be used in any vehicle including motorcycles.

(b) SunPass Mini Sticker approximately $5 plus tax and permanently attaches to windshields. It cannot be used on motorcycles.

Where can I buy one?
You can buy one online or at over 3000 retail locations throughout Florida. Retailers such as Publix Super Markets, CVS Pharmacy Stores, Walgreens, Amscot Financial branches and AAA South Offices in Florida. They can also be purchased at Navarro Pharmacies and Sedano’s Supermarkets in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Transponders are also available at all Turnpike service plazas, Turnpike gas stations and SunPass Service Centers.

How do I activate it?
Put a minimum of $10 into your prepaid account, activate online, phone 1-888-TOLL-FLA (1-888-865-5352), at a SunPass Payment Center or a SunPass Service Center.

Why should I have one?
You are not obligated to buy one but it will save you time and money. You save about 25% on tolls and won’t have to stop at the cash lanes.

Where does SunPass work?
SunPass can be used on all Florida toll roads and nearly all bridges. If you sign up for Easy Pay and link a credit or debit card to your SunPass, you can use it to pay parking fees at Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Orlando and Palm Beach airports.

What if I go through a SunPass Lane by Mistake?
If you do this, a picture of your licence plate will be taken, and you’ll receive a notice about the unpaid toll.

More about Toll-by-Plate

This is a tolling system that works by taking a picture of a vehicle’s licence plate as it passes under a tolling station and then the owner of the vehicle is invoiced for tolls every 30 days plus an admin charge.

You can use this system on all the Turnpike roads where all-electronic tolling is in effect: Florida’s Turnpike in Miami, The Sawgrass Expressway west of Fort Lauderdale and the Veterans Expressway in Tampa.

To get this you need to open a prepaid Toll-by-Plate account by visiting https://www.tollbyplate.com/index or by calling 1-888-TAG-TOLL (888-824-8655); or just drive and you’ll receive an invoice in the mail.

Accessibility Regulations, Resources and Rentals

• Disabled Parking Permits
  
  Florida honours any special license plate or parking permit issued to a disabled person by any of the 50 U.S. states. Florida also honours plates and permits from the following Canadian provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon.
  
  Other foreign visitors should obtain a temporary Florida permit at any Florida County Tax Collector's Office. To get a Florida permit, bring along a copy of the current parking permit issued by your own country and proof of ID, such as a valid passport or comparable identification, to verify your ownership of the out-of-country parking permit. The temporary parking permit may be issued for up to six months and costs approximately $15.
• Diabetic Assistance
  
  The American Diabetes Association offers information on traveling with diabetes, as well as a list of hospitals that offer services to diabetic travellers.
• Dialysis Centers
  
  The Dialysis Finder lists center locations and maps by ZIP code.
• Scooters/Wheelchair Rental
  
  CARE Medical Equipment offers wheelchair and scooter rental, oxygen and other medical equipment. Scootarounds are also available in many Florida cities.
• Beach Wheels
  
  Florida beach wheelchairs and other services or information for the physically disabled. Unlike regular wheelchairs, these “beach wheels” have special tires that don’t get stuck in sand. Beach chairs are often provided at no charge and are available on a first-come, first-served basis

Trains

You can get your train or bus tickets or other services on https://www.amtrak.com/home to travel over 500 destinations.

Also check out Brightline at http://gobrightline.com - a new service to cut the travel time between Orlando and Miami. Arriving Summer 2017.

For Florida Train Rides and Excursions also check out www.american-rails.com/florida-train-rides.html

Bus Services

Amtrak
You can obtain your bus tickets on https://www.amtrak.com/home and you can also use Greyhound and The Florida Express Bus.

Greyhound
Greyhound Lines, Inc. usually shortened to Greyhound is an intercity bus carrier serving over 3,800 destination across North America.

https://www.greyhound.com/en/ http://locations.greyhound.com/us/florida

Greyhound announced in February 2016 that they have now expanded their service in Florida along its major routes, including Orlando to Miami, Jacksonville to Miami, Tampa to Miami, serving many rural cities along each route. For example:

Orlando – Titusville – Melbourne – Fort Pierce – Miami.
Jacksonville – St. Augustine – Ormand Beach – Port St. Lucie – Miami.
Tampa – Lakeland – Avon Park – Winter Haven – Belle – Miami.

The Florida Express Bus
The Florida Express Bus at www.thefloridaexpressbus.com is the official Florida Bus Transportation Service Company which has daily scheduled shuttles from Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Naples, Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Fees start at just $25 each way, but check with the company or their website for any changes to these or additional extras you may wish to add. However it is highly recommended that you book well in advance as they fill up nearly every day and at weekends because it is so popular. You can even book up to a year in advance!