World Country Guide

Travel - International

Air
International airports: Miami (MIA) (website: www.miami-airport.com) is 9km (6 miles) west of Miami (travel time – 25 minutes). There is a 24-hour shuttle service to the central bus station and hotels on request. Public buses are also available to the city. Taxi, van and limousine services are also available; fares are fixed. Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424 (toll-free); website: www.greyhound.com) runs daily services throughout the Florida Keys and to destinations in the north.
Tampa (TPA) (website: www.tampaairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) northwest of Tampa (travel time – 15 minutes). A bus service runs into the city; limousine and taxi services are also available.
Scheduled flights from the UK to Orlando arrive at Orlando International (ORL) (website: www.state.fl.us/goaa), which is 15km (9 miles) south of Orlando (travel time – 15 minutes). There is a 24-hour shuttle service available to any hotel in Orlando. Hire cars, coach, bus, taxi and limousine services are available.
Chartered flights from the UK arrive in Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) (website: www.orlandosanfordairport.com), approximately 29km (18 miles) northeast of Orlando. Car hire, coaches, buses, taxi, limousine and shuttle services into the city are available.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) (website: www.fll.net) is 8km (5 miles) from Fort Lauderdale (travel time – 10 minutes). Hire cars, limousines, taxis and bus services are available, with rail connections to the surrounding counties.

Approximate flight times
From Miami to Atlanta is one hour 50 minutes, to Barbados is three hours 25 minutes, to Caracas is three hours 10 minutes, to Charlotte is two hours, to Chicago is three hours 10 minutes, to Dallas/Fort Worth is three hours 20 minutes, to Freeport is 40 minutes, to Grand Turk is one hour 45 minutes, to Guatemala City is two hours 40 minutes, to Honolulu is 12 hours 15 minutes, to Houston is three hours, to London is eight hours 10 minutes, to Los Angeles is seven hours, to Mexico City is three hours 15 minutes, to New York is two hours 40 minutes, to Orlando is one hour, to Panama City is three hours, to Port-au-Prince is 45 minutes, to Providenciales is one hour 35 minutes, to St Croix is two hours 40 minutes, to San Francisco is seven hours 25 minutes, to San Juan is two hours 25 minutes, to Santo Domingo is two hours 10 minutes, to Tampa is 55 minutes and to Washington, DC is two hours 20 minutes.
From Tampa to London is 10 hours (direct flight), to Miami is 55 minutes and to New York is two hours 40 minutes.
From Orlando to London is nine hours, to Miami is 55 minutes, to New York is two hours 30 minutes and to Washington, DC is two hours.

Sea
The port of Miami has been called the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’ and offers ocean liners for business meetings, weekend getaways and extended luxury cruises. The port of Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, is the second most important cruise port in Florida. Other cruise ports on the east coast include Port Canaveral and Port of Palm Beach. The main West Coast cruise ports include St Petersburg and Tampa. Major cruise lines in Florida include Carnival, Celebrity, Commodore, Costa, Cunard, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Premier, Princess, Radisson Seven Seas, Regal, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea and Windjammer Barefoot.

Rail
Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com) is the rail service provider. Amtrak’s Miami Station is 11km (7 miles) northwest of the city centre. It is the southernmost point on the network, marking the southern end of the main east coast line from New York (and ultimately Boston). Amtrak also serves Jacksonville, with services running through Orlando to Tampa (a branch line terminates at Sarasota, a few miles south of Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico), and west through Pensacola to New Orleans (Louisiana).

Road
The best major routes through Florida are: Daytona Beach to St Petersburg (I-4), Jacksonville to the Alabama border (I-10), St Petersburg to Tampa (I-275), the lower West Coast to Fort Lauderdale (I-75), the North–South highway (I-95) or (I-75) and the East–West cross-state highway from Clearwater to Vero Beach (State 60). The Florida’s Turnpike is a 723km (449 mile) system of limited-access toll highways, which passes through 11 counties from north Miami to a junction with I-75 in north central Florida. Most roads are excellent throughout the State.

Approximate driving times
From Orlando to Miami is four hours 45 minutes, to Daytona is one hour, to Fort Lauderdale is four hours 30 minutes, to Jacksonville is three hours, to Key West is eight hours 45 minutes, to Naples is four hours, to Pensacola is nine hours, to St Petersburg is two hours 30 minutes, and to Tallahassee is fiive hours 15 minutes. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits.

Approximate Greyhound travel times
From Miami to Fort Lauderdale is one hour to Orlando is nine hours, to St Petersburg is seven hours 30 minutes, to Jacksonville is 11 hours 15 minutes, to Tampa is eight hours 15 minutes, and to Tallahassee is 14 hours.

Urban
Miami’s transport system includes an elevated Metrorail system running a north-south route through the city. The Downtown Metromover combines the fun of a theme park with the convenience of above-street-level travel. Metrobuses operate frequently through most areas of Greater Miami. Fares are moderate and transfers are available. Taxis can be expensive in the Miami area; one can usually hail them but delays may be encountered at rush hours. Taxis can also be booked by telephone. Most major car hire and motor camper hire firms have offices at the airport or in central Miami. Many provide a drop-off service in other parts of the State. Major hotels can often arrange immediate car hire. Road signs marked with an orange sun on a blue background indicate routes to major tourist attractions.