Plan Your Florida Vacation
The aim of this blog is to provide as much information about things to see and do whilst you are on the holiday of a lifetime in the vacation capital of the world - The Sunshine State of Florida.
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Driving tips for Florida
Posted on February 23rd, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Sharon Wilmshurst
Authors Website1. Always stay on the RIGHT of the road.
2. Safety belts are required for all front passengers, regardless of age. Children 5 years of age and younger MUST be secured in child restraint devices. Children 3 years of age and younger MUST be placed in infant carriers or child car seats. Children aged 4 and 5 MUST be in a safety seat or wear a seat belt in the rear seat of the car.
3. Turn on you headlights at dusk, in fog or in rain (this is a legal requirement). Be especially careful while driving during or after rainfall. Slippery road conditions could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
4. NO drinking and driving. Always have a designated driver who will remain alcohol free.
5. On approaching a “STOP” sign, your vehicle must come to a complete halt before proceeding. At 4-way STOP signs, the vehicle that arrived at the cross-section first has the right of way first, then the next vehicle and so on.
6. You may turn RIGHT on a red light after you have come to a complete stop, check the coast is clear and that there are no signs posted stating “NO RIGHT” turn on red.
7. STOP! For a stopped school bus. All vehicles are required to stop, whether approaching, turning or following a School Bus when the red lights are flashing and STOP signal is displayed. NEVER overtake a stationary school bus with flashing red lights. Cars travelling towards a school bus are not required to stop if the roadway is separated by an unpaved space of at least 5 ft. or there is a physical barrier.
8. Use a map to plan your route before you venture out. If you miss a turn or exit, proceed to the next corner or exit. Never back up. Always pull completely off the road if you must stop.
9. Always lock your vehicle. Lock valuables in the boot (trunk), glove box or luggage compartment so that they are out of sight.
10. You must carry your driver’s license at all times (this is a legal requirement). You must also carry your car rental and proof of insurance documents with you at all times.
11. If you are stopped by a police officer (who will always be in a marked vehicle), remain in your vehicle and the officer will approach you and advise you of the problem.
12. When going to petrol (gas) stations, you may be required to pay before filling up. Be sure to always use regular unleaded petrol (gas) only.
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Car Rental Tips
Posted on February 21st, 2009 1 commentWritten by: Brent Campbell
Authors WebsiteI am a US owner and I have flown to Orlando and rented a car many times. I have discovered some tips to save money on rentals. There are two types of car rental choices.
The first choice is to rent a car from an off-terminal company. They usually have lower rates because they do not pay for the in-terminal space. The drawback from these companies is that your party must take a shuttle to the car location which means undertaking the cumbersome task of moving all of your travellers and their luggage on and off a shuttle, waiting while the driver rents the car, and then repeating the process on the trip home. This takes extra time and effort and can be a hassle to your travel experience.
The second choice is to rent from an in-terminal company. As far as Orlando International, once the paperwork is taken care of, your party takes the luggage across the street to pick up the car. It is quite easy and there are limited delays.
Now for the savings tips regardless of the company. Car rental companies generally cannot charge your credit card until you actually rent the car. I have gone to a general website such as Orbitz to view the car choices and prices for the dates needed. Once you see a car and price of your liking, go directly to the company websites. Consider that some of lesser known companies such as L&M as they offer good deals and are reputable. You can then view the prices and availability and make a choice. Now make the reservation and keep the reservation number handy. Rental rates often change. Every week or so go back and review the rates. Check the rate of the exact car type and dates needed. If the price is lower, use your reservation number and modify the existing reservation for the same at the lower rate. I have done this as many as 5 times and have been able to reduce my price by over $200.
Another tip is with insurance. Many people in the US have auto insurance which covers you in a rental car. If you have proof of insurance with you and you are in an accident, there is usually no issue. The car rental companies will want to be paid for damages but you have to file a claim with your insurance company. The car rental companies may pressure you to buy insurance and the only benefit (with cost) is that your liability is reduced. (this is what they tell you) So, if you want this peace of mind, pay the extra cash. It adds up.
The last tip is about car rental choice. I have reserved the economy car many times. The companies are limited to how many cars they have in that class and will ask you if you want to upgrade the car type at additional cost. I refuse to pay more for the upgrades. More often then not, they are out of the economy models and they will act as if they are giving you an upgrade for free. So what, I have gotten models far above the economy model and yet paid the economy price. Car rental companies make money on the extras such as insurance and upgrades that are on the spot offerings at the rental office. Be prepared ahead of time and stick to your guns. In the long run, you will get more for your money.