US Road Trip 2005 Initial Plans

Calendar:

Key:
MB = Miami Beach
KW = Key West
FL = Fort Lauderdale
CW = Clearwater
OR = Orlando
DB = Daytona Beach
PC = Panama City Beach
SV = Savannah, Georgia
CH = Charleston, South Carolina
WM = Wilmington, North Carolina
DU = Durham, North Carolina
CV = Charlottesville, Virginia
SP = Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
DC = Washington DC
NY = New York City

News

Hurricane Dennis:
09/07/05: Lovely weather in Key West right now, take a look at this video! Hopefully it will have cleared up by the time we get there!
11/07/05: Amazing photo: The attack of Dennis. The first bands hit St. Andrews Bay in Panama City, Florida.

UPDATE 02/07/05: Google Earth route can be downloaded here!

See Secure Area - for reservation numbers, flight details etc...

Here is the route from Microsoft MapPoint.

The first shuttle launch after the Columbia disaster is planned for sometime between the 13th and 31st of July. We would be able to get to the Kennedy Space Center very easily from when we are in Orlando to when we leave Daytona Beach (25th to 31st July). If we are lucky we might actually be able to watch a manned space shuttle lift off! If they plan the launch before the 25th then we may still be able to make it, it would just mean a lot more driving! Alternative Launch Viewing Site and tickets!

I have given us 4 full days in Orlando due to all the theme parks in that area (and visiting the Kenedy Space Center at some point). We may be able to get a pass which allows access to all of the 5 theme parks.

Actual Costs (so far):

Estimated Costs: UPDATED 02/07/05

Accomodation Reservations (STA Travel):

STA Travel have agreed to give us a discount if we book many of the hotels with them. Having checked a few other hotel brokers they also appear to be the cheapest on the web! They will reserve all the hotels we want and then the extent of the discount will be determined when we know the final amount we are going to pay.

Here is a list of hotels we have or would like to reserve. See the details under each day for more info. Hotels in grey have been (or should have been) reserved!

Update 16/06/05:

What a day I've just had! I tried to book the following hotels with STA Travel (which I had previously requested to be reserved) however they said that 3 of the hotels were no longer available! The hotels not available were the Wyndham Reach Resort, Westgate Palace and the Virginian Suites. Very frustrating, especially since these were the best hotels out of the lot! Anyway, to cut the long story short I have managed to recover 2 of them.

The Westgate Palace I have booked through alpharooms.com and I managed to get STA travel to book the Virginian suites afterall. So that just leaves the Wyndham Reach Resort not booked. I'm trying other websites but availability in Key West is scarce.

Update (10pm): I have found the Wyndham Casa Marina resort for the bargain price of £255 at hotelsrus.com. So all is saved!

Here are the final reservations (which I have paid for and so are secured!)

Other Accomodation:

Travel insurance: Remeber we will all need it! I believe it would be more cost effective to take out an annual policy. Make sure the maximum length of stay allowed is 35 days or above. As a guide my travel insurance cost £63 with Norwich Union last year and that was including winter sports cover.

Worldwide 45 day annual multitrip including winter sports:
(you may not want winter sports, in which case it should be cheaper).

Cheap Annual Policy £50 - http://www.cheapannualpolicy.com
Atlas Direct £59.41 – www.atlasdirect.net
Insure and Go £55 (silver cover) – www.insureandgo.com
STA Travel £85 (includes many sports, e.g. jet skiing) but cancellation cover only £2000.

Take a look at the websites and let me know what you think, I'm still deciding which one is best… Think I will go with Atlas Direct, but STA travel may be worth it if it covers jet skiing etc...

UPDATE: I chose Insure and Go Gold Cover at £65 (+£1 for policy to be sent by post).

Details:

Thurs 14th July - Miami Beach:
Day Plan: Flying! Arrive in Miami in the afternoon.
Accomodation: Albion Hotel, Miami Beach
Costs: £27 (hotel) + transfer from airport
Notes:

Fri 15th July - Miami Beach:
Day Plan: Recover and relax in Miami Beach.
Accomodation: Albion Hotel, Miami Beach
Costs: £27 (hotel)
Notes: Florida Info

Sat 16th July - Miami Beach:
Day Plan: Relax in Miami Beach
Accomodation: Albion Hotel, Miami Beach
Costs: £27 (hotel)
Notes:

Sun 17th July - Drive to Key West:
Day Plan: Pick up car, drive to the end of the Florida Keys.
Route: US-1
Miles: 165
Driving Time: About 4 hours.
ETA: 16:30 (leaving at midday)
Accomodation: Wyndham Casa Marina Resort. reviews Wyndham Reach Resort?
Costs: £28 (hotel) free parking
Notes: There is a toll road along the way. May need to check weather conditions!

Mon 18th July - Key West:
Day Plan: Relax!
Accomodation: Wyndham Casa Marina Resort. reviews Wyndham Reach Resort?
Costs: £28 (hotel) free parking
Notes: Catamaran Tour, Snorkling, Scuba Diving? Snorkel Guide, Keywest Travel Guide

Tues 19th July - Key West:
Day Plan: 1.5 Hour Jet Ski Tour around the island :)
Accomodation: Wyndham Casa Marina Resort. reviews Wyndham Reach Resort?
Costs: £28 (hotel) free parking, Jet Ski Tour - $52 each if two people share, otherwise $95 (+ tax)
Notes: Need to call 305-296-2210 1 week before to make reservation for jet skis.
Ski Key West
617 Front Street
Behind the Galleon Resort.
Key West, FL  33040

Wed 20th July - Drive to Fort Lauderdale:
Day Plan: Drive back up the Florida Keys to Fort Lauderdale, (just north of Miami Beach).
Route: US-1
Miles: 190
Driving Time: Just over 4 hours.
ETA: 15:00 (leaving at 10am)
Accomodation: Sheraton Yankee Trader Beach£124 for 2 nights (STA Travel)
Costs: £21 (hotel), $7 parking, Toll?
Notes:

Thurs 21st July - Fort Lauderdale:
Day Plan: Everglades Air Boat Tour?
Accomodation: Sheraton Yankee Trader Beach
Costs: £21 (hotel), $7 parking, $30 each for Airboat Tour
Notes:

Fri 22nd July - Drive to Clearwater:
Day Plan: Drive over to the west of Florida and up the coast to Clearwater.
Route: I-75
Miles: 265
Driving Time: 4.5 Hours
ETA: 15:30 (leaving at 10am and including 1 hour stop time)
Accomodation: Marriott Suites On Sand Key, Clearwater
Costs: £33 (hotel) + Parking?
Notes:

Sat 23rd July - Clearwater:
Day Plan: Explore the Clearwater area, including St. Petersburg, and the best beaches in the USA!
Accomodation: Marriott Suites On Sand Key, Clearwater
Costs: £33 (hotel) + Parking?
Notes:

Sun 24th July - Drive to Orlando:
Day Plan: Go to Busch Gardens then drive to Orlando in the evening.
Route: I-4
Miles: 32 miles to Busch Gardens, then 85 to Orlando.
Driving Time: 50 mins to Busch Gardens, then 1.5 Hours to Orlando.
Accomodation: Westgate Palace, Orlando (International Drive) 2 Bedroom Suite. reviews
Costs: £23 hotel + parking?
Notes: We may be able to get a pass which allows access to all of the 5 theme parks in the area.

Mon 25th July - Orlando:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: Westgate Palace, Orlando (International Drive) 2 Bedroom Suite. reviews
Costs: £23 hotel + parking?
Notes:

Tues 26th July - Orlando:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: Westgate Palace, Orlando (International Drive) 2 Bedroom Suite. reviews
Costs: £23 hotel + parking?
Notes:

Wed 27th July - Orlando:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: Westgate Palace, Orlando (International Drive) 2 Bedroom Suite. reviews
Costs: £23 hotel + parking?
Notes:

Thurs 28th July - Orlando:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: Westgate Palace, Orlando (International Drive) 2 Bedroom Suite. reviews
Costs: £23 hotel + parking?
Notes:

Fri 29th July - Drive to Daytona Beach:
Day Plan: Either spend most of the day in the Orlando area and drive to Daytona Beach in the evening, or leave for Daytona in the morning.
Route: I-4
Miles: 54
Driving Time: 1 hour
Accomodation: La Quinta Inn and Suites Daytona Beach (816 N Atlantic Ave), reviews
Costs: £31.30 (hotel)
Notes:

Sat 30th July - Daytona Beach:
Day Plan: Nascar?
Accomodation: La Quinta Inn and Suites Daytona Beach (816 N Atlantic Ave), reviews
Costs: £31.30 (hotel)
Notes:

Sun 31st July - Drive to Panama City Beach, Florida:
Day Plan: Drive to Panama City Beach (long drive). Go out!
Route: I-95
Miles: 385
Driving Time: About 6.5 hours
ETA: 18:00 (leaving at 10am with 1.5 hours worth of stops)
Accomodation: ??
Costs:
Notes:

Mon 1st August - Panama City Beach:
Day Plan: Explore!
Accomodation: ??
Costs:
Notes:

Tues 2nd August - Drive to Savannah, Georgia:
Day Plan: Drive to Savannah (long drive).
Route: I-95
Miles: 433
Driving Time: Just over 7 hours
ETA: 19:00 (leaving at 10am with 1.5 hours worth of stops)
Accomodation: Savannah's Bed and Breakfast Inn (Oglethorpe Room), reviews
Costs: £32 (B&B)
Notes: Chippewa Square, where Forrest Gump sat on the bus bench with his box of chocolates

Wed 3rd August - Drive to Charleston, South Carolina:
Day Plan:Spend the day looking around Savannah, leave for Charleston in the afternoon.
Route: I-95, US-17
Miles: 108
Driving Time: Just over 2 hours
ETA: 18:00 (leaving at 3.30pm)
Accomodation: Charleston??
Costs:
Notes:

Thurs 4th August - Drive to Wilmington, North Carolina:
Day Plan: Could stop at Southport, (I Know What You Did Last Summer was filmed there)
Route: US-17
Miles: 166
Driving Time: 3.5 Hours
ETA: 14:00 (leaving at 10am and stopping for half an hour)
Accomodation: Best Western Coastline Inn, Wilmington
Costs: £29 (hotel) parking free
Notes: Hell's Kitchen - live music on thursday nights - 118 Princess Street

Fri 5th August - Wilmington:
Day Plan: Night out - Blue Post Billiards 15 S. Water St? Rum Runners? Food at Elijah's?
Accomodation: Best Western Coastline Inn, Wilmington
Costs: £29 (hotel) parking free
Notes: Wilmington is known as the Hollywood of the east due to all the filming that takes place in this town.

Sat 6th August - Drive to Durham, North Carolina:
Day Plan: Studio Tour in Wilmington?
Route: I-40
Miles: 158
Driving Time: Just over 2.5 Hours
ETA: 13:10 (leaving at 10am and stopping for half an hour)
Accomodation: La Quinta Inn & Suites, Durham, North Carolina, reviews
Costs: £14
Notes: "EUE/Screen Gems Studios (1223 N. 23rd Street), the largest production facility east of Hollywood. Guided studio tours often include visits to sets for ONE TREE HILL, as well as props and set pieces from other productions including DAWSON’S CREEK, MATLOCK, etc. Walking tours are offered most weekends (Saturdays at Noon March-Sept.; call for other times). Contact Screen Gems Studio Tours at (910) 343-3433 to confirm times and to reserve a space. Another walking tour, Hollywood South Magic Hour Tour, features Downtown movie/TV locations and departs most evenings from the riverfront at Water & Market streets. Call On Locations Tours & Events for seasonal tour schedule at (910) 763-0288. Admission charge applies for tours (cost/tour availability subject to change without notice)." link

Sun 7th August - Durham:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: La Quinta Inn & Suites, Durham, North Carolina, reviews
Costs: £14
Notes: "Lively student town. Student-filled Ninth St District, adjacent to Duke University"

Mon 8th August - Drive to Charlottesville, Virginia:
Day Plan:
Route: I-85, I-95 to Richmond then I-64 to Charlottesville.
Miles: 222
Driving Time: 3.5 Hours
ETA: 14:00 (leaving at 10am and stopping for half an hour)
Accomodation: Omni Hotel, Charlottesville, reviews
Costs: £32 (hotel) parking free
Notes:

Tues 9th August - Drive to Lewis Mountain, Shenandoah National Park:
Day Plan: Get food for bbq and drive through Shenandoah National Park (scenic drive) in the afternoon stopping at Lewis Mountain for the night.
Route: I-64 then Skyline Drive
Miles: 77
Driving Time: 2 hours
Accomodation: Lewis Mountain Cabin
Costs: $81 + $10 for extra bed (cot?!) + tax (Lewis Mountain Cabin)
Notes: Shenandoah National Park - Scenic Drive "Blue Ridge Parkway"
I have reserved a cabin on this date. Check in is after 3pm and checkout is at noon (Wednesday 10th August).
Lewis Mountain, Mile 57.5: "Cabins feature furnished bedrooms and private baths, lights, heat, towels, and linen. Cooking is done in the connecting outdoor area (a fireplace, grill, storage, and picnic table are available). Vacancies are rare during the summer, especially on weekends, so make your reservations as far in advance as you can. Contact ARAMARK Virginia Sky-line Co., Inc., P.O. Box 727, Luray, Virginia 22835. Telephone 1-800-999-4714." Map

Wed 10th August - Drive to Washington DC:
Day Plan:
Route: Skyline Drive, US-211, I-66
Miles: 102
Driving Time: Just over 2 hours
Accomodation: Virginian Suites, Arlington. reviews
Costs: £34 (hotel) + parking?
Notes:

Thurs 11th August - Washington DC:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: Virginian Suites, Arlington. reviews
Costs: £34 (hotel) + parking?
Notes:

Fri 12th August - Washington DC:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: Virginian Suites, Arlington. reviews
Costs: £34 (hotel) + parking?
Notes:

Sat 13th August - Drive to New York City:
Day Plan: Drive to NYC, passing through Philadelphia. Return Rental Car.
Route:I-95
Miles: 227
Driving Time: 4 hours
Accomodation: New York Helmsley, New York
Costs: £36 (hotel)
Notes: Bridges

Sun 14th August - New York City:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: New York Helmsley, New York
Costs: £36 (hotel)
Notes:

Mon 15th August - New York City:
Day Plan:
Accomodation: New York Helmsley, New York
Costs: £36 (hotel)
Notes:

Tues 16th August - New York City:
Day Plan: Explore more of NYC before leaving in late evening.
Costs:
Notes:

Wed 17th August - Arrive London in Morning: