There are literally hundreds of limousine and taxi services in Orlando. More information on the various services is available at the airport, and indicative prices can be had from the dispatcher. Here is a list of some of the bigger local taxi cab companies and their contact numbers: – Yellow Cab Co. of Orlando (407) [...]
There are literally hundreds of limousine and taxi services in Orlando. More information on the various services is available at the airport, and indicative prices can be had from the dispatcher. Here is a list of some of the bigger local taxi cab companies and their contact numbers:
- Yellow Cab Co. of Orlando (407) 699-9999 http://www.mearstransportation.com
- Ace Metro/Luxury Cab (407) 855-1111
- Diamond Cab Company (407) 523-3333
- Star Taxi (407) 857-9999
- Town & Country Transport (407) 828-3035
Yellow Cab Company is the largest in the area, however, it is not necessarily the best. Drivers cannot always be expected to speak English well, and the cabs at times take on an unpleasant odor. Combine this with faulty doors, drunks, and engines that makes more noise that jet planes, and visitors may conclude that it is better to shop around for taxis. Also, regardless of the company, some drivers will try to rip you off, so one should always pay attention to the costs of travel. The most effective way to prevent being cheated is by printing up the shortest route possible from MapQuest.com and handing it to the driver. Taxi drivers in Orlando are legally required to follow this route.
For those visiting Orlando who don’t plan on renting a car, it is imperative to plan on staying at a hotel near multiple means of public transportation. Getting around without a car is both possible and easy. The best place to stay is a hotel on International Drive. Not only do most of the hotels [...]
For those visiting Orlando who don’t plan on renting a car, it is imperative to plan on staying at a hotel near multiple means of public transportation. Getting around without a car is both possible and easy. The best place to stay is a hotel on International Drive. Not only do most of the hotels offer a free shuttle service to all of the parks, but International Drive is the location of a Lynx bus stop which can take you anywhere else in the city. International Drive is a very long street so an “I Ride” trolley is set up that takes you from one end of the street to the other. When used in combination, you can effectively traverse the entire city at a lower cost than renting a car.
All of the Disney World parks are easily accessible by the free shuttle that most hotels provide. Once there, Disney offers a bus service to and from all of the various parks. A monorail is also available between Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Although Disney World is the top destination in Orlando, the Lynx bus and “I Ride” trolley are available for transportation elsewhere in the city; from downtown at stop 38 to Winter Park Tech at stop 39. Lynx is affordable and vast, but it is important to learn the bus schedules and destinations well as each route is different. This information is available at GoLynx.com. Fare information is as follows:
Standard One-Way Fare – $1.50
Single-Day Pass – $3.50
7-Day Pass – $12.00
30-Day Pass – $38.00
The “I Ride” trolley is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. at a cost of $2 for a day pass.
Renting a car provides for the easiest and most flexible form of transportation when visiting Orlando. While most hotels provide free shuttles to the Disney parks, public transportation to and from anywhere else in the city may feel restrictive. In fact, renting a car is absolutely essential when visiting attractions other than Disney World, such [...]
Renting a car provides for the easiest and most flexible form of transportation when visiting Orlando. While most hotels provide free shuttles to the Disney parks, public transportation to and from anywhere else in the city may feel restrictive. In fact, renting a car is absolutely essential when visiting attractions other than Disney World, such as the beach or the space center. Outside of Orlando, there is little means of transportation other than taxis and the expense of that would add up quickly.
Car rentals are generally cheaper in Orlando than elsewhere in the country, as low as $20 per day, making this an affordable option. Rental cars can be secured in a manner of ways: at the airport, through the hotel, or through the internet. A number of dealerships are located at the airport and contract immediately at your convenience. Using Priceline.com is a good way to find a good price for a rental car. The deals are good and the customer service even better. Companies affiliated with Priceline.com also tend to offer extra deals at the counter.
For those visiting from outside the United States, gasoline is also very cheap comparatively. The freeways are very good, but visitors need to keep a few extra dollars handy for the toll booths. On average, the cost from the airport to the hotel is $3.
Accessible to and from all of Florida’s major cities, beaches, and attractions, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located just 9 miles south of the downtown district in an ultra-modern facility. Playing host to nearly 100 national, international, and regional airlines, this busy hub serves nearly 32 million passengers annually, and is the 4th busiest airport [...]
Accessible to and from all of Florida’s major cities, beaches, and attractions, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located just 9 miles south of the downtown district in an ultra-modern facility. Playing host to nearly 100 national, international, and regional airlines, this busy hub serves nearly 32 million passengers annually, and is the 4th busiest airport in the nation. The facility is centrally located to major highways, making travel to outlying destinations easy as well.
MCO has one main terminal, as well as four smaller “airside” terminals, each serving several airlines. Each terminal provides passengers a comfortable environment for with numerous restaurants and newsstands, as well as business and banking services (internet access, photocopies, FedEx/UPS currency exchange, ATMs). Souvenirs are a must when visiting Florida, so the facility provides 40 shops and boutiques as well.
Hotels are plentiful surrounding the facility, with literally hundreds of hotels and resorts ranging from economy class to “4-star” in any direction. Travelers who need a rental car can book one right at MCO with several of the larger national rental chains. Numerous off-site rental agencies are available as well, usually at a slight savings. Additionally, “Lynx” bus service departs MCO every 30 minutes with service to downtown Orlando and connections to other points of interest.
The airport website, http://www.orlando-mco.com, provides additional information for travelers, including links to carriers and car rentals, as well as area hotels. The site also offers links for online reservations, including discounted travel packages to the area. With so many visitors to the region each year, the Orlando International Airport is an efficient and clean facility with all of the amenities found in other major airports around the world.
“Driving to Orlando” Turn Italy upside down and it starts to bear a suspicious resemblance to Florida. Now “All roads lead to Rome” easily becomes “All roads lead to Orlando.” Finding Orlando under these circumstances couldn’t be easier. Two main interstates cross Florida from North to South: I-75 and I-95. Interstate 75 goes from Georgia [...]
“Driving to Orlando”
Turn Italy upside down and it starts to bear a suspicious resemblance to Florida. Now “All roads lead to Rome” easily becomes “All roads lead to Orlando.” Finding Orlando under these circumstances couldn’t be easier.
Two main interstates cross Florida from North to South: I-75 and I-95. Interstate 75 goes from Georgia and travels through central Florida via Gainesville then heads along the western coast through Tampa and Coral Springs before crossing the lower tip just north of the Everglades to terminate in Fort Lauderdale. Interstate 95 extends along the eastern seaboard from Jacksonville to Miami. Orlando is conveniently located between these two arteries with 5 major access points extending from it.
When traveling south on I-75, take the Florida Turnpike Mainline about 24 miles past Ocala. The Turnpike is a toll road with tolls collected at the rate of 6 cents per mile for two axle vehicles. Tolls are collected through both a punchcard system and coin collecting machines. There are four main exits off the turnpike into Orlando: 429, 408, I4 and 528. Travelers coming north on I-75 will change to Interstate 4 at Tampa and take that into Orlando. Similarly those coming south on Interstate 95 will take I-4 to Orlando from Daytona Beach. Driving north from Miami, travelers can enter the turnpike mainline in North Miami Beach or travel north on I-95 until Port St. Lucie. The Turnpike diverges from I-95 (they run separately but parallel until that point) at Fort Pierce, but the direct access to the turnpike from I-95 is just south of Port St. Lucie. Tourists from the port at Cape Canaveral should simply take 1A, which becomes the Beeline Expressway (528) straight into Orlando. This is also part of the turnpike system and a toll road.
Distances to Orlando:
From Mileage
Tampa 85 miles
Port St. Lucie 120 miles
Ocala 65 miles
Daytona Beach 50 miles
Cape Canaveral 35 miles
Helpful sites:
Florida Turnpike Enterprise: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/NewWebPages/enterprise.html
Mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com/
American Automobile Association: http://www.aaa.com
Florida Driving Regulations: http://www.car-rental-florida.co.uk/driving_regulations.htm