Florida Travel Tips

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While you are taking your vacation in one of the many Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent, we hope the following travel tips may be helpful to you.

As always, the key to a successful trip is proper planning.  If you have a clear view of every stage of the journey it will flow more smoothly than if you are having to react to a series of minor disasters which are being flung at you.

The issue we all have with air travel is that it is always rush, then wait, rush ten wait.  You rush to the airport to ensure you can check in on time and get the seats you want.  However, you may have a long wait in the queue to get rid of your luggage and obtain your boarding passes.  Then we rush to passport control and again we may have to wait a long time in a line.  Once through passport control, we have perhaps 3 to 4 hours to wait for boarding.  We have a cup of coffee, perhaps a bite to eat.  It seems to go on and on.  With all the added security measures in place at airports, you must be prepared to wait for some hours at the airport.  If you have older children, they can often amuse them selves on a PSP, Game Boy or even the old fashioned reading of a book.  If you have younger children it can be more challenging to keep them amused.  Some airports do have play areas for them and this can help a lot.  Always try and take along a small, cheap favourite toy they can play with.  Being cheap, if it gets lost, then it does not matter too much.

Once on board, always remember to exercise when possible and at least once an hour.  Walk up and down the plane, or flex your feet.  This may well help to prevent DVT (Deep vein thrombosis).  Also remember to drink plenty of fluids (water – not beer !!!).

Take an Aspirin just before you fly.  Aspirin helps to thin the blood and so helps prevent DVT.  Make sure you only take the one as Aspirin does have side effects.

If you smoke, please remember that all flights are non smoking.  Many areas of the airport are also non smoking.  Please do not be tempted to nip into the toilet for a quick drag.  The toilets have smoke detectors and smoking will set them off.  It is a Federal Offence to smoke in the toilets and if caught, you will be prosecuted.

During your journey, you will need to complete a green Visa Waiver from and also a blue and white customs form.  The green form must be completed for all members of your party.  The customs form only needs to be completed for a family.  Most UK citizens can enter the USA on the waiver form for up to 6 months.  Once you have completed the forms, keep them handy with your passport to hand to customs and Immigration at your destination airport.  Be aware that if you have any kind of criminal record, have been a member of any organisation likely to be of interest to the security services or even if you have ever been detained in connection with certain offences, you are not eligible for the visa waiver scheme. If this applies to you, you should contact the American Embassy to ask their advice before you book your holiday. The UK and America share various form of information and you may well be refused entry to the country if you do not have the necessary visa.

When you land, just follow the crowds to immigration. You need to wait in line patiently.  Remember that these employees are keeping an eye out for illegal immigrants and terrorists etc.  They take their jobs very seriously.   We are all tired after a long flight, but please do be patient with them as they are only doing their job.  Answer all questions properly with out any form of joking.  If you do play them up, they can easily just put you back on the next flight.  Treat them with respect and your path through immigration will be uneventful.  At immigration you may well find small dogs sniffing around your hand luggage.  They are looking for food, which you are not allowed to bring into the country.

After immigration, you need to collect your luggage from the carousels and move onto to customs.   Usually this is quite painless and you go through quite quickly.  If you are unfortunate, you may be selected to have your cases opened which will hold you up for a short while.  So long as you have nothing to hide you will soon be on your way.

Once through customs, you need to go to the car rental desks to collect your rental car.  Make sure you have the car rental voucher with you, plus driving license and credit card.  You will probably be asked if you would like to upgrade your car and if you do consider this, always try bargaining.  You may get a really good deal.  Make sure you have some change with you for any tolls you may pass through. 

We hope you found this article interesting and helps you arrive at your Orlando Disney villa fully refreshed.