NYC to Miami

[Crazysah]

Hello there guys,

How expensive would a trip from NYC to Miami for about 5 days cost? I'm looking to go around thee 17th of March. Also, trying to avoid flying (as that is the most expensive), what are the ways to get there?

Any tips? Cheap hotels/hostels?

Thanks,

Crazysah

[Dinggus]

I use Google Maps for directions and use Gas Buddy to calculate my gas when I drive for round trips.

http://gasbuddy.com/Trip_Calculator.aspx

For example, to drive from NYC to Miami and back, it would cost me around $240 in gas.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

just fly - you should be able to find a cheap nonstop flight. you'll save 2 days (or more) in driving. i just checked Kayak and flights are as low as $245, nonstop.

[Soham]

someone is going to Ultra?

[James Rose]

A plane flight is cheaper than a train and likely cheaper than gas. jetBlue has inexpensive flights.

[Crazysah]

Yeah, but flights are like $300 and buses are only like $50 each way. Unless there are flights for like $300 round trip?

[Crazysah]

And also what about cheap hostels in Miami?

[Southern Patriot]

Yeah, but flights are like $300 and buses are only like $50 each way. Unless there are flights for like $300 round trip?

And a bus trip is going to take you far longer than driving. I once took a trip on a bus from Jacksonville, FL to Pascagoula, MS (about an 8 hour drive by car) that took nearly two days by bus.

[sc302 Veteran]

According to expedia, a round trip ticket for 1 person is $240 from NYC to Miami.

Don't know how many people are going, but for 1 person it is not economical to drive. The only way that it could be economical for 2 people is if you drive straight through, don't eat, and don't sleep....If you have more than 2 that is where it becomes more economical to drive than to fly, and you have ways to split hotel rooms. I would take a 3hr flight any day over a 20 hr drive.

[Astra.Xtreme]

I would also say to just fly, but since money is a factor, you might as well drive. Otherwise you'll have to rent a car or take taxis everywhere and that will end up being really expensive.

Unless you have a way around that, otherwise yeah just fly. After hotel, food, entertainment, etc, the plane ticket will seem relatively cheap.

[Hum]

Buy a heavy chain with a hook.

Latch on to a speeding semi-truck, with your car in neutral, engine off.

[sc302 Veteran]

Lets say he drives a car that gets 35mpg. Lets say he drains the 12gal capacity all the way down. It is roughly 1281 miles.

He will get about 400 miles per tank on this trip, making him fill up completely 3 times one way. To fill that car up one way will cost roughly 128.1 if the average price of gas is 3.50. 256.1 for a round trip. Possibly a little less.

35*12= 420 miles per tank

1281/420 = 3.05

12*3.50= $42 per tank

42*3.05= $128.1 one way trip in gas

128.1*2= $256.1 round trip in gas

240 round trip for air fare 1 person vs 256.1 round trip driving just in gas (this does not take into account any tolls, hotels, food, or anything else that may be needed during the 20+ hr drive...you also have to take in account that this car gets 35mpg, if he drives a car that gets less the price goes up).

1 person = cheaper to fly

2 people = a wash to fly or drive

3+ people = cheaper to drive.

As far as cheap places, check expedia and travelocity. They may even have combo rates to get your flights or rooms a little less. Also check out priceline.

[Crazysah]

Okay. So I'm leaning towards flying. Thanks a ton guys.

How much should I budget for a week in Miami and maybe a day or two visiting Orlando and going to Disneyworld?

How cheap can I find a youth hostel/hotel and getting in and around.... 2 of us people are going.

[sc302 Veteran]

orlando to miami is about a 4 hr drive. not something you want to do unless you can either bus it or drive, taxi will be too expensive.

I would look at a car rental for the week you are there. You can pretty much plan out how much everything would cost on expedia, travelocity, or price line. You can even see a travel agent to see what their prices are.

Expedia's lowest price for the 17th of march to the 24th of march is around 500 a person, so roughly 1000 will get you a car, stay from the 17th to the 24th in Miami. Not really a bad deal. Next one up is about 850 a person. Again that is a room, a car and round trip flight. All you have to do is show up pay for gas and go. As far as how much everything else will cost, expect about 125 per day for disney (tickets are 90 + tax), and 50 per person if you want to eat decently...better to go a little high than to go too tight.

1000 for the trip and another 1000-1500 should be enough. Like I said, look at travelocity, expedia, and priceline and plan your trip now. You said 5 days, wasn't sure if that was weekdays (the 17th is a saturday) or if it was 5 days including the weekend...that can change your pricing quite a bit as I planned for 8 days.

[Soham]

if you are staying till 26. I have a place

[Astra.Xtreme]

Also worth noting is that if you're under the age of 25 and want to rent a car, it will be stupid stupid expensive.

[Crazysah]

Forget the car and forget the bus.

We are taking a plane. That's been decided.

The only question I have is, for a week in Miami, how much should we budget?

[sc302 Veteran]

Plan as if you were going out to NYC every night and day. That should cover you.

I am not sure what you are planning on doing there, but think lunch and dinner eating out every day. 5-10 for lunch each, maybe 30-40 for dinner each. Then there are extra curricular activities, clubs, games, beach. I wasn't kidding when I said 1000-1500 at least, 1000 is just for food, sure you can get away cheaper by eating at taco bell every night but wouldn't you want fridays or some other similar southern sit down resturant, maybe catch a movie. I am going easy when I say 1000-1500, the more you have the better.