We're thinking of traveling from Ft. Lauderdale to Destin in December. Our original plan was to rent a car for the few days we're in FL then fly to Destin and rent a car there. I thought we could get a cheap little 'hopper' flight like you can in Europe. Har de har har!

The cheapest flights I've seen so far (we only need one way)are about $250 and that's without taxes et al. Geez Louise!

Does anyone know of any cheaper airlines? Or, if we have to drive, about how long a drive is it from FL to Destin?

Any other ideas for me?

ok, hdm...now you are talking Toronto to Yellowknife! Destin is about a 9 to 10 hour drive from Ft. Lauderdale. It will be colder than FLL in December.

Yah, I know. That's why we're going to FL first. Gonna soak up some sun, then go north!

You can get one-way tickets through AirTran between South Florida and the the area near Destin. There is a non-stop between Ft. Lauderdale and Gulfport, Miss., and you can get connecting flights through Atlanta to Mobile and Pensacola.

Destin is pretty cool in Dec, hdm. Why there? It is a bear to get there from anywhere in the FL peninsula--it's either a very long drive or a very expensive flight.

Why Destin? Because a lovely person has invited us, Because we're combining it with a trip to Ft. Lauderdale, because we're traveling with my best friend whose hometown is New Orleans, and because it will still be warm enough there for the guys to go golfing, the friend to go birding and me to sit by the pool eating trashy novels and reading bonbons. Because it's got the Red Bar and it sounds like fun. That's all.

Thanks, Mike -- I'll check out AirTrans.