irene_robinson1950

My husband and I are planning a 2 week trip in October this year flying into New York City, staying 3 nights, then driving down to Orlando via the Blue Ridge Parkway. We did a similar trip in 1972 (we're hoping to relive our youth - lol) with family who live in the US, and drove from Buffalo, NY to Gatlinburg, Tenn. via the Blue Ridge Parkway. We'd like to finish in Orlando because that's where the family now live. We don't need to do Disney as we've been to Florida before, and will simply spend a couple of days with family before flying home.

I'd like advice on what overnight stops should we plan between New York City and Orlando? Also, any tips on where to stay in NYC? As we only have a few days, and want to see as much as possible, which area would be best?

Many thanks!

bookhall

Are you aware that the Amtrak Auto Train runs between Lorton VA (just S of DC,) and Orlando? Leaves late afternoon and gets into Sanford (just N of Orlando) about 8:30 AM. You can go one-way or round-trip. They're pretty flexible about date changes, as well.

Rich

With the subways and other public transportation, where you stay is not so important to what you see. You can pretty much get from anywhere to anywhere quickly.

We have stayed at the DoubleTree Times Square a few times and like it . . but we like the hustle and bustle of the area . . if you don't then you would want to stay somewhere else.

Sounds like you have a week to get from NYC to Orlando . . ( two weeks minus 5 days? )

If you have not seen Washington DC that would be my number one suggestion . . three or more days is the minimum I would want to spend ( unless I was there all the time )

We just finished a weeks trip from Delaware ( a few hours south of NYC) to Florida to Jacksonville. We avoided I-95 as much as possible, driving 13 and 17 almost all the way.

We stopped at Charleston for the first time for a day and wished it was longer.

If we knew what you have seen and what you have not seen, we can give better advice

nytraveler

If you tell us what your hotel budget is and what you are looking for (Times Square is frantic 24/7, the upper west side is busy with lots of sidewalk cafes but mainly residential, chelsea/SoHo is middling busy and trendy, etc ) people can make recos. Since October is well into high season - cost may be your determining factor. the main thing is to be right near the subway (by far the best way to get around town).

mclaurie

For NYC hotel, exact dates and budget would be helpful. Oct. can be very pricey so just get ready for sticker shock.

As for the road trip, if you give people an idea of your interests and any place you know you'd like to stop, they can help. Savannah. Ga and Charleston, SC are popular places for sightseeing.

gmoney

Washington DC
Williamsburg
Charleston
Savannah
St. Augustine

Just a few suggestions.

doug_stallings

I'd give some serious consideration to NOT doing the trip this way. You are going to pay a fortune for a one-way rental from NYC to Orlando. Look into alternate transportation (Amtrak to DC, then renting a car and driving down and back on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few days before continuing to Charleston and then onto Orlando, perhaps by rail). But either way, don't rent the car in NYC unless you get one of the cheap one-way relocation rentals because it's going to cost you well over $1,000.

bardo1

irene,

I agree about sticker shock in NYC in October. Here is a website that shows many, many budget hotels in Manhatten. All have been personally visited by the website staff. You can also read about the different neighborhoods to find an area that suits you.

http://www.eurocheapo.com/newyork/

I also agree that you should wait to rent a car until you are out of NYC. Doug's idea of taking a train from NY to DC before renting a car is a great one. So is Rich's idea for staying in DC a few nights.


To recap:

1) A few nights in NYC
2) train to DC
3) 2 nights in DC
4) rental car and leave DC EARLY (like 6am) in the morning
5) Drive via Blue Ridge Parkway to Charleston, SC (this is a long days driving, if it's too long for you, overnight in Asheville, NC)
6) Stay a night in Charleston
7) Drive Charleston to Orlando (maybe stopping in Savannah, GA briefly or even over-nighting)

irene_robinson1950

Many thanks for all your replies - so prompt!

Bardo, many thanks for your hints, also the website address. Our budget is moderate to good. (Our kids have left home - lol). I like the idea of a train from NYC to DC.

We've been to Charleston and Savannah, but I wouldn't mind another trip. St. Augustine we know well as we've paid many visits to Florida to see my relatives.

Once again, many thanks!

bigbomoho

if youre taking the Blueridge Pkwy,or 81,id stop to go thru Monticello---Jeffersons home.Its a good 2 hour tour. Staunton isnt far from there and its a nice little town,lots of BBs,We stayed there last Summer and there was a Shakespeare play in an excellent theater in the round--very wel done.If interested,do some research either here or on tripadviser.com to see aboutt the play and any BBs.If youre taking the blueridge, make your way to Ashevllie and go to see Vanderbilts Biltmore estate--its incredible
As to renting,ive done a one way from NYC to Atl a few years ago,and rented from National--they were the ony one at the time which didnt have horrendous drop off fees.Check them all out.But make sure you dont drive a car to Orlando and not have permission to do that--its called theft by taking, and its a felony

Fra_Diavolo

The only real attraction between DC and Savannah is the availability of highly explosive fireworks. If these hold no attraction -- and particularly since you have chosen this late date to reveal that you have in fact familiar with every inch of the route -- I'd fly.

irene_robinson1950

Fra_Diavolo, as I said, we originally did this trip in 1972 and would like to re-live our youth (haha). Yes, we do know some of the places along the route but certainly not every inch, hence my request for advice. Also, when we originally did the trip we drove from Buffalo to Gatlinburg, rather than New York to Orlando. We've never visited NYC or DC.

gmoney

Don't forget to stop at the cultural mecca "South of the Border", gotta keep Pedro happy!