Hello everyone,
My son will be attending college in Melbourne in the fall. Although the Melbourne airport is close by, I was wondering if there was some type of bus transportation to Orlando International Airport. I'm just trying to keep all of our airline options open, especially when he will be traveling during busy holiday times. Prices and times are actually better from Orlando via SWA. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

I once did a 1 day one way car rental from Orlando to Melbourne when my dad was living there. I don't remember which rental agency did not have a drop off fee.

Thank you for responding. I never thought of doing a car rental.

If you look at the Orlando airport website, you will probably see info on shuttles or buses to Melbourne.

Hi mma, my son graduated from FIT (Florida Tech). Is that by chance where your son is headed?

Here is a transportation option from Orlando International Airport to Melbourne: http://www.abusytraveler.com/

It was recommended on the FIT orientation page - the cost is supposedly somewhere between $35 - $60.

Hello Sludick,
Yes, he is going to FIT for Aviation Management with flight. He's also interested in air traffic control. Did your son ever use that company? I also found another one that picks up at the Wafflehouse near 95 called Florida Shuttle Transportation (in same price range). Have you ever heard about them? He can always fly Delta or US Air from Melbourne into PVD but trying to keep the SWA option open. He could also fly into BOS. Thanks for your responses. Any other tips about FIT would be great. We have only been in the area for two short visits.

We live in Central Florida, so he never needed it. Usually, he was the one giving fellow students rides to the airport. C Haven't heard of Florida Shuttle, but don't read anything into that.

I would be most happy to lend any advice or assistance I can to help the college migration. Feel free to contact me at my personal email: [email protected]

A list here: http://www.orlandoairports.net/transport/shuttles.htm Of the listed options, we've used Cocoa Beach Shuttle (unfortunately, I don't believe it serves the Melbourne area) and Busy Traveler. No problems with either one. I've seen the Florida Shuttle Transportation buses on I-95 but have no experience of them.

Thank you both sludick and 321go. I think when the time comes, we will probably start with Busy Traveler since it's suggested by the college. He will certainly get a better sense of things once he is down there and learning his way around the area.

Have you compared the cost of flights to Melbourne to the cost of a flight to Orlando plus whatever a bus or rental car costs?
My dad used to live in Tropical Haven (mobile home park owned by the airport authority).

During those first few "settling in" days, one of the activities was to run a shuttle over to places like Target so students could do some shopping for forgotten essentials. Keep an eye out for information the school sends out for incoming new students.

> That was a great little community. Many of us who live here were sorry to see it go.

mma, congrats on your son getting into FIT. I hope he enjoys it.

Thank you, 321go! We think the school is a good FIT for him! (just had to do that )

LOL!!! mma, my son graduated from FIT as an electrical engineer and went on to do satellite communication, etc. and gets to travel around the world. FIT is not a huge university but provides a most excellent education with a solid support system to ensure that its students stay on track. Congrats to your son.

He probably already is aware that the student gender balance is weighted to the males, although FIT is obviously attracting more young women of late. Marine biology has been a popular major for female students (FIT is well regarded for its program), but my son associated with one exceptional young lady who specialized in a nanotechnology field.

Also a high percentage of international students. It's a great opportunity to gain a more global worldview. He and another student interned in Peru, thanks to the international/political connections common there.

Not to forget - the campus is really only a few minutes from the beach....

Tropical Haven (originally Trailer Haven) is still open and active. My dad still talks to friends who still live there. The place that the airport authority shut down was Port O'Call which was all Airstreams. My folks lived there for a couple of years in a 31' Airstream before he bought a single wide with a Florida room in TH.
If you want to see a very interesting park in the west end of Melbourne, visit Erna Nixon

Depending on where you are in RI, check out flights from Hartford/Bradley field (BDL). Jet blue has cheap flights to Florida from there now. I only throw this in as we always check PVD and BOS for the best deal when we fly from CT.