My husband and I will be traveling from NC to Key West by car March 2002. We'd like to be in Savannah for St Patrick's Day but have no other firm plans. We'd like to rent a convertible and stay off the main roads staying at B&B's every night. Are we going to be able to find a B&B each night, we're really tired of chains, without a reservation? Will two weeks be enough time? What is the best car company to rent from? What is the temperature at that time of year? We don't mind rain, we're from Washington.

Rain shouldn't be a problem as the daily rains in Florida usually start in May. Temperatures could be as high as 80 and as low as 50 or so. But do you realize that it will take at LEAST 15 hours to drive from Savannah to Key West if you don't use main roads, and at least 11 hours even if you use the highways?

This is high season in Florida so I owuldn't go anywhere without a reservation, including B&B's. I suggest you map out your trip with your planned stops and make reservations. But I also suggest you consider flying to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale and rent a car there, saving about 7 hours of travel time but still driving 4-5 hours to Key West.

No. you are not crazy. A convertible will be great! [Have you priced the rentals yet... it can be hard to find and very costly!! ]

Make reservations....especially on the weekends.

One comment: who cares about the chains or where you stay - you will have fun in the car.. If you can't get to a B&B a night or two.. don't sweat it.

Don't try Savannah on St. Pat's without a reservation, and you may want to call NOW. It is a really big deal down there. Try to stay somewhere walking distance to the waterfront. Otherwise, you should be fine. (And that's the truth!)

Discovered a BIG problem with renting a convertible. Had my all booked and reserved, or so I thought. When I went to Hertz to pick up my car, I was told they were out of convertibles, but they would give me a mini-van instead! Not exactly what I had in mind. They told me they simply couldn't guarantee that a particular car would be available, regardless of the fact that I had a reservation. In fact, they told me that they had rented the last convertible they had to someone who came in WITHOUT a reservation. Needless to say, I don't use Hertz any more, but it seems that most rental agencies have the same stupid policy.

You're also going to want to bear in mind that your timing coincides with college Spring Breaks throughout the US. As you go further and further south, the crowds will become thicker and more and more raucous, and Key West is going to be PACKED.