trip to st augustine /jacksonville fl from nyc
 

I have not travelled much. Would like help getting to either of 2 destinations above. Amtrak is $600 round trip-unbelievable. Direct flights from westchester to orlando then a 2 hr drive to st augustine fl.($350 rt). Any suggestions on cost effective alternatives? Trip to be taken 7/16-7/21/2008. Many thanks.

You'll need a car in either case, timewise I would expect the time of either to be similar. Go for the cheaper.

For a 5-day trip, I sure wouldn't take the train that far.

ISLIP to Jacksonville via Southwest airlines an option?

Using those dates, you could go JFK-JAX via Jet Blue for $214 and return for $114. From Jacksonville, St. Augustine would be another 45 minutes (by rental car) down I-95.