Up until our last trip to Orlando, we have always flown on scheduled flights with either BA or Virgin into Orlando International, or Tampa. However, with three children still at school we are restricted to travelling in the school holidays, and the flight prices being quoted by those airlines were just becoming far to expensive.
Therefore, for the first time, we flew charter, which meant that we landed at Sanford, and I must say how pleasantly surprised we all were. Having been used to flying into big airports and all the hassle that goes with them it was nice to be somewhere smaller. I am not sure if we just struck lucky, but from leaving the plane to driving out in our hire car took a total of 40 minutes. The people at Immigration were very friendly and we seemed to speed through, and then all we had to do was pick up our cases and walk around to the car hire desk. None of this picking them up from point only then to have to drop them off again to pick them up somewhere else in the airport like you do at Tampa and Orlando.
The Dollar pick up point was nice and spacious, with lots of manned desks, and the hire cars were just outside the office, so again it was nice and quick.
I would agree that it is a bit further out than MCO, but the speed of getting through more than made up for the longer drive. That being said, it is only a few minutes from the I4, and once you are on that, the journey is normally very quick.
On the return journey, the car hire drop off point is just outside the check in desks so you do not have far to take your luggage. We flew back the week after all the new security measures came in last summer, when they were at their worst, and no body knew what they were doing, but again things were handled smoothly, and politely by the officials.
The departure lounge its self reminded me of flying years ago, and was very relaxed. There is plenty of seating, and a reasonable self service restaurant stocking a range of different foods, many of which the children were happy to eat, which is always a big plus just before a long flight, where mine normally refuse to touch the airline meals.
There is also a good Duty Free area, and a bar that also serves food.
We are happy to travel through there again, and will be twice this year.
Therefore, for the first time, we flew charter, which meant that we landed at Sanford, and I must say how pleasantly surprised we all were. Having been used to flying into big airports and all the hassle that goes with them it was nice to be somewhere smaller. I am not sure if we just struck lucky, but from leaving the plane to driving out in our hire car took a total of 40 minutes. The people at Immigration were very friendly and we seemed to speed through, and then all we had to do was pick up our cases and walk around to the car hire desk. None of this picking them up from point only then to have to drop them off again to pick them up somewhere else in the airport like you do at Tampa and Orlando.
The Dollar pick up point was nice and spacious, with lots of manned desks, and the hire cars were just outside the office, so again it was nice and quick.
I would agree that it is a bit further out than MCO, but the speed of getting through more than made up for the longer drive. That being said, it is only a few minutes from the I4, and once you are on that, the journey is normally very quick.
On the return journey, the car hire drop off point is just outside the check in desks so you do not have far to take your luggage. We flew back the week after all the new security measures came in last summer, when they were at their worst, and no body knew what they were doing, but again things were handled smoothly, and politely by the officials.
The departure lounge its self reminded me of flying years ago, and was very relaxed. There is plenty of seating, and a reasonable self service restaurant stocking a range of different foods, many of which the children were happy to eat, which is always a big plus just before a long flight, where mine normally refuse to touch the airline meals.
There is also a good Duty Free area, and a bar that also serves food.
We are happy to travel through there again, and will be twice this year.