Discover Florida

Hire a rental car in Florida and enjoy all that the Sunshine State has to offer.

From the UK, Florida is the most popular holiday destination to the USA and is so for a very good reason. With a warm temperate climate all year round, beaches, history and attractions such as Disney World, Florida caters for everyone and any taste.

With so much to see and do in just one state, often the best way to get around is to hire a car. With several international airports and regular weekly flights from the UK and Europe including Orlando, Miami, Sanford, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale it is very convenient to pick up a rental car from the airport when you arrive. If a car is only required for part of your trip, there are car rental depots located in most downtown city locations offering convenient and easy access. For people arriving in Florida by cruise ship there are car hire facilities in place at certain ports.

The range of rental cars available is very comprehensive - from small economy sized vehicles suitable for one or two people through to seven seaters for the average family and up to large fifteen seater maxivans. As the sun shines on most days in Florida you may want to hire a convertible. Vehicles suitable for use by people with disabilities can be hired from car rental firms at the major airports.

Once you've sorted out your car hire there is plenty to see and do. Florida is probably most famous for its theme parks, the best known being Disney World which is located just south of Orlando, along with a good many water parks and smaller theme parks.

Cape Canaveral is located within an hour's drive east of Orlando and is a popular place to visit with launches every couple of months.

Miami offers a bit of Latin flavour to Florida. A city with a strong mix of art deco style and modern high rise buildings and a strong Cuban and Puerto Rican population, one will find that English will be considered the foreign language here.

South Beach Miami is one of the more popular visits for both tourists and the local population, however for quieter and more secluded beaches one will have to leave the South Beach area altogether.

Under a three-hour drive south of Miami are the Florida Keys and Key West, a string of islands curling round towards the Gulf of Mexico. Although these islands are not blessed with long sandy beaches they have been lucky enough to have not been over developed and therefore have kept a lot of character. The Keys are also reputed to be one of the best places in the world to go deep sea fishing.

Within an hour and a half south west of Miami you will find yourself deep within the everglades. A popular area to visit, the Everglades are famous for alligators and airboat rides.

To the north of Florida, and close to the border with Georgia is Jacksonville. One of the largest cities in Florida, Jacksonville is surprisingly quiet. As it does not have a major international airport it is not over-run with tourists, so finding quiet areas on its long sandy beaches is very easy, and the surrounding area has some quieter golf courses and rural activities, such as canoeing.

About an hour south of Jacksonville is St. Augustine. Officially the oldest city in the US, St. Augustine boasts a number of historical sites that are connected to the Spanish colonists who settled there.

The west coast of Florida is serviced by two main airports, Tampa and Fort Myers, and has the benefit of the Gulf of Mexico with warmer waters than the Atlantic waters on the east coast. The islands of Sanibel and Captiva, near Fort Myers, are a good place to visit with good beaches, warm waters, and not too many tourists. These islands are also famed for their popularity with seashell collectors.

Ready to go? Car Hire Direct's affordable car rental service lets you get around and see all the sun, sand and sights that Florida has to offer. Click here to book car hire in Florida.