Hot sun, gorgeous beaches, and some of the best fishing pontoon boats in the world make Key West, Florida, the ultimate destination for your Fishing Vacation. Now that you’ve nailed down your final vacation destination to Key West, Florida, it’s time to figure out how to get here!
Depending on where you’re coming from it may be more economical to drive from the mainland rather than hop on an airplane – and it is one of the most scenic drives in the world – more than 40 bridges and 100 causeways with the deep blue azur of the Atlantic on one side and the emerald green of the Gulf on the other.
But before you load up the trunk and head off on a memorable fishing vacation road trip to the Keys, there are a few things to take into account when it comes to driving to and around the Keys. Some are pros and some are cons, take a read through and decide whether or not driving is right for you.
1. Parking Fees for Your Ultimate Fishing Vacation
Parking in Key West isn’t cheap. Free parking can be found on occasion, but as a general rule expect to pay for parking if you are anywhere near the downtown area. Outside of town the parking is usually free, but make sure you look carefully at the areas you’re parking in, as some are reserved for residents only. Parking in these spots may get you fined or even towed.
Also, check with your hotel about their parking policies before you elect to drive down. Not all hotels offer free parking. You don’t really need a car for Key West, anyway. You can walk or bike everywhere.
2. Fish till you drop.
The biggest advantage to flying for your Fishing Vacation is that you can much more easily squeeze in one last day out on the water. So if fishing till the last minute is a priority during your Fishing Vacation, flying down could wind up rewarding you with extra fishing time. If you choose to, you could stay till the final day of your allotted vacation time for your Fishing Vacation and leave right before you’re due back at work. This way, you can make the most of your Fishing Vacation experience.
You’ll also arrive home more rested than if you’d opted for the long drive home the day before you’re scheduled to be back behind your desk.
3. Coolers and $$$$’s
One of the huge advantages of driving is saving money. Unless you’ve managed to score a well-priced flight, it generally works out cheaper to drive. Throw a few of your fishing buddies into the car with you and you can split the fuel costs while tripling the fun of a road trip. But the ticket price is not where the savings stop.
You can’t always take a cooler on the plane for your Fishing Vacation, but you can easily pack a cooler into your car. Self-catering on your fishing trip will save you quite a few Benjamins during your Fishing Vacation, especially if you are committed to packing your lunches every day. Plus, if you save room in the ice chest during your Fishing Vacation, you can easily return home with fat fillets of your favorite catch. The mate on your Fishing Vacation charter will clean and filet your catch for you, says Captain Rich of the Southbound Charterboat.
4. Fragile Fishing Vacation goods coming through.
Know this feeling? Your precious bag containing fragile goods leaves your hands and goes bashing and crashing down the conveyor belt after check-in. You know someone in a backroom somewhere will be tossing it about. It will likely end up buried beneath other bags under the plane.
This is not ideal treatment for your fishing poles. If you’re driving, you get to pack up the car yourself. You run very little risk of doing damage to your vital fishing equipment. Unfortunately, with most airlines, the safety of your items is just a spin of the roulette wheel. They rarely take full responsibility for any damage done. Surprisingly, they have few checks to ensure ground crew are treating your bags with sufficient caution.
Plus, some airlines charge an arm and a leg for checking sports equipment!
5. The long and the short of it.
If you’re planning a fishing vacation and looking forward to some surfcasting, you’ll need to take a longer fishing rod with you to ensure a successful catch. This Fishing Vacation essential, in turn, means having an oversized bag. The airline processes all oversized bags separately from your regular luggage and applies additional charges, which could impact your budget for the Fishing Vacation. This may involve extra expenses that you’ll want to consider when planning your memorable angling getaway. If you’re driving to your Fishing Vacation destination, this is not a concern, as you can simply pack the car, taking the extra-long poles into account for a hassle-free fishing adventure.
Charter fishing outfits will provide all the equipment you need. Bringing surfcasting gear will allow you to fish every day of your vacation without breaking the bank.
