When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Fort Lauderdale?
Weather in this Floridian City is good year-round, but winter months are often the busiest as domestic and international travellers flock to the area to escape cold weather elsewhere, and flight prices rise accordingly. Cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale can be found if you book during the off-peak months of March to April and September to November. You'll find cheaper prices on holiday packages at this time too.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Fort Lauderdale?
Book your return flights up to three months in advance in order to secure cheap tickets to Fort Lauderdale, especially if you are planning a winter break. Be flexible with your arrival and departure dates to help get good deals and look out for deals on last-minute flights that might be on offer during peak holiday times.
Can you fly direct to Fort Lauderdale from the UK?
Yes, you can fly direct to Fort Lauderdale from London Gatwick.
Which UK airports fly to Fort Lauderdale?
You can fly to Fort Lauderdale from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast City. All routes will involve at least one stopover, except for Gatwick where direct and indirect flights are available.
Flying to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is named after the two cities it borders – Fort Lauderdale, three miles away, and Hollywood, which is only five miles away. It's a major hub for South Florida and the Port Everglades cruise port, which is popular with Caribbean cruises. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International is just a 30-45 minute drive from from Miami, so flying into Fort Lauderdale is a popular alternative for flights into Miami, which may be more expensive.
West Palm Beach is about an hour away by car and easily accessibly via the Brightline train. Orlando is about 3.5 hours away but if you're hiring a car and willing to drive, flights in to Fort Lauderdale can be cheaper than flights to Orlando International. Tampa is a 4 hour drive.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
FLL has four terminals, each of which is currently going through expansion or modernisation. Free shuttle services between the terminals depart every ten minutes between 6am and 9pm.
If you have a spare moment, check out the artwork on display throughout the terminals, or get a birds-eye view of the planes arriving and departing from the Hibiscus Garage Viewing Area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport, and Terminal 1 has charging stations. Currency exchange is available in terminals 2 and 4.
Getting to the City from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)
Visitors to Fort Lauderdale have many easy options of travel into the city. On weekends, the Sun Trolley offers free rides to downtown Fort Lauderdale each hour between 9am and 5pm. A free airport shuttle runs 24/7 between FLL’s terminals and the car rental centre, and another one takes visitors to the airport train station in Dania Beach, which connects with Fort Lauderdale in just ten minutes. Travellers can also take the Broward County Transit Bus Route 1 to the main bus station in the city, or there are a number of taxis and ride-sharing companies available. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the city centre from the airport.
Why Visit Fort Lauderdale?
With an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius and its tropical rainforest climate, this Floridian City consistently draws in tourists hoping to catch some rays on palm-lined gold-sand beaches. And it’s not just the beaches that draw in the crowds; now commonly called the Venice of America, the city has a canal network to rival the world-famous Italian city, so relax on a gondola ride around the city before hopping out and browsing the shops on Las Olas Boulevard. Visitors can also take advantage of the world’s largest drive-in movie theatre and an enormous flea market at the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop.
Once linked with rowdy college breaks, the city has undergone a transformation in recent years and you are now more likely to find classy cocktail bars than student pubs. With Miami just a 40-minute drive away and lying just two miles north of Port Everglades, one of the world’s busiest cruise-ship ports, Fort Lauderdale is a gateway to Florida and beyond.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
British travellers need prior approval to enter the USA, either through a visa or the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Most British passport holders with an ePassport will be able to receive an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the VWP. This must be applied for online at least 72 hours before departure and grants you entry to the USA for 90 days. If you do not qualify for the VWP, you will need to apply for a visa at your nearest US Embassy or Consulate before you travel. The currency in the USA is the US dollar.
