5th to 16th October 2015.

Based at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Boca Raton.

 

Up.

  

Travel on 5th October.

 

     We were driven from Hill House to Heathrow on Monday 5th October to catch the 13.30 BA flight to Miami. Assistance had been booked at the airport and, after checking in our hold baggage, we waited for 75 minutes at the assistance point (having checked in). Nothing happened and David had to push Marilyn all the way to the aircraft. Security was also particularly irritating because David's cabin luggage had to be unpacked and checked. Altogether a very unpleasant and fraught experience. One also has to be supremely fit to fly these days because of the vast distances one has to walk.

 

    The flight was about 9 hours and not very comfortable despite the fact that we were in the special upgrade area. The modern seats have solid arm rests and it is extremely difficult to get in and out them. It is even worse if the seat in front is reclined. The service by the cabin crew was excellent and the food was acceptable.

 

    Miami Airport was wonderful (particularly after David's experience of 20 years ago!). A wheelchair was waiting as we left the plane and Marilyn was whisked right through passport control to baggage reclaim and all the way to the shuttle to the car hire building (about one and a half miles away).  David had great difficulty keeping up, especially after collecting the main luggage. The Shuttle train took the luggage trolley and it was not too far to walk to the Avis Desk. The Avis lady took Marilyn all the way to the hire car in a wheelchair. It was then roughly an hours drive to our Hotel in Boca Raton. Apart from getting used to a strange car in the dark on a busy highway, it was a largely stress free experience. The Hotel staff on arrival were very friendly and helpful and our room was excellent.

 

  The Airport on the left and Car Hire Complex on the right