5th November Arrival in Miami and Drive to Daytona Beach

Following our last night and dinner in the Polo restaurant with Corey and Shawn we sleep really well and arise too a perfect morning just as Regatta berths in Miami.  We have a great view of the city skyline and we take photos and reflect on what a great trip this has been. 

After breakfast we say goodbye to the Tennants then the Fosters and hope to stay in touch.  They have added to and made this cruise all the more enjoyable. 

We depart the ship at 9.05am having thoroughly enjoyed Oceania Regatta with a terrific itinerary. 

We are advised that there is a shuttle to the airport car rental area, but when it comes we are advised that we need a taxi to the downtown Dollar Rental place,so we then wait in turn in a queue for a taxi and some 20 minutes later and at cost of US$34.00 we arrive at Dollar but the drama has just begun because the two sales staff are attending to an irate family of 14 who have booked 2 vehicles large enough to accommodate their luggage and the 14. It is only the start of a shambling process.  Our car is not available at this location.  We are served at 10.45 told to await a driver who will drive us to the location of our vehicle (Jeep Patriot). We expected a short drive, but no it was some 30 minutes and when we arrived at this centre the vehicle was supposedly being cleaned.

We eventually got on the road at 11.35am just as a thunder storm with torrential rain hit the Miami and associated beaches.  So for the next 2 hours we drove through very difficult conditions in a vehicle we were not happy with. 

After dome 2 hours 20 minutes the weather remarkably improved and some 15 minutes later a Jeanette took over and drove the next 2 hours 15 minutes until we reached the Hilton Hotel in Daytona Beach.  We checked in and we're pleased with our ocean view room.  This is a larger older style hotel recently refurbished but quite comfortable. 

Ken went for a walk along the boardwalk in 60 mile an hour winds and cancelled the booking at the famous Joes Crab Shack out on the Pier due to the inclement weather and amazing winds.

That night we ate in and relaxed, because it had been a hard day with the car rental being a debacle in Miami then the extreme weather getting out of Miami. 

Tomorrow we drive to Hilton Head Island with Kathy and Frank Boggs joining us for 4 days.