Cheap Flights to Fort Lauderdale

When is the best time to fly to Fort Lauderdale?

Peak season:

Fort Lauderdale’s winter weather is outstanding and November to April is the peak season. This is the dry period, which experiences average high temperatures of 24-28°C and average low temperatures of 15-19°C. While it’s not quite the Spring Break hotspot it was in the 60s and 70s, lots of tourists still travel to Fort Lauderdale during the winter. It is therefore advised to book several months in advance for the best deals on flights and accommodation.

The winter season also plays host to a number of popular annual events. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival (March) is a great family event, which includes the grand parade, traditional Irish music and children’s activities. Another event which is more suited to adult visitors is the Wine and Culinary Celebration (April), which showcases spirits, wines and beers from around the world, paired with food from some of South Florida’s leading restaurants.

Book flights to Fort Lauderdale up to a year in advance during holidays and school holiday periods, which include, Thanksgiving Holiday (late November), Christmas (late December to early January), Winter (February/March), Easter (April), Summer (May/June to August/September) and all federal and state holidays.

Shoulder season:

Late spring (May) and autumn (October) can be a great time to visit; the weather is nice and the crowds will be slightly smaller. Temperatures on average will be in the 20s C and although there is some rainfall, it is significantly less than during summer. It may be possible to find cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale and better hotel deals during these in-between seasons, but book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Off season:

Fort Lauderdale summers (June through September) are hot and humid. This is when the most rainfall occurs, particularly in the months of June and September. However, this is the most affordable time to visit, as travellers will be more likely to find cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale. Hotels in the area also reduce their prices considerably during the summer. As most days thunderstorms occur in the afternoon or evening, you can still make the most of your trip.

Before booking your flight to Fort Lauderdale, you should take into consideration that the hurricane season falls from June through November. Major hurricanes are most likely to affect the area during the months of September and October.

Fort Lauderdale overview

Thanks to the 1960 movie, Where the Boys Are, this once-quiet city in South Florida became synonymous with Spring Break.  But starting in the 1980s, the city of Fort Lauderdale made efforts to change its image and started to put limits on the mega-party scene, hoping to ensure a family-friendly experience.

Today, the city still draws plenty of college kids in March, but the energy is not quite so wild. In fact, Fort Lauderdale has moved upmarket and Port Everglades is now one of the largest cruise centres in the world. The T-shirt shops and souvenir stores that once overwhelmed the waterfront have given way to trendy shops, nice restaurants, and a two-mile promenade that offers unobstructed pedestrian access along one of the city’s nicest beaches.

The water is what attracts most travellers to book a flight to Fort Lauderdale – the area boasts more than 20 miles (32 km) of powdery sand beaches and 300 miles (482 km) of waterways, making it truly the “Venice of America”.

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Getting around Fort Lauderdale

Ample parking and wide-flung city limits make driving the easiest way to get around Fort Lauderdale. Renting a car is best, and you can often find package deals when you book your flight to Fort Lauderdale. Major car rental companies can be found at the airport. If you’re not a driver, there are plenty of taxis around the city, but they are expensive. The bus is much cheaper, but is very complicated. You can also take a water taxi downtown via the New River and the waterway.

Getting from the Airport to the City

The main airport for flights to Fort Lauderdale is Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Bus, train and taxi all operate from the airport to the city centre. The buses run every 20-30 minutes 7 days a week and take approximately 20 minutes.

The Tri Rail train service takes only eight minutes to get to town but runs only once an hour and finishes in the early evening.

Taxis are available from the transportation podium, located outside the baggage area of each terminal. They take approximately 10 minutes to town.

Many hotels in the area also offer free shuttles to and from the airport.

It’s advisable to hire a car when visiting the area.

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