College Football Bowl - Florida which one

[gjhardt]

I want to give my son a present to one of the bowl games and I think it will be either Gator Bowl in Jacksonville or Orange Bowl in Miami

Any suggestions from football fans and/or Florida natives?

Thanks

 

[Kevin]

I want to give my son a present to one of the bowl games and I think it will be either Gator Bowl in Jacksonville or Orange Bowl in Miami

Any suggestions from football fans and/or Florida natives?

Thanks

Orange Bowl will have much better teams... and South Beach!!:whoopie:

 

[Dave M]

First choice would be the National Championship game. Unfortunately, that game is in Arizona this season. Next choice would likely be a game involving one of his favorite teams. Unfortunately, the match-ups won't be decided until the end of November.

Thus, my choice would be for one of the other major "Bowl Championship Series" games, matching the really top teams. Of your two choices, that means the Orange Bowl (January 2, 2007), which will almost certainly have the Big East or ACC champion as the host team and a highly ranked team as the other team.

Finding tickets at a decent price won't be easy. Start now!

 

[Dave M]

I was surprised to find that a few tickets at face value are still available through Ticketmaster at $110 each. Not great seats (high up in the corners), but they are available.

 

[Kevin]

...Thus, my choice would be for one of the other major "Bowl Championship Series" games, matching the really top teams. Of your two choices, that means the Orange Bowl (January 2, 2007), which will almost certainly have the Big East or ACC champion as the host team and a highly ranked team as the other team....

I believe it will depend on which bowl has second choice of teams after the championship game "selections".

 

[Dave M]

Not exactly.

The Orange Bowl has a contract to take the Big East or ACC champion, unless one of them is ranked #1 or #2 in the country - in which case, that team would go the the BCS championship game. Thus, it's very likely that one of those conference champs will play in the Orange Bowl.

The other three big bowls have similar arrangements. Thus, for example, if neither the Big Ten or Pacific-10 champions are ranked #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, both teams automatically go to the Rose Bowl.

 

[gjhardt]

Okay, thanks everyone, I went with the Orange Bowl, now
next question. Best timeshares in area - games goes late don't want to drive more than 40-50 minutes.


Anyone have a suggestion we will go down for a week so I would like somewhere nice.

 

[Dave M]

Probably the best in the Miami area is Westgate at South Beach. However, that area will be a real zoo during Super Bowl week.

You might be better off with a resort in the Fort Lauderdale area, such as highly rated Marriott's BeachPlace or Vacation Village at Weston.

Your son would likely prefer South Beach!

That will be a tough week to get an exchange in the area. Or to find a hotel room. Good luck!

 

[KenK]

TA says crappy motels / hotels near the airports have jacked up pricing very high.

Most hotels in Broward & Dade SAY they are sold out. They might be holding back rooms ??

It is an easy drive across I 75 (90 miles approx toll to toll) from the Naples area. (Check the east Naples area Golden Gate (entrance near I 75 toll).

 

[disneygirl]

Thank you everyone for your info. Got tickets for the Orange Bowl game and airfares look good. Now just have to wait for II or RCI to have a unit available for those dates - so far don't see anything but Weston so I am going to give it a little time.

I appreciate the input on the games - I know it's early to buy but I tried last year after teams were chosen and it was really expensive and only available on ebay.

 

[Dave M]

If I were you and saw an acceptable timeshare, I would grab it. Space will be scarce that week!

 

[JLB]

Better timeshares in SW Fl, or SE Fl for that matter, are seldom available for dates after 12/15, between 12/15 and 4/15 m/l. Those you have to start searching for two years in advance.

I won't bother to go check what's available at this late date cuz I already know.

I search Resorts on the Beach on RCI every morning. One of my start dates is 12/28/06, for the next 5 weeks. This morning of the 38 resorts left, 34 are in SE FL or the Panhandle. I believe a couple of the others were lesser resorts in SE Fl.

IN SW Florida, the only resort still available is Lehigh, for a 12/30 start date.

We have been going to FL during bowl season for about 15 years. The roads are a madhouse heading down, depending on what teams are going and what days you are traveling. Bumper to bumper, all lanes, 85-95 miles an hour. If you wish to drive the speed limit to 5 over, it's best to stay in the far righthand lane, where you have to contend with the hundreds of snowbirds in their motor homes and travel trailers. They normally head down after spending Christmas with the grandkids up north.

 

[KenK]

TAKE THE WESTON UNITS.

They are nice....its a fast 23 miles in 23 minutes to Ft Laud or Hollywood beach.

One of your requirements was a very nice T/S.....well, if any do open in the beach area, except for Beach Place or Royal Vista (even furhter N from Miami), they will be standard or maybe in your opinion, even below standard.

I know the VRI Ft Laud Beach resort will also be full, and you risk a non renovated room there. Hollywood has only one SSL rated (Sands on the beach), and is not a resort. Silver Seas & Merriweather may not be up to your standards....IMO ok beach front units next to MBP & St Regis.

Hollywood Tower won RID but may have lost it...Enchanted Isle is very standard.....very old, and the Ramada Hollywood Beach Hotel & Resort IMO would be worse than a tent on the sand. (But pools are great)

Weston is pretty close to the stadium, surrounded by I 595 (E to FLL 15 miles or less) , and I 75, which goes right into Miami. Fort Lauderdale is the best airport option.