Daytona or Orlando

expaddockrunner · 13 Dec 2011, 08:28 (Ref:2999068)

I am still thinking of doing the speedweeks at daytona, maybe not 2012, everywhere will be sold out! and choice of tickets will be limited.
so 2013, its only just over 12 months away

,
so where is best to stay, orlando 1hr drive away or somewhere in daytona to avoid the massive traffic jams everyday.
plus what is there to do in daytona at nighttime when there is no racing on...

NaBUru38 · 13 Dec 2011, 15:32 (Ref:2999205)

Hello! According to this, the 2012 Speedweeks schedule is:

Friday, January 27: Conti Challenge race
Saturday 28-Sunday 29: 24 Hours race

Saturday, February 18: Arca race, Cup Shootout
Sunday, February 19: Cup qualifying

Thursday, February 23 - Cup Duels
Friday, February 24 - Truck race
Saturday, February 25 - Nationwide race
Sunday, February 26 - Cup race

mountainstar · 13 Dec 2011, 16:52 (Ref:2999240)

Quote:

Originally Posted by expaddockrunner

I am still thinking of doing the speedweeks at daytona, maybe not 2012, everywhere will be sold out! and choice of tickets will be limited.
so 2013, its only just over 12 months away

,
so where is best to stay, orlando 1hr drive away or somewhere in daytona to avoid the massive traffic jams everyday.
plus what is there to do in daytona at nighttime when there is no racing on...

I think it's best to just stay at Daytona, if your main purpose is going to the track. Orlando just adds 2 hours a day+ of driving.

I'm sure someone is probably more of an expert than me on it, I've only been there a few times to work at the track. But basically there is a strip of hotels and restaurants along the road the track is on and then if you drive a few miles through town to the beach there is a another bunch of hotels on the beach. I've always stayed at the Holiday Inn Express which is right down the street from the track and it's right off I-95. It's an older Holiday Inn that was refurbished with a nice pool and I've never had a problem with it.

What is there to do at night? Well there is bars, strip clubs, restaurants, etc. Mostly after working all day, I just want a good meal and friendly service which is why I like:

Ker's Wing House: http://www.winghouse.com/
or
Hooters: www.hooters.com

Axeman444 · 13 Dec 2011, 22:18 (Ref:2999427)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Mostly after working all day, I just want a good meal and friendly service which is why I like:

Hooters: www.hooters.com

for the good meal or the... err... friendly... err... service?

Al Weyman · 13 Dec 2011, 23:58 (Ref:2999480)

Or the Crusin Cafe thats well into racing like a museum you even sit in mock up NASCARS. I went there 3 weeks ago and drove the circuit in a 64 Mustang HRA race car (awesome) I stayed at a hotel/motel type place on South Atlantic Avenue and it was about 6 or 7 easy miles from the circuit. I can recommend it as very clean and reasonably priced. Its called the Atlantic Ocean Palm Inn.

First picture is Hooters with a very pretty young waitress

Second Cruisin Cafe

Third me in the Mustang about to take to the Daytona walls of Death!

thebear · 14 Dec 2011, 00:45 (Ref:2999496)

Send a P-M with your real e-mail address and I will reply with an extensive group of Daytona/Orlando `Motorsoprts Tourist" information.

Tourer · 14 Dec 2011, 02:45 (Ref:2999517)

Was over there a couple of years ago for bike week. We stayed on the beach and there was PLENTY going on at night to just enjoy being part of.

It really is done well and is a fun experience there, no question. Can't comment on staying near the track as haven't done it but from the beach is a short run out to the track and you can get as into the night life or as away from it as you like.

Jimmy Magnusson · 14 Dec 2011, 02:47 (Ref:2999518)

Quote:

Originally Posted by expaddockrunner

so where is best to stay, orlando 1hr drive away or somewhere in daytona to avoid the massive traffic jams everyday.
plus what is there to do in daytona at nighttime when there is no racing on...

Personally I would stay in Daytona for sure, preferably whithin walking distance of the track. Saves a lot of headache. There's a local short track that put races on during the NASCAR weeks but I don't know how late in the evening they run. But they're on weekdays so that's a plus. And seriously, what does Orlando really have to offer? If you feel like a month in Daytona is a bit long, maybe you could pop down to Miami in between or something. And hey, there's the beach.

FordCosworthPanoz · 14 Dec 2011, 04:11 (Ref:2999523)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

Personally I would stay in Daytona for sure, preferably whithin walking distance of the track. Saves a lot of headache. There's a local short track that put races on during the NASCAR weeks but I don't know how late in the evening they run. But they're on weekdays so that's a plus. And seriously, what does Orlando really have to offer? If you feel like a month in Daytona is a bit long, maybe you could pop down to Miami in between or something. And hey, there's the beach.

Yep, make sure you get to either Volusia Speedway or New Smyrna Speedway, some of the best racing you will see all week, and lots of races during Speedweeks.

expaddockrunner · 14 Dec 2011, 08:05 (Ref:2999564)

Thanks to everyone, so far that have sent a reply,
i have had a rough quote for a twin centre for 2013, one week in a disney! hotel, then 10 days on the beach at the Acapulco Hotel, no car hire (not sure if that is wise), need to look at the bus service in the area at greater length. but will wait nearer to 2012 event for date conformation for 2013.

mountainstar · 14 Dec 2011, 19:22 (Ref:2999849)

Quote:

Originally Posted by expaddockrunner

Thanks to everyone, so far that have sent a reply,
i have had a rough quote for a twin centre for 2013, one week in a disney! hotel, then 10 days on the beach at the Acapulco Hotel, no car hire (not sure if that is wise), need to look at the bus service in the area at greater length. but will wait nearer to 2012 event for date conformation for 2013.

I'd say a rental car is probably going to make your life a lot easier and in Florida rental cars are pretty cheap. Just depends how far you plan to range out and what you want to do.

One word of caution in my own personal opinion is that Daytona Beach itself feels a bit sketchy and rough with some interesting characters hanging about. A lot of the hotels here cater to the Spring Break crowd and other types so the hotels are not kept up well due to constantly being trashed every year by drunken college students, so I would read reviews on tripadvisor.com or other review sites and choose well so you don't have a miserable stay.

Al Weyman · 14 Dec 2011, 22:50 (Ref:2999966)

I flew into Daytona Airport a delightful experience in itself. I had booked some little Nissan Compact on line but the Car Hire man offered me an Explorer as an upgrade for $20 a day extra, I jokingly said if you had a Camaro to which he replied Sir it just so happens........... So I ended up with a nice burnt orange 5000 mile 5th Gen Camaro for just 20 extra bucks a day, only in America, yer gotta love it!

JHamilton · 20 Dec 2011, 19:36 (Ref:3002390)

Florida is one giant hotel. I just did a quick search and found a few decent looking places in Ormond Beach for $180/night. Expensive, but it won't get much cheaper on race weekend.

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