Sarasota Airport Mini Guide
Why Should I go to Sarasota?
There’s one main and obvious reason to visit Sarasota and that’s because of its beaches. Regularly voted in the top ten beaches on earth, Siesta Key is almost perfect. The beaches around the city have also earned the accolade of having the whitest sand, so you can imagine what Siesta Key must be like. The sea is equally beautiful and typical of the finest of anything offered by the Caribbean. The city, despite being of medium size has a cosy atmosphere with a big emphasis on the arts and culture which includes the Ringling Art Museum and the Circus Museum.
How do I get to Sarasota?
Although called Sarasota International, the only international flight is a seasonal one to
Toronto. Passengers from other countries, including the
UK, would have to fly into
JFK, New York and catch the connecting flight to Sarasota. The airport is a couple of miles outside the city and access to the beaches and the city hotels is by bus, shuttle, taxi or rental car.
What is Sarasota Airport Like?
The airport has a single terminal and gates leading straight into a connected concourse. It was completed in 1989 and still has a new feel to it. Its compactness means that all facilities are easily accessed.
So What Should I Expect When I Land at Sarasota?
It’s a rather bizarre but lovely experience. You’ll disembark on jet bridges and then feel that you are walking through an art gallery because of the amount of paintings and sculptures that have been used to beautify the airport’s spaces. Once through security you’ll also notice the indoor waterfall which is actually part of the airport’s air conditioning system. If that’s not enough, you’ll be staggered too by the 6,000 gallon aquarium on the second floor. For more normal airport facilities, you have the information desk which will be straight ahead of you as you come off the concourse. There you’ll be able to find out more about the uniqueness of the airport before heading down a level to collect your luggage.
If you need cash, the airport’s only ATM is at the top of the ‘up’ escalator so get some before going to baggage reclaim. Car rental desks are in the baggage reclaim area and if you’ve pre-booked, your time there should be minimal, finalising the paperwork. Public transport is found just outside the terminal for buses and taxis into Sarasota.
What can I Expect on the day of my Departure?
After checking in, you’ll find that Sarasota Airport likes to condense its shopping experience into one main shop. Aside from the CNN news stand and a golf accessories shop, there’s a Travelmart that sells just about everything you might need on your flight including Dunkin’ Donuts! Beside that essential for your journey, there are also toiletries, gifts, travel accessories and books. The food choices are also a little limited and seem to follow the golf theme with the main restaurant styling itself as the 19th hole with clubhouse food. It may not be quite what you expected at an airport but then what’s new at Sarasota?