Oh RSW, you charismatic little airport you.

Usually airports are full of dark colors, rushing people, loud announcers, long lines, unpleasantly crowded bathrooms, and just an overall sense of uptight.  RSW plays a different card - sure, there are people and announcements and lines but...in a different way.  The airport is modern looking, complete with lightly colored floor to ceiling everything and enough windows to let in that Florida sunlight from morning till night.  Relaxing music is playing over the intercom as if to say, "hey, take a load off, you're in good hands.  We are the Allstate of airports."

I find it to be a pleasant experience to get here early, departure or arrival, and hang around the terminals or the main entrance area.  There are some decent restaurant choices, and at least one Starbucks (pre-security) for my caffeine fix.  There is a LOT of room and a LOT of places to sit, no matter what time of day.  Hang out, have some free wi-fi (sssl-oooow free wifi). Alas, much like everything else in FL, it closes down early.  Don't expect to be able to grab yourself a late night snack or cup of coffee coming in on a 10pm flight - most, if not all places will be closed up for the day. Picking up?  Hang out at the cell phone lot, and you can zoom through the baggage claim having completed your person pickup in less than 5 minutes.

My favorite thing?  The lack of waiting.  I've NEVER hit traffic going to / coming from the airport and its never taken me more than 10 minutes to get through security - and I'm rounding up on that estimate.  Okay, RSW, so you treat me like I'm made of money - but I love you more than any of the others!  You're so cool, you have class, you have style, I feel relaxed and get excited when I come by for arrivals or departures. The Southwest Florida International Airport Parking is $8 a day outdoors, and $20 for the shuttle - who needs that? A park and fly is nicer and a better bargain too. All in all, of all the other airports, this is one of the best as far as organization, architecture, acoustics, weather protection. And most of the usual choices are available here for RSW Airport Hotels, if you got your park and fly or just need to recharge overnight.

10-04-2017