FNG, a lot of very good points well made.
I went to Florida to complete my PPL that I started in the UK. Main reason was that I just didn't seem to be making any headway against the weather. Too much stop start, learn re-learn etc. So I have seen it from both sides.
From my observations in Florida, those poor chaps craming a PPL into 4 weeks were lucky if they knew what day it was. On top of the flying they had to do all the exams and study every evening with very little time to relax and take stock.
I went with the intention of spending 7 days and doing about 15 hours prior to the skill test. I had all my exams and RT test under my belt. However I had not banked on also having to study some of the FAA flight law so that I could satisfy my instructor that I knew how to fly on the right hand side of the road. The 4 week PPL guys also had to do this on top of all the CAA/JAA stuff.
There were so many different practices, RT procedures, circuit joining, method for filing flight plans, classes of airspace etc etc that I would imagine several hours of familiarisation would be required at a UK flight school on return just to get up to speed with the way we fly.
Where did I go? I went to Naples Air Center. I was treated very well, had a keen instructor, the set up was good, well run, and the aircraft were well maintained. I had no complaints.