Rosco... what I meant to say - although this is now academic (after reading that you have a CAA medical already), is that if you did the two medicals at the same time, with the same person, you might not have to pay twice. Too late!!
The other aspect of getting the FAA medical before departure was that in the EXTREMELY unlikely event of not getting one (for some medical reason that you may not be aware of), it would be better to find out before giving Richard Branson a few hundred quid for airline tickets.
Now that we know you have a CAA class 1, we pretty much know that you will get an FAA without a problem. Yeah, consider doing it in Naples (though you have been told it will cost $75 - that's about £53...can you beat that at home??)
Written exams?? Go to your local airport, sign up for some groundschool (ideally) and do the written exams - and R/T practical before you travel (if you can). If not - just buy the books (NAC may be able to have them delivered to your home!!) and start studying.
On the subject of R/T - at PPL level, pretty much all of the stuff you use in the UK will work in the USA...but what they teach you in the USA will not all work in the UK.
knobbygb
October is not (really) a long way off. Weather-wise, 1st June to November 30th is hurricane season...but the peak periods are August and September. CHances of a storm in June or November are virtually nil - though we had a small one last November...that ran into December. Fooled them all.
October still has its chances....you just have to get there and find out (in real time). There is no way of forecasting them!! Even if they come, it's normally only a couple of days of down time - till the winds die down again....unless it's a direct strike from a Cat 4 or 5 storm...and then, flying will be the least thing on your mind.
E-mail NAC with your questions....they will respond (it's their job!!). If you want any specific advice, post the question here - or send me an e-mail through pprune, and I'll try to help.