My, this thread is old! I would not know about Florida, but it is true that a PPL, including ground exams, can be completed in the UK in less than one month:

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...blackpool.html

The 45 hour thing is the minimum - it is likely that one will take longer - a rule of thumb is the minimum plus an hour for every year over 21 - I am sure that there are plenty of examples of sixty year olds who have done it in the minimum but as one gets older it does taken longer.

Intensive courses are possible in the UK if the right weather conditions are found - so maybe we're talking about an ideal summer. You also need a school with plenty of planes, losing a couple of days for the one trainer being off the line for repairs can be significant. Generally though it's the weather that gets you - I did an intensive course in Florida and even there weather wasa factor as was the fact that I took to going to the airport at the crack of dawn and flying circuits for an hour or so about half way through the course and outside the scheduled training schedule - set me in good stead though as my flight examiner commented that he'd never seen an intensive course ppl candidate with so many landings before, may also explain why I was happy to do my check ride in pretty horrendous winds when theose on the commercial course declined (that and I was due to fly out the next evening).

If you are going to do an intensive course I would say do not do it locally - do it somewhere away from home so that you can immerse yourself in the course.

That aid avoid parts of the US in high summere.g.

Great Article - off to EFT in Feb 2014
 

Great to read this article, I am currently enrolled with EFT for Feb 2014 and I am already holding the US Visa, which I have to say, the hidden costs for this were a shock. Bizarrely enough our stories are the same, early inheritance to fulfil dream so chose Florida for A: Quickness and B: Cost

If you have any other advice would be grateful to hear, such as Walmart shopping for sheets etc, did you do that or can you get them provided, also did you get any unexpected extra charges?

Did you study your books before you got there?

I'm currently at EFT and have been for two weeks on Sunday. Arrived having studied for a couple of months previously and have taken three exams so far, ready to take another four. Sat on the ground for a week due to the weather (even at this time of year!). My instructor, Matteo is really pushing me hard and is really going all out to help me succeed. Since Monday I have done 9.2 hours and am ready to start circuits, however the wind is out of limits to start to learn them at the moment. I have just over two weeks left (allowed a month in case of weather, not sure if that'll be enough - may have to finish off in the UK). It is really good here, staying on campus, the houses are average - don't expect any five star accommodation. Makes you want to get out and study though.
I got all my sheets etc from Walmart on the way from the airport, things are very cheap and they can be picked up for a very reasonable price. There is a law in the US that prevents them from giving out sheets.
All in all a brilliant school, hope you can glean some info from what I said and good luck with your flight training - also feel free to pm me with any other questions :)

Regards
Alex