Least expensive?

That would probably be #3, as you can go right over the tile. Before installing a floating laminate I'd recommend you walk on a few. They can take a bit getting used to, and the sensation is dofferent depending on the manufacturer.

Fine Homebuilding Magazine (taunton.com) addresses laminates in this month's issue.

For laying new tile, in Florida, unskilled labor for demo is quite reasonable ($). If it's a large area of floor, then it might be worth it to hire that out, that way when the installers come in to put down the new tile any problems with the substrate will be theirs to address, in that they cannot blame damage to the existin slab on you because you did the demo.

You also won't have to deal with hauling and disposing of the old tile, either.

If you;re on a slab and after tile removal your installer discvoers problems with the existing slab, then you might have to have a membrane put down, that could add a couple of dollars per sqft to the new tile cost.

So...I think a laminate over the existing tile would, overall, be least expensive.

But if going with new tile and you insist on ripping up the old, I recommend you write a check for the whole shebang.

Mongo

You should be able to take the tile out in a couple of long days. I took out our entryway tile (60 sf) in about 90 minutes.

Method 1 (I did this for my entry way)
- Get a sledge hammer and beat on it until it comes loose
- Use a floor scraper to clean up the morter

Method 2
- Rent a smaller roto-hammer and use a 3 inch chisel blade to take it out.

Mongo - by "floating floor" do you mean the material they put down over the tile before installing the laminate? I would think that would give a soft feel that I might like. Tile is really hard on the legs after a while.

removing the tile is the easy part, hauling it out and getting it to the dump is the hard part. Stop and add up how many Tons of tile and mortar you are dealing with. (that's not a typo, i meant Tons, not pounds)

I found out the hard way when i had 1100 sq feet of tile shipped motor freight to my house. They dropped it at the end of the driveway. 7000 lbs that i had to haul up the driveway and around to the back patio.

I really don't think hauling the old tile out and new in is that bad. I hauled tile, brick and morter for 10 years as a job, and its just taking it one load at a time.

I wouldn't do it myself. I think its worth paying people to do it for you quickly and cleanly. The amount of effort and money and possible mistakes its not worth the grief or dollars. Just make sure you get someone you can trust to do the work, otherwise you won't have save anything. And if you order tile and buy online all you have to do is ask for a liftgate and then you'll have a thing to help you carry tile inside.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ceramic Tiles