Planning a Florida vacation doesn't have to cost a fortune. A few simple tips for saving money on a great trip!
Everyone loves a vacation. Whether the vacation involves a long period of time to get away from it all, or just a quick weekend getaway, there's nothing like leaving the phone and the email behind and getting a chance to relax. The only thing better than a vacation, is a vacation that doesn't cost too much. And, while many people dream of getting away on a vacation to Florida, they may not be aware that there are ways to take this trip without it costing a fortune.
One of the first ways to save money on a trip to Florida is on airfare. Flying into Florida will obviously be more expensive if you fly into one of the major airports, such as Tampa or Orlando. Check into flights that arrive in some of the smaller airports, if possible. This alone will save you hundreds of dollars, even before your vacation really begins. Check with your travel agent, or one of the discount travel websites to find which airports will be most convenient to your destination.
Since many Florida vacations involve theme parks, many visitors plan their vacations to the Orlando area. As you will find, the closer a hotel is to "the mouse's house," the more you can expect to pay. Determine just how close you need to be to the theme park, and consider finding a hotel a few miles away. Finding a room as few as 5 or 10 miles from the theme parks can save you a considerable amount of money. And, there are plenty of hotels out there. The theme parks are easily accessible from a variety of directions, the roads and exits are clearly marked, and if nothing else, every hotel employee can hand you a map that will get you directly from your hotel room to the park entrances. You will also find that a number of hotels offer free shuttle service to the area attractions, allowing you to relax on the ride, avoid any concerns over getting lost, and not have to bother with parking the car. Many of the hotels in the areas surrounding the theme parks offer special packages that include your room as well as admission to some of the parks. This can be a real money saver as well. Consider which parks you are planning to visit, how many tickets you would need to purchase, and the cost of the room.
Many of the area hotels offer rooms with kitchenettes. While cooking meals on your vacation may not be your idea of a vacation, you might want to stock up on bottled water, milk, fruit, or other snacks that will save you money while you are in the parks. This also gives you the chance to bring restaurant leftovers back to the room for later, which would not be an option in a room without a refrigerator. This can save a lot of money, since eating out on vacation can quickly get very expensive. Also, find out if the hotel offers a free breakfast, as many of them do. Eating in the theme parks can be costly, so any extra "freebies" from the hotel make your vacation that much more affordable.
Another option for finding a place to stay is to check the internet for available time share condos. You can often find a suite that will accommodate everyone in your party, and will end up costing considerably less than a hotel. Often, these condos will need to be rented for a week at a time, so if you are only planning to be in town a day or two, this might not be the best option. However, if you are travelling with friends, or have a large family, and are planning to stay for a week, the price-per-night averages out to be much less than you would pay elsewhere for a much smaller room.
If you choose to stay at one of the theme park resorts, you will find that there are rooms available for a wide range of budgets. When you call to make reservations, ask about any available specials. Florida residents are often able to get discounted room rates, as are AAA members and AARP members. And, there are advantages to staying in the theme parks' hotels, such as being able to take advantage of free parking, extended park hours, discounts in the parks, and free transportation. Consider each of the costs, and the savings involved when making your decisions.
No matter where you choose to stay, rates will vary depending on when you choose to travel. For example, you can expect to pay more for any hotel in Florida during Spring Break. Theme parks are especially busy between Christmas and New Year's, and over holiday weekends. If you are able to be flexible in your travel dates, you have a better chance of being able to save money on your accommodations. Also, you may find that by staying a certain number of nights, you are able to get a cheaper rate on your hotel room. In fact, a hotel may not have a room available for a guest who is only staying 2 nights, but will have a room for someone planning to stay 3 nights. Often booking a room over the internet will save you money as well, so try plugging in a variety of arrival and departure dates, if possible, and find the rates that best suit your budget.
For families planning to visit Florida for reasons other than theme parks, the same opportunities for discount hotels apply as well. Rates anywhere will vary greatly depending on the time of the year. You might be surprised to find that many hotels on the beach offer lower rates in the summer than in the winter, since so many winter visitors come to the beach when they get tired of shoveling snow. This makes winter a very busy season at the beach. Also, if you are able to stay in a hotel that is not directly on the beach, you will save a considerable amount of money. Hotels across the street from the beach are much less expensive than those overlooking the sand. Hotels a mile from the beach are considerably less than that. Decide how far you are willing to be from the beach, how convenient it will be to park at the beach, and how much stuff you will carry back and forth every day, and book your hotel accordingly.
Keep in mind that some beaches are more "famous" than others, and you can expect that these will be more popular, and more expensive, than others. If you have your heart set on visiting a particular stretch of sand, find it on a map, and look for another city a few miles up or down the coast that might offer less expensive hotel rates. For instance, Daytona, Clearwater, and Miami beaches are likely to be expensive "hot spots" for travelers. However, beaches just a few miles from any of these may be able to offer you more affordable prices. If you do not care which beach you visit, as long as there is sand, look at a map, and choose a beach you have never heard of. Then, get on the internet and find a hotel room. You may be able to save a bundle. And, keep in mind that time-share condos can offer a big savings when visiting the beach as well.
When visiting the beach, or a theme park for that matter, you can expect shopping and restaurants to be more expensive the closer you are to the attraction. Try to find places to eat or purchase souveniers and supplies that are away from where the tourists are hanging out. Ask someone at the hotel desk to recommend a good place to eat, or to direct you to a shopping mall or discount store in the area. People that live in Florida recognize that restaurants on the beach cost more than those a few miles inland. And, everything from beach towels to sunscreen can be purchased for a whole lot less money at Wal-Mart than at the "tourist traps" on the beach. You will be amazed at how much money you will save by taking the few minutes to drive into town a bit.
Another way to save money is to avoid restaurants for some meals, and make the most of where you are. Get sandwiches from the deli, order a pizza, or grab something quick from the market, and have a picnic on the beach at sunset. There's nothing in the world like watching the sun sink into the water while enjoying your meal, and you will have saved a small fortune. Or, enjoy bagels and juice by the pool or on the beach for breakfast. This is vacation! You can eat at a restaurant anywhere. Take advantage of your time on the beach while it lasts!
Saving money on your Florida vacation doesn't have to be hard, and it doesn't have to diminish the quality of your vacation. You can still have the vacation of a lifetime, without breaking the bank to do it!
