When you think about taking a Florida travel vacation, Orlando and Miami come to mind as desirable places to visit. The reason for this is that these cities have so much to offer with very exciting theme parks, entertaining nightlife and gorgeous white sand beaches. These two cities by far have become two of Florida’s most visited leisure destinations. But in 2009, Forbes list of the top 25 most visited tourist destinations in America included Orlando and Tampa. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

Let’s face it, Orlando has a lot to offer with the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom loaded with theme parks for the whole family to enjoy, SeaWorld, Islands of Adventure, and in Tampa Bay you have the magnificent Bush Gardens. These are places that are not only enjoyable to children but adults as well. So when planning a vacation, most families want to visit Orlando and Tampa. If a Florida vacation is in the horizon for you, there are things you can do to make it affordable and here are some tips to get you started.

Book Airfare Early

Unless you are planning to drive to Florida, it is a good idea to book your flights many months in advance of your desired trip date. Like everything else, you have to shop around for the cheapest airfares available especially if you have a large family. Check out Orbitz online as they charge no booking fees and offer price assurance on your purchase. Also check out cheapoair for guaranteed low prices.

Lodging

If you have family members or friends living in Florida and can stay with them that is great. If not, do some research on the Internet and start comparing lodging rates. One of my favorite places to do this is HotelsCombined. It is the world’s leading hotel search engine visited by over 6 million people each month. Their website streamlines the largest number of deals into one simple format and includes prices from prominent online travel agents and hotel chains like Hotels.com, Expedia.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Hilton Hotels, and many more. In essence, HotelsCombined is a search engine that combines all hotel deals into one free and quick search to get you the cheapest hotel rates available.

Ask about Freebies

Lots of hotel chains offer free breakfast and “kids eat free” programs. Take advantage of these freebies and save lots of money on food. If you use the Internet, stay at hotels that offer free Internet access. Some hotels also offer complimentary shuttle service from and to the airport so find out about this and take advantage of it. You can also find out if the hotel you are staying in offers complimentary shuttle service to all the theme parks or wherever you want to go.

Get your theme park tickets Online

You can actually purchase all theme park tickets way ahead of your vacation departure date. What I normally do is go to “The Official Ticket Center” and purchase online. This is Florida’s most recommended discount attraction ticket agency. All of the tickets they sell are discounted and include taxes. There are no hidden fees! This agency has been in business for over 10 years and do offer the lowest prices on tickets to all theme parks.

Membership discount Programs

There is a wealth of membership benefits for AARP and AAA members. Simply show your membership card and you can save on hotel rates, car rentals, sports events, dining and many more. If you contact The Official Ticket Center to buy your theme park tickets, do mention that you belong to AARP or AAA and see if you can get even more discounts.

There you have it! With the tips mentioned above, you should be able to plan a dream Florida vacation that is actually affordable for the whole family. So go ahead, start planning now and pack your bags heading for the Sunshine State of Florida.

If you are planning to travel to Florida and get away from the cold winter months, consider Sanibel Island. Located off the Gulf coast of Florida and west of Fort Myers, it is a busy vacation destination for many people during the winter and those who just need to get away. It is a tropical island with lots of coconut trees, delightful tropical foliage where you can watch herons and pelicans fish for their dinner. At Sanibel Island you will also find that much desired slow paced way of life with family friendly activities, golf, fishing, boating, biking, excellent restaurants and gorgeous white sand beaches. (photo courtesy: flickr)

Sanibel Island is known for its beautiful pastel colored seashells that pile up on the beaches. If you love collecting seashell, this is the place to be. Here you will find an abundant collection of unique seashells that come from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the island. Tourists from all over the world vacation in Sanibel Island to collect and admire the very colorful seashells and consider them a treasure from the sea. Collecting seashells at Sanibel Island has become a family activity and you will see young and old with buckets collecting them. (photo courtesy: Sandy Ranseth)

Sanibel Island has something for everyone. You can spend time at the famous “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge with over 6,000 acres of mangrove jungles and wetlands and home to many endangered species. Here you will see many manatees, raccoons, alligators and lots of tropical birds. You and your family can also go fishing, boating, biking on a twenty five mile bike path and explore the island, play tennis, shop at unique boutiques with unusual items to purchase and dine at numerous excellent restaurants along the way.

The fun never stops at Sanibel Island and the best part is that you can include your whole family. It really is considered a top Florida destination for families. You can choose to be boating, kayaking, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, playing golf on one of the scenic courses, and playing tennis, bike riding, or just cruise the waterway by boat and rest assured that you will remember your vacation for years to come. Sanibel Island is also a
preferred place for couples who dream about getting married at the beach. If you are planning a wedding, do consider Sanibel Island for your special day and it will be an unforgettable experience. (photo courtesy: ultimatebeachweddings.com)