The Fountains. Orlando is home to a myriad of exciting activities and attractions the entire family can enjoy. Make a splash at Bluegreen’s Wakoola Springs—a spectacular 75000-square-foot, water park-like tropical oasis. Or spend the day on serene Lake Eve. This sunny playground offers everything you’d expect from America’s Favorite Vacation Destination and Bluegreen Resorts. The sun is always out and the skies are always blue, so why not get outside and soak up some all-natural fun in Orlando. It’s lineup of world-renowned attractions, theme parks and all-around family entertainment provides endless amusement for all visitors. Walt Disney World®, Magic Kingdom®, EPCOT®, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® are staples of the Orlando experience. If you’re looking for Orlando resorts near Universal Studios®, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld® Adventure Park, and Discovery Cove® The Fountains is close by.
Europeans no longer need a visa when visiting Florida, a full British passport is all that is now needed. Airlines will issue you with a Visa waver form on the aircraft before landing and also a Customs Declaration card. They must be handed into Customs when going through passport control.
Orlando International airport is the main International airport for the state and there are also large airports at Tampa, Miami and Sanford.
When clearing customs you should hand in your customs declaration form, listing all the things that you have brought into the US. You must note that you cannot bring in fresh meat, fruit, drugs and plants.
Disabled travellers will find ramps, wide doors, lifts and other wheelchair provisions in major public places. You should contact your car hire firm for written proof of their policies towards disabled drivers. On arrival in the state, the car hire company should direct you to the local county office in order to claim disabled driver status. Please remember that in some cases you may have to wait up to two hours to get your disabled visitor badge.
European drivers can drive in Florida on a full driving licence issued in their own country. However under 25′s may find it difficult to hire a car or may have to pay much higher rates of hire and insurance. Many airlines now offer Fly Drive holidays which offer competitive car hire rates.
When hiring a car you must ensure that you have the correct insurance. It is advisable to take out Collision Damage Waver. You may find it to be expensive, but it is essential to take out as it covers you for all conceivable events.
Most hire cars in Florida are automatics and come with air conditioning. You now generally find that the main car hire companies are now bases at the airports which makes collecting and dropping off the car much easier.
In Florida they drive on the right hand side of the road and it is preferable for first time visitors to arrive in day light in order to familiarise themselves with the road networks.
The interstate roads are the best for long journeys and have anywhere up to six lanes. Please remember that Americans overtake on both sides which can be a shock for foreign tourists on their first visit. Also remember when using a toll road to have money to pay at each toll booth.
The speed limit in Florida is 65mph and in outer city limits it is usually 55mph. In built up areas it drops to 30 – 35mph. If you are stopped by the police, wait in the car and be polite. Florida police do not appreciate rude drivers.
Drinking and driving is not tolerated in Florida and it is regarded as a serious offence. If stopped on suspicion of drink driving, you can be locked up on the spot until you have taken a urine test. You should not drink drive under any circumstances.
If you are unfortunate enough to break down while driving in Florida you should wait in your car with the bonnet raised and wait until the Highway Patrol stop to help you.
In Florida the standard electrical supply is 110-120 volts and if bringing your own electrical devices from Europe, you must use an adaptor.
Travellers from Europe do not need any inoculations before visiting Florida. Water is safe to drink but in some cases may be heavily chlorinated. In Florida there are excellent pharmacies.
There is no state funded health service in Florida and so you must have travel insurance as medical care is very expensive in Florida.
Summer temperatures are usually constant in Florida with an average temperature in the mid 80 degrees. Winter temperatures can vary sometimes dropping to around about 60 degrees, steadily rising throughout the rest of the year back up to the peak summer temperatures.
When coming on vacation to Florida many tourists now rent holiday homes or Villas. This usually works out cheaper than staying in hotels and provides much more independence. It also allows the tourist to get a true feel of the Florida way of life and culture. Holiday home rental is now one of the fasted growing areas of tourism in Florida.
Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing on line travel websites. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Holiday Villa rentals
im not saying a strickly disney vacation we want a vacation home thats handicapped accesible with a pool 2-3 rooms 2 or more bathrooms.. anyone know of any?
not to far from orlando or kissimmee
Tampa is found on the west coast of Florida. Tampa is a large city with many businesses, but also has many tourist attractions and beaches. There are many tourist attractions in Tampa like Busch Gardens and Adventure Island. One thing you might try is to consult a beach directory to get some tips on great beach vacation package ideas and recommendations.
Also worth a visit in Tampa are the Florida Aquarium, Dinosaur World, the Weeki Wachee Springs. The Raymond James Stadium is host to major professional football games and is the host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa has a wealth of shopping centers, along with restaurants, bars and an energetic nightlife. Most activities are centered around the downtown area, which includes the Port of Tampa and the Waterfront area. With two universities, many entertainment venues and the outstanding Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Tampa, Florida has earned a reputation for being a top Florida cultural center. You may wish to consider Tampa extended stay hotels to get the best savings for your vacation dollars. For budget minded travelers you may want to look intoTampa motels for your stay in the city.
You can arrive in to Tampa, Florida through the international airport or you can access the city by using Interstate 4 or Interstate 75. Tampa Florida is an exciting bustling city that not only has the amenities of the urban metropolis, but also the nice things associated with a Florida beach town.
Being a popular and sunny coastal city, with many exceptional attractions, it comes as no surprise that Tampa offers an array of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and affordable accommodations. The most popular hotels in the city can be found in the downtown district, close to facilities such as shops and restaurants. Many of the waterfront Tampa hotel rooms have great views and are very desirable. During the weekend and summer the rates are usually less and it is a good time to find discounts. You may wish to consult some hotel reviews when planning your next trip. Research Tampa hotels and book early for best selections.
Miami is considered to be among the most popular destination spots for vacationing in the USA. The city is located on the coast of Florida and can be very exciting if planned properly. The city will usually remain warm the whole year. Miami Beach hotel rooms offer a wide range of good services and restaurants. South Beach is synonymous with luxury and its home to many of the top luxury hotels in North America.
When traveling to Florida do not forget to take your sun glasses along with you and a good quality sun screen lotion with you. Miami Beach is a different place, which will often be confused with the actual city of Miami. When packing be sure you remember to take your swimsuit if you plan to spend time on its beach.
Miami is one of the favorite attractions especially during the winter for United States domestic as well as international visitors. If you are planning to travel on a tight budget then I am sure you would be looking for discounted Miami hotel rooms. To find the economy hotels in Miami is not impossible but will require a bit of effort.
Being a tourist location, Miami is full of hotels around Miami International airport, South Beach & other surrounding areas. Usually these people traveling on business trip stays in airport hotels. Airport hotels are meant for the business travelers. Most of Miami airport hotels are designed with the business traveler in mind.
There are numerous Miami Beach luxury hotels that have reached and deserve the five star statuses they have received. It is just up to the travelers to do research on each location from various sources including websites that will include many other hotels. When looking for luxury hotels there is a reason they are called luxury, the basic room rates can run near one thousand dollars every night.
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