Florida is a popular state for visitors to the United States to go. It’s not hard to see why when you consider that it has fantastic weather year-round, great beaches, and a unique culture, shaped by the various settlers there from South America and the Caribbean.
If you’re planning on visiting Florida with your family, then you need to take some time to properly prepare and plan your trip. Not preparing properly could lead to you making mistakes, missing things, or just not getting the most out of your trip.
Here’s how you can plan a perfect stay for you and your family in Florida, the Sunshine State.
Booking Accommodation
Florida is popular throughout the year. If you’re planning on visiting, then it’s a good idea to book your hotel rooms in advance of your trip. If you wait until the last minute (or until after you arrive) then there’s no guarantee that you’ll find accommodation for you and your family. A lot of people make the mistake of leaving their reservations until the last minute and end up spoiling their trip as a consequence. Booking early can also help you to save money. Hotels tend to offer discounts to customers who book a few months, or even weeks, before their visit. Make sure to shop around, research, and find accommodation that’s right for you and your family. Ensure that everybody is comfortable and satisfied with your choice of the hotel before booking.
Arranging Transportation
After booking accommodation, the next thing you’ll want to do is to think about transportation. If you are staying in the city that the airport you are flying to is situated in, then you might not need a rental car, because you can take a taxi. However, many travel experts do recommend renting cars. Renting a car gives you the freedom to go wherever (and do whatever) you want. You are not bound by public transport limitations and expensive taxi fares. Renting a car can actually be cheaper than paying for taxis, in some cases.
Consider Travel
Another thing to think about is how you’re going to get to Florida. If you are traveling from within the United States, then you might want to drive there. Taking a road trip to Florida could be a vacation all of its own. If you do plan on driving then, then consider buying or hiring an RV. Alternatively, you can fly domestically. If you are flying internationally, then book your flights early. You can always get good deals on flights if you book early. Then, at the airport, ask if there are any upgrades available.
Planning Activities
There’s a lot to do in Florida. A popular activity for a lot of people is fishing because Florida is on the coast. Fishing is a great activity for you and your family, especially if you are able to charter a boat and go out to sea. You can catch some very large, unique species of fish off of the coast of Florida. It’s also common for people to take tours through the Everglades. In the Everglades, you are guaranteed to see alligators and other animals. You can find some very rare animals in the Everglades. It is not a good idea to venture into the Everglades alone, though.
Going Sunbathing
Florida’s called the Sunshine State for a reason. The weather there is great, other than during storm season. If you’re planning on visiting, then you will no doubt probably want to do a little bit of relaxing, too. There are lots of fantastic beaches that you can go to in Florida. If you plan on booking a room in a resort hotel, then the hotel will probably have a pool for you to sit outside, too. Resort hotels can be a little more expensive than motels or ordinary hotels can be, but they are nonetheless great places to take your family for a relaxing getaway.
Sampling Cuisine
Finally, be sure to get out on the street and sample the local cuisine. Florida is a mix of different peoples and cultures. You can find people from all over the Caribbean, South America, and Europe there. Because of this, the food is varied and very tasty. If you are eating out in Florida, try to eat out at smaller, family-run cafés, ideally catering to locals. Places that cater to locals are more likely to serve authentic food and are probably going to be a lot more affordable.
Florida is a great place to go on vacation with your family, but preparation is required. It’s a bad idea to travel anywhere without preparing properly first. This post’s guidance should help you to ensure your trip there goes problem-free.