The VIP treatment starts on your arrival when you can enjoy complimentary valet parking. Much nicer than hunting for a parking space, as this place does get busy and so does the car park. You may have to wait for a table at peak times, but it’s worth the wait! It also gives you a chance to enjoy their huge outside terrace which has two bars, lots of seating and a stage where steel drums play reggae music all night long.

What’s better than a little island music while you sip one of their fabulous speciality cocktails? My favourite is their Bahamarita, which consists of colourful layers of assorted fruit Margaritas. Others worth trying are their Ultimate Pina Colada or their Mojito Cubano which has a perfect blend of white rum, lime, mint and sugar cane. They even have their own house beer called Aruba Red which is brewed by Anheuser Busch and produced only for Bahama Breeze.

Inside the restaurant the lush tropical plants and decor, thatched roofs and colourful wicker style furnishings all add to the feeling that you’re actually dining in the Bahamas. The service is always friendly, and the staff are happy to help you with food and drink choices.

As for their delicious food, we normally start off by sharing some fresh coconut shrimp and a giant stack of their island onion rings and dips. They do some great seafood and steaks for entrees, but I’m a sucker for their West Indies Ribs or their Jamaican Grilled Chicken Breast which comes with cinnamon sweet mashed potatoes.

A dessert is often out of the question by this time, but if you can manage one you won’t be disappointed. I can’t resist their traditional Key Lime Pie, or their Bananas Supreme which has fresh banana served over warm banana nut bread with vanilla ice cream and brandy butterscotch sauce.

If you’re drooling at the mouth by now, why not treat yourself to dinner and cocktails at Bahama Breeze on your next visit to the Orlando area.

Have Fun!

Since then I use my American Express Platinum card to pay for almost everything while over there. It’s not accepted everywhere in the U.K., but is widely accepted in the U.S. On top of that I get 1.5% cash back on everything I spend, so it’s a win win situation if I pay off my account in full every month. Restaurants will also allow you to conveniently add your gratuity to the bill. So no more struggling through your purse for the correct amount of bank notes for tips, usually ending up with having to give far too much, or embarrassingly not enough!

I always make sure that I call my credit card company to make them aware of my travel plans. This can save them from flagging your account when purchases all of a sudden are showing in the U.S. and will often leave you without a card until you call them. Not an ideal situation when you’re in the U.S. I always have my reliable old MasterCard with me just in case of such emergencies, but have been lucky so far (touch wood).

You will always need a supply of U.S. Dollars with you for small purchases etc. Paying for a cup of coffee or a bottle of water with a credit card is taking it a bit too far! Buffet restaurants will generally take payment for your food on the way in, so cash for tips are best there too and always appreciated. Some major roads in Orlando have pay tolls which will require coins if they’re unmanned and cash if they’re not, so be prepared for that.

Just make sure that you get your Dollars before leaving the U.K. for convenience, and shop around for the best rate as it can vary. Many places will also buy back any currency left over at the rate you paid when you come back home, which is handy if you come back broke! However if you love Orlando as much as I do, you’ll hang on to those few precious Dollars and start planning your next visit to that wonderful place where happy memories are created!