Plan Your Florida Vacation
The aim of this blog is to provide as much information about things to see and do whilst you are on the holiday of a lifetime in the vacation capital of the world - The Sunshine State of Florida.
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Key West Tours
Posted on February 15th, 2011 No commentsWritten by: Julie Hart
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Each time we visit a new city, whether it be in the UK or Florida, we like to take a guided tour to familiarise ourselves with the town and learn more about it.
In Key West there are the Conch Train and the Trolley Bus tours. We’ve done both more than once as we’ve gone with different people.
The trolley bus is a hop on hop off tour. You buy a ticket for the whole day then spend as much time as you like at different spots before jumping back on. You can buy tickets and join the tour at various locations. The drivers give a running commentary which is informative and usually amusing and it’s a good way to see the island.
The tour stops at all the well known tourist spots, Mallory Square, the Flagler Station, Ernest Hemingway’s House, the Southernmost Point where you just have to get off and join the queue of tourists waiting to have their photo taken at the buoy which marks the most southerly point of the USA.
It takes you past the beaches and the parks, along Duval Street past the bars where Hemingway used to drink including the famous Sloppy Joes. The guides tell you about the history of the island, the pirates and about the architecture and the hurricanes and also about the people who live there.
You can stop at La Concha Hotel. The tallest building in Key West which has a rooftop terrace where you can enjoy a Margerita and watch the sun set with views of the whole island. It’s much more relaxing than driving round and trying to find parking and you wouldn’t learn half as much.
If you really don’t want to wander about but just want to see the sights, then the Conch Train is the better option. This is a 90 minute guided tour which takes in all the same sights but there are only 2 or 3 stops. Ideal if you’re not feeling energetic or its just too hot, although be warned its very hot on the train!
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KEY WEST - COMMOTION ON THE OCEAN
Posted on January 5th, 2011 No commentsWritten by: Julie Hart
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On our last trip to Florida we took another trip to Key West. Each time we go we like to find something a bit different. We usually do one of the many sunset sails and on this occasion we decided on the ‘Commotion on the Ocean’ I should point out at the outset that this is more for grown ups than young children.
The cruise takes place on the catamaran ‘Fury’ from Mallory Square. The price was around $50 each and included in that are complimentary margaritas, beer, sparkling wine and sodas, snacks and live music. So we thought that was pretty good value.
As we boarded the sun was beating down and it was almost unbearably hot, we were relieved to get under way and out on the water there was a nice cool breeze. The band was the Cory Heydon band and they were brilliant, playing a mixture of country, blues and soft rock. We availed ourselves of the drinks and once we were under way the bar staff came round with pitchers of drinks to refill our glasses. A finger buffet was served including hot and cold snacks. We had amazing views of Key West as we sailed out into the sunset.
The live music set this sail apart from the others we had done. It was really good fun, we all agreed the best night of our holiday. The sunset was absolutely spectacular and as the sun went down and we headed back to harbour, the music changed to a more upbeat tempo and everyone was up and dancing on the deck, a good marketing technique as all the people on the harbour could see what a good time we were all having.
The sail lasted 2 hours and was great value for money, a good party night which is one of the reasons we love Key West so much.
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Florida Airports
Posted on May 25th, 2010 No commentsWritten by: Guy Gore
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Visitors from the UK (and indeed from Europe, North America and Canada) have a choice of airports for their Florida vacation. There are many smaller airports which are suitable for shorter journeys, or as the final leg of an indirect flight), but there are 4 main options for visitors to Florida.
Each of them has its own advantages – this article is intended to outline some of the features, and will hopefully help visitors choose a suitable arrival airport
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
This is the nearest to the attractions area and the majority of the private villas featured on this site. It is served by the two main scheduled airlines from the UK – Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, who offer daily flights from London Gatwick – Virgin also fly daily from Manchester, and less frequently from Glasgow. It is a large airport, and as a result queues at security, immigration and the car hire desks can occasionally be a bit lengthy.
There is a variety of shops and restaurants – with on-site car hire offered by the main hire companies. One less attractive feature is the need to double handle luggage (collecting from the carousel, and placing it on another conveyor belt to collect by the car hire desks) – although there is the option to struggle through with suitcases on the escalators…..
Tampa International (TPA)
A quieter airport than Orlando, which often results in shorter queuing times. Whilst the journey to the attractions area is a little longer (around 45 minutes longer), this is typically saved through the time savings at the actual airport.
With direct flights from Gatwick most days with British Airways, this is becoming a popular alternative – Tampa is also suitable for indirect flights. This airport is the closest International Airport for the Gulf Coast
There is less choice for car hire companies (although many more are just off the airport)
Orlando Sanford (SFB)
Sanford airport handles fewer flights than Orlando and Tampa, and as a result tends to be quicker passing through immigration and security. This time saving often compensates for the longer journey time travelling to the attractions area. Sanford is used by charter companies, which occasionally provides regional departures from the UK
Miami (MIA)
Miami is a major airport, but around 3-4 hours drive to the attractions area – an overnight stay is recommended before tackling the journey! Miami is ideal for starting holidays on the Florida Keys, the southern Gulf Coast resorts, or Miami itself.
With many airlines there is no need to depart from the same arrival airport – which works well for two centre holidays. Most car hire companies do not charge additional fees for returning a car to another airport within Florida
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Florida Keys
Posted on March 1st, 2010 No commentsWritten by: Brian Pearson
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During our holiday in 2007 we visited the Florida Keys. We booked in advance for a 3 night stay at the ragged edge resort on Islamorada.
We chose the keys as we wanted to be somewhere peaceful and quiet on the actual day of our wedding anniversary rather than the hustle and bustle of New York (which we had visited a few days earlier) and somewhere we had not visited before.
We drove from Miami to the keys and had been used to the 2 and 3 lane Highways and Interstates now we were on US 1 a single lane road behind a slow moving truck loaded with construction materials.
It was our own fault. We hadn’t taken much notice of the distances involved in driving too and through the keys.
We just assumed we would drive out of Miami, cross a few bridges and arrive at our destination shouldn’t take us long, wrong.
It’s like most things in America everything is on a big scale and the distances between the keys and therefore the bridges linking them are no exception.
When we arrived at our destination a feeling of dejavu came over us both (not for the first time on this holiday). Before we got the Florida bug our annual family holidays were to a Greek island and that’s were we felt we were, on a Greek island. The buildings looked as though they belonged in Greek holiday resort.
Our accommodation, the ground floor of a 2-story villa, was no more than 30 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. The view was breath taking and instantly reminded us of a small Mediterranean village fishing port.
The tranquillity was a world removed from New York and the theme parks you associate with Florida. We spent a lot of our time talking to vacationers and taking walks around the island.
We visited Key West not a short drive but well worth the journey.
We had intended to find a restaurant on the day of our anniversary but as we had spent the day relaxing and had one or two drinks by the time we decided to take ourselves off to a restaurant neither of us could be bothered to drive.
We decided to walk to the nearest bar and check out the menu.
The pub we came across had the un-reassuring name of Chilly Willies and appeared not to fall into the category of the type of venue Carol had intended to celebrate her wedding anniversary.
How wrong we were. The food was excellent, some of the best we had ever eaten and the service was second to none.
If you want to see a totally different side to Florida and want nothing more to do than relax and chill out then I can thoroughly recommend the Florida Keys.
Brian Pearson
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Why Choose a Florida Vacation Rental Home & not a Disney area Hotel
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Iain and Gillian Thompson
Authors WebsiteA Private vacation home rental booked direct with the owner via Silver Creek Villas costs less than using a travel agent because there is no middle man, just deal direct with the owners of the vacation rental villa in the Disney area of Orlando Florida. There are no hidden fees in your Orlando Florida villa holiday. Have you booked a vacation home for Easter, Christmas or New Year yet? Many of our private vacation rental villa owners book out Easter, Christmas and New Year at least 18 months in advance so if you want an Easter, Christmas or New Year vacation in a private rental holiday home you need to book early. Many owners also offer discounts for early bookings. Enjoy your own private and spacious Florida vacation villa complete with private swimming pool and at some rental homes a Jacuzzi or spa.
Organize your own central Florida vacation in Orlando, here at Silver Creek Villas we can introduce you to the private owners of villas in Silver Creek near Orlando Florida and also many other communities of vacation rental homes in the Disney area of Orlando Florida & also on the Gulf Coast, Atlantic coast and at the Florida Keys. Our villa owners will be pleased to advise you on all aspects of a vacation in Orlando Florida.
We can also help with flights, cheap and discounted Florida car rental, car hire, theme park tickets, (Walt Disney, Universal Studios and Sea World to name a few), and of course with your luxury Florida vacation rental home. How about two Florida vacation rentals? After the thrills of the Orlando theme parks, you can slow it down on Florida’s peaceful Gulf Coast. Just ask and we can put you in touch with Florida Gulf Coast Villa Rental home owners or vacation home owners of homes and villas on the Atlantic coast or villa rentals in the Florida Keys. Orlando villas and Gulf Coast villas. Our owners rent their homes via Silver Creek Villas - to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Seaworld visitors every day. They know about the attractions, local restaurants, flights to Florida, ticket discounts, and of course they know all about Walt Disney World and the other Orlando theme parks. Your Florida vacation villa rental direct with the owner via Silver Creek Villas - is a private home : comfortable, affordable, and easy to reserve. Private Florida villa rentals costs so much less than one booked with a tour operator and you get many more extra features. Book a Florida vacation home with comfort and privacy, spa and air conditioning. Some of our holiday homes come with pool and spa, table tennis and pool table, with toys for the children. Near Disney and Universal Studios, we can usually find you a last minute vacation rental home from one of our owners. We have owners with vacation homes in Kissimmee, near to Disney and also Universal Studios and Sea World. We also have contacts with some owners of fabulous dream vacation homes on Florida’s Gulf Coast - the Sunshine Coast, so maybe we can help you arrange a two centre holiday. Our Florida villa rental homes come with a unique feature - pride of ownership.Our Disney area Florida vacation rental villa homes are clean and well-maintained, just as you would expect from a private home owner who uses the villa for their own vacations. An Orlando Florida vacation home rental via Silver Creek Villas is the best way to please any family visiting Disney World or anywhere else in central Florida. Choose one of our central Orlando Florida Vacation Rental Villas. Walt Disney World villas, Orlando villas, Gulf Coast villas, Anywhere in central Florida is within easy reach of Silver Creek Villas, browse the website and learn all about Silver Creek Villas and the fantastic vacation rental homes we can put you in touch with the private owners. Silver Creek is located on the US27 just North of the 192 near Winn Dixie. We also have a brand new Walmart super store within a 2 minute drive. Kissimmee is just a short drive away, as well as Walt Disney World, Seaworld, Universal Studios, Islands of adventure and all the other Orlando attractions. Within an hour you can be at the Gulf coast, the Atlantic coast or Kennedy Space centre to watch the launch of the space shuttle.
We may be able to accommodate Snowbirds from Canada and northern America at our Florida Vacation
Rental homes, please ask well in advance though as our private vacation rental homes get booked up well in advance. We welcome families, newlyweds and retired couples, people with disabilities - some of our Florida villas are all on one level so great for wheelchair users - and anyone longing for the kind privacy and convenience that Florida vacation rentals offer. One more thing: All our owners quote a single, all-inclusive price for your vacation rental villa in Orlando Florida - NOT per person, the price they quote is for the villa, the pool, the spa (if the vacation rental home has one) and all the extra features that our owners have added to their vacation rental villa homes. Don’t forget to check for vacation rental special offers. Silver Creek is so close to Disney that you can see the fireworks from some of the rental villas. Your vacation begins on a secure and relaxed note by dealing direct with the Florida vacation rental home owners, they will do everything they can to make your Disney villa vacation rental one to remember in a private rental holiday home.Thank you for taking the time to visit Silver Creek Villas and browsing our fantastic collection of Disney area vacation holiday villas, we hope that you find the perfect home to make your Orlando vacation the best holiday that you have ever had. Don’t forget to check out our superb offers on FLIGHTS, CAR HIRE, TRAVEL INSURANCE and ATTRACTION TICKETS. We also have lots of useful articles about vacationing in the Disney area of Orlando Florida and all other Florida vacation areas.
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