Outside the Hotel

As one might expect from any highly visited tourist location, accommodation in Orlando is varied in style and while hotel standards, features and amenities are fairly high, they can be very expensive, even in the off-season. On the plus side, hotels and motels offer a wide variety of choices in location and services, such as types of in house restaurants and fitness facilities. Perhaps more importantly, most hotels offer a few ways to save money on your adventure of a lifetime. There are so many places to stay, over 100,000 rooms in fact, that deals are often offered to draw in money wise travelers.

The most common discounts involve students, government employees, seniors, military personnel. Frequent flyers, premium credit card holders and Automobile Association members, as most people fall into one of these categories. Many also post available discounts on their websites so be sure to check there prior to booking. The Orlando Visitor Center keeps track of current accommodation deals, room availability, offers helpful information on how to manage life in Orlando, and sells discount attraction tickets. Their bilingual staff is always willing to help visitors organize their dream vacation.

Accommodations become pricier as you get closer to the many theme parks, but Orlando is fairly spread out and easily navigated so travelers looking to spend more on their activities than on their rooms are better off staying a little farther from the resorts. This will also help tourists avoid the often-large crowds that gather around the hot spots. Although city planning is fairly logical traffic can be quite heavy so if you choose this option know where you want to go and leave ample time to get there, just in case.

There are many ways to get around Orlando, but staying in hotels associated with the parks does offer some advantages. For one, they are close to other attractions so visitors can avoid traffic and save travel time for the more important sightseeing experience. Also keep in mind that many hotels offer free transportation to and from the hotel itself. Walt Disney World Resorts, for example, offers shuttle service via bus, monorail, ferry, or water taxi to and from all resorts. This is especially nice for those who don’t know the city, and for those with children who are old enough to get around on their own. At times this can be a bit slow but will save money and guarantees that eager sightseers avoid the hassle of trying to find a place to park. These services usually operate for a couple hours after the parks close to ensure everyone has a ride home.

Hotels officially associated with the parks also provide ticket purchase centers where guests can pay for admission in advance and avoid the long lines at ticket booths. At the parks, there are special entry gates for holders of these passes. Discounts on admission are available and many hotels provide discount books with coupons for attractions and dining both at the parks and around Orlando.

Those with a preference for the home away from home can always choose to stay in one of the many rental homes, villas and time-share units in Orlando. A variety of features are available, from private pools to shared tennis courts.

Camping in Florida

Visitors don’t need to stay in traditional lodgings either. There are many tent and motor home campgrounds close to the I-95 for those who don’t mind giving up the luxuries of modern hotel living. These sites are very popular between the months of November and March and often require bookings up to three months in advance.

Additionally, there are smaller cities around the Orlando area that will be less crowded and expensive, yet still keep you close to all the action Orlando has to offer. Cities such as Deltona (30 minute drive), Lakeland and Melbourne (45 minutes away) are a pleasant alternative to the hectic tourist hub. For those who don’t mind a bit more driving, there are cities near Orlando that have wonderful attractions of their own, such as St. Petersburg with the fascinating Salvador Dali Museum (only 1.5 hours west), that make wonderful additions to Orlando vacations.