View Full Version : Advice on a special holiday.
Dear All,
I'm after some advice on making a special trip for my wife's 40th (2010). We were originally going to do the western fly drive but decided it would be too much driving etc for our then 7 year old. Has anyone got any suggestions on making a good multicentre holiday, upto 18 nights long, starting with Orlando and the parks. We would love to go back to Vegas etc as well as get some rest time around a pool in good hotels or villa.
Suggestions please?
Katys Grandad
09-04-2009, 14:48
Welcome!
What time of year are you visiting?
Depends on my elder daughter exams. Worst case scenario is August but we are trying for June
Thanks for welcome
Katys Grandad
09-04-2009, 15:16
With very few exceptions, you'll get good weather anywhere in the US in June. August can be VERY hot in some places and I'd be careful to avoid the South Western states at that time because of it. To some extent, I'd say the same about Las Vegas.
Assuming that you'd want at least a week in Orlando to do it any justice at all, trying to do more than 1 or possibly 2 other places would be a lot of travelling even for 18 days.
There are so many places worth visiting and my taste may not be the same as yours but I'd suggest California. There's everything from great cities to wonderful Pacific beaches and it really is a contrast to Florida. To break the journey home I'd add a couple of nights in New York or Boston to finish the trip off in style. Of course, you can decide which order you visit places.
BTW, there are some excellent multi-city airfares which make these trip exceptional value for money although August travelling is never cheap
caroline
09-04-2009, 15:23
I'd have 2 or 3 nights in Washington or New York, followed by a week or 10 days in Orlando and then hop over to the Gulf Coast for a week of chill time on a beach.
Some good ideas. where is good toaim for on the Gulf Coast?
Fourdents
09-04-2009, 19:23
Steve
If you are staying in Orlando for some of the time you can relax and make full use of the pool etc.
Have you considered taking a mini cruise from Port Canaveral - There are 3 night ones.
Internal flights to Las Vegas for a few days is another option I think several villa owners have done this
caroline
09-04-2009, 22:16
Steve we've only visited very limited parts of the Gulf Coast so i don't feel qualified to advise but if the beach is really important to you there are lots of threads debating which beach is best so I would suggest using the search button at the top of the forum maybe try putting in 'best beach' I'm sure that will give you a starting point.
lafifille
09-04-2009, 22:17
As much as I like Vegas and the national parks, I'd avoid them in August, specially with a 7 y.o. Your choice of course. And I wouldn't want to be rushed there, I think it deserves a trip to itself.
Unless you want to stick to the US, for something really different I'd consider New Brunswick: ever walked on the bottom of the ocean? The coast up there is absolutely gorgeous, and you could go whale watching in the bay of Fundy.
Colorado is great, the Rockies generally speaking.
You could fly to Yellowstone, that IS very special and different. From there drive into Montana, gorgeous (specially if you like Robert Redford's movies :D).
The coast from Northern California (San francisco) all the way up to British Columbia makes for a wonderful road trip, but you may be short on time, and you probably don't want to spend a lot of time on the road with a child.
Seattle-Vancouver area, beautiful. There you can see (killer) whales, bears, wolves.
San Francisco, Washington DC, New-York, Boston... beautiful cities, lots to see and do. I have a soft spot for Chicago.
Or you could take a cruise to the Carribbean from Florida, as posted above. Disney cruises are supposed to be great with kids, 'm sure a lot of people can give you details on those here [msnwink]. Key West is absolute fun too, but probably more an "adult" place.
So: as stated before, it really comes down to what you like to do on a vacation, and what you need to make it "special". You could keep busy for 18 nights even staying in Florida [msnwink].
Nathalie
This is great thanks all. I think I'm coming around to staying in Florida but doing differant things eg gulf coast or fly back via somewhere else.
We have been to Orlando before but our villa was dissapointing and my wife dislikes that housing estate feel. Any advice to make this differant?
Fourdents
11-04-2009, 16:15
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by srobins
This is great thanks all. I think I'm coming around to staying in Florida but doing differant things eg gulf coast or fly back via somewhere else.
We have been to Orlando before but our villa was dissapointing and my wife dislikes that housing estate feel. Any advice to make this differant?
[/quote]
May I ask did you book your villa direct via a villa owner ?
There are some very nice communities that may appeal to your wife so some investigation may be worth while to find somewhere that would be suitable.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by srobins
This is great thanks all. I think I'm coming around to staying in Florida but doing differant things eg gulf coast or fly back via somewhere else.
We have been to Orlando before but our villa was dissapointing and my wife dislikes that housing estate feel. Any advice to make this differant?
[/quote]
That question is easy to answer ... just book your villa via this site [msnsmile2]
Seriously though - if you know what you are looking for you will definitely find it here.
Per your original post, I've driven Las Vegas to Orlando in the past. It's a great journey but it's also a heck of a drive. I'm not sure I would recommend it with a 7 year old. But in five year's time ...
From experience of travelling with a 7 year old a 2 centre break seems the best option to me.
Why not spend some time in disney then take a leisurely drive west to the coast.
There are some fantastic beaches along the west coast offering superb swimming, soft sand and stunning sunsets. One plus point is they are often deserted depending on time of year of course. Pure chill time and relaxation. There are harbour cruises and boat hire is very easy a great way to explore the deserted barrier islands.
Dolphin spotting is great and can be seen just off the beach in the mornings. You will find most owners provide beach equipment so you could take yourselves off for a day and explore or just sunbathe in comfort.
Looking for sharks teeth should keep your 7 year old amused for hours and shelling in general.
We are slightly biased to the Cape Haze peninsular but it does offer the visitor a glimpse of old Florida.
If you put out a general inquiry on this site you will have a choice of some fantastic gulf coast villas.
Also check out the Florida guide there are quite a few articles on the gulf coast listed.
As others have said I would avoid Vegas in August, very very hot and busy.
Lynne
Mo Green
11-04-2009, 23:10
Would definitely avoid Vegas with a 7 year old - much more fun to do on your own later when he/she no longer wants to come with Mum and Dad everytime. There are many fantastic places to visit in the USA but I pesonally think a 7 year old would enjoy a trip to the Gulf Coast for a week much more.
July/August is very quiet and although hot there are sheltered picnic tables on several beaches and most owners on this site also provide beach umbrellas, chairs, towels and cool-boxes. Lynne has mentioned several things to amuse 7 year olds. I know when our children were young they enjoyed seeing the natural Florida and having their own pool when we rented villas.
Last year one of our guests took their 10 year old to Orlando followed by a week on the Gulf Coast. Highlight of the trip was when a Manatee swam up to him at a local beach!
Mo
Katys Grandad
12-04-2009, 00:15
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by srobins
This is great thanks all. I think I'm coming around to staying in Florida but doing differant things eg gulf coast or fly back via somewhere else.
We have been to Orlando before but our villa was dissapointing and my wife dislikes that housing estate feel. Any advice to make this differant?
[/quote]
I'm a huge Gulf Coast fan (I'll be there in 2 weeks time) but if you're looking for a beach holiday and your wife doesn't like the housing estate feel, you need to carefully consider the type of property that fits your needs and preferences. Inevitably, a property actually at the beach will get you away from the housing estate feel but will be much more expensive than a home with pool amongst other similar properties where you'll need to pack the car and drive to and from the beach each time.
The maxim Location, Location, Location applies here just like everywhere else. A home inland a little will offer excellent value but it won't be actually on the coast. Your choice of course!
Mo Green
12-04-2009, 03:58
Having looked at all the Gulf Coast Villas advertised on this site I don't think any qualify for what is traditionally thought of as having a housing estate feel as we think of it in the UK. On this site the homes are individually designed and bought by their owners after much thought as they also spend several weeks a year in their dream'Florida Homes'. Most either have waterside views or look onto Golf Courses and are often built on double plots in very quiet residential areas where there are still many empty plots containing plenty of vegetation for the local wildlife.
To-day, Easter Saturday, we drove past the local beach which was packed with holiday makers and locals having BBQ's and parties on the beach. Much more pleasant to relax by our own quiet pool where we have spent the afternoon watching an Osprey, Herons and Egrets fish in the canal a few yards away. Yes we did see one 'neighbour' but only to wave to - our nearest neighbour is too far away to have even a shouted conversation.
As Katy's Grandad says it is your choice. Personally we prefer to spend a couple of minutes loading sun umbrella, chairs etc into the car at the begnning of our stay then we are free to stop at any of the beautiful beaches along the Gulf Coast whenever we feel like it.
Mo