Anywhere unsafe to go to at night in Orlando area

[lilyofthevalley]

Hi everyone. Will be visiting Florida in late August/September and was wondering if there is anywhere I should not be shopping at night.

I found the area near the Staples and Ramco Store(now doesnt exist I believe), in Kissimmee frightening. We were approached several times by not very pleasant men, to say the least, who appeared to be alcoholics or drug addicts asking menacingly for money.

Just wondered if anyone knew of any other areas to avoid, as we do tend to go looking for shops, mainly, those the locals use.

Best wishes and thanks for any replies.

[blott]

Well, these sort of people are also around in most towns at night in the UK too so you just need to take the usual precautions that you'd take here and you'll be just fine.

1 Always park in a brightly lit area at night. Keep your map, camera, etc out of sight it you're leaving them in the car - the boot/trunk is ideal. Make sure you lock the car properly.

2 If you get lost at night, then go to the nearest garage/gas station to ask directions.

3 Don't walk around with all your worldly goods on your person, ie loads of jewellery (don't take too much with you on holiday), or all your spending money.

[heathercobbett]

I always feel very safe in the tourist areas.I do not have any figures to support this but I would think it is one of the safest areas in the world

Blotts advice would be well observed in holiday destinations anywhere

[caroline]

Yes I have to say I've never felt unsafe anywhere that we've visited in Florida. But Blott's advice is very sensible for anywhere in this day and age.

The biggest danger for me is when Dave opens the credit card bill on our return[msnscared][msneek][msnembarrased]

[SunLover]

The above advice is excellent... and true of most places at night.

Most importantly, don't forget to pack your common sense when you head off on vacation. [msnwink]

[rosie]

I have never, hand on heart, felt unsafe anywhere in Orlando. I feel safer there than I do in London, and I was born there.

As blott says though just take sensible precautions, but that applys to everywhere nowadays.

Caroline, I never let Al anywhere near the credit card bills when we get home, now that is scary [msnwink]

[alanandjude]

Always feel as safe in Florida as we do in Sheffield. Mind you, there are some dodgy parts of Sheffield![msneek]

Blotts advice is good. Never had any bad experiences yet.

Alan

[DisneyDreamer]

I have to agree, most of the usual tourist areas are fine and we often go shopping or eat out at night. I always feel alot safer there of an evening than walking around my local town centre at pub closing time!!!! [msnsad]

[sunny guy]

I always feel safe however the very first time I visited around 15 years ago we had a late flight in and got lost. Around two in the morning we stopped somewhere near to international drive and as I approached a guy to ask for directions a female cop behind me pulled out a gun and told the guy I was approaching to put his hands in the air and threw him over the hood of his car.
I wondered what the hell I was doing in Florida but gladly have never had that experience again.

[LiesaAnna]

the only time we felt unsafe in florida was when we went to Busch gardens and on our way home we needed petrol, the only garage we saw at that time had all bars around the windows, hubby asked a driver and he said go to the next garage dont hang around down here lost! its not good for you, think we were at hillsbourough, next day on the news was a terrible thing but wont go into it here (it happens all places) we had anough to carry on!! Thank goodness!

to be honest there are some places closer to home i wouldnt go at night!!in Brighton[msnwink]