Orlando holiday for two

[joannalaura]

Myself and my partner are hoping to holiday in Orlando next year, probably around October time, and are looking for cost effective accomodation - we have a reasonable budget, but when we are looking at one bed suites in the resort, they are basing prices on 6 adults sharing (a 1 bed suite - I know!!!!!) and so if there are only two of you, you are whacked with huge under-occupancy surcharges - does anyone know of any nice places to stay that cater for couples?

[Peri]

You could just get a hotel room instead of a suite joannalaura.  There are lots of hotels on international drive or the 192 (Kissimmee).  Days Inn is reasonable and has rooms and suites.   Are you hiring a car.

[joannalaura]

Yes, we will be hiring a car. Sorry Peri, when I said suite, I just meant a hotel room with a few kitchen facilities, ie fridge, and poss. microwave - it's just in the brochures they mainly refer to 'suites'. As an example one of the rooms that I costed was for a hotel in Kissimmee and the price per person was �795, but then we would have to pay another �848 in supplements (�31 each per night) as there was a double sofa bed also in the room..............

I am past the age where I don't mind sharing a room with four other people sleeping 10 feet away for a fortnight - if I wanted to do that, I would book an 18-30's to Tenerife - hahahaha!!

[Peri]

Would you be willing to go with the microwave etc.  A double room with ensuite could do you.  I dont think you would need the rest with just two of you.  I looked up the Days Inn site (just googled Days Inn)  You could get a room for $ 65.00 (I think for room not per person) and Im sure if you look around you can get cheaper.  Look it up and dont be side tracked by the word suite that will always cost more.  Its a great place we have been every year for the last six or so and are going in October.

[spudqueen]

My family and I have just come back from a holiday in Floriday, We stayed in Kissimmee in a house with a pool. It was a large one as my American friend and her family were supposed to be joining us for a few days. That didn't work out but we didn't really mind as the house itself was quite cheap we thought, we'd have paid that price for a house in South Wales or Devon in August. Why don't you look into the price of a villa, even if it sleep 4 or 6 you can just not go into the other rooms! You get more space than in an hotel room, and we had our own pool with mosquito screen.

[rampart]

I found a place on the City's visitors' bureau where you can search for accommodations. Perhaps this will help!

http://www.orlandoinfo.com/uk/accommodations/index.cfm?content=accommodations

Their home page:

http://www.orlandoinfo.com/uk/index.cfm

[Woodsz]

We have been going to Orlando  twice a year for the last seventeen years now and in that time we have learnt a trick or two.
(1) If you are not fixed to a set time look on Teletext (ITV) for the best bargains you can get a all in Fly Drive
(2) DO NOT upgrade your car until you see the car that you have been allocated, You can always go back and upgrade if you want, look at the cars that are going out you will not see a bad one.
(3) You pay all accommodation by the room NOT per person If you are a senior 55 or over ask for senior rates there are hundreds of Hotels & Suites to choose from it will depend on the time of year you go as to how much you pay and what deals they have on but all very reasonable you can look at the room before you decide some are nicer than others  but all laid out basically the same   most will have a fridge some with tea & coffee ( We buy a kettle �4  and a toaster �4  from Wallmarks) and leave them
(4) There are some nice places to eat out its not all junk food
(5) We found the best time to go if your not taking any little ones is Sept Unit early Dec. March to the end of May December time the Americans come from up north for the winter March to May before the British go on thier holidays in the slack times the Theme Parks are nicely full and not a lot of waiting in the sweltering heat
(6) International Drive is right in  the middle of everything  Hotels & Suites a little bit more pricey but worth it
(7) Here are some sites to look at

http://www.orlando-internationaldrive.com/

 http://www.tripadvisor.com

 I will try and think of some more tips and post them to you

[joannalaura]

Brilliant - thanks for all your tips so far - will take a look at all the sites you have suggested. Any further insider info would be greatly appreciated!! :o)

[Peri]

Hi joanna.  Orlando my favourite subject.  Good places to eat - the Olive Garden on International Drive and Damons in Oldtown, Kissimmee.  Good places to shop - Buena Vista Premium Outlets, the Florida Mall, Belz Outlets International Drive.  Will be trying new Mall of Millenia when next go.  With regard to Woodz comment about the car they may try to persuade you to upgrade but that could be because they dont have car you ordered so refuse upgrade they may give to you for same price - that has happened us about 3 times.  Do save now because the shopping is just unbelievable.  You can get multipark tickets. Disney is on their own but Universal, Sea World, Busch and Wet and Wild do 4 or 5 park tickets that are worth looking at.  There are different deals at different times of the year.  If you are staying on International Drive there is a tourist info centre in the Mercado where you can get different deals.  It is best to avoid queues to buy your tickets before you go to the parks. 

[Woodsz]

Peri. That was the point I was trying to make about the car BUT IF they do happen (and it as never happened to us) get a small car that is the time to go back and upgrade. We have had some great cars especially the further the back of the line you are. sorry if it didn�t come across right.

Joannalaura   Teletext pages to look at 222 ITV3 for flights & accommodation 227 for fly drive only
You will get two forms to fill in on the plane it will help if you make a note of: your passport numbers, flight number, dates of birth if you don�t remember them and you will have to have an address where you are staying before you are allowed in the USA If you intend to find your own accommodation tell them you are staying at the Holiday Inn International Drive then do your own thing.
 If you do book accommodation before you go while you are driving around have a look at the Hotels and prices then the next time you go (And you will go back) you will have an idea how easy it is
 
DON�T be temped to go to a �Time Share� for Dismay tickets
 
More to come

[Woodsz]

Try this site joana you will learn more about what you want to know about florida and its bit bit like AB

 

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/

[Woodsz]

Just booked again for Sept. �99 each fligh drive try this phone number Contact Molly 08702 387703 ext 5547

[joannalaura]

Hi Woodz, how did you get such a low price? Which airport are you travelling from? We would travel from Gatwick. Does your car hire include the extra cover that the brochures recommend, or is this not necessary?

[Woodsz]

Hi Joana look at the teletext pages I posted earlier or ring Molly on the number I posted. I've just booked a town house just off the 192 for �250 for the week thats �36 a night for the two of us with everything we need if you dont want to eat in there are every kind of food just around the corner

try thia address for town houses

http://www.disneydream4u.com

talk to yuo again soon

[Woodsz]

we are flying from Manchester but they will do them from Gatwick C.D.W. stands for Collision Damage Waver like a third party if you feel you would like more cover you can get more at the car pit up point. You will soon fall into the driving over there traffic lights are above your head, You can turn right when the lights are red but keep looking left for anything coming. You have to think a bit when you are turning left but you will soon get used to that too  IF a yellow bus (School bus) is flashing its lights you STOP behind it If the bus is moving it is OK to pass it Most roads are three lanes it is easier to drive in the middle one they will overtake on both sides its their way of driving  DON�T worry just drive as slow as you want there are that many holiday makers over there they expect you to be a bit slow until you get the hang of things they are a bit more patient than over here  

and YES we are paying �250 a week not the �350 it shows on the site

talk to you again soon

[joannalaura]

Hi Woodz, Thanks for all your help!! Am assuming that you got the accomodation for such a low price as you are booking late?

[Woodsz]

Hi Joanna look at this site the best way is at the last minute when they dont have much chance to let it then put a silly price in you canalways up the price a bit if you want to DONT worry about accommodation in Orlando or anywhere in the US theres thousands

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FLORIDA-VILLA-SLEEPS-6ADULTS-HEATEDPOOL_W0QQitemZ6558589167QQcategoryZ3257QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Dont go on e-bay to book phone the number on the site

we go tomorrow didnt see this site until I'd booked the town house This one is �100 cheaper oh well

[joannalaura]

Thanks Woodz, hope you have a great time.