Honeymoon in florida - where to go?

MarkR

We'd been looking at a cruise around the carribean in and around mid august. They're a little pricey so we're looking into a more open ended arsing around florida holiday, staying for a few days in each location before driving on to the next. Can anyone suggest a good itineray? We're both in our late twenties, looking for a fairly laid back holiday with the option of side trips / excursions to any "unmissable" things in florida. That and a bit of shopping at the end.

Oh, and pretty sure we're not interested in disney world!

I'd assume it'd be cheaper to have all the hotels etc organised before hand, or would it be as easy / cheap to just find them as we go along?

muletide

I was there last easter and arranged everything in advance on the net cars/hotels etc. We did the whole Orlando thing for a few days and then went down the coast to Sarasota for a few days. It is a very quiet laid back spot lots of bars and retaraunts especially in the st armands area. If you went there I would recommend mid week as alot of people arrive at weekends to stay in their holiday homes.

As for shopping if you drive any of the main motorways there will be a huge outlet mall every fifty miles or so and once you have been to one one will more or less have seen everything they have to offer.

I know you said you are not interested in Disney but I recommend a day at either universal or seaworld. These two are worth a visit, midweek, but avoid disney.

Enii

You have got to go and chill for a few days in Key West, very cool and laid back. Amazing little b&b's - some very romantic. Also I would rent a convertible, as it is your honeymoon after all!

Gandhi

I'd give another vote to Key West. Lots of stuff to actually see there, as well as just lying on the beach.

Tours of Earnest Hemingway's house are really interesting. One of the bars (Sloppy Joe's I think) has a tree growing inside it which was the "hanging tree" in olden Key West. Allegedly Joe Kennedy (grandad of JFK etc.) made his fortune rum-running from Cuba to Key West during prohibition. There was a photo of him and Hemingway in Hemingway's house.

I wanted to do a Catamaran ride out to the Dry Tortugas (islands that are now deserted), but never got around to it. Maybe next time - apparently it's cool. Also there are deep sea fishing and snorkeling trips that are good.

Key West is the only place in Florida I've been, but I would say that flying into Miami and taking a few days driving (in a convertible, as mentioned) down through all the Keys would be a good time. You should have a great trip, and congrats on getting married!!!

deisemum

muletide wrote:

I was there last easter and arranged everything in advance on the net cars/hotels etc. We did the whole Orlando thing for a few days and then went down the coast to Sarasota for a few days. It is a very quiet laid back spot lots of bars and retaraunts especially in the st armands area. If you went there I would recommend mid week as alot of people arrive at weekends to stay in their holiday homes.

As for shopping if you drive any of the main motorways there will be a huge outlet mall every fifty miles or so and once you have been to one one will more or less have seen everything they have to offer.

I know you said you are not interested in Disney but I recommend a day at either universal or seaworld. These two are worth a visit, midweek, but avoid disney.

I'm just starting to look into going to Florida for christmas with children that will be 11 and 9 so have to include Disney, Universal and Discovery bay so they can swim with the dolphins. Can you recommend any websites, routes, airlines, hotels etc that you used.

Enii

deisemum wrote:

I'm just starting to look into going to Florida for christmas with children that will be 11 and 9 so have to include Disney, Universal and Discovery bay so they can swim with the dolphins. Can you recommend any websites, routes, airlines, hotels etc that you used.

Before you book a hotel check reviews out on www.tripadviser.com

daveg

Rent a vills in Oralando. Visit Miami, slearwater and cape canaveral. The keys are fantastic but be realistic about the distance's your driving. Would recommend staying a few days down the keys and not just in Key West. Accomodation in the keys tends to be very expensive though. Post back if you have any specific questions.

dingding

Woule recommend Key West also, The Gardens guest house www.gardenshotel.com/ is very good, also Palm Beach, you should get a good deal in the breakers at that time of the year. http://www.thebreakers.com/

If hiring a car make sure to get SAT NAV, got hertz neverlost last year and very good.

Enii

dingding wrote:

If hiring a car make sure to get SAT NAV, got hertz neverlost last year and very good.

If you have to pay extra for the SAT NAV I would not bother getting it. The roads are very well signposted in the states and it is very easy to get from place to place.

Tiger Jim

I went to Florida on my honeymoon. 1 week in Orlando, 1 week in St. Petes Beach (which was very relaxing) near Tampa.
Recommend Universal studios in Orlando, and Wet N Wild is the best waterpark I was ever in. Check out the lazy river. Cool!

Best holiday I ever had.

muletide

deisemum wrote:

I'm just starting to look into going to Florida for christmas with children that will be 11 and 9 so have to include Disney, Universal and Discovery bay so they can swim with the dolphins. Can you recommend any websites, routes, airlines, hotels etc that you used.

sorry for the delay in getting back. I did most of my stuff through tripadvisor aswell. I found the reviews very hel;pful especially those from Irish tourists

dingding

Enii wrote:

If you have to pay extra for the SAT NAV I would not bother getting it. The roads are very well signposted in the states and it is very easy to get from place to place.

Booked a Mazda 626, when I arrived in Orlando, the had none with Sat Nav and I got a 4.2 L Jaguar instead.:)

The Sat Nav was a bit more expensive, I think about 8 euro per day. but you are on holidays so anything that causes less stress is worth it.

The previous year I got lost in Orlando at night :eek: and it was scarey, personally I would not get a car in the US without sat nav again.