Save on Trips to the Sunshine State

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

28 Jun 2011 11:02 PM

Thanks to HGTV's newest show "My Yard Goes Disney," my 6-year-old has started a whining campaign to get us to visit the House of Mouse this summer.

Unfortunately, unless we win a spot on HGTV's other smash hit "House Hunters on Vacation," I highly doubt that will be shaking our tail feathers with Donald and crew before the start of the new school year.

I know this because, like many parents, I want to make all my child's dreams come true, so I crunched the numbers to see if we could afford to roam Disney's Animal Kingdom, stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort and sample cuisines from around the globe at EPCOT. Turns out we can't. However, during my research I did find several noteworthy tips on how to save the next time you are planning to visit the Sunshine State.

For starters I would highly suggest Googling, "Florida travel deals." I did, and found more than a million results that led to links (most of them legitimate), which featured money-saving specials, such as: Spend three nights, get the fourth free, Kids stay free, Kids eat free, Save $100 on a three-night stay, and much more. A few hotels near Florida's hottest theme parks also offer packages whereby you received free admission to the thrills and chills with a two-night stay.

Another great way to save on a family vacation to Florida is to visit online travel aggregate sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz. The popular web-based travel companies offer major discounts via packages that bundle airfare, hotel and car rental. Rather than paying individually for amenities, the sites allow you to pay a single reduced rate for multiple services. Some of the offers I saw featured lodging and ground transportation for up to 75 percent off rack rates, depending on the dates of travel and length of stay... only none of them were near Disney World. Shucks!

Related Articles:

Spend Less, Travel More

Budget-Friendly Summer Escapes in New York

Ways to Save on Your Summer Vacation

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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