Nothing can get rid of the winter blues or help melt away the stress of daily life like a trip to the Sunshine State. You don’t have to spend your life savings or break the bank to do it.
While Florida is often considered a tourist trap there are ways to plan a trip to Florida without draining your entire rainy day fund.
Keep reading for the ultimate guide on visiting Florida on a budget. We’ll walk you through the best places in Florida to visit and all the things to do on your awesome but cheap Florida vacation.
Plan a Trip to Florida That’s Personalized
You don’t have to follow everyone else’s idea of the perfect Florida vacation. It’s great to ask friends and research the best places in Florida to visit or the best things to do in Florida while you’re there but don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and plan a vacation that not only matches your personality but your budget too.
Accommodations
Whether it is your first time visiting Florida or you are looking to make it a yearly destination, there are ways to save money on your accommodations.
You’ll want to consider your needs and travel dates prior to locking into a place to stay. If you are heading to Florida for a romantic getaway as a second honeymoon you may want to head to St. Augustine, the Florida Keys, or Naples instead of Orlando or the Tampa Bay area.
No matter where you choose to stay you’ll want to book your vacation for a time that the area isn’t having their biggest tourist events or seasons. Don’t head to Daytona during the grand prix if you aren’t into cars and are looking for a quiet relaxing time. You’ll want to avoid Spring Break if you aren’t into drug and screaming college kids everywhere you look. Wait just a week or two and you’ll find the streets clear and businesses showering you with attention after they’ve showered off the remnants of Spring Break parties.
Something Reliable
If you love traveling to Florida but are tired of trying to find a new place and playing Russian Roulette with quality then you might consider investing in some accommodations that are recurring and reliable.
You may find it more economical to look at Vero beach resale resort options or something similar that offers you a point program to book vacations that suit your needs on a recurring basis. This gives you options and lets you fit your accommodations to your needs while giving you a magical experience no matter what your age.
If this is a once-in-a-lifetime or decade type of vacation then be sure to check for hotel, Air BNB, resort deals, and money-saving packages that suit your needs and work with your schedule.
Flight Deals
You can find some excellent flight deals that include tickets to popular Florida attractions or have perks such as a discount on a rental car or a shuttle to the hotel included in your ticket.
Be sure you do your research before you pay out any money though. You don’t want to buy flights that are non-refundable, especially in a world of Covid and travel restrictions or even worse to get trapped by an online scam.
Check that there are proper encryption and security protocols on any site you give personal information to and don’t forget to read through the reviews for any site or business you use. Read the fine print so you know who to contact if there are issues or concerns with your travel plans.
Be Flexible
If you are willing to be flexible about the dates, times, and places you travel then you may be able to save yourself a lot of money. Pick times of the year that are not the most popular and you will find airlines trying to sell flights by giving cheap flight sales, hotels looking to fill empty rooms, and you’ll have fewer crowds and line ups to worry about at your favorite attractions.
Think Outside the Box
You don’t have to hit all the tourist attraction spots that are designed to make the most money possible off of tourists or you may want to take them in without the traditional expenses. If you’re not going to go on the rides anyway but still want to take in the magic of Disney you could always stay at one of their resorts or a local hotel and view the fireworks from near the park.
You don’t need park tickets to walk around the various resorts and you can even take in some magical characters while they’re visiting various resorts to host experiences with guests. Entertain the kids by finding the penny machine at each resort. They’ll leave with a souvenir that doesn’t break the bank.
If you are traveling with children or youth who will want all the tourist souvenirs and memorabilia then why not search for deals and buy them online and bring Mickey sweatshirts with you when you come. The children will never know they didn’t come from the Magic Kingdom and they’ll love their new outfits while you save a ton of money by not paying tourist prices.
Off The Beaten Path
You don’t always have to do the big tourist attractions and hit the busiest places in Florida to have fun. In fact when you plan a trip to Florida that avoids all those things you can often have a much less stressful and expensive trip.
Why not hit all the hidden gems of Florida and take a road trip? Search for roadside attractions and the perfect photo opportunities. Have a scavenger hunt or seek out historic points of interest that can not only entertain but educate the entire family.
Make It a Trip to Remember
When you plan a trip to Florida remember that it is about the people you are with and the moments you share that will make it special. You don’t have to spend a ton of money when you know how to visit Florida on a budget. Research your options, plan ahead and think outside the box to have a trip that everyone will cherish for years to come.
You don’t have to sacrifice the quality of your adventure because of the quantity in your bank account. Learn to live large and love life from every corner of this magnificent planet.
Don’t forget to bookmark my site for tips on the best places to explore and adventures to take without spending a fortune.