Do You Want Them? Finding Florida Vacation Deals

What would you say to having your vacation budget go a lot further? If this appeals to you, you'll be quite amazed at some of the great Florida vacation deals that can be found, both online and off.

Here are some ideas for finding the best of the Florida vacation deals around.

Before You Read Further...

Know your dates. Are you open or are there certain dates that you need to schedule your vacation around? If you sort these out before you start your research, you will be winnowing down the information out there, and you will find more targeted and worthwhile deals.

Something to consider for Florida; July through September are hot, humid and potentially have hurricanes here in the Sunshine State. Then again, because of this, some of the very best vacation deals can be found in August and September. If your vacation budget is a serious consideration, you may want to consider these months.

On the flip side, the months from Christmas through March is the most expensive time for a vacation, because people flock to Florida from the ice-covered northern states!

Tip #1

When you know your Florida holiday dates then you should start with a visit to your local travel agent where you can unearth some good deals. Believe it or not, even in this day and age, not all Florida vacation places have an online website, even more so those in the Florida Panhandle!

You can blend both offline and online worlds by getting your paper brochures and using them as a baseline for your online research.

Idea #2

Next it's time to do some web research. Check out the websites of the online travel agencies that show Florida vacations, for their most up-to-the-minute price packages. There will frequently be "web only" discounts on websites.

Once you have found a deal that piques your curiosity then call the agency and make them an offer for the holiday package. You would be surprised at how many of them are willing to offer a 'ready to buy' customer a better deal, than potentially lose them to a competitor who will. Especially if it is for the Florida "low season" where bookings are a somewhat on the thin side.

Hint #3

Newspapers and magazines are also a wonderful way to discover current Florida vacation deals. When a magazine writes a story on a holiday location, they typically have several travel agencies advertising discounts and deals around the article.

But here's a hint you may not realize; when you see those advertisements (usually for the most costly times of the year), check if making a reservation a few weeks earlier or later makes a price difference.

For example, if there was an article about Walt Disney World in the summertime, bear this in mind -- the resort price differences between the middle of August versus the end of August can be many hundreds of dollars. You could save plenty of money by changing your holiday dates back a few weeks, or even days!

Romantic Florida -- Vacation Spots to Enjoy

Romantic Florida vacation destinations are nestled around Florida, sometimes in the most surprising places. While the traditional oceanside sunrises and sunsets are indeed romantic, you may want to consider some more exceptional ideas. The kind that will make your sweetheart swoon and think you are the most romantic person there ever was.

How about some night lights. I am not talking about the big city now. I'm talking about the night sky here, and drinking champagne while looking at its magnificence. And here's a distinctive way to do this; rent a boat in the Florida Keys or Flamingo and put out to sea (so to speak) in Florida Bay. The bay water is calm and you can float away from the bright lights and stare up at the night sky. Don't forget the music!

Lover's Key is another place to consider for a romatic getaway. It's an island on the SW Florida Gulf coast. Lover's Key was initially named such since one couldn't get there from the mainland without a boat. As a result, it was an, ahem, out-of-the-way site. These days a road connects Lover's Key to the mainland, but it is still a romantic vacation spot. Why not take the sunset eco-tour cruise and get pleasure from the sun's final rays lingering on the horizon while you see the natural Florida. Or possibly you'd prefer the morning dolphin tour and shelling expedition?

Is a romantic Florida wedding part of your future? You're maybe thinking one of the Florida Keys, right? There's something quite unusual to consider. I'm talking about a South Seas genuinely romantic wedding at Disney World, at the Polynesian resort. I know, Disney is a favorite of honeymooners, but one doesn't usually think of it as being a romantic wedding location. Want an extraordinary wedding experience? Consider a fairy tale wedding at Cinderella's Castle. Envision, fireworks going off when you take your first kiss as man and wife.

Daytona Beach has some appealing places for romance; one is The Shores Resort and Spa, where there are several couples packages. Enjoy champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a moonlit seaside walk, breakfast in bed and spa treatments as well.

There are bed and breakfasts situated all around the Sunshine State and many have out of the ordinary packages planned for a romantic holiday. One off-the-beaten-path rendezvous spot is called Turtle Beach Inn. It's appropriately placed on Florida's "Forgotten Coast" -- the area from the Big Bend on the east to around Apalachicola on the west. This bed and breakfast is cozy and private, offering miles and miles of unspoiled shoreline for your pleasure.

Do you fancy a resort on its own private key? Little Palm Island in the Florida Lower Keys is actually on its own island, with just 30 suites (28 are thatch-roof bungalows). Little Palm has a five-day romance package that can make anyone swoon, because of the champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a steaming bath with rose petals...you get the idea.

Florida's know as the Sunshine State and occasionally the Tourist State, but we should also be renowned for our romantic Florida vacations.

Piqued your curiosity? Here are some other great Florida vacations for you to enjoy!