Orlando without a car?

[oneofakind]

Due to a set of circumstances I am going on holiday with my friend in Feb 2026. She has fixed dates (around 12-13 nights) and is set on long haul but a budget of around £1.4k. She ideally wants a beach break as she was due to go to a tropical place and was really looking forward to it but this has had to be cancelled.

The only place I can find within budget is Orlando, Florida. The weather would be good , flights not too long and the hotels look ok but, although I drive and have been to Florida before, I don’t want to hire a car. I just don’t feel comfortable driving abroad any longer and wouldn’t want to do this in the US. Having been before (but Disney/Universal then) a car seemed to be quite essential.

Ideally we’d want a beach holiday somewhere warm but places are either too expensive (Caribbean, Mexico) or the flights are too long for a 12 night break (Thailand).

I suppose I feel a bit of pressure as she’s been through a hard time but doesn’t want Canaries/Egypt/Cape Verde and it’ll be her first time long haul. She’s saved for a long time for this trip.

Any advice please?

What about Cape Verde?

The Carribean and Mexico are often fully AI. Orlando is usually room only. Are you sure the costs won’t end up about the same?

I'm no expert but supermarkets and restaurants always seem to need a car so I would be very hesitant. If you're going to go anywhere in Florida without a car your best bet would be theme parks - which will obviously be out of budget.

Florida doesn't have a lot of AI so is there also an eating out budget? Could you look to combine that with the accommodation budget and spent a bit more inclusive of food? That might put eg AI in Dom Rep on the map.

Cuba did it for much less from the UK. Fabulous people, scenery, and culture

Ubers are cheap and plentiful in America, especially Orlando outside of peak times. The expensive part is usually airport transfers. Depends what is walkable from the hotel too.

Orlando's not on the coast so not a beach holiday. If you could fly to Tampa and stay in Clearwater then Clearwater is totally walkable. Miami beach area too, there is even a free tourist tram bus thing.
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/transportation/trolley/

@Chiseltip- she doesn’t want Cape Verde.
@JoWawa, Cuba might be an option if I can find a deal, thanks.

Deleted because you have had much more helpful answers from PPs!

Look at Ba holidays. We have done Antigua and St Lucia AI for similar price each

Do be aware though that if you do visit Cuba and want to visit the US later it will make you ineligible for an ESTA and that you will need to get a visa in future if you want to go to America, which is a far more complex and lengthier process.

A friend just returned from Orlando and didn’t drive. She did use Uber sometimes though. If you’re happy to do that and pick the right hotel it can be doable.

Just seen it’s 13 + nights
sorry

Well, Orlando is inland - last year it took 2 hours to drive to the east coast and nearly 4 to drive to Tampa. Public transport is shite in America at the best of times. Restaurants aren't 'local' unless you're staying somewhere close to the action (which is a million miles from beach relaxation).

Unless you drive or are hugely prepared to compromise, Orlando ticks zero boxes.

If you were doing just the main parks in Orlando then you can certainly get by without a car but otherwise I would not want to be without one in Florida.

£1.4k seems incredibly cheap and I assume is flight and room only? How much spending money are you planning on taking. As a PP said, a more expensive outlay might end up saving you money.

US is really really expensive. I’m not sure why you’d go to Orlando unless you were into theme parks. Which are $$$
cuba is almost a non starter at the me because entry into Cuba means you’re not longer eligible for an ESTA for the US. That means there are almost no package deals or direct flights from the UK at the moment.

Thailand is cheap once you get there.

bet you could get sort sort of deal to the Dom Rep. Never been though.

ive been to orlando twice and just used uber/lyft for getting around

Sri Lanka

You could get a nice beach holiday near Tampa or Miami. I just don’t understand why you’d go to Orlando if you want a beach.

I hope you find something that works. Bear in mind that the US has turned extremely expensive now. So be prepared. My nephew and his family were in Philadelphia recently and four cokes and four muffin type things cost around $80 + tip made it nearly $100. I kid you not. That's what it's like there now.

I don't mean to rain on your parade either, just saying. Have you considered Thailand, I know Bangkok has a rep but there are some lovely places on the coast and it's not an expensive place either. Just a thought.

Thanks all. Good point about Cuba, we’d strike that off the list then as I’d like to travel to other Us places in the future.
The Orlando deals we’ve seen are on International Drive, mostly room only but some include a breakfast.

Thailand would be fantastic but it’s long flight/jet lag for 12 nights.
Wondering about Goa?

https://www.visitflorida.com/travel-ideas/articles/florida-beaches-top-8-closest-beaches-near-orlando/

at the moment can not go to the states no flights

What's the departure date option and from where in the country?

I'm very surprised you can't find a Caribbean trip for that budget unless the dates happen to be fully booked for flights.

Orlando is the wrong place for a beach holiday. Go to Miami if you really want to go to Florida. I felt I needed a car in Orlando, but things are much closer together in Miami, so its easier to do without one.

You can just uber everywhere. I live in Caribbean and took the kids to Tampa last year for 5 days but couldn’t be arsed with car hire. Just Ubers and the total cost for the whole time was around $280.

Flying out either 20th/21st/22nd Feb from either any London or the Midlands or could do Manchester also. Also suprised we can’t find anything. Maybe the January sales will throw up more options.

Remember though if you go to Cuba it means you can no longer get an ESTA for USA entry and need a proper visa

I'm getting the sense that you are a bit half-hearted about this holiday. Do you really want to go?

Don't feel obligated to go. What do YOU want? Your friend seems to be the decider here.