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Original poster

Budget for Florida Holiday?

77 replies

BaconAndAvocado · 30/12/2013 20:40

We're a family of 2 parents and 3 DCs and are planning on an once-in-a-lifetime Florida holiday in 2015..

We'd like to stay at a villa for 2 weeks in Orlando to do,the parks then 1 week somewhere by a beach, Clearwater?

Will have to go in school holidays.......

Any ideas on ball park figure?

Tia

OP posts:
ChestyNut · 04/01/2014 10:43

Which one did you stay at?

Will defiantly book this time. Am hoping it won't be as hideously busy in September?
We missed quite a few rides because the queues were just so big!

Am torn between HRH and Loews royal pacific?

MadeOfStarDust · 05/01/2014 08:27

We did Royal Pacific - the pool was just amazing for relaxing in under the stars after the park too....

but mainly we chose it because it was the cheapest... Blush.

Though if you stand at reception and look around, it is the sort of place that you'd pay a LOT more money for in London... The water taxi from the doorstep takes minutes to the park, is free and goes often too.

Rufustherednosedreindeer · 05/01/2014 20:34

madeof

Would agree with everything you have said

We stayed at the pacific for 4 nights in 2011 and have booked a week this time round with a villa for the other two weeks

Well worth it and the hotel is lovely, lots of touches like iced water to drink by the side of the pool and fresh melon on offer and mock tail in the reception while you are waiting....god I'm easily pleased

ChestyNut · 19/01/2014 00:01

Wooooh hoooo! Have booked for next year Grin

Rosvita · 20/01/2014 16:20

madeofstardust just wondered which universal hotel you stayed in as we are planning on doing the same when we go next year. Thanks

SnowBells · 22/01/2014 00:42

Look out for deals. In 2011, we went to Florida for just one week. We paid £357 per person for flight & car (for the week). I booked a big room in a mid-class hotel for about £350 (for all of us).

One of the cheapest holidays we ever had!!!

omama · 27/01/2014 21:57

Snowbells - what time of year did you go to get it at that price?! was it a last minute booking?

I'd LOVE to take DS (3.5) to Florida in the next year or so, but with the prices quoted upthread it'll be a long time convincing DH!

SnowBells · 27/01/2014 23:54

Nope - it wasn't a last minute booking. Booked about 7 months in advance. We went in March. In retrospect, I have to say we were very lucky finding that deal...

escape · 28/01/2014 21:28

I've been searching flights to ORL for almost 2 years and have never seen anything less than 800 pp.. So, packages all the way - we are going in July and paid 7k for Disney property, Dis tickets and free meal plan - 2 adults, 3 kids.

SnowBells · 28/01/2014 22:29

I remember it to be a Virgin Holiday special. I still have the email confirmation. So price quoted above is definitely right...

omama · 29/01/2014 22:09

Thomas Cook are actually doing some really cheap flights atm - if you go on 19th April for 14 nights it was £378 when I was looking last night. Virgin are doing in the region of £450-500pp mid May/beginning June too.

Its just when you add on the hotel & the park tickets it seems to get rather pricey, esp if you want to stay on site at Disney.

PickledMoomin · 29/01/2014 22:15

We went in August. Two adults, two children. £8300 for flights and park tickets including discovery cove.

Spent a fortune there too. Hoping to go again in October

PickledMoomin · 29/01/2014 22:17

We did the universal trick. Stayed at Lowes Pacific for one night. The queue passes are definitely worth $200

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 07/02/2014 23:23

We'll......

Went to Virgin Holidays today and got a couple of quotes for our Mega Holiday 2015.

3 weeks in August, 2 weeks in villa doing the theme parks then :

1 week in a hotel in Clearwater (no food) = £11, 679

Or

1 week all-inclusive 5* in Mexico = £13,067.

Will,probably budget about £2000 for spends for,the 3 weeks.

Think we erring on the Mexican side (ariba!) as it looks very very gorgeous and I won't have to cook Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 07/02/2014 23:24

I meant weeelll not we'll.

All this excitement is getting to me.

OP posts:
ChestyNut · 08/02/2014 09:49

Oooooh both sound nice but 3 weeks vs 1 week?

Grin
Rosvita · 08/02/2014 10:27

I think bacon means 2 weeks florida followed by 1 week Mexico as opposed to 2 weeks florida followed by 1 week in Clearwater!

Bowlersarm · 08/02/2014 10:30

I am amazed people can do it so cheaply. Our family of 5 went for 17 nights two years ago and it cost us well over £10,000.

How exciting, OP. It is such a great holiday.

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 08/02/2014 15:26

Thanks all, yes I did mean 2 weeks Orlando then 1 relaxing on a beach!

Just been to tell my Dad about holiday plans and he's put the fear of God into me about car insurance in the US.

Is it very expensive?

Still very excited but am going to get another quote with First Choice on Monday.

Is it possible to remain this excited for 20 months???

PS The Virgin quotes include a day at Discovery Cove.....ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

And all theme park tickets. Having mentioned this to a couple of people I'm sensing its a good price?

Oh, how much will health insurance be too?

Tia

OP posts:
squiby2004 · 09/02/2014 02:37

We are going in July/August. Flying BA direct, executive 3 bed villa, car hire with Satnav, 2 weeks ticket bundle to everything. 2 adults and 1 child aged 10 came in at £6100. Booked with American Sky.

rookiemater · 09/02/2014 20:48

Bacon - we bought this extra car insurance www.icarhireinsurance.com/#0 to cover for all insurance excesses, sounds like an amazing holiday !

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 09/02/2014 21:29

Thanks rookie will look into that.

OP posts:
TheHumancatapult · 10/02/2014 06:55

We went last year once in lifetime trip .We Go back November next yearGrin

We stayed POFQ for 14 nights in September ( 4k inlcuding wdw tickets and food ) add in around another 800 for spending plus also did Dc and seaworld

Next trip were staying Idrive as have better idea what we want
.Attraction tickets direct are very good and can help you work out best options for you .

TheHumancatapult · 10/02/2014 07:01

should add Attraction tickets direct allow you pay a £10 deposit each and pay of in chunks.www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk/orlando-attraction-tickets

also look at a Eat and play card for discount on meals out .

Were going for a month next year out of season i admit and doing all parks (wdw,sw ,bush,us,ioa,Dc,aquatica staying idrive but in hotel suite so have a kitchen area and were take snacks and do own breakfast including tickets comes in at 5k

TheHumancatapult · 10/02/2014 07:08

Bacon
Health insurance can vary check your bank if you have with a current account .But this is one area do not skimp on .Make sure have repatration cover in it

We pay £200 but thats due to having several medical conditions between me and Dc.

chesty
September was not to bad average of 15/20 mins at most for rides .Though watch out as there is a USA holiday labour day normally first Monday of month but its on the 8th September this year .We did find parks were busier on a weekend as more local people came in

Discovery cove

get there early then you be able get a early morning dolphin swim .We got there for 7am checked in given first swim at 8.30 but then went had breakfast as its open by then

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