Holidays In Orlando, Florida

photo credit: yeowatzup  -  Disney World

    

photo credit: d4rr3ll  -  Magic Kingdom

    

photo credit: Kamoteus  -  Universal Boardwalk

photo credit:  supervillain   -  Orlando Sunset

By Terry Hely

A little known citrus farming center called Orlando was paid a visit the 1960s by a gentleman called Walt Disney who started buying land on the outskirts of the town.

The remainder of that story is now history and by 1971, that land had become Walt Disney World. Today, Orlando has a resident population of approximately 200,000 people and visitor numbers swell that figure into the many millions.

The words "Orlando, Florida" immediately conjure up images of fairy tale palaces, thrill rides, theme parks and Disney characters loved the world over. The combination of the "big 3" Orlando entertainment parks of Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios have no equal anywhere else in the world.

Located on the the outskirts of Orlando, the towns of Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee are home to most of the major entertainment park attractions.

It's no surprise that the accommodation industry generates a major portion of the Orlando economy and that it employs a high percentage of the local population.

The nearby towns of Winter Haven and Altamonte Springs offer a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Orlando and the parks. Their quiet rural charm and sedate pace provides a glimpse back to the time before the area became the home of the world's best known entertainment parks.

Orlando Hotels And Resorts 

Orlando has more beds to service the tourist industry than any other USA city except for Las Vegas. Orlando is the fifth most popular USA city for travelers visiting from overseas. It is not surprising that the accommodation industry represents a major portion of the Orlando economy and employs a high percentage of the local population.

Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to Orlando accommodation and every taste is catered for in every price range. From themed luxury hotels, fantasy resorts, exclusive golf resorts, condominiums, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels to luxury villas, it's all available in and around Orlando.

The parks have several entrances which can be separated from each other by quite a distance, so selecting accommodation near the best gate for you can be an important consideration. Orlando accommodation is often named for proximity to a particular theme park (Universal) or a particular gate (main gate east etc)

 Orlando Transport 

At least 35 airlines and just as many charter operators fly into Orlando International Airport with the bulk of these flights being Delta which accounts for around 25% of the flights that originate in approximately 160 different cities.

Other airlines serving Orlando are America West, American, Air Canada, British Airways, Continental, Northwest and US Airways. The Orlando Airport website provides and excellent page about airport shuttle services and city transport.

Amtrak is the USA rail service and it operates to and from Orlando with connections to many of the surrounding towns such as Kissimmee, Sebring, Winter Haven, Sanford and Ocala.

The I Ride trolley service is an excellent way to get around the International Drive Resort precinct. The LYNX bus service covers the downtown Orlando metropolitan area and surrounding cities.

The main highway through Orlando is I4, running directly from downtown Orlando to the Disney area. If you plan on driving in Orlando, be prepared for traffic, especially at rush hour.

About The Author: Terry Hely writes destination guides that are valuable resources for planning vacations and travel. Find out more about Orlando vacations from his page at http://www.go-florida.net/orlando-florida.htm  

Mexico Holidays and Packages

Yucatan Peninsula, photo: Stillframe


By Maria Thomas

Mexico - a country with a turbulent history - encompasses fantastic legends and lore. Its culture with its Spanish connection has its own indigenous appeal. That appeal has infiltrated into its art, design and architecture.

From museums and opera houses to tranquil beach resorts, travellers in Mexico will definitely not ask for anything more. Over 500 festivals and holidays are celebrated annually throughout Mexico City and nearby towns showcasing deep historical ancestry.

Chichen Itza's Kukulcan Temple, photo: kyle simourd

Mexico is one of the most admired tourist spots.

The first name that comes in mind is Riviera Maya. Due to its lush jungle, landscape, shoreline and history, Riviera Maya has a variety of attractions to entice travellers. Playa del Carmen, a major town in the region and runs along the beach offering tourists prominent hotels, it also provides the shoppers an array of colourful local handicrafts to meet the latest trends in European fashions. Next comes the Yucatán Peninsula, an archeological goldmine, situated on the Gulf of Mexico's southern shore. It was the center of Mayan civilization throughout their rule.

Los Cabos at dusk, photo: jeffgunn

The beach resorts outside the capital city is one of the places that people who travel to Mexico will surely enjoy. The beach destination is also regarded as the most accepted option for a romantic honeymoon getaway.

Acapulco is one of the popular tourist spots where you can enjoy fishing as well as water sports. Acapulco is also noted for its hotels, casinos and beach resorts. Mazatlan is also an admired tourist destination, a place where pre-Lenten carnivals and fishing tournaments take place. One can also find in Mazatlan an observatory and one of the tallest lighthouses in the world.

Other beaches that travellers in Mexico should not miss are the Cancun Island, the Puerto Vallarta and the Los Cabos.

Mexico is one of the most important museum destinations in the world.

Museums that travellers in Mexico should visit are the National Museum of Anthropology, Museum of National History, Snail Museum, Technology Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Children will also enjoy the Mexico City Zoo and the Papalote, a children's interactive museum.

Travelling to Mexico will not be complete without visiting the Basilica de Guadalupe, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Chapultepec Castle. The monuments abound in the Paseo de la Reforma are Angel of the Independence (the symbol of the country's national identity), Cuauhtemoc Memorial and the Diana Cazadora (the statue of Diana the Huntress).

The Zona Rosa or the Pink Zone is an ideal shopping paradise covering boutique squares, shops and hotels. The Alameda Park is also a shopping district, which borders the Palace of Fine Arts. Travellers can find the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon in Teotihuacan that face each other, providing a great view of the surrounding regions from the top.

Mexico is one of the most popular vacation destinations of North America. Winter is the best time for a tour to Mexico, as majority of Mexico is positioned in the tropics, making weather somewhat reliable and the months of July and August inevitably avoidable, when temperatures may not drop below 90F at night. Great waves, sea caves and the closeness of many interesting locales strengthens the lure of this western peninsula.

About the author: Maria Thomas is a owner of the Holidays with best bargain from Online travel agency Bargain Holidays with World Wise Travel, Online travel Agency an independent, online travel agency. We deal with all the major ABTA and ATOL bonded tour operators and all the major airlines

Article Source: EzineArticles

How To Search For Last Minute Holidays

Big Ben

London Bridge

A complete guide to buying last minute holidays. Tips & advice on how to get the best travel deals, when to buy, what to buy and where to go.

By Jez Rourke

When you are looking for holidays, you know that you are often up against the clock. There might be several situations in which you have waited until the last possible second to get your holiday planning and booking done, and you will find that if this is the case, you are often going to be flustered and not quite sure how to get the best deals.

You might even be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner. However, you shouldn't fear. You can get good deals on your holidays, even if you wait until the last possible moment to plan for them.

First of all, don't automatically take the highest bid because you feel you have run out of time to wait for a lower one. Even if you are planning your holiday for a time that is only several days away, you still might be able to find good deals but only if you are vigilant and are willing to search multiple places. You might be surprised at what you can figure out, and it just might be that you end up with a good deal after all.

Next, make sure that you are checking for local cancellations. This is one of the best ways to get great deals on your holiday, even if they are last minute deals.

Often if, you are looking to get a room somewhere or to do something that might be sold out, you will be able to purchase cancellation rooms or spots right before you intend to go. This means that even if you haven't planned very far in advance, you might still be able to get the most out of your holiday as well.

Another excellent secret to getting good deals is to stay local. Often, you will find it easier to get late deals on things if you can do them locally. You will find that you are able to get the most out of your holiday, even if you aren't going very far away from home. This might indeed be the best way that you can be a success when it comes to your holidays and to your destinations.

Remember, just because you haven't planned ahead doesn't mean that you aren't going to get a good deal on your holiday. If you are patient and follow through on your inquiries, and if you are willing to wait for cancellations, as well as if you plan a holiday for a place near to you, you will still be able to find lots of good deals, even at the last possible moment.

About: directline-holidays.co.uk searches all the major holiday companies to find you the best deals on last minute holidays.