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The Sunshine State has so much to offer in addition to its theme parks. Six specialists recommend how to make the most of Florida this year and encourage repeat bookings.
Sanibel Island is a beach paradise with plenty of family-friendly activities, says North America Travel Service
Florida is hugely popular with UK travellers but many tend to stick to Orlando. While the theme park capital packs plenty of excitement, the prospect of seeing manatees in the wild or air boating through the Everglades is no less thrilling, and spreading the tourism love is more sustainable.
Visit Florida statistics show holidaymakers who book even one or two nights outside Orlando are 95% more likely to return to explore the wider state, so it makes sense to have some enticing twin- and multi-centre itineraries up your sleeve. Here are some ideas to inspire you – and your clients.
Only an hour from Orlando, the Space Coast can be a family holiday in its own right. USAirtours suggests a theme park-free twin-centre. Head of sales Jessie Manzi says: “Titusville Florida provides families with an out-of-this-world experience at the Kennedy Space Center, where the wonders of space exploration come to life. Couple that with the coastal charm of Daytona Beach, and you have a perfect blend of educational excitement and beachfront relaxation… an ideal choice for families seeking an enriching and enjoyable vacation.”
Book it: USAirtours offers three nights at Hyatt Place Titusville and four at Holiday Inn Resort Ocean Front Daytona Beach, with car hire and Kennedy Space Center admission with lunch from £899pp based on two adults and two children (11 or under) travelling 11 July 2024.
“Wildlife isn’t always what springs to mind when you think about a holiday to Florida, but you will find it throughout the state,” says Cath Pusey, product director for America As You Like It. The operator’s Urban Pursuits and Nature Adventures itinerary is great for seeing wildlife, she explains. “In particular manatees at Crystal River but also dolphins and other marine life, alligators, an abundance of birdlife, white-tailed deer, fox squirrels and possibly the Florida panther or black bear. Visitors can either join a tour, visit a state park or explore on their own, or rent kayaks or paddleboards to see manatees and other marine life.”
Book it: The 10-night Urban Pursuits and Nature Adventures holiday costs from £1,285pp including flights and car hire and covering Tampa (with its lively LGBT+ scene), handy nature reserves, Crystal River over two nights for manatee spotting, then Naples and Bradenton.
Florida is ringed with enticing and famous beaches. North America Travel Service recommends some low-key lounge spots, including Sanibel Island, known for its abundant seashells. “Florida’s Gulf Coast is home to some of the state’s most upscale locations and finest resorts. Many of its beaches are powder-white and have a very relaxed and casual feel,” says product and marketing manager Karen Farrar. “The more energetic are also well catered for, with a huge range of water-based activities.” Many resorts have undergone multimillion-dollar transformations since last year’s hurricanes. There are also accessible beaches Visit Florida can highlight.
Book It: North America Travel Service has a nine-night Beautiful Florida Beach Escape, fly-drive, covering three nights each at Sanibel Island Beach Resort, South Seas Island Resort, Captiva and Westin Cape Coral Resort & Marina Village. From £2,149pp based on April 2024 travel, it includes London-Fort Myers flights and car rental.
“With its abundant sunshine, expansive coastline and incredible biodiversity, Florida is the perfect destination for adventurers,” says Mandy McGlade, product manager at American Affair. “We can offer all sorts of activities for thrillseekers, from airboat rides in the Everglades and manatee sightseeing tours, to watersports excursions, including snorkelling, sailing and kayaking.” Many Florida parks have accessible trails; ask, too, about accessible boat excursions.
Book it: American Affair’s Golden Beaches of Florida & The Keys holiday costs from £2,322pp including flights, 14 nights’ accommodation and 12 days’ car hire. It covers Clearwater; Sarasota; Naples, where wildlife tours are possible; Key West, where snorkelling, sailing and kayaking excursions can be added; Key Largo; and Miami, which has easy day-trip access to the famous alligator-rich wetlands of the Everglades.
From street art in Miami to the Dali Museum in St Petersburg, and the Cultural Coast around Sarasota, where there’s also a thriving LGBT+ scene, Florida has plenty for culture vultures. Gold Medal’s Florida destination manager, Leanne Davies, recommends: “Visit Pier 60 in Clearwater for the daily Sunset Festival where you can watch artists and musicians. Sarasota offers an eclectic blend of culture and a great place for shopping and dining is St Armand’s Circle. Further south, discover a piece of history at the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford estates in Fort Myers, before heading to Miami, home to world-famous art deco architecture.”
Book It: Gold Medal offers a 14-night Gulf Coast Self-Drive itinerary, from £2,499pp including flights and car hire, based on October 2024 departures. It takes in Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and Miami including Hyatt, Hilton and Wyndham hotels.
Foodies will be spoilt in Florida. Abercrombie & Kent suggests starting in Miami (perhaps sampling Cuban fare in Little Havana), taking an Everglades excursion, then touring the Keys. Senior product manager Charlotte Wells says: “In Everglades City, the stone crab is a must-try delicacy. The Florida Keys are renowned for their exceptional culinary offerings, particularly fresh seafood. Each Keys location has unique flavours. In Key West, [there’s] an array of fresh seafood dishes, tropical fruits and the famous Key Lime Pie.”
Book it: A&K’s eight-night Carry on Down the Florida Keys, from £9,575pp, with flights and car hire, includes two nights at the W South Beach, Miami; Everglades air boating and lunch (with driver-guide); then a Keys self-drive staying at Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo and Ocean Key Resort & Spa Key West.
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