There are many east and west coast beaches near Orlando that are perfect for families and couples to visit while on a Best Vacations Ever promotional vacation to Central Florida.
Imagine a frosty beverage and a cushy lounge chair on a pristine beach as your toes dig in the warm sand….Yeah, that’s the ticket! A nearby Orlando beach trip is the perfect day trip or extended-stay to high-energy, on-the-run days spent trolling Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Studios Orlando® and SeaWorld Orlando® and numerous attractions. The Florida peninsula’s east and west coast beaches are as diverse as the variety of Orlando attractions. Your Preferred Guest Resorts’ travel agent can advise you of Orlando’s nearby beaches and the beach-vacation options of a Best Vacations Ever promotional package, all with free accommodations at every stop. Combo packages include 4 days in Orlando
Studies show that mobile device travel planning has increased 450%.
Online travel reservation systems have been the primary force behind travel bookings for some 40 years. Now, more than 75% of travel planning and bookings are done online. What’s the new competition? Mobile devices. A 2012 comScore behavior study found that nearly 40 million U.S. consumers accessed travel sites or apps from their smartphone and tablets. Mobile devices are outpacing computers when it comes to travel planning because of “convenience”— the instant access to travel websites, airfares, contact information, flight schedules and mobile alerts, area restaurant apps and easy travel bookings. Meeting mobile device demands, our website, bestvacationsever.com,offers easy searches from your mobile-to-web friendly browser for promotional family vacation packages that blend online mobile convenience with the personal touch of professional Travel Concierge agents at 1-800-656-2780. Best Vacations Ever combines an integrated, simplistic system to customize travel itineraries with added incentives, like attraction tickets and free or discounted car rentals, to offer incredible family vacations at hundreds of dollars off retails prices—all from the convenience of your mobile devices.
Following the Mobile Trends
A Google report stated 74% of travelers start mobile device planning without having a destination in mind. Bestvacationsever.com provides a myriad of information to make choosing a promotional vacations destination and booking online even easier and more convenient.
mobile device for travel planning. The Google/Ipsos MediaCT “The 2012 Traveler study” reported that 83% of leisure travelers plan and book travel through mobile device browsers—a 450% increase since 2009—and that 70% of leisure and affluent travelers begin their travel planning on mobile devices without a destination even in mind. Meeting the convenience of mobile demands, you can accessbestvacationsever.com and its simple system to book amazing family vacations at a fraction of the cost of retail vacations, along with our professional travel agents geared toward customer satisfaction and customization.
Bestvacationsever.com allows for easier, more convenient travel planning and offers a variety of destination packages.You can quickly and easily access extensive key write-ups on bestvacationsever.com with Fast Facts, Must Do activities and Resort features for each destination, making travel planning/booking easy and convenient.You can read about our amazing family vacation destinations and preferred-partner properties—including Walt Disney Good Neighbor® Hotels—with no carbon-copy-style information often found on antiquated search engines. With mobile ease and convenience, you can book a Best Vacations Ever promotional family vacation for up to four people with FREE accommodations, saving you hundreds of dollars off your travel budget.
Meeting Mobile Convenience With Online Videos
“Online videos have become another resource for planning travel, growing over time from 14% in 2009 to 26% in 2012,” states the 2012 Google traveler study. Travelers watch various online travel-planning videos, and according to the report,74% of affluent travelers indicated that watching informative online videos on mobile devices prompted bookings. Our website’s extensive information and online videos are geared to make travel planning and and convenient through your online and mobile devices.
Learn all about the incentives, benefits, incredible destinations,savings of FREE accommodation,s and advantages and customization of promotional travel through Best Vacations Ever and bestvacationsever.com—right at the fingertips of your mobile devices. Use our mobile-to-web-friendly browser to watch some of Best Vacations Ever’s online video, and call your Best Vacations Ever travel representative at 1-800-656-2780 to customize your trip and travel itinerary.
So, grab your mobile device and turn the ordinary vacation into an extraordinary adventure! Some of the testimonials and online videos you can watch online to help you plan your family’s Best Vacations Ever include:
Best Vacations Ever! by Preferred Guest Resorts, is connecting with travel lovers through social media to talk about options for affordable family vacations. Best Vacations Ever! offers promotional vacations to private-branded resorts all over the world. Through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and weekly blog posts, Best Vacations Ever! will share travel tips, packing how-tos, and feature stories about its many resorts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZbe5U0yDBY
It’s never too soon to start looking for affordable airfare. In fact, it could save you hundreds of dollars. In addition to the slashed prices you can find during two slow periods of the year, major markdowns are expected from carriers this fall.
Budgeting was already a priority when you purchased your Preferred Guest Resorts’ promotional vacation package, which was designed to offer enhanced, high-quality vacations at budget-friendly prices, for families and adults. And when it comes to traveling, you want to spend as little money as possible on airfare, right? Regardless of when you plan to travel, it’s incredibly wise to start scoping flight prices months in advance to find the the most affordable travel options. The later you wait, the greater the risk you’ll end up forking out premium or peak prices when there are plenty of chances to grab lower rates for your upcoming vacation.
Economists say you can find some of the cheapest airfare bargains about eight weeks out—a basic rule of thumb to use when planning and booking a trip, especially affordable family-fun vacations to some of the best U.S vacation spots. But according to the New York Times, major markdowns could be coming this fall when the annual “fall-off” in fares is expected to be substantial, as airline carriers are expecting more trouble than usual this year selling post-summer travel. That essentially means even bigger savings for those booking their Preferred Guest Resorts’ vacations, even during the peak seasons.
The Wall Street Journal also discovered that you can find the best bargains on airfare during two windows: At the end of AUGUST through the BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER and the END OF DECEMBER through the BEGINNING OF JANUARY when consumers are burned out on travel and bookings come to a screeching halt. Savvy travelers know these slow time periods are the best times to grab serious money-saving opportunities on everything from airfare to theme-park tickets and car rentals so they have more fun money to spend on vacation, especially those with kids.
If you’re heading to a family-fun destination with major parks and attractions you plan on visiting, keep an eye on those vendor websites, as well. Even the big-name parks, like Walt Disney World® Resort and Universal Studios® Orlando, are known to push out advance-purchase ticket package specials to entice future travelers.
During the off seasons, you also have the opportunity to save money on a variety of attractions, rentals cars and other travel-related vendors, which also feel the sting of these slow periods and push out some their best advance-purchase specials for future travel during slow periods, as well. A family of four or more can save a lot of money on airfare, tickets, cars and much more that could otherwise be a barrier for traveling if they play their cards right – or in this case, their timing right.
Even if you just got back from a trip or you’re just procrastinating, it’s always best to start looking for airfares in advance, especially with fall just around the corner and prices expected to drop considerably. Start looking for airfares online right now, and make sure to set up alerts with your favorite carriers so you get instant emails and texts sent right to your mobile devices. Airlines and travel-related vendors are now using more mobile and web-based marketing tools and apps to reach consumers faster.
It’s true that the early bird gets the worm, so why procrastinate and agonize over airfares, when the result could be major markdowns this fall? You can maximize your time and budget more effectively for your Best and Most Affordable Vacation Ever through Preferred Guest Resorts, if you start doing your homework.
Trust us and your wallet will thank us later.
So nail down those travel dates and get ready to begin your journey to magnificent destinations through the enhanced travel experiences and premium partnerships provided by Preferred Guest Resorts. Call your Preferred Guest Resorts’travel agent at 1-800-656-2780 with any questions or any assistance in booking your travel and have your Best Vacation Ever!
Have a Family Safety Plan when traveling with children of any age.
Travelling is always an exciting adventure, especially when children are part of the crew. It can be difficult to balance fun and safety, especially when you or your child may be in a place where you don’t the layout or the laws. Before your trip, create a family plan of action in case of emergencies. Every state presents its own set of unique challenges, but there are a few safety rules that apply wherever you plan to go for a fun and super safe family-friendly vacation:
PLAN THE VACATION TOGETHER. Be realistic when planning your family vacation. Use common sense, and include your family members in the decision. The vacation will be all that more enjoyable when everyone in the family is onboard from the beginning and feel like they are part of the process. Your trip will be much more fun and most memorable if you plan the family holiday together. Have each family member write down where they hope to go and what they want to do, then review them together and determine which destination meets everyone’s objectives. Preferred Guest Resorts has a slew of options for family-friendly destinations and cruises that offer adventures for everyone in the family, from the youngest baby and kid to adults and grandparents. Call your Preferred Guest Resorts reservation agent for help planning an itinerary that suits the needs of everybody in your group so that the whole group has their Best Vacation Ever at resorts, hotel and vacation time shares right in the heart of the action, no matter your itinerary.
SET GROUND RULES: Establish rules for family members before you even leave on your trip. Talk about the dangers and obstacles that may be faced in such a destination, and how you expect the family to act accordingly. This can be as simple as a young toddler being told never to let go of Mommy or Daddy’s hand, to teenagers that must travel in pairs and be home to the hotel by 11 pm.
CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION: Establish a family plan of action for the most common family travel troubles: a lost family member, getting separated or an injured child. Give each person a specific task – even toddlers can learn to grab onto Mom or Dad or look for somebody official like a police office or a retailer with a nametag when repeatedly taught. Practice each scenario at home until everybody knows what he or she needs to do in an emergency situation.
FAMILY CELL PHONES: Make sure each person in the family has a cell phone, even young children can have a prepaid phone with minutes for emergencies that is pre-set to dial Mom or Dad. Program each family member’s name and number, along with their identifying picture if capable, into each phone so everyone knows how to reach each other at all times. Establish a family code word that signals when someone is in trouble that only the family would know. Make sure to call you cell-phone provider as well to ensure you have international service at least the dates you are there. Many companies will pro-rate international calling plans, so you only pay for the percentage of the days you are there.
STASH EVERYONE WITH CASH: Pack each person’s pockets with enough cash in case of emergencies and separation. There’s nothing worse than feeling stranded without any money and not knowing what to do. Also be sure to call your bank and let them know the days you will be in what countries and when so they do not assume your card was stolen and cut if off.
FAMILY PHOTOS: A picture truly is worth 1,000 words. Collect and bring current family photos of each person in your party in case of an emergency. Better yet, before heading out to explore each day, snap a photo of family members on your cell phone. That way, if someone should get lost, you have a current photo of that person with the exact clothing and hairstyles they were wearing that day.
ASSIGN ROLES: Designate each person to have a role during the trip, which may include one person counting heads each day, another for buying the day’s tickets, or older teens being responsible for younger children while you attend to the baby or more emergent parental issues. Enforce responsibility and accountability for family when it comes to traveling to a different state.
DESIGNATE A SAFETY SPACE: Wherever you go on your family trip that day, find a “safety spot” that everyone knows to go to immediately of they should get separated or lost from the group. Pick a public, highly visible, easy-to-find central spot like a fountain in the square, a large statue, a lobby in a museum or a restaurant café, so that younger children kind easily find it and remain in a safe open space. Remind younger children to seek help only from a police officer or a retailer at a store wearing a nametag, and if they have their cell phone to call you immediately.
USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM: It works just as well for adults as it does for children. Require that young children hold the hand of either Mom or Dad or an assigned responsible teen at all times, especially in crowded areas or getting on certain transportation. Even have teens hold the back of a parent’s shirt. A hands-on approach ensures the family sticks together in the tightest of situations and no one strays from the pack or gets left behind.
Travelling with children to fun family-friendly destinations can be one of your Best Vacations Ever, especially if you take a proactive, pre-planning approach that offers a strong peace of mind because of a family plan in action. Preferred Guest Resorts has done part of the legwork for you, offering a wide variety of family-friendly destinations and cruises that meet everyone’s hopes and dreams for a memorable family holiday with reliable, premium family-friendly vendors in everything from budget hotels, luxury resorts and vacation timeshare rentals. Call your Preferred Guest Resorts reservation agent at 1-800-656-2780 for any questions you may have and any help planning your itinerary for your Best Vacation Ever.
Get ready for your guest appearance at Universal Orlando® Resort’s thrill-packed theme park, Islands of Adventure, just a short walk away through the action-packed entertainment complex of CityWalk.
The best bet is to buy a Universal Studio’s ticket that allows you access to both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Orlando, so you can enjoy everything each park has to offer. If there is a No Expiration option available and you know you will be coming back to Orlando to justify the expense, it is worth the extra few dollars.
Here are a few of the can’t-miss rides and attractions at Islands of Adventure alone that your whole family can look forward to on your Best Vacation Ever to Orlando with Preferred Guest Resorts.
Tip for Visiting SeaWorld Orlando while on your promotional vacation with Preferred Guest Resorts.
No one knows water or marine life better than SeaWorld®, and it’s one of the best ways for hydrophiles and Florida vacationers to get their thrills and chills when visiting Orlando. When planning your Orlando family-vacation itinerary with Preferred Guest Resorts, be sure to add in a day or two for some of the most amazing, once-in-a-lifetime type of adventures at SeaWorld® Orlando, which also includes the main SeaWorld theme park; the Aquatica water park; and the interactive, all-inclusive dolphin swim experience at the Discovery Cove resort oasis. SeaWorld’s sister theme park, Busch Gardens, is also about an hour and a half west of Orlando in Tampa and worth the day trip.
SeaWorld is a huge hit with kids and adult animal lovers and jam packed with coasters, rides, attractions, spectacular shows, animal and conservation exhibits, behind-the-scenes tours, interactive and educational experiences, and much more. Many Orlando travelers have praised its entertainment value and gentler impact on budget-minded wallets. You’ll also be close to all the action. Rest assured when you book your trip to Orlando with Preferred Guest Resorts, your hotel, resort or timeshare vacation rental will be in close range to the park and numerous Orlando attractions. Also ask about booking accommodations that offer free breakfast, so you can quickly eat and get to the park early. Getting into the park shouldn’t be a hassle, so check online and ask your Preferred Guest Resorts representative about your most efficient, time and money-saving options through the front gates.Here are a few more insider traveler tips to help enhance your exciting family vacation day at SeaWorld Orlando.
BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE: If traving on a promotional vacation package with Preferred Guest Resorts, you may be eligible to receive two free admission tickts. (Ask any PGR represnetative for more details. ) If you are reciving different theme park tickets, a rental car, or other promotional perks, a great way to avoid long lines at the SeaWorld entry gate is to buy your tickets in advance. Check online for special rates, discounts and park packages available for Orlando family vacationers during your travel time. When you book your travel, be sure to ask your Preferred Guest Resorts representative about purchasing advance tickets, and check to see if your Preferred Guest Resorts hotel, resort or vacation timeshare rental has advance purchase ticket options available. Combination packages that include all SeaWorld Orlando parks and Bush Gardens in Tampa as well as unlimited return visits or “no expiration” options plus parking added to at least one pass could save you money during your trip and especially during future visits. An annual pass includes discounts on food, merchandise and parking and some can pay for themselves in as little as two visits. If you are a Florida resident, look for “Buy a Day, Come All Year for Free” type special that offers exponential savings. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: If you plan on visiting Discovery Cove, purchase your Dolphin Swim Day Resort Package first because it typically includes unlimited admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica during your vacation –a super money saver for budget travelers as it makes the heftier Discovery Cove price a lot easier to digest. You can even add unlimited Busch Gardens admission for a few extra bucks.Ask your Preferred Guest Resort representative for details when booking your Orlando trip and itinerary.
GET THERE EARLY T BEAT THE CROWDS: Go early to get a good parking spot. Snap a picture of your car parking spot to remind you where your vehicle is or write it down. You can also get a head start on your desired rides before the park gets too crowded. Check the SeaWorld website the day before your visit for next day’s show times so you can plan your day. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: Be sure to get to Shamu Stadium early, too, as the place and main draw tends to fill up in minutes.
CREATE A FAMILY PLAN: As soon as you arrive, find a public safety spot to go to if anyone gets lost from the group. Have your kids wear bright colors so they’ll stand out if they happen to get lost and you are looking for them. Snap pictures of them on your phone right before you leave so if they do get lost you have a recent picture and in the clothes they are wearing. Advise kids to go only to a security officer or a cast member with a name tag if they get lost. Consider prepaid cell phones for the kids that are set up to call you if they get lost, too. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: If your kids are too young for phones or tend to wander off, use a sharpie to write your name and phone number on the bottom inside of their shirt or on their wrist for a security guard or cast member to call.
MAKE DINING RESERVATIONS EARLY:Make sure to stop and book your dining at reservation-only restaurants you really want to experience. They start taking reservation at 10 am the day off, and some you can schedule prior to your arrival.
Ask your Preferred Guest Resorts representative about reservations for specialty restaurants when booking your itinerary.
GET YOUR RIDES IN FIRST: Locals and prior Orlando travelers recommend working the park backwards to beat out crowds, given a majority of people tend to stop at the first attraction they come upon. They also suggest riding all the rides you want to ride before hitting the shows, or during the last hour that the park is open, especially Kraken and Journey to Atlantis, when lines tend to be much shorter. Lines for those rides also tend to be longest right after the Blue Horizons show ends. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: Use the park’s free package check services to store items you buy in the park and keep your hands free while you ride.
MAKE TIME FOR FEEDING: Animal lovers will enjoy the designated feeding times throughout the day to hand feed and possibly touch Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins , stingrays and sea lions. Get the day’s feeding schedule upon arrival, and make sure to get there early for a good spot up front, especially at the dolphin feeding pool. You’ll be fighting crowds of people just as interested in and excited about the activity, and a little courtesy goes a long way. Have one adult and child designated to go buy the fish, while the others save the space. Since the amount of fish is controlled per feeding time, get in line early to ensure you get some fish before they run out and your whole family gets to experience the thrill of a lifetime. The sheer thrill of quickly touching a dolphin for the first time is an unforgettable experience, so imagine swimming with one. Ask your Preferred Guest Representative about the dolphin swim and trainer-for-a-day programs at its limited-entry, tropical-resort-style oasis , Discovery Cove, where you can also snorkel lagoons teeming with colorful fish, giant stingray and shipwreck to explore.
CHOOSE YOUR SEATS CAREFULLY: There’s wet, and then there’s Shamu wet. Soak Zones are clearly marked at the Shamu One Ocean show and they’re typically favored by the kids who love to get splashed. Consider wearing swim trunks or bathing suits under your clothes and bringing an extra set of clothing. Some of the water rides can cause quite a soaking; you will literally get drenched in the front seat of Journey to Atlantis. Part of the fun at SeaWorld Orlando is getting wet, but buying cheap ponchos at a drugstore can help protect your clothing, electronics and valuables in those wetter than wet circumstances.
GO BEHIND THE SCENES: SeaWorld’s behind-the-scenes experience connects you to the world we share like never before.The tours are not listed on the park map, so they’re easy to miss out on. Ask your Preferred Guest Resorts representative about booking the Behind-the-Scenes experiences before your trip to Orlando. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: You can also book reservations online, or stop by the tour desk just inside the SeaWorld front gate as soon as you arrive to reserve a tour time.
CHECK FOOD & BEVERAGE POLICIES: There are numerous restaurants and concession stands located conveniently throughout the park. But according to the SeaWorld website, large hard or soft coolers, glass containers, food, drinks and picnic lunches may not be taken into the park. Guests with special diets, baby formula or baby food may bring their items into the park. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: Ask your Preferred Guest Resort’s representative about any updates to policies and possible exceptions for water bottles, which can save you a lot of money if you bring your own and refill them at water fountains. Freeze them the night before, and you’ll have ice-cold water for a while as it melts. Bring individual packets of juice or tea-mixers like Crystal Light that you can mix with a glass of ice water many restaurants will give you free of charge.
RESERVE SPECIAL DINING EXPERIENCES: SeaWorld offers park visitors several dining options from casual and castaway fare to gourmet, upscale dining. When approaching concession-style eateries, review the menu and have your selections in mind before you get to the counter, which helps keep lines moving more quickly and cast members grateful. At Sharks Underwater Grill, you can nosh on world-class cuisine sitting next to a window of mesmerizing sharks. The popular restaurant starts taking reservations at 10:00 am that day. Dining with Shamu is a behind-the-scenes experience available only at SeaWorld Orlando. Sit poolside. Watch majestic whales interact and learn about the little things we can all do to help save valuable ocean resources and habitats, while you all enjoy a scrumptious menu of seasonal and sustainable items. EXTRA INSIDER TIP: Ask your Preferred Guest Resorts representative about required reservations. You can make them after 10 am the day of your visit, but you have a better chance of ensuring the special encounters if you reserve them beforehand. If dining at some of the standard eateries, plan on having lunch during the popular show times, and you’ll beat the heavier crowds.
ESCAPE THE HEAT:Florida is well-known for its year-round sunshine—sunny days that can bring some brutally hot and humid temperatures in the summer. Be sure to lather up with sunscreen so as not to burn, and wear comfortable clothes that dry easily, whether seat or the occasional drenching by Shamu or water rides. You can get an old-fashioned cool-down with a good soaking from a Shamu splash or a H2O-based ride. But SeaWorld also has many “cool places” to simmer down and reduce those increased body temperatures on hot summer days. EXTRA INSDIER TIP: There are many ways and places to escape the summer heat, like visiting the polar bear exhibit and the Wild Arctic simulator ride, checking out the Penguin Encounter®, playing some games in the arcade, enjoying one of many shows in the Nautilus Theater or checking out Turtle Trek, SeaWorld’s newest attraction and a 3-D domed theater experience.
RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES WHILE KIDS PLAY: When your body and feet need a break or you just want some down time while the kids still have energy to burn, turn them loose at Shamu’s Happy Harbor, which is full of youthful adventurers and fun, family rides. They can climb a four-story nets link with a series of winding tunnels and slippery slides. Don’t worry; they’re big enough for parents to enjoy, too. Spin away on a teacup-style ride, enjoy the starter thrills of a kiddie coaster, hop up and down on a fiddler crab ride, rock side to side and back and forth on a 19-inch tug boat, and much more.
CHECK PARK SMOKING POLICIES: Check the guide for the park’s smoking policies, then locate and use the smoking sections.
SeaWorld brings out the kid in everyone and is well worth a day or more while you’re in Orlando. You don’t even need to worry about your family pet given SeaWorld offers exceptional kennel services so your dog doesn’t need to stay stashed alone in the room all day. Be sure to mention your desire to bring your pet when booking your travel to Orlando, so your Preferred Guest Resortsrepresentative can advise you of your options and try to get a resort, hotel or vacation timeshare rental that accommodates bringing your best buddy along as well. Having your Preferred Guest Resortsrepresentative book accommodations that are within close proximity to all your options and work your SeaWorld Orlando adventures into your itinerary will help ensure that you and your family have your BEST VACATION EVER!
Enjoy all of Orlando’s famous mall and outlet shopping.
If you’re ready to shop, get ready to discover the shopper’s paradise that is in Orlando and certainly available to you when you travel using one of Preferred Guest Resort’s promotional vacations offered on BestVacationsEver.com.You could spend an entire day of your trip to Orlando just touring the many retail options, from mega malls with high-end brands like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the largest outlet facilities in the Southeast, antique and art galleries and unique trendy, one-of-a kind treasures waiting to be discovered at out-of-this-world shopping options at complexes at all of the major theme parks, including Walt Disney World Resort, Downtown Disney, Lake Buena Vista and City Walk which is part of Universal Orlando Resort. Luckily, Preferred Guest Resorts has helped make sure that your accommodations are located within prime distances to Orlando’s myriad of retail options. If you’re looking for authentic merchandise from countries all over the world, you’ll find it at the many shops of each country at EPCOT’s World Showcase, plus unique boutiques around town that specialize in merchandise from countries such as Africa, France and Morocco, just to name a few.Orlando indulges those shopping cravings, with something for literally everyone and every size wallet. After hitting the malls, Orlando visitors also enjoy the scenic stroll, shop and dine experiences in trendy surrounding areas packed with gourmet restaurants, specialty shops and unique boutiques full of those hard-to-find items like in downtown Orlando, College Park, Celebration, Baldwin Park, and Winter Park. Orlando also is an antique-lover’s dream and home to a variety of antique shops, including College Park and a series of shops and warehouses near downtown’s Lake Ivanhoe area, a section of which is also nicknamed Antique Row. Mount Dora, a little further out, is a charming cultural city heavily concentrated on the arts and filled with galleries and antique shops, as well. Whatever your pleasure, you’re sure to find it during your Best Vacation Ever in Orlando, many within a short distance from your premium Preferred Guest Resorts hotels, resorts and luxury vacation timeshare rentals. Here are a few top picks when you’re craving indulgent retail therapy during your visit to Orlando:
ORLANDO MALLS
The Mall at Millenia on Conroy Road in Orlando
The Florida Mall on South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando
The Altamonte Mall in Altamonte Springs
Festival Bay Mall at International Drive
ORLANDO OUTLETS
Orlando Premium Outlets® on Vineland Ave. in the SeaWorld & International Drive south area
Orlando Premium Outlets® on International Drive in the Universal Orlando Resort & International Drive north area
St. John Outlet on International Drive in the Universal Orlando Resort & International Drive north area
Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores on Apopka Vineland Road in the Lake Buena Vista area
ANTIQUE & OTHER BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
Orange Avenue’s Antique Row near Lake Ivanhoe
Park Avenue and Hannibal Square in Winter Park
Winter Park Village in Winter Park
Edgewater Drive in College Park
Celebration Town Center on Sycamore Street in Celebration
International Drive in Orlando
Mount Dora
ATTRACTION-STYLE SHOPPING
City Walk of Universal Studios Orlando
Downtown Disney® Marketplace in Lake Buena Vista
The shops of Epcot’s World Showcase in Epcot
Ron Jon Surf Shop in Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach
Pointe Orlando on International Drive
Old Town Shopping & Entertainment Complex in Kissimmee
ALTERNATIVE SHOPPING
The Main Terminal Shops at Orlando International Airport
Tharoo & Co. Fine Jewelry and Watches on International Drive near the Convention Center
Perfumeland Megastore on International Drive in the north area of Universal Orlando Resort and International Drive.
The Gift Shop at the Orlando Science Center
If you don’t have your Preferred Guest Resorts’ accommodations booked yet, call 800-656-2780 to speak with a friendly reservation agent at who will help make sure that your hotel, resort or condo rental puts you in prime proximity to all your Orlando vacation shopping. You can also find other helpful tips by visiting BestVacationseEver.com Be sure to mention your goal to visit a myriad of retail options, and ask how your representative can help you with your itinerary.
Working out the details before your book your travel plans, will make for a stress-free vacation.
No matter how long you’ve known someone, taking a big trip together as a couple, or even just as friends, can be extremely exciting. But travelling together can also be stressful, testing the strength and patience of even the best relationships. Travelling together presses the fast-forward button on a relationship, and can bring people closer together, or it can drive people apart, as it brings out the best and the worst in everyone. Crowds, lines, heat, differences of opinion, where to go, what to do, how to how much to spend, who buys what? The pressure can be daunting, and it’s a great opportunity to see how a person handles such stressful situations. Knowing what you’re in for and careful planning can increase the odds of a smooth, joyful trip together and the return of happy travelers with lifelong memories. The test begins the moment you decide to take a vacation and start planning where to go. For example, with a Preferred Guest Resorts’ promotional vacation package0you can work together to pick a travel destination that offers activities and adventures that meet both of your goals. (Orlando, Daytona Beach, Napa Valley, Pigeon Forge, and a Bahamas Cruise are just a few of the destinations Preferred Guest Resorts offers.) With partnering hotels, resorts and luxury condo timeshare rentals, Preferred Guest Resorts even makes accommodation choices even easier so that you have a great vacation. Before you two hit the road, here are a few questions that should be answered before your journey:
1: Where Do You Want To Go?
Sure, it seems like an obvious question, but it is often the one of most contention. You may want to relax on a tropical beach, while your partner wants to tee up on the championship greens up north, or the children want to ride roller coasters at the Orlando theme parks. Explore the list of destinations on bestvacationsever.com and determine what type of trip has the most appeal. Make a list of what is most important to each person and look for destinations that offer activities and adventures that meet everyone’s vacation desires. Preferred Guest Resorts offers a wide range of opportunities that bring to light a wide variety of destinations that you may not have even considered before when you read about the area’s offerings and realize a destination can meet all of the objectives on both of your lists. Your Preferred Guest Resorts’ representative can work with you to find the best destination to meet your travel objectives.
2: Is Everyone Open to Compromise?
Traveling together is a test and lesson in patience compromise. Almost every decision you make on your trip requires some sort of compromise—where to go, where to eat, what to do, how much to spend, etc. Inevitably each of you will have to compromise to some degree to make sure that both persons are happy. Will you be satisfied with compromises that don’t sacrifice your own happiness? If you choose a destination that makes everyone happy, with vacation adventures that meet each of your goals, it’s likely that you’ll agree on many of the aspects of your trip. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even end up happily compromising on everything. During the trip, some travellers alternate decision-making authority every other day, finding it a healthy way to ensure ensures that each person gets what they want out of the trip without one person playing “trip leader” all the time. If faced with the destination dilemma where, for example, one person insists on hitting all the golf courses and roller coasters in Orlando, but you want a beach trip, consider compromising with time spent in two destinations or and extended stay at the beach for the last few days of your vacation. Your Preferred Guest Resort representative can help you set up a dual destination vacation package, like a 4-nights Orlando with 2 additional nights in Daytona Beach, just 45 minutes from Orlando, to cap it off. That way you get the best of both worlds from the vacation time you have to spend. Another option is to let one person select this vacation, and another person selecting the next. However, please note, if someone in the party is unwilling to compromise in any way, or says, “It’s my way or the highway,” that should be a big red flag that more discussion is needed.
3. Are You Willing to Accept Each Other’s Individuality?
Many couples and/or families see travel, especially their first trip together, as an experience to share together and they feel uncomfortable spending time apart. Even in the early stages of a relationship or the best of friendships, 24-7 can be a bit overwhelming, A little alone time is healthy and enhances the relationship/friendship. Before you were a couple, family or even friends, you were and still are individuals with your own set of interests. If you each have desired objectives that don’t thrill the other, make sure you tell your partner you are willing to allow that person the time to spend doing those activities. For example: One may want to visit museums and shop, while the other plays a round of golf. The individual time not only allows that person to recharge his or her own batteries, it ensures each person has their Best Vacation Ever by doing what they really wanted to do, which ultimately strengthens the relationship. You show each other your encouragement and respect of their individual interests and desires so they will be happy.
4: How Will You Divide Up the Trip Responsibilities?
The perfect trip usually involves sharing or engaging in the planning duties. One person may be better at the logistics, while the other is better at planning the itineraries. Figure out who should be responsible for what parts of the vacation, so each person feels they are contributing to the overall enjoyment and decision-making of the vacation. In some relationships, one person makes all the decisions, with the other content to just go along for the ride. But the Best Vacations Ever usually happen when both parties are involved in the planning and the journey. Dividing up the responsibilities makes sure that neither person feels they did all the work, and the other feels guilty for doing nothing. Divvy up vacation duties that best fit your relationship style and personality types. If one is better at the budgeting, let that person handle all the financials. If one enjoys finding unique attractions, adventures or dining experiences during your journey, let that personal handle the basic itineraries, with compromise of course. It’s also important to determine and designate the person who is better at problem solving should any problems or emergencies occur, like lost luggage or cancelled flights, during your travel.
5: How Should You Handle Money and the Trip Budget?
It’s no secret and cited in studies, that one of the number one reasons couples and families argue is money, and traveling with friends can lead to this same argument. It’s a sensitive subject that you may not be comfortable discussing, but it’s critical that the subject be addressed before you go so you know who is paying for what and how the budget will be handled. If the budget and money handling during the trip is not discussed before you go, it could lead to several unnecessary arguments and ruin an otherwise perfect vacation. Before you book your trip, decide individually how much you can afford to spend on the trip and how you want to spend while visiting your chosen destination. Determine your combined budget and what can be accomplished. If one half is willing to kick in more than the other, make sure there will be no resentments later. Then decide if you will pool all your money together or if you will each pay your own way, and how any extras will be financed. If you’re consolidating funds, make sure the stronger financial person handles the budget and tracks your spending. Remember, traveling on a promotion vacation package, like those offered by Preferred Guest Resorts, often provide free accommodations, car rentals, or theme park tickets which can really help with your vacation budget.
6. What Are Your Triggers?
Travel is an amazing experience, but it can also be stressful when you are out of your own comfort zones. Long days at a fast pace, crowds, long lines, heat, fatigue and transportation issues can make even the most laid-back personalities tired and cranky. Unfortunately, it’s easiest to take that frustration out on the person/people closest to you. Talking about your triggers—what frustrates you—can help the other person/people know what to do or how to handle stressful moments. Sharing those with each other and knowing this kind of information before you travel can help avoid plenty of tense moments later on, so your time is spent enjoying your vacation.
Traveling can make for a lifetime of wonderful memories, especially if you take a proactive, pre-planning approach that offers a strong peace of mind. Preferred Guest Resorts has done part of the legwork for you, offering a wide variety of destinations and cruises that meet everyone’s hopes and dreams for a dream vacation with reliable, premium lodging vendors in everything from budget hotels, luxury resorts and vacation timeshare rentals. Call a Preferred Guest Resort reservation agent at 1-800-656-2780 for help planning and booking your Best Vacation Ever. And don’t forget, your representative can help you build a vacation with more than one stop for magical journey that makes everybody’s dreams come true.
You’re getting ready for your magical Best Vacation Ever to Orlando, Florida – the happiest place on Earth—and planning your itinerary of activities. By now you’ve hopefully called your Preferred Guest Resorts representative and booked your family vacation along lodging at one of our premium hotel, resort or vacation timeshare rental partners, too. Soon you’ll be falling under the spell of the Orlando Magic, no pun intended and making the most of your itinerary of adventures. If you have the kids in tow or you’re like most Orlando visitors, you’re also planning your trips to the theme parks. Unless you’re a local or a regular visitor, you haven’t picked up a few tricks of the trade when it comes to a day at the theme parks. Preferred Guest Resorts has done the legwork for you and collected the 10 best tips from regular visitors so you can make the most of your day trip to one of the Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort theme parks:
Pre-plan your park trip and know what to expect. Your Preferred Guest Resorts agent can tell you the high and low seasons and best times to visit Orlando for your Best Vacation Ever. Make sure you book your resort, hotel or vacation timeshare rental that fits your itinerary and is within close proximity to all of your planned adventures. Know what to expect during the time of year you are visiting, especially if your trip is during the high season and most crowded times. Ask you Preferred Guest Resorts representative about information or websites that can tell you about theme-park information, prices, wait times and lines when you arrive in Orlando. Note: You may also call the theme park and ask about wheel chair or stroller rentals and if you need to reserve a reservation ahead of time, especially during the peak high season.
Wear comfortable shoes. Leave the stilettos and decorative sandals at home; you’ll regret anything but comfort with hours on end of extensive walking. Your best bet is a good pair of walking shoes or sneakers, not only for comfort and foot protection, but also for keeping up with fast-paced, over-excited children. Even flip flops are a bad choice (unless they are cushioned for walking) as they can rub between your toes and fly off on rides or break, leaving you to purchase whatever they have at the merchandise shops at usually hefty prices.
Where loose, comfortable clothing. Again you’ll be walking around a lot and should be dressed to sweat from the exercise. Consider the time of year you’re visiting Orlando and check extended forecasts before you go. The summer months can be unbearable hot and breathable clothing that absorbs sweat quickly keeps your body cooler. Year-round sunshine and moderate temperatures in spring and fall are a major draw and, but summer can be beastly. There have also been a times temperatures have been quite cold at night yet very comfortable during the day in winter, when people love to visit for elaborate Christmas decorations and special events. Consider the season you are going, average temperatures and check the extended forecast right before you pack: Dress in layers you can easily stow away in a back pack if it gets too warm, or bring a sweater you can throw on if it gets cold. If you are bald or eye sensitive to the sun, wear a hat and sunglasses. Daily rain during the hot summer months is also common, and buying a cheap plastic poncho is easy to stow in your purse or back pack. You won’t get wet form the rain and you can wear it to keep your clothes and cameras dry on any water-based rides.
Wear sunscreen. Just because you aren’t at the beach, it doesn’t mean you won’t get burned. Lather up exposed areas, including the tops of your feet if wearing open-toed shoes and, of course, balding heads.
Buy a lanyard for tickets. A lanyard with a plastic holder for tickets and fast passes can be a great way to avoid loosing tickets, especially if you have children. When stored in back pockets run the risk of them getting dropped out when you reach for your wallet or other items. Having them in the plastic holder on the lanyard around your neck has them at easy access at any time, and the plastic keeps them from getting wet.
Bring your own bottles water. Check theme-park policies to see if you can bring in your own bottled water. Then store a few in the freezer the night before so you have ice-cold water that gradually melts for hours and the bottle can be refilled at water fountains throughout the park, saving you a lot of money instead of new water bottles You can even buy belt loop bottle ring holders that allow you to keep your hands free as your water bottle conveniently stores on your belt loop holder. The ice-cold bottle also is a great way to cool down in summer months. Holding it on the back of your neck, which is the fastest way to bring down you body temperature. If you are from up north or not use to intense heat and humidity, drink a lot of water to say hydrated. NOTE: Listen to you body: If you stop sweating, get over fatigued or feel faint, the heat is getting to you and you need to get hydration and possible medical attention at the park’s first-aid office. Don’t take any chances when it comes to heat stroke.
Pack a comfortable mid-size backpack instead s a purse. It’s ten times more comfortable to carry than a purse, better for your back and has plenty of room to store all the mentioned items and souvenirs you may collect along the way.
Pack long-line decoys for children. Bite-sized snacks, sippy cups and small entertainment toys or hand games for toddlers to help entertain kids while waiting in in long lines for them-park rides and satisfy their needs for snacking in between meals. A pocket electronic game may be beneficial with older child. An extra set of clothing and plenty diapers for small children and babies are also recommended for any accidents. If certain attractions have policies against water bottles, you can bring powdered formula packets for babies that you mix into purchased bottles of water.
Buy fast passes for must-do rides as soon as you arrive. If you don’t have express package options to purchase at a heftier fee per person, be sure to get their and park early and collect your fast passes or express rider passes as soon as you arrive for the rides you absolutely must ride during your trip to the park. IF you wait too late to get the passes, you run the risk [during crowded peak periods] of them running out of passes for the day time at even 2 or 3 pm. Not all rides have fast-pass or express options, but many do and it’s well worth it, especially if you have a large group, so you’re sure to experience the ride you really counted on riding. A fast or express pass allows you to a short window of time you can return to the ride and walk right through a special express line with other people in that time frame that get to go into the ride without waiting in the standard line. It’s a lot like booking a reservation. You cannot go early or go after. Do not miss your time; passes are checked and taken. You can get additional fast passes for the same ride a few hours after collection of the first set to ride again. Check the time frames.
Try local tips for best times to ride. Locals and regular Orlando visitors say that the best time to ride the rides are during lunch time when people are resting and eating, during the big parades and during the fireworks show closing the evening out. Lines dwindle down as spectators enjoy the events, especially during the fireworks. If you don’t mind missing some of those events or go a second day, some travelers have reported being able to ride, for example, Space Mountain at Disney repeatedly with minimal to no waiting. Locals also say if you don’t have small children to ride with and don’t mind separating from group to opt to take the single-rider line. You get through much faster and get set up a meeting spot for everyone outside the ride when everyone is done. NOTE: We cannot confirm or deny the tips provided by regular Orlando theme-park visitors, but they were collected from more than one visitor.
Preferred Guest Resorts is committed to bringing you the most valuable insider information when it comes to destinations and the attractions. A few simple steps can make your theme-park adventure much more enjoyable and maybe save you some time and money. If you haven’t booked your family vacation to Orlando, call your reservation agent today. Ensure your get the prime locations and preferred partnering hotels, resorts and vacation timeshare rentals right in the middle of the action so you can start planning the itinerary of your Best Vacation Ever. Visit us at bestvacationsever.com or call a BVE representative 1-800-656-2780.
