Orlando is the theme park capital of the world, but what is a Florida vacationer to do when standing in long lines and paying big theme park prices does not sound like what would make their trip to Orlando their Best Vacation Ever? Orlando has a lot of options for the whole family to enjoy that won’t break your budget. Check out Best Vacations Ever’s top 10 picks for the best things to do while vacationing in Orlando other than theme parks below!

 

  • Madame Tussauds Orlando – Madame Tussauds is known around the world as the premier wax museum, and Orlando is home to the quirky tourist attraction’s 22nd location. Be sure to bring your selfie stick and snap shots of yourself with wax replicas of Jennifer Aniston, Ryan Gosling, Oprah, Jimmy Fallon and even E.T. Tickets are discounted online and will run you $20 for the wax museum, and $34 if you combine your visit with atrip around the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye.

 

  • Wonderworks – If you’re looking to get out of the heat and in on some indoor fun, Wonderworks has something for everyone. For those in your group wanting some adventure, go for the glow in the dark ropes course. Your group will harness up and climb on obstacles at heights of up to 36 feet. If keeping your feet on the ground is more your style, upgrade your ticket and play a round of laser tag. Wonderworks has over 100 interactive exhibits for all ages, and features their nightly “Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show” that encourages crowd participation. Tickets range from $29.99-$52.99 depending on which attractions you decide to try.

 

  • La Nouba Cirque Du Soliel – Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort – Disney Springs has an awesome array of street performers, dining, shopping and nightlife options, but the highlight of this bustling area is taking in a performance of La Nouba. The white tent-like building that houses this fascinating show was constructed specifically for this presentation that has been going strong for nearly 20 years. There isn’t a bad seat in the house to take in the various cyclists, break-dancers, trapeze artists, gymnasts, live vocalists and orchestra. Tickets start at $59 and the show will be the topic of your conversation as you stroll through Disney Springs afterwards.

 

  • Kennedy Space Center – Port Canaveral – Plan on reserving a full day to experience Kennedy Space Center, located just 45 minutes outside of Orlando. You will love seeing Space Shuttle Atlantis where you can participate in the Shuttle Launch Experience – an incredibly realistic simulation of launching into space! If you are flexible with your visitation date, plan your visit during a scheduled rocket launch and prepare to be awed! Adult admission starts at $50 for a single day.

 

  • Titanic: The Experience – Step back in time when you enter this museum dedicated to preserving the memory of the tragic ship that was thought to be unsinkable. Titanic: The Experience is home to over 400 artifacts, including a three-ton portion of the doomed freightliner – the second largest portion of the boat to ever be recovered. Regular admission is $21.95 and includes a period-character leading you throughout the museum. A highlight of the tour is an exact replication of the grand staircase of the ship. For $69 you’ll get the guided tour and the Gala Dinner & Cocktail Party (cash bar is additional).

 

  • Coca-Cola Orlando Eye – If you want to get a 360-degree view of Orlando, grab your friends and hop aboard one of the air-conditioned capsules of the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, the largest observation wheel on the east coast. At a cost of over $250 million and a height of 400 feet (that’s taller than some skyscrapers), this is Orlando’s newest pride and joy. A 20-minute single rotation starts at $20 per person, or you can get fancy and add a glass of champagne and priority boarding for $34 per person. High rollers can rent a private capsule for one rotation starting at $275.

 

  • Orlando Kart Center – Fulfill your need for speed speed at Orlando’s most popular go-kart racing track. Participation is open to any age, as long as the minimum height requirement of five-feet is met. Races are an average of 10 minutes in length and speeds of up to 45 miles per hour can be reached! One race will run you $26 per person, and Greater Orlando residents can compete in a best out of three competition for only $44 Monday through Thursday with identification.

 

  • Gatorland – At this self-proclaimed “Alligator Capital of the World and Orlando’s Best Half-Day Attraction”, visitors can participate in Rookie Wrestling, fly through the air above the prehistoric reptiles on a zip line, and even become a “Trainer For a Day”. Stroll through the 110-acre privately-owned park and observe thousands of alligators in their natural habitat, including rare white alligators, and take in one of the various live shows. Bonus: Plan ahead and reserve your spot for the Gator Night Shine – where you will be armed with hot dogs for feeding the beasts and a flash light to take in the spectacle of hundreds of glowing red hungry gator eyes in the dark! Adult tickets are $26.99, and add-on experiences range from $10-$125 each.

 

  • Airboat & Gator Charters – Deland – Just a 45 minute drive from Orlando is where you will find the best airboat tour in the Orlando area. Captain Josh will welcome you and up to five friends aboard his airboat and off you will go! Highlights of the airboat ride include encounters with baby and adult alligators, various species of birds, manatees and other wildlife. Captain Josh will provide his knowledge of the area and the wildlife throughout the entire ride, and you will leave with awesome stories to tell your friends and family. A 60-minute ride for up to six people is $225 total, and the 2-hour option is $375.

 

  • iFly Orlando – Always had the itch to skydive but never had the guts to throw yourself from a plane? Soar on over to iFly Orlando, an indoor skydiving experience for experienced skydivers and first-timers alike. For $59.95 newbies will receive a lesson and then hop into the indoor wind tunnel with an instructor for two 60-second turns at simulated freefalling. Experienced wind tunnel surfers can take four 60-second flights for $99.95.

 

The number of theme parks in Orlando alone makes it an impressive city, and now you know about a handful of the other attractions that add to the wonder of Orlando. Whether you make your Orlando vacation educational via Kennedy Space Center, or action-packed at iFly, vacationing in Orlando is a fun experience for all, and will definitely be one of your Best Vacations Ever!

Winter semester just started a few weeks ago, and all across the country thousands of college students are gearing up for one of the most important events of the semester – Spring Break! If you and your crew are undecided on where to live it up during this most important getaway, check out some of the most popular destinations below. Wherever you choose, you can be sure that Spring Break 2017 will go down in history as one of you Best Vacations Ever!

  • Las Vegas, Nevada – What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, which is what makes Sin City one of the top choices for Spring Break. Bare it all at the clothing optional Bare Pool at the Mirage, or enjoy a more tame getaway and relax at the Rumour Las Vegas Boutique Resort and receive exclusive discounts by booking your resort rental through Best Vacations Ever.
  • Freeport, Bahamas – The Island Seas Resort in Freeport was voted one of the top 10 Bahamas Spring Break resort rentals by TripAdvisor reviewers. Booking this resort rental with Best Vacations Ever assures that you will get the best discounts and accommodations. Explore Lucayan National Park’s endless underwater cave system by day, and get down on the town at night in Lucaya Beach, which offers extensive nightlife options.
  • Daytona Beach, Florida – Best Vacations Ever has two great options for oceanfront resort rentals. Load up your friends for a cruise up the Atlantic Coast on The World’s Most Famous Beach. Bring your A-Game toRazzle’s in the evening, where every night is a party.
  • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – If you are looking for some adventure this Spring Break, look no further than a resort rental in Puerto Vallarta. Zip line head-first through a tropical forest on Mexico’s longest and fastest zip line. What’s a trip to Mexico without indulging in a (few) margaritas? The Margarita Grill has got you covered with their “Vacation-Sized” version of the country’s classic.
  • South Padre Island, Texas – While it’s not a state you would expect to see on a top Spring Break 2017 destination list, Texas’s South Padre Island is host to a quarter of a million Spring Breakers! This year the Island hosts the 7th Annual Ultimate Music Experience, a three-day music festival featuring Zedd and Tiesto at Clayton’s Outdoors, which boasts itself as the largest Spring Break venue in the USA.
  • Cancun, Mexico – For more than 20 years college students have eagerly closed their textbooks and jetted to Cancun to get their Spring Break fix. Best Vacations Ever will hook you up with the best Cancun resort rental packages for your trip to this Spring Break mecca. Save your pesos for admission to Coco Bongo, the most famous night club in the city, where cover charges can be pretty steep, but the fun and memories you’ll bring back to campus are well worth it!

Whichever destination you choose to soak in the sun for Spring Break 2017, be sure to check out Best Vacations Ever for the best travel deals. Our experiences customer service professionals are looking forward to helping you plan your Best Spring Break 2017 Vacation Ever!

All vacations are meant to be well captured and covered in beautiful photos. Having lots of photos reminds us of our wonderful vacation. To many, though, taking great vacation photos is always a challenge. But, you don’t want to return from your vacations with sub-par photos that you’ll regret.

Your best vacations ever are incomplete without taking the best vacation photos. Here are a few tips and tricks to take the most memorable family vacation photos.

Shoot like a Pro

Before taking any photo, ensure the tilt of the camera is right. Except you want to capture something that will quickly disappear from view, take your time before you shoot. However, if you feel the environment is not being captured to desired effect, try different angles. Take several photos of the same scene or people at a time, with some better than others.

Shoot to tell a story

Your vacation is a story. Instead of capturing random moments, shoot in a manner that all photos when brought together tell the story of your holidays.

Capture incredible environments or sceneries

Your vacation will bring you in contact with some unbelievably beautiful sceneries. These sights are great photo opportunities that should be captured, if possible with a family member in the background. Some that come to mind include the sunset, changing weather, and just any beautiful environment you find yourself.

Take photos when others are unaware

Some of the best photos are captured when those in it are unaware they are being captured. Some treasured moments are too important to pass up, and these are best captured while everyone just goes about their normal business.

Pass the camera around

If you brought along only one camera, be sure to pass along the camera from person to person. When going through the family photos from a vacation, you want to re-live the moments and feel the emotions from the moment over again. While it is great to capture beautiful sceneries, it is even more beautiful to have persons in it. Take great face shots in exciting locations.

Include the details

In vacation photography, bigger is not always better. Macro photography displays mundane beauty, tinier details will make for great photo additions. Beautiful flowers, lush landscape, captivating birds and butterflies. There are just too many tiny details you don’t want to leave behind.

Night time does not always need flash

Your time out on vacation will always bring you out in the night. When it does, you do not want to always make use of camera flash. Flash captures only up to about 5 ft in the night, and can disturb rather than improve your photo. Instead, use the night light to great effect and acquaint yourself with long exposure photography.

It is always important to capture as many photos as possible in your family vacation. You do not want to lose important memories due to poor photography. But, you do not need to have great photography skills to capture your best moments. Your best vacations ever become even better with great photographs.

Vacationing outside of your comfort zone always comes along with certain challenges. The joys that come along with an entire vacation – right from the careful selection of the vacation destination all the way to the choice of a lodge and subsequent trip, can all be ruined by a moment of negligence, carelessness, or both.

We’ve all heard gruesome tales that accompany tourists who travel abroad. Personally, I’ve encountered a few near-miss situations myself. However, keeping a few helpful tips in mind could be invaluable.

  1. Try blending into the environment: Many different things make tourist stand out from the locals as different. Once identified as a tourist, you could easily become a target for hoodlums and criminals. To avoid becoming an easy prey, dress as much as possible to fit into the environment and avoid the use of fanny packs everywhere you go. Certain countries have dress laws, while every environment has an unspoken dress code, find that out before leaving your hotel.
  2. Use minimal Jewelry: This pretty much explains itself. You do not need to wear expensive jewelry while on vacation. It’s all the better if you can do without wearing any. If, however, you feel a need to put on jewelry, use less flashy ones that do not scream for attention, or wear an imitation that wouldn’t be much of a loss if stolen. Vacation is an adventure; purchase and use a local accessory that makes you fit in better.
  3. Know your environment: This is always difficult considering you only just arrived and most likely need a map for everywhere you choose to go. Still, it is imperative that you are as aware as possible of where you came from, and where you are going. Study your map as much as possible and always have a copy handy. Do not forget to always carry a hotel card.
  4. Be observant of your surroundings: Negligence is the fastest route to danger in any unknown environment. You want to take note of those around you and their activities. While your actions should not border on paranoia, you want to be as observant as possible without giving yourself off as a very nervous tourist.
  5. Be careful of overly nice persons: Except you are in your hotel or resort rental and are being attended to by a customarily nice member of staff, you do not want to trust persons who unnecessarily try to familiarize themselves with you. True, you can find sincere friends among this bunch, but this is a well-used scam ploy you want to avoid.
  6. Guard your wallet: You do not want to lose your cash and/or credit card to a pick pocket or to a thief. A simple trick is to carry a “fake” wallet in your back pocket, while safeguarding your wallet with all of your money and credit cards in your front pocket. You might also consider separating your cash and into different pockets or money clips to reduce the risk of a total loss.
  7. Duplicate your passport: Make up to 2 duplicate copies of your passport. Leave a copy with a friend, carry a copy around if you need to, and keep the actual passport in your hotel safe.
  8. Inform a friend or family of your itinerary: Letting someone know your plans (destination, travel route, and expected return time) is always a great idea.
  9. Keep your senses sharp: Avoid excessive drinking that dulls your judgement and leaves you as an easy prey. Have a good time just enough to keep you fully aware of your actions.
  10. Use common sense: Any offer that seems too good to be true, most likely is. Be careful of those with whom you strike deals. Make use of reputable agencies, bring along as much of the local currency as is necessary, use credit cards in reliable places, use the ATM only in open places, be careful of who you ask questions, and take note of and avoid high risk environments.

Every possible tourist destination has its own peculiarities. However, we realize that the best vacations ever in unfamiliar shores is only a product of careful planning and environmental awareness. From your resort rental to your various sight-seeing destinations, always be friendly with the locals.

Rest, relax, and catch some fun. That is the primary purpose of any vacation. But, it’s not uncommon for normal sleep patterns to get disrupted while away on vacation. This can be due to a number of varying reasons, but the primary factor always remains a change in environment, and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed. Eventually, as you come to terms with the nature of the bed, you are better able to catch a good night’s sleep.

Interestingly, regardless of your destination and changes you’ll have to accommodate, proper preparation could eliminate any disturbance, ensuring you sleep as comfortably as possible from your flight till the very end of one of your best vacations ever. We’ve compiled a few helpful tips you’d have to keep in mind while preparing for any vacation.

  1. Carefully select your lodgings: You definitely do not want to find yourself in a hotel that’s close to an airport or just by the roadside (at least, if your house isn’t in such a locale). Beyond that, you’ll also have to consider the guest rooms of your desired hotel or preferred resort rental to ensure the setting is one suitable enough for your sleep setting.
  2. Set yourself up like you’re home: We all get accustomed to certain sleep ‘environments’. So, feel free to accommodate you pillow and/or beddings that make you feel at home, giving you the routine feel your body craves. Packing along your regular room spray or including easy-to-carry artworks or pictures is also a great way to keep you relaxed, with a feel of home.
  3. Be prepared with sleep inducing, noise blocking materials: No, this does not necessarily mean drugs. It’s not always easy getting a room free from all forms of noise and disturbance. While you might get away from construction or possible vehicle disturbances, noise from the room beside yours could easily inhibit your sleep as well. Taking along a sleep mask and earplugs could be just the required tonic to keep the noise and light away, while you enjoy a peaceful rest.
  4. Employ white noise: Some modern hotel rooms are fitted with a white noise machine that fills the room with noise-cancelling sound to help you sleep more easily. Similarly, android and iOS apps exist for this purpose. If you deem it too expensive to invest in, and if your hotel lacks one, a bedside radio or softly playing music could be the right tonic to drown out the noise from outside the room.
  5. Maintain your sleep/evening routine: You probably already have a regular sleep routine which you follow on a daily basis, such as reading or quiet meditation. Adopting similar routines while away from home gets you comfortable, letting you slip away into a sleep mood you are accustomed with.
  6. Eat right: Vacations always make room for exceptions. However, eating or drinking too much could further inhibit your sleep. Always eat light before bed. Too much alcohol or calories close to bedtime could keep you tossing and turning on the bed through the night.
  7. Forget about the time: You want to give yourself plenty of time to adjust to the environment and sleep. Going to bed earlier than normal would give you enough time to do just that. You’d also want to avoid staring at the clock, wondering when you’ll fall asleep as this can make you restless, and further affect your chances.

Your sleep pattern could just be the difference between a stressful or awful vacation and one of your best vacations ever. Applying these simple trusted tips is a sure way of getting you as rested as possible while enjoying a wonderful vacation.

Vacations are an ideal time to rest and take a break from just about everything. This usually also means a break from your fitness and workout sessions, with relaxation the primary idea of any vacation. Thus, keeping in shape while on vacation can at times feel like an unwanted chore. Whatever your preferred destination is – a comfy resort rental or a luxurious hotel with a stunning view – striking the balance between your fitness and your downtime could just turn your vacations into one of the best vacations ever. Here, wecome up with some useful fitness tips to keep the blood pumping, without disrupting the feel of leisure you crave.

  1. Take a Walk:This is one of the most leisurely exercise you could embark on while on a vacation. A walk through a theme park, a hike through the woods, or a walk through your host environment is a sure way to burn off some fat,while enjoying the view of some nerve relaxing sceneries. To make this more effective, you could strap on a pedometer and count your steps.
  2. Book with fitness in mind: When booking a hotel to lodge, choose only those that host a gym center or those not too far off from one. Waking up at the crack of dawn to visit a gym will easily let you keep up with your daily routine. Keeping workout sessions light while on vacation is always ideal.
  3. Eat smart:Okay, as someone who values fitness, you probably have an eating pattern which you follow religiously. Vacation is not an excuse to go crazy with your feeding habits. Do not throw away all of your hard work by eating recklessly.
  4. Get creative:Not all hotels or resort rentals have a functioning gym, nor do they all have one of such close-by. If you find yourself in such a place, get creative with workout sessions from within your room. You do not necessarily need a gym or yoga studio to have a good workout session. Fortunately, the internet is rife with videos of creative in-house sessions that you could adapt to your situation.
  5. Make fitness fun: Swimming, sky diving, mountain climbing, etc. Activities of these nature let you burn off some fat, while giving you a swell time.

Vacation is meant to be fun and relaxing – a time to take a much-needed break from all of the stressand hasslesof life. A rigorous workout session can be very draining, leaving you stressed, thus killing off the very idea behind a vacation. However, if you just decide to flow through the motions, you’ll find yourself having so much fun undoing all of the hard work you have previously put in to attain a great fitness level.

Therefore, it is important to adopt an equally relaxing fitness regime that is strong enough to keep you in desired shape, but light enough to leave you feeling fulfilled on one of your best vacations ever.

Sit back and enjoy your vacation with these packing tips for travel lovers
Sit back and enjoy your vacation with these packing tips for travel lovers

Vacation is a time for relaxing, forgetting your worries, and leaving your stresses behind. Unfortunately, pre-vacation ends up being a time of high-stress and last-minute panic attacks. You have to go to the bank, stop by the bookstore, buy a new swim suit, print out your boarding passes, and then go back to the store because you forgot to buy sunscreen. Oh, and then there’s packing. We can’t help with your errands, but we can help you pack.

Try these packing tips for travel to lighten your load and hopefully lessen your stress.

  • First and foremost, start packing a few days before your trip. Rush packing lends itself to the overstuffing of unnecessary items.
  • Check the weather so you’re not tempted to bring your whole closet “just in case” it gets hot or cold.
  • Call the hotel to see if they provide towels, blow dryers, and other toiletries. No need to double up.
  • Find out if the resort has a laundry room on site. If they do, put half of your outfits back in their drawers.
  • Choose a comfortable outfit to travel in that you can wear again during your trip.
  • Roll your clothes, don’t fold them.
  • Bring a multi-purpose electronic. No need to bring your iPod, laptop, and your Kindle if you have a device that serves all three purposes.
  • Color coordinate. If your tops and bottoms are in the same color family or they at least complement each other, you can mix and match your way through your vacation.
  • Wear your walking shoes and pack your flip flops. Flats and sandals take up less room in your bag.
  • Use your beach bag as a carry on.
  • And don’t forget to leave room for souvenirs!

Best Vacations Ever! by Preferred Guest Resorts wants you to have the best vacation ever, and part of that includes giving you all of the information you need to make the best of it.  These packing tips for travel are meant to do just that.