Florida Holidays

Being famously home to attractions such as Disney World and Universal Studios, Florida is all about fun in the sun. White sands, museums and a native population of alligators all make for a fun day out with the family, while there are also enough bars and nightclubs to keep you dancing all night long.

Beaches
With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, Florida has hundreds of miles of beaches. If you’re on a family holiday, a trip to Smathers Beach is recommended due to the shallow waters. Head to South Beach in Miami for a livelier experience where you’ll see people on roller skates, watersports and many shops, bars and restaurants along the beachfront.

Culture
Florida is known for being a hub of fun with family favourites Disney World and Universal Studios continuing to attract tourists. The culture of Miami is slightly different with a strong Latino and Cuban population. In areas surrounding the small village of Little Havana, you’re just as likely to hear the locals speaking Spanish as English.

Food and Drink
The cuisine in Florida is highly influenced by Caribbean, Hispanic and Asian foods. Firm favourites include gator bites, (deep-fried alligator covered in breadcrumbs), conch fritters (a combination of conch meat and fresh vegetables) and swamp cabbage (a cabbage-flavoured soup). Key Lime Pie is also a popular choice of dessert.

Nightlife
Panama City Beach has many beach clubs including Club La Vela, the biggest nightclub in the US, while downtown Pensacola’s Seville Quarter is packed with bars, restaurants and clubs featuring live entertainment. For a quieter night, why not head to Disney World to watch the sunset or enjoy the fireworks.

Important Information
Flight Time: 9 hours
Time Difference: -5
Currency: US Dollar
Official Language: English

Tourist Tax

The Govt. of Florida charges a sustainable tourism tax on all overnight stays in the state. The tax is usually 6% of the room rate per room. There are also taxes on purchases ranging from 6.5-7% on all goods except ‘necessary’ items such as certain foods and medicine.

When is the best time to visit Florida?

For visitors taking in the Disney and Universal theme parks, especially families with small children, generally the best time to visit is March, April and early May. Average temperature highs are in mid 70’s, early 80s and though there may be an occasional thunderstorm, they are short-lived and actually relieve a bit of the humidity. The summer months are hot, very hot in fact, and feature frequent thunderstorms due to stifling humidity. June and July in Florida has the highest rainfall and highest average temperatures hover around 90f and can reach 100f. In October and November, temperatures fall back to around 75f to 85f, whilst December is also cool (73f on average) but resorts and parks do get busier, and hike up their prices due to the Christmas holidays. Best Time to Go Verdict: March and April.