7 Tips to Save Money on your Next Florida Vacation

Picture by Discount Taxi

by Danielle Antosz

Planning a trip to the Sunshine state may seem like the trip of a lifetime…until you start adding up the costs. Plane tickets, hotels, amusement park passes, and food for an entire family. It adds up quickly! As it turns out, you don’t need to break the bank to have an awesome Florida vacation. Here are 7 easy tips that can add up to huge savings on your next Florida vacation.

1. Consider booking a vacation home for a week instead of renting a hotel room. Besides saving money on board, a house will give you access to a kitchen so you can cook instead of eating out every meal. Or spend the day enjoying family by grilling out and soaking in the beautiful weather. Vacations shouldn’t be about cramming in as many attractions as possible. Take some time to relax and enjoy yourself without all the pressure.

2. Buy amusement park package deals. If you are heading to any of the many amusement parks in Florida, look for hotel/park ticket deals. Some parks also offer meal plans that can save you a bunch. Just make sure you consider how much you will actually use the “extras”. If you aren’t careful you could end up spending more for features you will never use.

3. Look for free attractions. There is more to Florida than our awesome malls and amusement parks. Spend a day at the beach, or find parks are in the area. There is a lot of free natural resources to enjoy in the Sunshine State.

4. Pay attention to when you book your vacation. You may think you want to visit in the summer, but you are more likely to enjoy yourself in the spring or fall seasons. Hotels and park passes cost far less during off season. Plus, you get to skip the huge crowds, the heat, and the humidity. Florida in the summer might sound fun, but it’s not. It’s hot, humid, and

Vacationing in Florida Tips

By Danielle Antosz

5 Tips for Vacationing in Florida

Vacationing in the Sunshine State is a dream for travelers from all over the world. So, your bags are packed and the plane tickets are booked, but are you really prepared for your Florida vacation? Get the most out of your Florida vacation with these tips from a Florida native.



1. Bring a Sweater!
Florida may be the sunshine state, but we get random cool days in the early spring and fall that many people don’t pack for. Especially during the spring and fall weather can change quickly. It might be 85 on Monday and in the 30’s by Tuesday evening. Even if you are traveling in the middle of the summer you may need a light sweater indoors, as restaurants and stores crank up the AC to combat the 100 plus temperatures outside.


2. Check for Deals at Theme Parks, Museums, and Other Tourist Attractions
If you are headed to the happiest place on
earth or any of the other many Florida

Destination Saint Pete

By Sasha Brown

St. Petersburg: Old World Charm and New Spaces St Petersburg isn’t your grandmother’s sleepy little beach town anymore. There’s still plenty of sand here, but there’s also an established art community, a diverse restaurant scene and a newly gentrified downtown filled with park-side cafes. It’s now the cool sister to the neighboring city of Tampa. During the daytime, visitors dawdle between pristine beaches, art museums, farmers markets and waterfront parks. At night, locals and tourists alike flock to the city’s potpourri of restaurants for elegant seafood dishes orhamburgers in tiki bars dotted along the beach. St. Petersburg has grown up, but remnants of its Old World charm still remain. Graceful art deco buildings line St. Pete’s wide boulevards—a refreshing change from the urban sprawl and mega strip malls that dot Florida’s coast. For those who like a little culture with their sunshine, the impressive Dali Museum has an extensive collection of Salvador Dali works, representing every stage of his career. Considered a jewel on St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront is the Museum of Fine Arts which houses a wide range of world art from antiquity to modern times. Art buffs will also appreciate the permanent collection of Dale Chihully's unique glass artwork at the beautiful Morean Arts Center. There are a wide range of museums and galleries along the downtown waterfront parks, including the Children’s Museum and the Museum of History. Nature lovers will appreciate the Boyd Hill Nature Park which boasts walking trails, live exhibits and sneak peaks at alligators who call the park their home. The Weedon Island Preserve is a wonderful place to kayak, find a quiet path to walk or look for birds. For those who insist on spying an alligator, Sawgrass Lake Park delivers on the wildlife. Boardwalks bring you through scenes of swamps and woods, where gators and turtles and other wildlife are camera ready. A nice place to relax sprawled beneath the palm trees is the Gizella Kopsick Arboretum. It’s a quiet place to enjoy a bagged lunch and a book. And whatever you do, don’t miss out on Sunken Garden---a botanical paradise in the midst of the city and a cherished St. Pete icon. And what would a trip to St. Pete’s be without a little sand between your toes? Fort Desoto Park offers picturesque views of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay and clean, pristine beaches. There’s a snack shop there and tours of Fort Desoto are available for those seeking a break from the sun. There are two public beaches in the heart of the bustling downtown area, along with Maximo Beach and Park in South St. Petersburg. St. Pete’s boasts 361 days of sunshine every year with an average temperature of 73 degrees. These statistics, along with an array of activities for every taste and age group makes this lovely Gulf city the perfect destination for families, lovers and snowbirds. You might also be glad to know that Central Florida’s theme parks are a short drive away. Or you might be tempted to stay right where you are.

Saint Petersburg Attractions

50 Fascinating Things to do in Saint Petersburg Florida!


ST PETERSBURG, FL (Spring 2013) – Score a home run with the Tampa Bay Rays, hit the beach, browse through world class museums, or stroll along streets lined with graceful Mediterranean-style architecture. Whatever your taste, St. Petersburg offers you everything under the sun. With an average temperature of 73.7 degrees and 361 days a year of recorded sunshine, it’s no wonder St Petersburg’s moniker is the Sunshine City. Make sure to include a few of our fascinating things to do and see when you’re in St. Pete: