Orlando, FL - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**lauren313** · 05-15-2006, 03:25 PM

Here's the thing... flying into Miami on September 14th, and flying out again on September 21st. Don't want to stay just in Miami, because it all seems rather expensive. I was thinking about just spending a day or two in Miami, then heading to Ft Lauderdale.

Anybody think that after a few days there it's worth getting the Greyhound up to Orlando? I'd love to go to the parks, but I'm waaaaay too poor for that, so unless anyone wants to buy me a ticket, that's not gonna happen

Would I be wasting my time going up there for a couple of days? You can stay in a reasonable hotel on International Drive for about £12pp, which is about the price I'd expect to pay for a hostel.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Cheers.

**Elizabeth** · 05-15-2006, 03:44 PM

I've been there a lot since I used to live only four hours away. I don't think there is much else to do there except the tourist stuff. Mostly for people on their two weeks a year splurge vacation. Its so fun to play "spot the tourist."

Anyone else wanna chime in?

What are you planning to do in Miami?

Now you've got me thinking about Sea World (4 yrs since last visit) and Disney World (2 yrs since last visit)

But hopefully we will be going to both parks this year.

**lauren313** · 05-15-2006, 03:47 PM

Not a clue what the plans are for Miami to be honest! Our week in Florida starts off our 3 month trip, and as we'll have worked hard all through the summer, we just wanna chill for that first week to be honest.

So, I guess we'll be doing the beach, and just basically exploring the area!

And hey, 2 years isn't that long since your last trip! I last went to Disney 11 years ago!

**omisan** · 05-15-2006, 04:03 PM

Is there any reason you're heading up to Ft. Lauderdale from Miami besides price? Flying out of there on Southwest or something?

I had plenty of fun in Ft. L and as expensive as Miami is, it's a whole order of magnitude mor interesting and worthwhile... So if you can swing Miami and remain under budget (i.e. not going out clubbing, just chilling onthe beach - that costs nothing) you'll be ok.

Ft. L, though, can be a blast. I stayed at the (dirt cheap) Days Inn Bahia Cabana - an old motel that seems to be a bit of a party destination. Their bar is always hopping, and they have the distinction of having a boat-up bar, where people come and tie up their boats and come in for a few drinks - makes for a lot of interesting people to meet! The beach across the way has kite surfing, wind surfing, etc. So I gues Lauderdale isn't so bad... but Miami.. Wow - so cool. though freakin' pricey.

As for Orlando, I know that's your original question - I know nothing about it!

**lauren313** · 05-16-2006, 12:54 PM

We're not flying out of Ft Lauderdale, Omi, to be honest, I don't really know why we're going there. Other than the fact that I've heard really nice things about it, the beaches look good... There's only so many beautiful Miami bodies I can tolerate

Nah, I get a little bored staying in one place for too long, so I figured maybe half the time in Miami and half in Ft Lauderdale (unless we decide on Orlando, then obviously that would change), and that way we can explore two places rather than just one!

**omisan** · 05-16-2006, 02:16 PM

I'd recommend going to Orlando over Ft. Lauderdale. Whlie Ft. L has its good points (like i'd mentioned above) it's more or less a lesser cousin of Miami... At least it's a totally different place

astro25e · 05-16-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@May 16 2006, 03:16 PM
I'd recommend going to Orlando over Ft. Lauderdale. Whlie Ft. L has its good points (like i'd mentioned above) it's more or less a lesser cousin of Miami...* At least it's a totally different place

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Do not go to orlando if you arent there for the parks! it's swarmed with tourists, more than anywhere else i've been. my brothers was a chef at epcott center in disney and he said he was very bored with the town. theyve got good shopping, lots of parks, and a lot of hotels. there are better places to go and visit. have fun in florida though, i went to the everglades once, and that was fun, maybe try that?

**raysen** · 05-24-2006, 06:24 AM

lauren 313 do you have email or msn or something,
I am doing a very simelar sort of trip and would appreciate any advice or tips you could give me

Me and my bf are going to florida in august, and we are going for about 80 adys and by teh end of it we want to be in massachusetts.

First backapcking trip

If u want to chat would be kinda cool
senwaar@hotmail.com that is my email and msn but if u add me on msn make sure u email me letting me know its you otherwise i will deny it.lol

Hope to hear fom you soon. cheers. xx

josh · 05-24-2006, 11:53 AM

Celebration, Florida seems pretty neat...

**kyle j** · 05-24-2006, 12:19 PM

I say check out tampa, st petersburg, area. Far less touristy than orlando and much more cultural activities and or nature and the beach. Also its roughly the same distance from miami. I grew up an hour from both and now live in tampa, so i have a slight bias but orlando is pretty lame beyond an alrigh downtown nightlife and the theme parks, but also another horrible part of orlando is traffic and transportation, Orlando traffic sucks!

**lauren313** · 05-24-2006, 12:21 PM

Kyle, what's public transport like in Tampa? Also, you say about cultural activities and such... is there anything in particular you can suggest?

**kyle j** · 05-24-2006, 12:36 PM

well public transportation in tampa does exist but is not really clean or something you can count on, people in florida dont generally use public transport at all, as far as where to go i recommend MOSI the museum of science and industry, or the salvidor dali museum in st. pete, there are beautiful beaches in st. pete also and theres a great roller coaster theme park here, Busch Gardens, which is a sort of Zoo also, and the the Tampa aquarium is supposed to be amazing but I have not been there...

**lauren313** · 05-24-2006, 12:38 PM

I went to Busch Gardens when I was about 9, I loved it so much!

I'm just looking into accommodation in Tampa, as far as I can see there is only one hostel.

Cheers for the tips, definitely something I'll be looking into!

xanthuos · 05-24-2006, 12:50 PM

If you DO decide to go to Orlando, stay at the Palms Lakefront Hostel...you'll have a fantastic time and meet some great people. I posted a review of it in the hostel section.
There's a pub down the road from the hostel that most people walk to (a British pub, actually)...and it's frequented by a lot of people who work for the parks and attractions. You could get into many of them for free by befriending these people.

**lauren313** · 05-24-2006, 12:51 PM

Thanks for that Matthew, I remember reading your review of that hostel actually, and I looked up more details of it!

Man, I'd love to get into the parks for free!!!