Traveling Florida on a Budget

Traveling Florida on a Budget

As one of the top vacation destinations in the whole United States, it’s no surprise that Florida isn’t exactly the most affordable destination in the country.

Depending on the city that you stay, you could easily spend a few thousand on hotel accommodations alone at some of the bigger resorts. But, if you’re traveling on a budget, you shouldn’t give up hope! There are a few tips and tricks that you can follow to help keep more of your money in your pocket during your Florida trip.

Here are some of our favorite tips for traveling Florida on a budget.

Avoid the Peak Season

First thing’s first, it’s essential that you avoid traveling to Florida during the peak season. This is between mid-December and April when every other part of the country is enduring a cold winter. The weather stays great in Florida year-round, so you can’t go wrong visiting any other time of the year (just be sure to read the hurricane forecasts in the summer/fall).

Look for Hidden Discounts

You’d be surprised how many discounts are out there for food, hotel, entertainment, and travel. Just being a student, veteran, or senior could save you a few hundred dollars off the entire trip. It might seem like more work, but the savings are worth it in the end.

Picnic on the Beach

Most of the beaches in Florida are public, meaning you don’t need to pay a thing to hang out of the warm sand all afternoon. As a plus, you should visit one of the local groceries and get some food for a perfect picnic. This way, you’ll be able to save on the dining bill, while also having an experience that you can’t enjoy at home.

Gear Up

If you plan to golf, scuba dive, snorkel, play tennis or partake in another activity that requires equipment and gear, you should look into bringing your own. Sure, you’ll probably have to pay a little extra to travel with it, but with the expensive costs to rent this kind of gear to tourists in Florida, you might end up saving a few bucks by lugging along your own equipment.

Buy Value Passes for Theme Parks

Many of the biggest theme parks in Florida offer tourists Value Passes and other discount packages that make it more worthwhile for families to spend a few days at the theme parks. There are many different options available so make sure that you do your research and avoid buying multiple passes at full price.

Look for Free Entertainment Options

If you find yourself in Miami, you’ll probably want to break out your nice clothes and hit the town at night. Miami has some of the best nightclubs and other entertainment venues in the country, but many of them can be expensive. If you don’t have the budget, you can find tons of inexpensive or free things to do in the city including concerts, and other entertainment options. Look for the free alternative newspapers or read the papers on Friday for a list of fun, free things to do that weekend.