Heron House ... parking ??

We are planning to stay at Heron House next november, but we are wondering about the parking issue.-

As far as I saw in the web nothing is mentioned about that.-

Can anyone help me with this issue ?

Thanks

Heron House ... parking ??

Hello,

We stayed at the Heron House this past summer and had a wonderful time! Just give the place a call for parking directions. They are very helpful. There is time limited parking infront of the Heron House to drop off your luggage. They directed us to where public parking was available, only a couple of blocks away. We parked near the Library. We never moved our car during our visit. We rented bikes and had a great time!

Have a great time! Planning our 3rd visit for next year....

good location for teens? good surf/wave action?

Trying to decide between Marriott Harbor Beach or Marco Island for spring break with two 16 year old girls? We like to divide our time between relaxing at the pool and beach, and doing more active things.

Usually my daughter likes to boogie board and I don%26#39;t know if there is much wave action in Fort Lauderdale (I know there is none on the gulf). Also does the water approach that aqua blue color of the caribbean or is it dark like the water furhur north? Thanks!

good location for teens? good surf/wave action?

Better coloring than Marco. Looks totally Caribbean. Not many shells in the sand.

Sorry, USUALLY wave action is similiar to that of Marco or the West Side.. . Since the water here is warmed by the Gulf Stream Current, it will be excellent for swimming.

Waves grow as you go further N.. Usually N past Martin County (Vero Beach area), the waves are big.... but the Gulfstream Current leaves, so the water may be a bit colder.

good location for teens? good surf/wave action?

KenK is correct that the better wave action is further north- as a matter of fact Cocoa Beach or Daytona would be better bets, although definitely colder. The famous RonJon Surf Shop is right on the beach in Cocoa. We have a branch of it in Lauderdale as well, but far out West in Sawgrass Mills. The original one is in Cocoa , which is the closest thing in FL to a surfing mecca.

The only time the waves get exciting down here is when a storm approaches and at that point all the kids I taught would call in sick to take advantage of the rare opportunity to surf.

Thanks for the info on the waves, how about activities for teens, is there much going on? Thanks again

We stayed at the Marriott Marco Island April %26#39;05. We started at Disney World and then went there for 5 nights. After the pool/beach for a day or two-we were bored. Their were no organized pool activities. There were no activities at the resort that brought people together. It was nice property on a nice beach, but little to do. There were some sports activities/rentals. You may want to call the hotel to confirm. Our Dtr. was 13 at the time. She is a shopper- not much in the area. Drove up north to Naples to walk around shops-have lunch. Can take tour of Evergades and boat to Key West as day trips. We have never stayed at the Marriott Harbor Beach, but have friends who have gone several times. Their children are younger.May be more to do in Ft Lauderdale area. We are also in the process of deciding on a resort with a teen lounge/activities for spring break. P.S. Gulf water is warmer-more greenish-blue- but nothing like Carribean water. Hope this helps? Can email me with any further questions.

Hilton Grand Vacations

I am trying again after abject failure to get a response last time.

Has anyone stayed there recently.?

What sort of deal did you get?

Hilton Grand Vacations

I am staying here on my upcoming trip. It was an ok deal, I think. I booked through the Hilton website w/ netdirect rates. 8 nights in a suite for just a few dollars over a thousand. I do know- from other discussion boards that if you sit on a timeshare presentation, you will get so many days for free and the rest at a reduced rate. I think someone said they got to stay a week for about five hundred, which is a great deal.

Hilton Grand Vacations

Hola Vegas

Stayed at HGVC on International Drive in mid August for $850 for the week in a 1 bed apartment. Booked direct with Hilton on the pay in advance and be damned scheme. Also, under advisement, joined the honours club. Expedia were at least 拢200 more for the week.

Have you tried Redweek - it%26#39;s excellent?

libby - you%26#39;ve got the drop on me there.

Is red week like for our Russian Friends to buy timeshare with their oil rubles?

Vegas, Redweeks is a Timeshare rental-buyer-seller site. It is not really pertnant to what you asking. No I have not stayed there, but what it sounds like you are getting is the Timeshare Presentation special. Its the one that tells you come stay her for this price, and all you have to do is listen to a 90 minute info session on the advantages of buying a timeshare. I went to one 2 years ago and spent 3 hours there. This is usually the minumum you will have to spend at one. In the end, it was so fluffed up, it sounded like a good deal, and it was when I went to the reasle market and bought one at a fraction of the price. Most people I would not recommend this to. But you Vegas, by the time you got done with them, they would be begging you to leave the presentation.

I am intrigued now bssd. I have begged people to stay away from such presentation but it sounds like a battle of wills. I like the Hilton Organisation they have been brilliant and very accommodating to us in the recent past. I imagine their sales personnel would be a fine opponent for a couple of hours. Perhaps we could bet on how quick I can get out without an argument. I must look for these these deals but 7 days at a hundred a day does not sound like a gimeee

It is a battle of wills. I had mine with the fine folks at Marriott. My preffered hotel. They start with the sales person, and if they can';t hook you, they go see a manager type with the reasons they have wrote down of why you can';t or don';t want to buy. This is when it really gets insulting and hard selling as they will try to hurt your pride by telling you that you are a cheap b@#tard, and you don';t care about your families happyness, which only they can offer. And how you can trade your week anytime , any place in the World! (Yeah, try tradeing your week in july in Orlando for Aruba in Febuary!) And yes Vegas I will bet you that you are at least there for 2 hours, because there is know way you could not wait for that second person to come now!

Oh, by the way Vegas, Don';t know what time of year that is for, but a $100 a night for that place sounds like a gimme. Pretty sweet place from what I hear.

Hmmm

Bet you could sell tickets to see that presentation...Vegas vs the Hard Sell......Deal or No Deal.....

I would like to be a fly on the wall!

Persuasion needed!

I was planning to take my girlfriend to Florida next year but she now refuses to fly to America because of the terrorist issue. How can I persuade her to get on the plane without drugging her like B.A. from The A Team????

Persuasion needed!

I wouldn%26#39;t even try.

If she gets blown up mid air would she ever forgive you?

Persuasion needed!

For me, it was the realization after the bombings in the London Underground and the Madrid train station that terrorism can happen any where at any time. You could choose not to fly again, and your bus or train could be blown up. The office where you work could be blown up. There really aren%26#39;t any guarantees. You could choose to never leave your home again, and an airplane could fall right on it. There is no where to hide.

Then you have to look at the statistics. How much more likely you are to die by any other means than a terrorist attack. That puts it all in perspective.

I try to live each day so there won%26#39;t be any regrets if there%26#39;s no tomorrow. I don%26#39;t take any unnecessary risks, but I don%26#39;t let a remote risk keep me from enjoying life. Life is short enough as it is, so don%26#39;t let fear steal any of that time away.

Thats it cheer everyone up - spread the doom and gloom of terrorism. The Wall is down ooh we need a threat to all mankind to keep them all in their place. America has had this threat for what - 5 years. In the UK we had the ever present threat of the IRA for years until quite recently ( with most funds coming from the States).

Take her on the plane and enjoy. She will love it

Thats it cheer everyone up - spread the doom and gloom of terrorism.

The Wall is down, ooh!!! We need a threat to all mankind to keep the plebs in their place.

America has had this threat for what - 5 years. In the UK we had the ever present threat of the IRA for 30 odd years with the enemy amongst us( with most funds for arms coming from an unconcerned United States).

Tell your girl friend to lighten up. What are the odds of them choosing her TCD or Thomsons plane.Take her and enjoy. She will love it.

Anyway FLA4 I hope I am safe in the little village I live in. The only place they could blow up is the Post Office and the Government are going to close that down anyway. They could target the bench or the cricket changing rooms.

Flippant? Yes but they are not going to make me live in fear even if they are amongst us. I am going to get on with it and not let Governments put that fear into me as they tried to do with the Nuclear threat in the 60s and 70s. No, I am going to fly and enjoy myself as long as the money lasts and at $185 that should be long enough.

Don%26#39;t worry about the terrorist, worry about these trigger happy air mashalls that fly on every single flight from USA to UK...usually in pairs, tweedle dee tweedle dum ..... with their big guns!

At the very worst, if you do get blown up then at least your parents will get millions in compensation....

If you wanna go, go. Just tell your girlfriend, in a nice, polite way that you%26#39;re planning on going, and she can come with you or she can stay home, since you don%26#39;t want to force her into anything she is uncomfortable with.

Tell her it%26#39;s very romantic to die together. Like Romeo and Juliet....

...Or Bonnie and Clyde.

or Butch Cassidy %26amp; the Sundance Kid

Hi CRUMB,

Hope I don%26#39;t get zapped, but if so...oh well.

Not a good idea to ';take anyone'; on a plane. Ask her if she would like to go. If her answer is no, respect it. She will love you for respecting her decision. If you really want to go, perhaps a friend or 2 ?

If you do come over..have a wonderful time. No charge for this consult.

beauty

networking

Beach Club concierge level

I am staying at The Beach Club over Christmas week and am considering staying in a concierge level room. Can any one comment if they have stayed on this level and the value associated with the extra cost?

Beach Club concierge level

Hello mcdmass,

I%26#39;ve stayed at the Beach Club but never on the concierge level. However, if your on the dining plan I know for sure it wouldn%26#39;t be worth the extra cost as you get plenty of food and drink on the plan. Check out www.allearsnet.com for photos and more reviews.

Beach Club concierge level

The offerings as far as food and drink don%26#39;t really make up much of the extra cost. It%26#39;s not like you could eat three meals a day in the lounge! It%26#39;s also not a priority location, or with a better view (for example, some of the concierge rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge don%26#39;t even face the savannah!). What you are mainly paying for is service: a higher staff to guest ratio, special check in, special concierge to arrange anything you need as far as dining or recreation, basically having someone at your beck and call anytime for anything. If you can afford it, and you will use their services, then go for it. I usually don%26#39;t stay concierge because I don%26#39;t use enough of their services to make it worthwhile to me (although I have stayed in concierge at Disney hotels a couple of times just because that%26#39;s the only rooms they had left!).

Eating in Disney

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge for seven days in just over a weeks time. Its our first ever trip to Disney and are taking our two kids (10 %26amp; 8). We can%26#39;t book the dining plan as not booked through Disney. What options do we have for breakfast- being from the UK we%26#39;re not in to pancakes etc (although the kids would be). Also, do you need to have reservations for dinner in the parks this time of year if so I find it very hard to plan where we are- does everyone put together a touring plan or just an outline of what parks on what days.

Thanks

Eating in Disney

You are going to be there during a pretty busy week, next week, so yes, the dining reservations are going to be a good idea. It%26#39;s the main ';fall break'; week for U.S. kids and the parks are going to be moderately crowded.

Especially if you intend to do a character meal, you need to book your dining reservations before you go. Otherwise, plan on being very flexible when you get there as to where you eat and at what time.

I was there three weeks ago, in a very uncrowded time, but the dining reservations we made were necessary. We would have had lots of waiting otherwise. You might find some venues not available at all to walk-ups, and you also may be relegated to counter service as well.

Concerning breakfast, there%26#39;s usually more than just pancakes. Most breakfast places also have eggs, bacon, sausage, muffins, etc.

Eating in Disney

If you%26#39;ve got a car, get off Disney property and get breakfast elsewhere, especially in those wierd first few days when you%26#39;ll be waking at 4.30am. There are plenty of nicer places to eat at much cheaper prices, breakfast buffets where the kids can have their pancakes, muffins and chocolate sauce and you can have the whole bacon, sausage thing or even o/d on fresh fruit and cereals.

And you%26#39;ll get enough teeth-rottingly sweet stuff in Disney parks to last anyone a lifetime - and I%26#39;m not talking about the food!

Even the chains - Dennys, IHOP, Brannigans, Western Sizzlin will all do you breakfasts of a ludicrously high standard when compared to Britain.

Alternatively if you%26#39;re not into huge stodgy American breakfasts I would think the hotel will have a %26#39;snack%26#39; restaurant where you can pick up juice/cereals/muffins/yogurts - or you may find it worth your while asking if they will supply a fridge to keep milk/juice etc in and pop out to buy breakfast provisions to last you the week. We did this last month (staying at the Dolphin). There was supposed to be a charge for the fridge but the nice receptionist comped it.

Hi

We stayed at the Animal Kingdom lodge this summer and loved it. All the rooms have a fridge, so we went of site and bought cerial and milk, bagels etc and grabbed something quickly before we left the hotel. We wanted to get to the parks early as we found you could do so much more just after opening.

We had dinned in both Boma and Jiko, both were great but i prefered Jiko. You do need to book.

Don%26#39;t know what type of room you have booked but we had the basic package. we asked on arrival if there was any possiblity of getting a savannah view (rather than car park) and they upgraded us for free.

We were also rather disorganised and hadn%26#39;t booked any character meals. The staff at the hotel were very helpful and managed to get us the princess story book lunch andbreakfast in cinderellas castle.

I%26#39;m sure you will have a great trip. We are planning our second trip for next year.

L

If you hve a car,,yes,leave the property for breakfast. If not,make a side trip to a grocery store and pick up cereal,milk,juice,rolls,whatever and eat in your room. It saves a lot of money and it%26#39;s much more pleasant not to have to hustle somewhere to get the kids fed. You%26#39;ll have a fridge and a coffee maker in the room. If you want table service meals at Disney,you will need to make your reservations right away and be somewhat flexible-but you can also pick up perfectly adequate meals at the counter service restaurants or again,the grocery stores nearby all have prepared meals ready to go.

We stayed at AK Lodge and all rooms have fridges. I would definitely buy your supplies off site, they do have a quick grab and go cafe but this was very expensive and quite poor quality, The Boma buffet restaurant is excellent for dinner and breakfast but your bill will probably be about 50-60 dollars just for breakfast. There are some excellent places to eat in disney but it does depend on your budget and how adventerous the kids are at eating (even though most restaurants do offer a kid friendly menu). If you are planning on going to Epcot we always eat at around 7:00 pm just before the fireworks. We have been to the French, Norwegian, Italian and Mexcian restaurants and all have been very good. In Magic Kingdom one of the best buffets is at the Crystal Palace Restaurant which has a Winne the Pooh charachter dinner and is good value. I must admit after going to Disney World every year almost for the last 10 years we are a bit ';Disney-out'; but I think we have ate in almost every american-chain restaurant i.e Red Lobster, TGi, Bennigans and given most of the disney restaurants a go. Outside of disney one of the best chain-restaurants, and I think, most people would agree, is ';Bahama Breeze'; at Lake Beuna Vista and International Drive. I can%26#39;t offer much advice on breakfast because most places are very similar and I tend to only eat fruit and perhaps a muffin for breakfast.

You%26#39;ve gotten alot of good advice Rans,

Here are our favorite lunch and dinner Disney dining options at the parks:

The Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner at the Magic Kingdom

The Garden Grill or LeCellier in Canada at Epcot

50%26#39;s Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi Dine in Theater for lunch or dinner at MGM Studios

I also recommend making advance dining reservations.

Make sure and utilize your fast pass options for popular attractions such as ';Soarin'; at Epcot, Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Twilight Tower of Terror and Indiana Jones Stunt show. If you find the parks to be very crowded its best to grab your fast pass as soon as you walk in the park.

Thanks for all the replies.- never used a forum befor but will in future!!! I probably have loads of questions but sure will all become clear when we get there!. Booked all the restaurants last night and got all the times we wanted- hopefully means 16th- 22nd October will be not too busy. One last question- what time can you go into the parks if you are staying in Disney when they open early - says Epcot opens at 9am on the 17th- is this for everyone or just those staying in the resort.

Any other tips would be much appreciate as want this to be a holiday for my kids to remember- my dad passed away earlier this year, two years after losing my mum and wanted us to go so feel I should do all I can to plan in advance- spent 6 months getting all the info and now beginning to panic!!. Also going to Sea World, Discovery Cove, Space Centre, Bush Gardens, plus a week on Marco Island - will three weeks be long enough!!!

Thanks

Hello Rans,

If it%26#39;s a EMH day all Disney resort guests can arrive one hour early, don%26#39;t forget to bring you Key to The Kingdom Card with you which is your room card to prove you are indeed staying at a Disney resort. Three weeks should be plenty of time, don%26#39;t forget to schedule relaxing pool or shopping days in between running around to the parks!

Hello again Rans,

I also want to say I%26#39;m sorry to read about the loss of your mum. I know how tough that is.

Small Boat Sailing Around Miami

Can anyone provide me with some advice regarding where I might be able to rent a small sailboat similar to a Flying Scot (19 feet long) around the Miami area?

Thanks!

Small Boat Sailing Around Miami

Ahoy Sandbarman!%26gt;

Try this site:

http://www.arcmiami.com/

Smaller boats - good rates...

AG

Small Boat Sailing Around Miami

AG, you%26#39;re the best!!!! Thanks!!

help with south beach restaurants

I will be in south beach with my family(wife %26amp; 3 kids) ---looking for a trendier type restaurant with a good view , though not necessary ,for dinner---a lively type restaurant is preferred--please help---P.S. a good place for a drink is needed as well--preferably with a city view..........

help with south beach restaurants

I%26#39;m not sure about trendy but Monty%26#39;s is on the Bay and has a view of the harbour and the boats. There is usually a band. Some tables are outside. There is a swimming pool available to the public. Have the kids bring their suit. I love their fish sandwhich and their fish taco%26#39;s. They have good burgers too.

help with south beach restaurants

Yankee%26gt;

Take the wife and kids out on Lincoln Road. This is a pedestrian mall opened day and night with lots of families and dogs and things to see and do.

Best bets for family dining range from casual - Spris Pizza, Nexxt Cafe, Van Dyke Cafe... to slightly upscale choices as well.

Use this map as I will direct you using the cross streets (in CAPS) as a reference point:

southbeach-usa.com/maps/lincoln-road-map.htm

At the west end of Lincoln (the far west) the pedestrian mall gives way to Alton Road. That is the ';main street'; of the residential side of South Beach where all the apartment dwellers go to shop, dine, get their shoes fixed... all the boring things you don%26#39;t do on vacation. There are some great moderate dining options generally favored by locals I can tell you about, plus the ';Best of the Rest'; of the Mall...

Starting at ALTON - you%26#39;ll find the best seafood 1/2 street west of Lincoln at AltaMar 1223 Lincoln. This is a little storefront sidewalk cafe crowded with locals every night.

Under the movies - There is a ';do it yourself'; salad cafe called Salad Creations 1120 Lincoln where they will rustle up your choices in a great big bowl of freshness. Also on that street, find Doraku 1104 Lincoln, a sushi bar with an attitude and a free sushi happy hour weeknights. Just south of the movie entrance (1625 Alton) is Piola Pizza, featuring a real Italian wood burning chimney baked pizza served fresh and crispy. Across the street at 1608 Alton is our go-to spot for a quick taco fix at Texas Taco Factory. Due north, find Yummy Chinese at 1671 Alton for a quick bite (delivery 305-531-1880) or a sushi roll and Epicure Market at 1656 Alton for spectacular gourmet treats and the best freshly made deli sandwiches in town.

On the Mall at 1040 Lincoln by the LENOX entrance to the Colony Theater is Segafredo, a trendy meeting place for folks gathering for the night. Everyone starts here for a cocktail or a strong coffee and a little sandwich or snack. This is a great spot for people watching or taking a break from shoping. Lots of little spoiled dogs and exhausted mommies too!

The hot new Italian restaurant on the Mall is Quattro - at 1691 Michigan. (reservations 305-531-4833) There are too many Italian places on the Beach but this one%26#39;s pretty awesome. MICHIGAN Ave is a destination for Ice Box Cafe as well - 1657 Michigan. Oprah and Rachel Rey both hit this tiny bakery to discover they turn out delicious meals for brunch, lunch and dinner. Save room for dessert as the cakes ROCK!! Due south on Michigan is the best ice cream shop on the Beach - the Frieze. All the top restaurants buy their ice cream here. If you%26#39;re looking for fun with the kids, drinks and snacks - go bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes day or night - 1691 Michigan - a great sports bar and high tech bowling party spot. Over 21 after 9pm.

Try brunch at Balans 1022 Lincoln, where locals swear by the eggs benedict and the prices are reduced on weekdays. Pashas at 900 Lincoln is a pita pockety middle eastern lunch spot. Van Dyke at the corner of Lincoln and JEFFERSON Ave is an all day-all night cafe known for their live jazz every night on the 2nd floor. There are surprisingly few venues dedicated to live performance - this is the spot for jazz fans to gather.

Da Leo Trattoria at 819 Lincoln is a local hang out with light italian food, nice salady lunches and a friendly wait staff. Their sidewalk cafe gives way to Paninoteca sandwich shop where the fresh pressed sandwiches are the star attraction (809 Lincoln). I like the grilled chicken and avocado best. On the corner at MERIDIAN is Ghirardelli Chocolate shop (801 Lincoln) where the friendly helpers will hand you a free sample most nights... free chocolate is one of my favorite things. The intersection at Meridian Avenue and Lincoln is a busy thoroughfare. If you travel north a few paces, you%26#39;ll find the better of our storefront Cuban cafes called David%26#39;s 2 at 1654 Meridian and a fun little Chinese place called Miss Yip%26#39;s at 1661 Meridian. After hours, there is a cool little nightclub on the 2nd floor of Miss Yips called Buck 15 (www.buck15.com).

Toward EUCLID Circle (a little round grassy patch at the center of the Mall), there are a few places to check out for a quick bite. Spris Pizza at 731 makes crisp little pies, LeBon next door is a lovely Belgian Seafood spot with fresh mussels on the menu and early bird prices. Sushi Siam at 647 Lincoln offers a mix of spicy Thai and sushi on the menu and Pizza Rustica makes a great snack - pizza sold by the slice! Some folks like the Nexxt Cafe at 700 Lincoln for their huge portions and a menu derived from the Cheesecake Factory chain. It is always crowded and I do suggest you pop in next door to the Parmalat ice cream shop.

On PENNSYLVANIA, try Cafeteria MB at 546 Lincoln - a white-on-white cool looking spot for a reliable brunch and happy hour specials. It%26#39;s pretty to look at but has uneven wait service. Across the way, Rosinella Cafe has a ';mama'; in the kitchen making lovely light Italian pastas. Yuca at 501 Lincoln offers upscale Cuban ';fusion'; cuisine. My tip for Yuca is to check out their salsa classes weekends on the second floor (www.salsamia.com) as a great way to refresh your hip shimmy and meet fun new people. HEAR music by Starbucks is not a restaurant but still a destination worth a looksee (hearsee?) if you want to create a custom CD of new music while you have a coffee and cake.

Just off the mall on WASHINGTON, try Chalan on the Beach at 1580 Washington for Peruvian style seafood that%26#39;s hearty and tasty. Try the sea bass, the garlic shrimp, the Chalan Combo or the bistec (thin cut steak %26amp; onions). This is a moderate priced and delicious hidden gem.

Enjoy your trip!

AG

Need help from Orlando experts please........

Could anyone tell us where we could see the up coming Rocket launch, without going to Kennedy?

Also the launch is due for the 25th, how would we know if it was delayed until another day?

Thankyou, this is my dream to watch a launch. Yes, I know some people will think I am very sad. But each to their own.

Need help from Orlando experts please........

From the Orlando area, the Space Center is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive. So you can sometimes (depending on the cloud cover) see the flames from the rocket and the trail it leaves. The way I read your question though, you are asking where you can visibly see the launch without traveling. You will not be able to see that from the Orlando area. You do have to be near the Space Center to get a clear view of any launch. To know if the launch has been delyed, all you need to do is listen to the local radio or local news channels.

Need help from Orlando experts please........

Anywhere within about 20 miles should enable you to see it. Of course, the closer the better. Delays are usually announced on the local news or any Florida news station - radio or tv.

Thankyou for that.

We are going to drive over towards kennedy, but didn%26#39;t want to pay the admission fee, as we will be going to Kennedy in Febraury next year.

Not knowing the area I wondered if you could suggest somewhere to head for,that we could get a clear view.

Many. many thanks for your help.

Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral is a good spot, but you have to get there early because it fills up fast. It%26#39;s not as crowded for rocket launches as shuttle launches though.

how to whistle with your tongue

January in SPB

We can get GREAT flight prices to PIE in Dec and Jan so we are thinking about a first time trip the last weekend in January. Can anyone advise me on whether this is a good time to visit. We are thinking about staying at the Plaza Beach Resort. It looks like a great place for a relaxing trip and appears to get good reviews, any comments on this would be appreciated.

Another couple of questions.... what is the best way to get from the airport to the motel? We thought initially that we would need to rent a car while we were there but we are reconsidering this. Is the trolley just as good if we are planning to stay in the area? Anyway to save $$ is good!

I appreciate any comments/suggestions to help us decide whether to plan this trip. Thanks in advance.

January in SPB

Weather is unpredictable - can be great, can be cold (cold here is in the forties at night). Best way to get out there I have heard is some kind of Super Shuttle for $16. Trolley will probably be fine - it goes all the way up and down the beach and then you can hook up with public transport in downtown to go to all the good places there. Plaza Beach Resort seems to be popular - looks nice but all the independents on that part of the beach are nice (Bel Aire, Miramar, Long Key, etc,)

January in SPB

About half-way down the Weather Underground web site (www.wunderground.com) there%26#39;s a feature called Trip Planner. You can enter a destination and dates to see what the weather has been in the past.

We visited Pass-a-Grille last January and had several chilly days (with a gusty, cold wind blowing from the north) and several days of shirt-sleeve weather. Since we weren%26#39;t expecting sunbathing on the beach weather, we had a good time: sightseeing, shopping, bike-riding, dining out, etc.

Enjoy

About half-way down the Weather Underground web site (www.wunderground.com) there%26#39;s a feature called Trip Planner. You can enter a destination and dates to see what the weather has been in the past.

We visited Pass-a-Grille last January and had several chilly days (with a gusty, cold wind blowing from the north) and several days of shirt-sleeve weather. Since we weren%26#39;t expecting sunbathing on the beach weather, we had a good time: sightseeing, shopping, bike-riding, dining out, etc.

Enjoy

About half-way down the Weather Underground web site (www.wunderground.com) there%26#39;s a feature called Trip Planner. You can enter a destination and dates to see what the weather has been in the past.

We visited Pass-a-Grille last January and had several chilly days (with a gusty, cold wind blowing from the north) and several days of shirt-sleeve weather. Since we weren%26#39;t expecting sunbathing on the beach weather, we had a good time: sightseeing, shopping, bike-riding, dining out, etc.

Enjoy

Thanks for your replys!

While the weather is always unpredictable, my bet will be on ';downright chilly'; - for us locals anyway. LOL. But nothing that a good sweater can%26#39;t handle.

beauty

Afternoon Cruise

Does anyone have experience with the various ';Dolphin Cruises';, etc. I%26#39;ve always wanted to take one of these short ocean cruises but have yet to try. I have seen some of these cruises setting out and they looked very crowded. Also, how practical is it to see dolphins on a dolphin cruise. We will be there next week and I wanted to try something new.

Afternoon Cruise

We did a ';Sunset Cruise'; on the ';Seablaster'; behind AJs last week. (There are two different Seablaster boats, different owners) It went out from 5 -7 %26amp; sunset was about 6:30, so we watched for dolphins between 5 - 6:30ish. Saw several. The waters were too rough to go into the Gulf that day, so we watched for dolphins in the jetty area %26amp; then went into the Bay to watch the sunset. The jetty area is the popular place to see the dolphins, we were told. Where they ';hang out';. But we also often see them from our condo, swimming across the shoreline. So keep an eye out any time you are on the beach, too.

Not so many people this time of year, so there weren%26#39;t many people on our charter, either. The ';Silent Lady'; looked to be more crowded.

We did an afternoon dolphin cruise a few years ago %26amp; only saw one dolphin, but I think that wasn%26#39;t the norm.

This is a GREAT time of year to go :-)

Afternoon Cruise

Thanks for the information. I looked at the SeaBlaster online and it looks real exposed - do you wear your beach attire? Also, was the sunset worth the cruise? Did you have children with you and if so did they enjoy?

This time of year, the sunset is just as gorgeous from the beach, as it sets out over the water.

Yes, the Seablaster is very exposed. But I think we wore crop pants (my daughter in law %26amp; I) while the guys wore shorts. There were several families with young children on the boat. My first question was where to sit so I didn%26#39;t get wet or get the crap beat out of me. I was told ';way up front';, so we sat in the very first row. We didn%26#39;t get wet but the back did get a couple of splashes. Nothing major.

If you go on a breezy day, it seems more windy out on the water, so you might want to consider light jackets for after sunset.

The 2 hrs was plenty of time for me.

My husband %26amp; son went on a fishing charter the next day (5-6 hrs) %26amp; we were glad we didn%26#39;t go. They loved it but too much time on the water for me.

GMRPH, I would go on the ';Original'; Seablaster located behind the Lucky Snapper restaurant. We have been going out for many years on the Seablaster and always have fun, they let the kids drive the boat for awhile also. Capt. Larry on this Seablaster has been running the Seablaster for years.

I would not do the Seablaster at all. For a nice afternoon or evening Cruise, I would choose the Southern Star Dolphin Curises. They ALWAYS see dolphins.

Semco, do you have personal experience with Southern Star? I looked at their website and the information is very basic. I like the idea that there are some inside areas. Seeing the dolphins is not as big a deal as enjoying the overall experience. I really don%26#39;t want to get wet in the evening because I know it starts getting chilly on the water at sunset. However, because it is less $$ we might consider an afternoon cruise. Is there a time when dolphins are more likely to be spotted?

The Southern Star and the Seablaster (by Lucky Snapper) are both fun boats to take for a sunset cruise. The other Seablaster is the AJsSeablaster which I have not been on.

I just went on the Seablaster again a couple of weeks ago- second time this year our Parrot Heads club has booked the boat. You may get splashed if the waves are big as you go out through the jettys- but come on - you are out on the water and if you are afraid of getting wet you shouldn%26#39;t even consider going. It is more of a party boat - they include beer and wine during the cruise. You are exposed to the sun but it is setting...and it is fun when you get going fast out in the Gulf. We did see alot of dolphins, they stayed with the boat for some time.

The Southern Star spends more time in the bay on their cruise, It is a glass bottom boat but you really can%26#39;t see anything through the glass.

We did the Southern Star this past August. We did have an enjoyable time - but did not see any dolphins. We went in the afternoon. We were told that they pretty much always see dolphins, but unfortunately we were the exception to the rule.

I think if we try it again we will pick a different time of day.

Also, regarding the glass bottom - it was just a green blur. I figured that if we stopped to watch something maybe we could appreciate it - but it never happened.

Thanks everyone for the info. We leave tomorrow!!!!!

buses to theme parks

we are staying in emerald iseland resort ,this month our 15yr old will sometimes want to go to the parks on his own. Is thre a bus service from the 192 to all the parks, especially universal and how much is it any help please

buses to theme parks

According to this link (found after a quick consult with my Google Gods):

www.allstarvacationhomes.com/faq.asp#trans

there is only paid transportation from the Windsor Palms development. So you will have to take your son there to catch the bus. And in fact they do not make it clear if that includes Universal.

1st timer with limited time - help!

My boyfriend and I are flying out to Florida on Saturday 11th November for his best friends wedding. The wedding takes place on Monday 13th November and we fly home on Friday 17th November. Unfortunately we could not stay longer as my boyfriend could not get any longer off work. We have 1 day taken up by the wedding, which is in the Magic Kingdom and 1 other day taken up by Discovery Cove, which I have always wanted to do! Can anyone help me with suggestions for must sees on the other 3 days - there is so much I want to see I can%26#39;t narrow it down! Any other hints and tips for 1st timers would be much appreciated!!

1st timer with limited time - help!

Discovery Cove will also include admission to Sea World, so you can spend a day there. Then it depends on what you like. If you are into thrill rides, spend your other two days at Universal%26#39;s parks. If you are not so much into thrill rides, then I would recommend Epcot and MGM (which have a few thrills, and lots of other fun stuff).

1st timer with limited time - help!

I vote for an Epcot visit, as I believe it offers the most variety for two young adults with both rides, shows, and the experience of the World Showcase countries.

I vote Epcot too. You can%26#39;t go wrong at the Disney parks, though, IMO.

Look through th Trip advisor forums a lot between now and then; you%26#39;ll learn a lot of tips.

Winter Park..anyone?

Hi Going for a 2 night trip next week to Winter Park with 2 kids...not the theme parks this trip. Would like to stay in a nice hotel for around 150$. The museum and some shopping..any good ideas for teens...and the hotels in Winter park sound grim..anything near by ???? DKEL

Winter Park..anyone?

Just in case, if you haven%26#39;t already, you can check out Park Plaza Hotel Winter Park and the La Quinta Inn Winter Park, but it sounds like you may have already checked these out. Just north of Winter Park in Maitland by I-4, you have several hotels, including a newly refurbished Sheraton (they worked on it for over 6 months), a Homewood Suites, and an Extended Stay Deluxe. As these hotels are right by Maitland Center business park, they will be business oriented, but should be reasonable for your needs. The Winter Park I-4 exits are within about 1 1/2 miles or so off of I-4. If you wanted more options, about 2 miles north of the Maitland Exit is the Altamonte Springs/436 exit, with several hotels, including an Embassy Suites right by Uptown Altamonte, Altamonte Mall, and plenty of eating options around. There%26#39;s also a mini golf course a little west of I-4 around 436; not sure what you%26#39;re going to find especially for teens around other than the usual suburban stuff. Wekiwa Springs State Park is not too far away. Winter Park Village has the Cheesecake Factory, Brio Tuscan Grill, P.F. Changs, and a few other eateries, as well as a stadium seating movie theater; that would be good for teens.

Winter Park..anyone?

Winter Park is a beaufitull well established area of Orlando. The centerpiece of the city is PARK AVENUE, a popular red brick street filled with shops, boutiques, sidewalk cafes, and restaurants. In the central part of Park Avenue you will find a nice Central Park along with the historic Winter Park Amtrak Station. The south end of Park Avenue ends at the prestigous Rollins College, a historic with beautifull architecture, gardens, a theater, and the Cornell Fine Art Museum. The north end of Park Avenue is home to the Morse Museum of American Art, home to a world famous collection of Tiffany jewels.

Furthermore, I also highly recommend you visit the Orlando arts district, Lock Haven Park. Here you will find the Orlando Museum of Art (www.omart.org), the Orlando Science Center (www.osc.org), the UCF Shakespeare Theater, Orlando Repertory Theater, Orlando Fire Museum, and the Mennello Musuem of American Folk Art. Downtown Orlando is also a must-see during your visit, checkout the popular Lake Eola Park with the beautifull view of the city skyline, the Orange County Regional History Center (www.thehistorycenter.org), Church Street, and Orange Avenue. Checkout this website: www.downtownorlando.com

Have Fun!

Here are my top recommendations of HOTELS in your area of interest:

- Westin Grand Bohemian Hotel

www.grandbohemianhotel.com

- Embassy Suites Downtown Orlando (on Lake Eola)

www.embassyorlandodowntown.com

- The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne (Historic Inn)

www.thecourtyardatlakelucerne.com

- Park Plaza Hotel (on Park Avenue)

www.parkplazahotel.com

- Orlando Marriott Downtown

www.marriott.com/mcodt

- Ivanhoe Plaza Hotel

www.ivanhoehotelorlando.com

Have Fun!

CORRECTION:

The Ivanhoe Plaza Hotel is currently converting into the Sheraton Orlando Downtown.

hair gel

Thanksgiving Day?

I am planning on coming to Key West on Thanksgiving Day. Will much be open? Much to do? Restaurants open?

Any suggestion for a inexpensive nice hotel or B/B for one night, Nov 23 for myself and my husband?

We are vacationing in Miami area and just driving down for the 2 days.

Thank You,

Judy

Thanksgiving Day?

We flew into Miami and drove down to Key West on Thanksgiving Day a couple years ago. We didn%26#39;t arrive in Key West until after dark. Duval Street was very busy, looked like most things were open. The bars down at Key West Bight were all open.

I don%26#39;t know about where to stay, some places probably have minimum stays since it%26#39;s a holiday weekend. We%26#39;re flying in again on Thanksgiving and will be at Marrero%26#39;s.

Thanksgiving Day?

This will be my third Thanksgiving in Key West. The only resteraunt I found closed last year was Blue Heaven, and there was a longer wait at the other places I tried. Pepes was about 75 minutes, but they were taking names and you can sit at the bar.

Most of the other activities, sea-related, museums, all the bars on the Key West Bight, etc. looked open to me.

Pjk

HELP!!....Any ideas about renting a mini-van??

Hi All: My family and I have planned another great trip to Sanibel Dec. 16 through Dec. 23rd. We%26#39;ve got the plane tickets, Pointe Santo condo reservations, etc. etc. We are in the process of reserving a mini-van for the family. 5 adults %26amp; 1 child (3 yrs. old)

I am in shock!!! I can%26#39;t find anything under $740.00. I want to rent the thing...not buy it. Does any one have any ideas. We are all ears and open to suggestions,, As always.....Thank you one and all.

signed: sticker shock in New Mexico!!!!!!!!

HELP!!....Any ideas about renting a mini-van??

I ran into the same thing in August. I checked the web sites and found I could get a Taurus for $150.00 for the week. I rented two of them for $300.00 (plus the usual add-ons) and enjoyed the other car when we wanted to go different directions. Saved about $400 compared to one mini van.

HELP!!....Any ideas about renting a mini-van??

I don%26#39;t blame for sticker shock! I%26#39;d take Dad%26#39;s advice and go the 2 car route. GrandmaMac has some good local companies she uses that aren%26#39;t national chains that might also be of help. Hope she sees this and responds.

Well, shoot, for 5 adults and a 3 yr old, a large car ought to do it. Just get one with a roof rack. Or make two trips from the airport to bring in the luggage. It%26#39;s not that far from airport to Sanibel and certainly worth it to save from the high cost of renting the van.

we%26#39;ve had good luck on the southwest airlines website renting a minivan with dollar rent a car.

www.southwest.com

Hey- I checked your dates on southwest.com picking up minivan in Ft. Myers and Payless has a price of $599- this being the lowest. You may also google rental car %26amp; discount codes to see if this helps you lower the price.

Its been my experience to keep checking prices even after you%26#39;ve made your reservation. They tend to change every couple of weeks. We changed our labor day car reservations 4 times before our trip and saved about $150.

Hey WInter,

Try mousesavers.com for discount codes that work throughout Florida. The best is National or Dollar. Look for multiple codes to apply to National.

Book now! The prices will only go up!

C

Wintershoek:

A local agency I learned about just a few months ago is Sensible Car Rental. You might check with them for a quote. They are off-airport, but will arrange to have your car available for you there when you arrive as well as similar arrangement for dropping it off at the end of your visit. My understanding is that their vehicles are models that are low mileage and one or two years old as opposed to the current models used by major agencies, thus hypothetically lower rates.

http://www.sensiblecarrentalfla.com/

I didn%26#39;t see anyone suggesting priceline yet. I have always felt I received good discounts when booking through them. You make a bid and, if it is accepted, your credit card is charged at that point. They use only national, airport based agencies.

www.priceline.com

Finally, I check all available prices through www.breezenet.com

If you find a rate you like, you just go ahead and book with the car rental agency. Then you can keep checking back and, if a more appealing rate shows up later, just cancel the first arrangement and book the better one.

Good Luck!

Hmmmm...bear in mind if you decide to make a Priceline bid that one thing that is running the overall cost up is the exorbitant ';fees';. I noticed that they add about $115 to the total price on a $600 vehicle rate so consider those add-ons as additional to any offer you may make.

Thank You....Thank You......everyone! So many of you had good advice. We just rented a mini-van from Sensible Car Rental for the week of Dec 16-23. Saved over $200.00!!!!! Instead of $650.00+, Tom%26#39;s price was 437.50. IF THEIR SERVICE TURNS OUT TO BE WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. I WILL POST AGAIN AND LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW WELL THE SERVICE WAS.

I%26#39;m pleased to hear that the ';Sensible'; connection has helped resolve your ';sticker shock, Wintershoek.

If you would like some reassurance about your decision, go to the Fort Myers Beach forum and enter the search words ';Sensible Car Rental';. Several posts there about their service and all seem to have been very satisfied with how they operate. Hope it works out as well for your family.

beauty

Driving from Ft. Lauderdale?

Hi

We have to attend a conference in Hollywood Florida first, then we plan on driving to Orlando where we will stay 7 nights at POR. Do you have any advice on where we should stop for lunch and a rest during our road trip? Also, where is the best place we can pick up a case of water and snack food, etc. for our stay in Disneyworld? We would like to buy some bread, yogurt, fruit, maybe a cheap toaster.

Thank you

Driving from Ft. Lauderdale?

It%26#39;s only about 3 hours to Orlando from Ft. Lauderdale. 4 at the most depending on traffic. If you jump on the turnpike you won%26#39;t find many places to stop once you get north of Jupiter. Cracker Barrell restaurant has basic home cooked style food and is reasonbly priced. if you just want something basic they are near the turnpike or I-95 depending on the route you are taking. If you want fancy West Palm or Orlando is going to be your best bet as everything else will require driving into town to find a place to eat. Orlando has many good restaurants to eat at.

Any Wal-Mart will have your basic staples. Most are open 24 hours. And there a Wal-Marts everywhere. They will have your toaster too.

Driving from Ft. Lauderdale?

I would have a nice breakfast before you leave. If you just take a few snacks in the car, you won%26#39;t need to make a stop until you get to Orlando. It should only take about 4 hours or so on the turnpike, if there aren%26#39;t any traffic issues. There are service plazas on the turnpike with food, fuel, and facilities, if you need to make a stop and don%26#39;t want to exit the highway.

Do you know if the traffic on the turnpike will be heavy on Sat. Nov 25th? That is the Sat the Thanksgiving wknd.

Thanks for all your help.

A few more choices

Thanks RustyKat for your reply.

I%26#39;ve added a one more to the list of where to stay. I am getting boggled by all the emails and rates that I can%26#39;t decide. Most are running about $120.00 plus tax and fees so they are all price wise the same.

Palm Tree Villas ?

Or can anyone offer another place.

I am looking for something nice on the beach with a pool. I bedroom or efficiency is OK since it is me and my daughter. We don%26#39;t need much, but we like things nice and clean. I won%26#39;t be cooking but a fridge and microwave would be nice. BBQ is a must.

A few more choices

Hey KittyKat, I dont know anything about Palm Tree Villa but we also like Queens Gate, it is across the street from the beach but it has a deck with rocking chairs around it that you can see the beach and water. The pool is in the bach and very nice with BBQ grills set up for your use. Their rates are very reasonable. I%26#39;m not one for large resorts, I like the smaller, quaint hotels like Queens Gate and Angelinos Sea Lodge, especially in this area because there are a lot to choose from.

Yet Another Couple to Relocate to Miami!

Hi, my husband and I would like to move to urban Miami. We are true city people stuck in a sorta small town and are ready to flee!

We don%26#39;t have kids (and don%26#39;t want any), no pets and love urban areas. We will both more than likely work in downtown Miami, we are paralegal and system admin., so we%26#39;d like to be in close commute, no more than say, 15 or 20 minutes.

What we want is to be close to the water (ocean/beach) so that we can at least bicylcle there or drive just a few minutes. We like to be able to walk to the grocery store, have a few restaurants/bars around, shops, etc. We want to be able to do this at night, not live in some area that shuts down at 9pm. If we want a sandwich at 10pm, we%26#39;d like to be able to walk to get it. Or run to the store a coupla blocks away for that milk we forgot.

I%26#39;ve been looking at the Grove, but it doesn%26#39;t appear to be anywhere near the beach.

We are planning on renting an apt. for awhile, then possibly finding a house. We could very well end up renting the rest of our lives as we really don%26#39;t mind it. We love to travel!

Any ideas for neighborhoods to check out? Is South Beach as expensive as they say? What about North Beach? We can spend about $1300 - $1600 per month. Oh yeah, a pool is a must.

Thanks guys!!!!

Yet Another Couple to Relocate to Miami!

the only beaches anywhere near downtown Miami are on Key Biscayne (which I don%26#39;t fell fits the rest of your requirements) or Miami Beach.

South Beach is expensive unless you get an apartment with no parking -- then you%26#39;ll get to spend large parts of your time circling for a parking spot (and you%26#39;ll need a paid permit to park in one once yoou find it). North Beach is cool -- but it is not 15 minutes from downtown during rush hour.

You%26#39;re not going to find everything you%26#39;re looking for at the price you want. IMO it%26#39;s easier to drive to the beach when you want to be at the beach rather than being stuck in extra traffic 10 or more times a week.

Yet Another Couple to Relocate to Miami!

Miami is a car town. If you want to be able to walk to things then you have to go to Miami Beach/South Beach. Key Biscayne maybe. But I think Miami Beach is what you are looking for. Other than SOBE, the rest of the county isn%26#39;t a walk to get your groceries place, everyone gets into their cars (summer and 90 degrees and 90% humidy isn%26#39;t nice to walk in and that is usually 5 months of the year). Coconut Grove is really cute, they just got a Whole Foods Market so if you rent close by you could walk to the market and to shops and restaurants. But no beach in walking distance. Hope this helps.

Welcome TT%26gt;

You are going to get a lot of feedback and opinions on this issue so I%26#39;ll add my 2 cents. You don%26#39;t say where you are leaving so I can%26#39;t give you any comparisons... but I have lived and worked and played in Miami and I can tell you that the lifestyle you%26#39;re seeking is entirely possible.

If you decide to live on the Beach, the commute to Downtown is minimal. Even in rush hour from the Beach to the City can be no more than 20 minutes bumper-to-bumper in the pouring rain. If you live in NY or LA that%26#39;s NOTHING.

I have a friend who lives in the 50s (MidBeach) and takes a city bus Downtown to work every day. Yes, it is hot in the summer and yes it rains. She has a car and drives when it%26#39;s bad weather or grabs a ride with a co-worker... but she enjoys reading and listening to her iPod on the bus. There are a few high rises on Collins in the 50s with pools you might sublet if you want to live right on the ocean.

South Beach is the ideal place to rent if you like the bicycle or scooter lifestyle. There are a million places to shop and dine south of 17th Street and you can find apartments or the little cottage houses built behind larger ';mansions'; for short or long term rental due north. I think South Beach is a great spot for those new to the city because you will have ample oportunity to meet people. The park on Meridian around 10th is a popular place with a dog walking area (you can get a dog-child!), a brand new public pool and a tennis center too.

North Beach is happening. A few recent visitors to this forum booked 6 month rentals at the Burleigh House at 71/Collins which puts you in the center of the new North Beach shopping/cafe/theater district. The area is a late night destination as well with many transplants from South America - a large Argentinian/Brazilian community thrives in the area and the shops and cafes have amazing food from many different countries. There is an open air band shell on 73/Collins with concerts and dancing and a second, communtiy-based theater opened on Byron Avenue.

Downtown Miami is experiencing a building boom. There are brand new high rises going up everywhere. While the center of town does get pretty quiet after 6pm, that will all change as the new residents will demand more places stay opened later. There is already a great and bustling community just south of town near Brickell Key. There is a Publix super market and the requisite video stores and cafes opening all along Miami Avenue. If you opted to rent a condo on Brickell (that%26#39;s bayfront), you could indeed take a train to work in the center of the city.

Your best plan of action is to visit for about a week and do some walking and driving around to get a feel for the area. The communities of Surfside and North Bay Village are also waterfront areas with shopping districts near by. Again - no more than 20 minutes to Downtown by car.

Keep an eye on the Miami New Times and Craigslist.com to see what pops up in their real estate listings. Consider paying a little more for a short term lease just to get here and get settled and then decide where you want to stay. Know also that there are paralegal jobs on South Beach and mid-Beach (Arthur Godfrey Road) that would make it possible to bike to work too!

Good Luck and See You SOON!

AG

Holy cow Ms. Miami you gave me a lot of info!!! Let me respond:

I know that opinions vary, especially in the city. We are leaving a burb area in the cold mountains, midwest. We hate it!! We are always traveling to the caribbean, visiting other cities and wishing for tropical weather which we just won%26#39;t get. We made a mistake and bought a townhome where we can%26#39;t walk anywhere!!! We MUST drive at least 5 miles just to get to a market. There are no restaurants/bars/shops within a 7 mile radius.

One thing I should make clear: We really don%26#39;t want to spend more than $1600 per month, so that limits us, we know. We also know we won%26#39;t get beachfront for that price. We really don%26#39;t want beachfront anyway (well, maybe if we were rich!). Mostly, we are concentrating on our day to day lives and wants, which is having stuff nearby in which we don%26#39;t have to drive to. That means having a coffee shop within a block or two, a market within 6 blocks, bars/restaurants really close by. Basically, urban living.

We don%26#39;t mind having a car to get to places when weather is bad, driving to work, driving to the beach. Which brings me to the sea. We think that most days, we%26#39;ll be in our apt. pool. Then, on the weekends, we%26#39;ll be packing up to do a day trip at the beach! So if the beach is say, 1/2 an hour a way and no more, we are thrilled.

South Beach sounds really nice and what we want, we will only have one car, but then there%26#39;s the price issue. That%26#39;s why I say we are willing to compromise on not being right next to the beach, more like being 15 minutes away from the beach. Or 20.

dog child! ha!

North Beach sounds good too, can we get a decent place for our price range? ($1600 tops)

I%26#39;ve heard about downtown Miami. We aren%26#39;t moving for awhile, so maybe by the time we get there it%26#39;ll be up and running. Our first plan is to take a trip to Miami and view the neighborhoods that you have written about. Our second plan is to get plenty of savings before coming out there.

I%26#39;ve read about Brickell. Forgive me, I%26#39;m a mountain girl, what does bayfront mean? Obviously bay, but no beach? Is beach within driving distance (20 min.)? I heard from someone that Brickell is dead at night. But I don%26#39;t know what they meant by dead.

One other thing, we are in our 30s and really aren%26#39;t into party party all night long. We more like little pubs and such where you can hang, have a drink or two, and call it quits by 10pm. We aren%26#39;t looking for all night crazy clubs (although we aren%26#39;t that old! and will probably hit a few), so that is not really important to us.

Here%26#39;s the summary: $1600, 1 bed. ok, would like 2 toilets!, close to beach (driving 20 min.), able to walk to restaurants/cafes/bars at night (8pm) safely, able to commute to downtown Miami within reasonable time (no L.A. commutes!!!)

I know about craigslist and the times, will definitely keep an eye out. Also, someone told me to get a real estate agent to find a place (I know, some will rip you off, so be careful). We will also consider paying more for short term, although moving is such a drag and so expensive!

Thanks for the tip on paralegal jobs, are they big firms? I work for a very big firm.

Thanks!!!

thanks also karma and doggie bus!!!!!!!!!

TT%26gt;

Zoinks!!

First things to note... I am not affiliated with any real estate firms or anything ';conflict of interest-y'; in giving you the info I do. I know there is a lot of BS on any forum from folks ';loosely affiliated'; with places they endorse - so take everything you read with an open but skeptical mind.

Have you ever visited Miami? You mention ';looking at the Grove'; but I think you mean on-line, no? I suggest you spend a little time on Google and pop onto some general websites to get a sense of the layout of the city... and definitely visit Miami to see how you guys feel here.

The weather right now is turning lovely - breezier and less humid. It gets better and better until February (which is my favorite month here) and stays really lovely til April when things start to heat %26amp; moisten up. If you have curly hair, you%26#39;ll understand when I tell you that after April, it%26#39;s nothing but bad hair days until October.

Because South Florida is a resort community, LOTS of people buy investment properties - homes or condos - and then rent them out short or long term with the idea that they might use the unit over the holidays for 2 weeks or save it for retirement. I have a few married %26amp; co-hab friends who bought condos when they were single and realized it was smart to hold onto their units ';just in case'; or for long romantic weekends or simply because they got in cheap and the real estate values just kept going up and up again. What this means for you is OPPORTUNITY. You can start watching craigslist daily (think of it as fishing) and see what pops up. Online classifieds on the Miami New Times pay off as well! There are plenty of reliable brokers...

If you decide to live on South Beach, you can walk around the community easily to get to day-to-day places like the dry cleaner or the video store etc. Lots of people buy scooters or bikes and putput around town as well. Lincoln Road is the ';Main Street'; of South Beach where locals and tourists meet and eat. There are streets and streets all closed to cars filled with shops and bars and cafes and galleries. A few years back, it was a lot ';artsy-er'; and now it is more commercial (exit vintage stores enter GAP). The plus side includes an 18 plex movie theater and a weekend farmer%26#39;s market with a GREAT Antique/Flea Market during the fall on alternate Sundays. People hang out on Lincoln Road with their kids, their dog-children, their families... all the time. I often encourage solo travelers to hang out on Lincoln Mall because they%26#39;ll never feel alone there. 15 minutes to Downtown.

One more thing - $1600 is not too small an amount for a beachfront rental. I googled up a listing place online (randomly ) and found lots of cool listings in your price range:

miami.condocompany.com/Miami-Beach/PL548002/

Look for South Beach (South of 21st Street - zip 33139)

Look for Mid Beach (Collins Ave in the 50s - 33140)

Look for North Beach (Collins in the 60s-70s - 33141)

Look for Surfside (Collins in the 80s - 90s - 33141)

Look for North Bay Village/Normandy Isle too.

The west side of Miami Beach (which is a long ';barrier island'; running down the coast of the state - so waterfront is plentiful) faces Biscayne Bay as does the eastern shore of mainland Miami. Brickell is eastern shore of Miami. West Avenue is western shore of South Beach (mostly high rises).

You will need one car. There is so much to see and do that requires a decent car - and by this I mean something that runs and has A/C. People in Miami spend zillions on ridiculously plush cars and then crash them while talking on their cell phones... just bring along (or buy) a car that you can depend upon. Good tires, good brakes (it rains) and good air will serve you well. You will need renter%26#39;s insurance that covers hurricane damage - don%26#39;t scrimp on that - period.

You will find the apartment pool/spa/gym/laundry a huge benefit. Definitely see all the amenities before you sign a lease. Knock on someone%26#39;s door and get feedback from an existing tennant too. Definitely try to get covered/secure parking. You will find the beach a godsend. There are just miles of beach and it is still possible to go and be ALONE by the ocean. It does not require a day trip or a long haul. You can keep a bag in the trunk with swimwear and sunscreen and just pop by for a quick dip anytime. You can be topless and - at Haulover - you can be naked. Miami Beach also has miles of wooden board walk running down the coast for a brisk walk or a slow romantic stroll...

Downtown Miami will continue to evolve. Less amenities now - more to come. Do not write off the ';City'; yet. It is a work in progress. Brickell is an area just South of the Downtown cluster that has our financial center and a long string of high rise condos facing Biscayne Bay (hey - look at a map - will ya!?) It is quiet and residential and many people bought on Brickell who are not year round residents. It is already expanding to suit folks just like you. New stores, new services, new everything on the southern part of Miami Avenue. Quiet at night - not dead... but quiet. That is NOT a bad thing.

I am not considering a club nightlife for you at all. You will check them out or not. You will find a pub you love and you will become a member of the cast of Cheers... I get it. On South Beach - that is the Purdy Lounge, the Abbey Brew Pub, Lost Weekend, Ted%26#39;s Hideaway... a few more you%26#39;re going to have to find on your own as my friends forbid me to mention them on TA.

Please let me know if you need more info and when you do decide to schedule a visit - I can point you to some inexpensive places to zzz.

Have a Great Weekend!

AG

past relationships

key west accomodation for family

I will be traveling to key west for a couple of nights march,april 2007 with my family.childrens ages are 13,11,8.looking to stay near duval street,in decent acc.not to expensive.can anyone recommend a good family hotel/inn.Also is key west ok for children for a few nights

break from disney.

key west accomodation for family

I would not suggest staying at the LaConcha. They accept college kids on spring holiday. It gets a little crazy. There are lovely hotels at the top of duval. I maybe wrong but the hyatt? has been mentioned on here as being family friendly. Although some of the larger resorts have changed hands. Those who better know can direct you. I am no expert on family friend establishment, at least not in key west.

I would not stay at the southernmost either...

Its not that us college kids will ruin your holiday, but there could be things going on not suitable for your children to see.

This is purely a warning. You are coming when things are winding down so you could have little presense.

Where are you staying at disney? Being an orlando native, knowing the property you have choosen there could help me and others direct you to someplace of similar standards in key west!

key west accomodation for family

What kind of room or rooms are you looking for for your family? One room with two queen sized beds? Two or even three rooms?

Pjk

staying at emerald island resort in kissimee.its a large 5 bedroom villa.been looking at a studio called papa%26#39;s hideaway in key west,looking at 3 rooms.would midweek be a better option than staying at weekend?were looking at driving down just to have a break from orlando for a couple of nights.just want to do a bit of shopping and just chill out with a beer and listen to a bit of music.

It took me several years to even notice Papa%26#39;s Hideaway. It%26#39;s 2 1/2 blocks off Duval and about 10 blocks from the Mallory Dock%26#39;s which is walkable for you. There are even a couple of good places to eat within about 5 blocks of it. And there are several reviews of Papa%26#39;s here...

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34345-d281867-鈥?/a>

Pjk

um there are some ';villas'; at www.centercourtkw.com one or two with their own private pools. Might want to check those out.

Since you are only staying a few nights, it might be better to stay in a hotel, have some made service and poolside service to kinda ';get away';. You will be dealing with driving to the attractions and driving down and cleaning up after yourself... Maybe a hotel would be a nice break.

Just another way of looking at it.

PS the drive from orlando is a good days worth. depending on your route... take the turnpike all the way down. it will take you about 8 hours worth of driving.

thanks for all your help.looking forward to getting there

Hotel Reco/Location Needed

We are thinking about spending New Years Eve in Tampa. (A few friends in late 20%26#39;s/early 30%26#39;s). We thought Ybor City would be fun as it seems to have a large amount of bars/restaurants, etc. I%26#39;m curious though since I%26#39;ve never been -- if its rundown/dirty? We%26#39;d still like to stay in a nicer hotel, shop, sun, eat good while we%26#39;re there.

Does anyone think Ybor is not where we would want to stay? Is the Hilton Garden Inn a nice option or just average?

Any thoughts, recos are greatly appreciated. THANKS!

Hotel Reco/Location Needed

You may get a few very different opinions about Ybor City, but I%26#39;m in my early 30%26#39;s and have lived in Tampa 19 years. I find Ybor to be clean, fun and safe, but like all cities Entertainment Districts, you need to be aware of your surroundings.

Hilton garden Inn is a great hotel in the heart of Ybor(also nice is the Don Vincente Bed and Breakfast and Hampton Inn Ybor). The OUtback Bowl is New Years, so NYE in Ybor is very busy with a parade, and fireworks. There are MANY bars and restaurants for ALL kinds in Ybor. Some of my favs are Prana, Code, Amphitheater, Green Iguana, Blues Shark, James Joyce Pub, Gaspars Grotto. Restaurants include Laughing Cat(Italian), Acropolis(Greek), Samarai Blue(Sushi), Bernini(Italian), Columbia(Spanish), La Creperia(Crepes), Green Iguana(American), Big City Tavern(American), dish(Mongolian Buffet), Tampa Brewing Co(American). Ybor is a National Historic District, picture the French Quarter in New Orleans on a very smaller scale(10 blocks by 3 blocks). There will be many out of towners in Tampa for he holiday.

You also have the streetcar that can take you downtown to Channelside(about 1 mile), where there is yet another Entertainment Venue with lots of Restaurants and Bars.

TBO.com and TBT.com can provide even more info about New Years happenings. Ybor.org and Channelside.com will provide more info on the Entertainment Districts.

Hotel Reco/Location Needed

Tampan -

Thanks for the reply, I figured that might be the case. Would you be willing to share your thoughts on a couple other items for me?

*I looked into the Marriott Waterside which I believe is by Channelside which you mentioned in your post. That seems to be a nice place and VERY close to YBOR as well. What do you think about that in comparison to Hilton Garden?

*Also, thanks for all the bar/restaurant recommendations....any place you%26#39;d pick over others for a really nice dinner on New years eve?

Thanks again for your help! Looking forward to getting out of the cold, snow that is bound to be in Chicago by then!!!

Have personally stayed at the Marriott Waterside and it is a great hotel, go to the Marriott website and they have a photo tour of the hotel, the Columbia Restaurant is a personal favorite and highly recommend it, Ybor will be alot of fun on New Years, Tampan had some great suggestions...have a great time :)

I would dissagree strongly with Angel, saying Ybor is dangerous that time of year is ridiculous, the saying ';there is safety in numbers'; apply here. It is more crowed than normal but as in any ';party place'; you use common sense, you stay where the crowds are which is 7th AVe., the main street. Dont wonder down unlit side streets where there are no people. You guys should have a great time and you may want to check out the Hampton Inn in Ybor, a lot less money but still in the heart of things, clean, safe and nice. I suspect you wont be in your rooms very much and you may want to say your money for the cover charges as I suspect most the clubs will have them then.

I prefer Marriott Waterside to the Hilton Garden Inn...more upscale, nicer atmosphere.

Tampan gave some great options for things to do in Ybor. For vacation, I think Ybor is great. Personally, I haven%26#39;t gone down to Ybor in years, though. Are you going with all girls or couples?? I prefer the bars in the Soho district, but I%26#39;m sure Ybor would be fun for New Year%26#39;s.

I%26#39;d suggest keeping Ybor as an option (you can still get down there easily by trolley or cab from Marriott Waterside) but also check out the websites Tampan suggested closer to New Year%26#39;s time.

Sometimes bars/clubs in S. Tampa offer higher cover and drinks are included (sometimes tickets need to be bought in advance). I know Jackson%26#39;s and Mangroves have done this before. Also, there have been concerts the past few years. You%26#39;ll have a great time!

Great comments from above..Marriott Waterside is a GREAT hotel, on the water, awesome pool deck, marina and riverwalk out back. The streecar has a stop there that can take you to channelside(a few blocks) or to ybor(about 1 mile). Either way, stay in Ybor or downtown would be fine.

Dinner in Ybor for New Years - make sure you make reservations if you are planning this, but i%26#39;d recommend Big City Tavern in Centro Ybor Entertainment Complex. Make sure you request a balcony view for dessert or both dinner and dessert to watch the parade and partiers.

Prana is 5 levels, each with a different type of music, VIP on third floor, 4th has a glass portion that you can look down onto the third floor(or they can look up-watch those skirts, lol), the top is a rooftop with a live band(usually raggae) with awesome views of the city and ybor.

As mentioned, I do tend to hang out more in the HydePark/SOHO districts, on the other side of downtown from Ybor. But i%26#39;d recommend goign to Ybor and/or Channelside for NYE.

Thanks everyone! This was all very helpful -- looking forward to the trip now!

eyeliner

Motels on the beach

Our highschool baseball team is going to Panama City Beach for springbreak next year 4/1/07-4/6/07. We have been most condos you have to have an adult in the room. So we are looking for a motel on the beach. We have gotten a good quote for Boarwalk Beach Resort-motel, Holiday Inn Sunspree and Legacy by the Sea. Which one would be better?

Motels on the beach

My younger brother went to Holiday inn sunspree for spring break last year and said it was great.He plans to return this year.They have planned activities for teens and the pool area was the best he said.They even light tiki torches at night for an island feel.He said very safe for a teen spring break.Hope this helps.

Universal Tickets-Cheap

Does anyone know where i can universal tickets for cheap?

Universal Tickets-Cheap

Try Universal.com and click on %26#39;Hot Deals%26#39;.

Universal Tickets-Cheap

pamcul

i did a lot of checking re. ticket prices to disney %26amp; universal and definitely the best place to buy universal tickets is through universal themselves , whereas you can get better deals on disney multi-day tickets from agents other than disney.

AJAX in .net

Universal Tickets-Cheap

Does anyone know where i can universal tickets for cheap?

Universal Tickets-Cheap

Check the Universal site, in their ticket special areas - they had some great deals about a week ago.

Fisherman's Cove

I recently reserved a condo at Fisherman%26#39;s Cove for the end of April - begining of May 07 for a week. This will be our first trip to the Sarasota / Siesta Key area. Any information on this condo or the area would be most helpful. Did I select a nice place?

Thank You

Alan

Fisherman's Cove

This is a matter of opinion. You will be at the south end of Siesta Key by Turtle Beach. The beach area there has been erdoing for years. It is smaller and less crowded, however. They are going to replenish the sand. There are a few restaurants at this end of the Key.

I am posting an older post regarding Fishermans Cove:

Posted on: 8:25 pm, April 11, 2005

We have a place on Turtle Beach which we just love. It is the quiet side of the island. Turtle Beach is low key, smaller than the big beaches (Cresent and Siesta) and full of shells. Siesta Beach doesn%26#39;t have many shells. The Turtle Beach Pub is very kid friendly and you can walk to it from the beach. I recommend Fishermans Cove. They are nice size 2 br units right on the water. The beach should be replenished in front of them before your trip and rates are under 1000 a week. It is only a three story complex so views of the water are prime and VERY close up! Great shelling just south of the compllex.....LOADS of them!

It is my opinion, but I prefer the Crescent Beach area or the Siesta Beach area.

I am sure you will receive other comments on this forum.

~SRQgirl

Fisherman's Cove

It%26#39;s been quite a few years since I stayed at Fisherman%26#39;s Cove, but two thoughts remain. First, it%26#39;s a quiet area. Second, first-floor condos have access to sand/beach, but no view; you%26#39;re looking out at a dune not far from the room. Higher level condos see the water.

Thank you for your review on the Fisherman%26#39;s Cove condo. We appreicate your opinion very much. We will be vacationing with my daughter ,her husband and our grandson and it sounds perfect for us. We selected the ground floor condo knowing it would not have a great view but would have great beach access. We were also told about the beach refurbishing. I am unsure what to expect from that.

I am now surfing to identify fun activities to do while we are there. Boat rental, cruises, points of interests ect. Any suggestions are always welcome. Thank you again for your help. If you need any information on the Dayton Ohio area let me know :).

Here is apart of a long series of emails on the Sarasota forum that I posted. You can read the rest of the area ideas. The poster I answered was capecodshanty.

Posted on: 10:42 am, September 03, 2006

Cape,

Okay, today we head south of Laurel Park.

There is a nice little neighborhood in the Hillview/Osprey Ave area.

There is Morton%26#39;s Market which is a gourmet food/wine shop.

Across the street is a restaurant called the Hillview Grill, Red(Reruvian), Sam Sneads and others.

South on Osprey you go west on Siesta Drive and cross a bridge to Siesta Key. Nicest sand beaches in town. The Siesta Key Village has shops and restaurants. The Broken Egg is a favorite breakfast spot as well as the Village Cafe. Cafe Gabbiano (Italian) and Blase Cafe are popular for dinner. Olaf%26#39;s ice cream is also a biggie.

Going south you pass the Siesta Beach area and further south is Turtle Beach. Ophelia%26#39;s on the Bay is an upscale place with great

food.

CB%26#39;s Saltwater Outfitters is a great place to rent a boat or go out with a fishing guide. (I like Rick Grasset)

Other places:

Myakka State Park- must see

Historic Spanish Point- in Osprey 33 acre preserve with 5,000 years of history. (I volunteer there)

Ed Smith Stadium (spring training baseball)

Downtown Venice, FL

Southgate Mall

Seafood Shack (in Cortez)

The Nav-a-Gator (Exit 170 King%26#39;s Hwy) great river cruise and grouper sandwiches

And more............ (Others will post)

~SRQgirl

There are many great things to do with kids in the area. Under the Siesta Key and Sarasota pages look under Attractions.

Any other questions, just ask.

~SRQgirl

Chesecake Factory

Is the Cheesecake Factory far from LBV? Would I need to take a taxi there if I didn%26#39;t have a car?

Chesecake Factory

There is a Cheesecake Factory in the Millenia Mall ...very close to LBV, depending on where you are staying. You will probably need a taxi but it shouldn%26#39;t cost too much. HTH!

Chesecake Factory

If you find you have to go by taxi, if you go to the website for the Orlando Airport, under the taxi section, there%26#39;s a link to Yellow Cab where they have a fare estimator. You can either select your departure and arrival points from a drop down menu or enter specific addresses, and get a good idea of what a cab will cost you. You could also check out the city bus website at golynx.com for schedules and routes, but be aware that Lynx has a reputation for being very unreliable and inconvenient. If you take the bus, allow yourself a lot of time! One of my friends car wasn%26#39;t working and had to go from Kissimmee to downtown Orlando for an appointment. It would take about 30 minutes to drive, and it took nearly 4 hours by bus.

The Taxi Fare link mentioned before is quite useful. Here is the link:

mearstransportation.com/TaxiFareEstimator.asp

Cheescake factory was worth the diversion not sure if it was worth a taxi fare just to go there however.

It is very good indeed.

Any advise!!

We are planning a family vacation to orlando on the first two weeks of Aug. We have ten people going, ranging in age from my mother of 60 to my youngest son at 1 1/2 years of age. This includes a 6year old boy, 9 year old boy, two 14 year old boys, and two couples in our high 30%26#39;s. We booked a town house at regal palms resort in davenport. We also purchased 4 park flex tickets for everybody. Any comments on were we are staying, should we get anything else besides the flex tickets. This is our second trip to florida but the first for most everyone else. Any advise or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Dano50

Any advise!!

Hi

RP is in a good location use the Sherberth Road shortcut to get where you want to go.Head north until 192 then exit off there at marker 5 .Turn left into sherberth road,follow the road to the end .Turn right at the traffic lights and you are on Osceola Parkay and Disney property and have good access to the other parks as well from here.

With the 4 park flex you don%26#39;t get entrance to Disney -have you tickets for there ?

If not I recommend this site

http://www.park-tickets.com

good prices and will deliver to your townhouse .If you use this site where you are asked for a referral code put 393 .

You are close to a Publix supermarket at RP as well as a quiznos that has just opened.Also there is a good chines take out in the same mall as Publix.Just north a couple of miles there is a WalMart ,winn dixie and wal greens .

Just south on 27 you will find cracker barrel .beef o brady%26#39;s and a brilliant eating house called Manny%26#39;s its a must see!

I stay in this area all the time so if you want other help just e mail

m_martin@lycos.co.uk

Any advise!!

Thanks SMITHY53, I really need as much advise as I can get. Bringing the whole family including mom, sister,freinds and my four kids I starting to get a little intimidating. Thanks again, Dano50

Hi Dano50-

Any comments on the Regal Palms? Would be interested in knowing how the stay was.

Thanks,

pls42_62

Regal Palms is the most wonderful resort we have stayed at. Town homes are immaculately presented in neat little streets with lots of nice landscaping, etc. The pool complex is fabulous - our kids didn%26#39;t even want to leave to go into Disney, they just wanted to swim around and around in that %26#39;Lazy River%26#39; thing! USEFUL tip - take an inflatable tyre with you (the pool variety) - not because they are expensive to buy, it%26#39;s just that they are all the same and get easily mixed in the pool.

Lots of sunbathing areas and loungers, wonderful staff to bring drinks - it was just like staying in a 5 star hotel but with the added bonus of your own home!

Best of luck keeping everybody happy. I think the location of the townhouse is very good. I have been around the davenport area a few timeas and I was impressed by most of it although there is a lot.

Getting a whole family around Disney in unison needs a regimented approach. They will all have different needs. i would go from a different angle and get them all in go your separate ways for two or three hours and meet back for lunch to share ideas. Don%26#39;t make this a family torture as so often happens. Nor reported on this forum because only happy things can happen at disney but such a week of %26#39;enjoyment%26#39; brings its own sort of stress. Am I the only who will admit to the strain of the theme parks?

numa numa

eyeliner

Roll Call November 8-12

33 days and counting, who%26#39;s going and where are you staying?

We are at Pineapple Cottage, private yet close to all the fun! Can%26#39;t wait!

Roll Call November 8-12

Hey TigerLily I%26#39;ll be at LaConcha, 8-13. Taking in the boats, bars, weather and relaxin with the laid back key west folk.

Roll Call November 8-12

All the cool november ';roll callers'; are over at the other thread!!

LOL!!!

The ';Cool people'; in this thread are going down before all you folks in the other thread show up and overwork the local bartenders ;-) Think of us as your scouting party!

Hey Tiger ~~ We stayed at the Pinapple Cottage several times ~~ Kool place, private %26amp; ya can do some skinn dipin ~~ Its a small place but you%26#39;ll like it ~~ Have fun ~~ (:%26gt;)

Good comeback.........haha! Don%26#39;t abuse the bartenders at hogs breath, we%26#39;d like to take care of them ourselves.

Wife and I are heading down the week of Nov. 8th for her 40th B%26#39;Day. Staying at the Gardens hotel partially due to the great reviews from this site. Last year stayed at Pier house and really liked it there. hopefully we made the right choice in switching.

The Gardens and the Pier House are kind of like apples and oranges but I%26#39;d like to hear your impression of one vs. the other when you get back.

Pjk

you got itPJK. I know you are a fan of the pier house. I had no problems staying there, thought it was perfect. Actually never stayed in a place as smallas the Gardens and am a little nervous about it. You are heading down the following week right? Have a good trip.

I have been counting down for months now for our trip! : )

We will be arriving on the 9th and leaving on the 13th staying at the Cypress House. This will be our 3rd trip down to KW and this year we will be renewing our vows on either Higgs or Smathers beach with our friends right there with us! Can%26#39;t wait! Looking forward to the sunshine since they are calling for rain mixed with snow by the end of this week - yuk!

So, do you all decide on a place to meet so other T.A. members can come join ya? I%26#39;m fairly new on this forum, but would like to meet some others while we are there.

thanks-

angie

elkhart, in

Yes, I%26#39;ll be there 11/19 - 11/26. Leave some Sunset Ale and Kwy West pinks for me! I think I%26#39;ll wander over to the SWB on Sunday to check out this Uncle Rice dude.

Have a great trip!

Pjk

grow hair

dinner shows without animals

We are keen to go to a dinner show preferably one without animals in. We are going to Orlando in December and I was wondering about either going to the Spirit of Aloha or the Hoop De Doo. As the Spirit of Aloha is an outside show (so i have read somewhere) does it get a bit chilly considering the time of year we are going. Its nice sitting outdoors in the evening when it is warm but I know December can be quite cold sometimes. Has anyone been in the winter months? Also which is the better of the 2 shows. We have a mixture of ages in our party from adults to children aged from 6 to 15. Also which of the 2 shows is the easier one to get to?

I would appreciate any replies.

dinner shows without animals

HDD is a great dinner show (no animals). The earlier you book your reservation, the better your seats are (seats are assigned when they are reserved, not when you arrive - so the best seats in each category go first). I haven%26#39;t been to the Spirit of Aloha (went to the old Luau many many years ago), but I believe it%26#39;s more enclosed than it used to be. It used to be cancelled if the weather was bad and I don%26#39;t think they do that so much anymore.

Other dinner shows in the Orlando area that don%26#39;t include animals: Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, Makahiki Luau (at Sea World), and perhaps Pirates Dinner Adventure (although it%26#39;s been a while since I%26#39;ve seen that one, so you might want to check online to be sure).

dinner shows without animals

I%26#39;m going to second the recommendation for Hoop Dee Doo Revue show. I just saw this a few weeks ago and enjoyed it very much. It was so very nice to be indoors due to the heat and the eventual total downpour that occured during the show.

If you%26#39;re worried about the weather in any way, I%26#39;d choose HDD over the Spirit of Aloha. Besides, the food was very good as well.

Oops, forgot to mention:

As far as easier to get to, neither the Hoop Dee Doo nor the Spirit of Aloha is hard to get to.

Hoop Dee Doo is located over at Ft. Wilderness, and may take a little time to get there, but it%26#39;s still easy. You simply park in the guest parking lot of F.W., catch one of the settlement busses (yellow, orange, or purple) at the bus stop to the settlement, then walk a short distance from the bus stop to Pioneer Hall.

The Spirit of Aloha is at the Polynesian Resort.

Thanks both for your replies. I have decided im going to try and get reservations for the Hoop De Doo. It sounds a lot of fun. Thanks again.