Destination information
Orlando Holidays
Orlando, Florida (US) is a favourite holiday destination for thousands of people each year. Besides WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, Orlando Holidays offer a huge range of other attractions, as well as an exciting nightlife, cultural and historical attractions, and all manner of dinner shows and tours. Restaurants, bars, cafes and snack shacks will fuel you up for the day’s activities, while long stretches of sand and surf invite relaxation or cooling off in the water. Shop in one of the hundreds of malls and boutique stores, and then relax with a luxurious spa treatment before heading off for some evening activities.
Golf and other Activities
Central Florida, where Orlando is located, offers a huge array of activities for all ages. Over 60 golf courses of varying degrees of difficulty are located in or around Florida. Morning tee times are best for summer, as the afternoon can get hot and humid, slowing down the greens. A wide variety of State and National Parks, ecotourism and wetland tours, and of course, theme parks, provide ample opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. The Kennedy Space Center is a fascinating place, there you will learn exactly what it takes to send astronauts and cargo into space, and return them safely to earth.
Theme Parks
Theme parks are undeniably the centrepiece of Orlando, and a visit to the area isn’t complete without spending a few hours in one of them. WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, SeaWorld® Orlando, Universal Orlando® Resort, Universal's Islands of Adventure®, LEGOLAND® Florida and Busch Gardens® are some of the largest venues. Kids and adults alike enjoy these parks with their mix of the whimsical and the fantastic. Spend a couple of days -at least - to see everything inside these huge parks.
Out and About
With so much to see and do on your holiday in Orlando, putting together perfect holidays is simply a matter of deciding where to go. Wet ‘n Wild® Orlando offers plenty of splashy fun with slides, wave pools and much more entertainment. Lake Buena Vista, a huge natural lake, is perfect for walking around, swimming in, and boating or fishing on. Kissimmee, a nearby city in a lovely setting just outside Orlando, is certainly worth a visit. In addition, of course, Orlando itself offers a wide selection of resorts, including several right inside or adjacent to WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort. Be sure to spend some time on International Drive with its shops, restaurants and bars.
Shopping and Pampering
Orlando is great for a city break holiday if you’d like to do some shopping or enjoy some pampering in a spa. Orlando Fashion Square Mall, the Florida Mall (the largest in Orlando) and the upscale Mall at Millennia all offer unique shopping choices in a climate-controlled environment. For spa-lovers, the majority of the upmarket hotels offer on-premises spas, plus there are numerous day spas and full-service spas where you can enjoy a massage, facial, sauna, mud wraps and other beauty treatments.
Package Deals
We recommend the custom packages that are available to plan your perfect holiday to Orlando. Combining hotel accommodation, airfare, car hire and other services when you plan your holiday, can often save you money, and will create an unforgettable Orlando holiday that will create a lifetime of memories.
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Video of Orlando
Check out our great video of Orlando below.
Getting around
Orlando is huge! 67sq miles in fact and as such you need to plan how you're going to get about town. Walt Disney World Resort alone is the size of Greater Manchester, but don't worry, it's easy to get around!
Driving really is the easiest way to get around Orlando and it's the perfect place to pick up driving stateside. We have a fantastic range of car hire available. If you choose not to drive, the majority of our hotels offer transportation to most, if not all of the theme parks - full details can be found under each individual hotel. If you choose to stay on International Drive you'll find the I-RIDE Trolley which operates a regular service around the area, stopping at the many attractions that International Drive has to offer. What's more, kids under 12 years are free when travelling with an adult.
Florida Transfers
We understand that even in the land that invented automobile, not everyone likes to drive. So, for all those non-drivers out there, Virgin Holidays has various transfer options available, all of which can be pre-booked before you go.
Orlando hotels from Orlando International Airport - from £30. Free with selected hotels. Please call for details.
St. Pete Beach from Orlando - from £45 return. Operates every Wed (04 Apr-05 Dec '12 and 03-24 Apr '13.
Clearwater from Orlando - from £45 return. Operates every Thu (05 Apr-06 Dec '12 and 04-25 Apr '13).
Miami from Orlando - from £115 return. Operates every Tue.
Fort Lauderdale from Miami International Airport - from £65 return. Operates daily (10 Apr-25 Nov '12 and 10-30 Apr '13.
For that something special on arrival in Orlando, why not book a private tansfer from £150 per car return or, if you're feeling extra special, why not book a Limo transfer from £300 per car return.
Postcards from... Top ideas from our travel experts
Our Top 5 hotels
It's nice to have a bit of space, and this hotel sits in 24 acres of it. The grounds include not only 3 pools and 2 kids' pools, but also an 18-hole mini-golf course. Who can resist having a go at that? Perhaps you'll enjoy a sundowner in Hurricane Sam's, overlooking the lake. You can eat there too, and there are also plenty of restaurants an easy drive away.
The Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa has fast become a firm favourite with guests, thanks to its supreme location and first-class amenities. Guests can enjoy condominium-style accommodation with all the comforts and conveniences of home. Your private patio or balcony is the perfect place to unwind with a pre-dinner drink, admiring the beautiful sunset in the distance.
As well as spacious and well-equipped apartments, the Hawthorn Suites offers a whole load of fabulous extras, including complimentary shuttle service to WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, a daily hot American breakfast and a 2 hour social reception with complimentary wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres Mon through to Thu, so you can make friends with your fellow guests!...
A fantastic family favourite, there is plenty to delight every member of the clan at this lively resort. The memorabilia, crazes and catchphrases that defined the 20th Century are everywhere you look - from jukeboxes, bowling pins and 8-track tapes to laptops, mobile phones and VCRs.
The villas we offer in Orlando are very comfortable, well-designed properties that will be a fantastic base for your adventures. They have American kitchens with all those great gadgets. Best of all, you get a screened swimming pool, perfect for cooling off in after a day at the theme parks.
Weather and climate