Orlando is known for it's rollercoaster rides, fabulous water slides, and all round family fun.
Even if you're planning your holiday around a trip to Walt Disney World Resort or Universal Orlando Resort, you don't have to stay on-site at the theme parks to make the most of them. Actually, sometimes it can work out for the better...
Staying off-site means you've got a wider choice of hotels to pick from to suit your budget. Lots of our off-site hotels have added benefits such as free parking, transport to the parks, or complimentary breakfast!
Lots of the off-site hotels provide shuttle services to both Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, and sometimes it's even included in your stay - so you'll be at the parks in no time! This is great if you want to stay off-site but don't fancy hiring a car.
You can often get bigger rooms for families when staying off-site, which is great for keeping the cost down if you're travelling with a larger group. We've even got 11 and 12 bedroom villas!
There's so much more to Orlando than the theme parks. And staying off-site in the heart of International Drive or Kissimmee old town can put you in a fantastic position to enjoy everything else on offer.
Staying away from the heart of the parks can help you to relax on your holiday too - which is definitely important! Days in the parks are full-on, so taking a day to spend around the pool can be needed.
Whether it's popping to the local Denny's or cooking your own dinners in your villa kitchen, your location and hotel type can provide you with a wider choice of dinner options that can help save you money!
We've got a huge selection of hotels to choose from across International Drive, Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista. And many of them include added benefits that aren't available on-site, and offer great value for money!
Food in America can be expensive, so picking a self-catering option will allow you to save money by eating in where possible. Pop to Walmart and stock up on breakfast options, snacks, and you could even enjoy dinner together back at your base after a long day!
Carousel of hotel options for self-catering
Need a bit more space than a hotel apartment or suite? Fancy enjoying home cooked BBQ's on your patio by your private pool? We've got a huge range of villas to suit all requirements. With great locations to enjoy everything Orlando has to offer, combined with the space and freedom of your own place, a villa is great for familie and groups of all sizes - and the larger the group, the better value for money!
Need a bit more space than a hotel apartment or suite? Fancy enjoying home cooked BBQ's on your patio by your private pool? We've got a huge range of villas to suit all requirements. With great locations to enjoy everything Orlando has to offer, combined with the space and freedom of your own place, a villa is great for familie and groups of all sizes - and the larger the group, the better value for money!
Need help planning your trip?
Organising your trip to Orlando can be a little overwhelming when it comes to fitting everything in. And you can still enjoy the best that Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort have to offer whilst staying off-site.
Here’s our recommended itinerary to enjoy the thrills of the rides coupled with other Orlando attractions, and some important relaxation time too!
Need some more inspiration? Here are some of our favourite things to do when you're not on the coasters...
Experience a different kind of thrill and watch Orlando Magic take on the biggest teams in the NBA. You don't have to be a sports enthusiast to enjoy the basketball action - with half time entertainment, interactive fan areas, and a children's play zone, it's fun for all the family!
Get ready to make a splash at this thrilling aquapark featuring a 1000ft floating inflateable obstacle course, 60ft climbing tower/ropes course and wake boarding cable park, making for a fun-filled action-packed day.
An experience like nowhere else on Earth... Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S. space program, offering a full day or more of awe and excitement for the whole family.
A 20-acre, walkable entertainment destination in the heart of International Drive. A perfect place to ride, dine, drink and explore, ICON Park has more than 40 amazing restaurants, funky bars, boutique shops and can’t-miss attractions, all anchored by The Wheel - a must-do, 400-foot observation wheel.
When you're driving around Orlando you'll spot themed mini golf courses all over - most famous is Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf on International Drive. But there's plenty of other options too, all of which offer a great family activity that doesn't break the bank. Who will come out top?!
With outlets located in Lake Buena Vista and International Drive, wherever you choose to stay you won't be far from the bargains. Featuring a host of designer brands all in one place, you'll be spoilt for choice - so make sure you leave some space in your case!
Old Town recreates the look and feel of a classic Florida Town, and there's a whole host of entertainment and attractions to enjoy. Weekly events such as classic car shows and live music are free to enjoy, and there are numerous rides to enjoy at an affodable cost. Fun Spot is next door too, if you fancy the thrills of big rides without the big price tag.
Whilst it's not essential to have a car when staying off-site in Orlando, we'd definitely recommend it - especially with the number of hotels that we've secured free parking with! We’ve partnered with the best of the best car hire companies around the world to ensure your trip (and your car) runs smoothly.
Lots of our hotels include complimentary shuttle service to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, and even some of the outlets. Rosen Shingle Creek and Lake Buena Vista Village Resort & Spa are two great examples.
Both Uber and Lyft are available readily in Orlando, so it's easy to book yourself a trip to wherever you want to go, straight from your phone. You can even get them from the airport to your hotel!
Covenient and affordable, this is a great way to travel if you're staying on International Drive. From ICON park to the outlets, and all sorts of restaurants, attractions and shops in between, this can take you to plenty of hot spots in Orlando. We offer 1, 3, 5, 7 & 14 day passes to purchase with your Orlando holiday.
View the I-RIDE map here
Did you know?
You can also reach Orlando easily by flying into Tampa, direct with Virgin Atlantic!
Not finding flights to suit your dates or budget? Or do you fancy rounding off your Orlando trip with a few days on the Gulf Coast beaches? Tampa is just 90 minutes drive from Orlando so it's a great alternative to think about.
Speak to our experts and take advantage of our daily flight to Tampa to create the perfect Florida holiday for you and your family today!
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While Orlando is renowned for its extraordinary theme parks that transport you to another world, your holiday doesn't have to revolve solely around roller coasters and princess encounters. While the theme parks are undeniably incredible, there's a whole world of exciting adventures awaiting you in Orlando, extending far beyond the park gates.
A holiday is like a dream come true, and the best part is, it doesn't have to break the bank. By taking advantage of our fantastic hotel offers and a few insider tips, you can fully immerse yourself in your holiday and leave all your worries behind. There's a whole world of experiences waiting for you, catering to different budgets and interests.
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We are continually reviewing our flying schedules, taking into account the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential travel. Depending on when you are due to travel, your holiday may be affected and we’ll email you to let you know as least 21 days before travel.
Your next holiday is only a click away - our website has thousands of options ready to book. But if you need more help, just give us a call on 0344 472 9646.
Looking for inspiration? Explore our destinations and holiday types and save your faves to your very own Wishlist. Or dive right in to our 2021 holiday offers.
Over the past few weeks, we have repatriated our customers from overseas who wanted to come home.
Please visit this page to keep up to date with the Government’s travel advice on returning to the UK, and to register for email alerts.
With many customers needing our help, we are prioritising those customers due to travel before 31 December 2020. Log in to Manage my booking where you can message us about your options or you can give us a call. Bear in mind you may have to wait longer than expected. We continue to review this and working to open up these options to more customers. In the meantime check out our FAQs to see if this can help answer any immediate questions.
Rest assured; we will notify you as soon as we know if your holiday has been affected by email.
We are continually reviewing our flying schedules, taking into account the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential travel. Depending on when you are due to travel, your holiday may be affected and we’ll email you to let you know as least 21 days before travel.
If you need to speak to us to change or cancel your booking you can call our team on 0344 472 9646 or chat to us on SMS/Whatspp via Manage my booking.
For the latest information on Covid-19 you can check our FAQs here.
Don’t worry if you’ve missed a payment or just need a little more time to pay; we have options available to help you. If your holiday is going ahead as planned, you can continue to pay for your holiday in Manage my booking, even if travelling in less than 12 weeks. If you’re unsure, you can delay any additional payments by choosing a new time to travel by requesting a call back in Manage My booking for one of our team to look at options. If your holiday is more than 6 months away, you may wish to set up a Direct Debit to spread the cost. This can be arranged whilst rebooking or afterwards in Manage my booking.
We understand that you may wish to change your holiday plans and we appreciate the need for flexibility.
We'll be in touch by email letting you know how to register to change your holiday plans. You can also log into Manage my booking to find the details there.
Please look out for emails from us or visit our dedicated Covid-19 (Coronavirus) page for the latest updates.
If we haven’t notified you of any changes, your holiday will be going ahead as planned but if you prefer to move your holiday to a later time we can help. You can call our team on 0344 472 9499 who can look at options for you.
Payments are being prioritised based on when the request was made, working in order from March 2020 onwards. We will always try to process refunds at the earliest opportunity, for requests before August our maximum timeframe is 120 days. As we are steadily reducing the maximum processing time for each new request, for refund requests made in August, we expect the maximum processing time to be 80 days, from the date the refund is requested. For those requesting a refund in September, we expect it to be processed within a maximum of 60 days, and then reduce to 30 days for refunds requested in October, before returning to normal levels.
To finalise the amendment, one of our customer advisors will phone you. We need to work through amend requests in departure date order so we can prioritise those with the most imminent travel plans, so you may have a longer wait than usual until we’re able to ring you back. We will help everyone that wants to move their holiday.
You can contact our team by emailing feedback.backhome@virginholidays.com to discuss options on unused portions of your holiday. If you need to contact our team about amending an existing holiday or requesting a refund please log in to manage my booking.
The easiest way to contact us while you are away is via WhatsApp. To get the conversation started, click the link and type "hello” .
or you can get in touch with our in-resort team during local opening hours
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Outside of local resort office hours you can call us in the UK +44 (0) 344 472 9626 (option 2) or email us duty.office@virginholidays.com
If you are in the USA or Canada please email: USAreps@virginholidays.com.
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