Florida last 25 years... where else in the USA might suit?

[DJMC]

Started going to Florida in 1997 when kids were 4 and 7. We got the bug and have gone every year since bar the year after 9/11 and the last two, due to Covid.

The villa we rented in Davenport (20 mins from the theme parks) year on year has been sold and we're not so keen on the parks now due to crowds with Covid.

So where else could we go in the US that has some of the familiar amenities/stores/restaurants we like to go to?

These include: Sunshine and 80-90 degree warmth; Private villa with screen covered pool at around £1,200 for two weeks; Hilfiger outlet stores; Outlet malls; Outback steakhouse; Longhorn steakhouse; 5 Guys (should be everywhere I guess); sightseeing; theme parks.

Any ideas appreciated.

[ChocolateFrog]

So Florida theme parks are not ok but other theme parks are?

[DJMC]

Am I being Parkist, is that your question?

I'd consider other parks elsewhere. When last in Florida IOA was swamped due to the new HP ride but Seaworld was empty.

Parks elsewhere would give us the option to go if they were quiet (as we'd perhaps try in Florida).

[omniflow]

Tampa - still Florida, but not Disney.

[DJMC]

We do pop over to Tampa sometimes, but I was thinking initially California though I'm sure villas are more pricey there.

We like to have a day out doing stuff (parks, road trip, sightseeing, food) and then a day by/in the pool relaxing followed by a meal out.

[Muzzer79]

Have you tried further south?

We went down and stayed in Fort Myers and explored down there.

Good value and a bit different, but still Florida.

[Carl_Manchester]

DJMC said:

Any ideas appreciated.

Palm Springs
Tampa.

Can't really beat Florida tbh in that part of the world, it is one of a kind.

[Whats on Second]

vegas, but its a dry heat.

[DJMC]

Yes, been to Fort Myers and further south.

If we can't beat Florida so be it, it's no great chore going back.

[aaron_2000]

If staying in Florida then Clearwater/Tampa for me. I do like the Atlantic side though, Jacksonville has gotten better. Elsewhere in the US I'd be looking at Texas, but in all honesty I think Florida has a charm as a holiday destination that I don't think another US state can match. I adore it there as you clearly do, have you considered doing a week in one area of Florida then a week in another area?

[Sheepshanks]

DJMC said:

These include: Sunshine and 80-90 degree warmth; Private villa with screen covered pool at around £1,200 for two weeks; Hilfiger outlet stores; Outlet malls; Outback steakhouse; Longhorn steakhouse; 5 Guys (should be everywhere I guess); sightseeing; theme parks.

If you want all that then you might as well go to Orlando - we've been going since 1990 and have been a couple of times without kids / granchildren but still do basically the same thing but just in a more relaxed "adult" way. Did the Disney Food and Wine festival one year.

One trip we had a few days in St Pete Beach in a hotel right on the beach and did beachy stuff to break it up a bit. I've always wanted to visit one or more of the State Parks but last time we went on our own it was unusually hot even though it was late Sept) and it was a bit unbearable outside during the day.

[DJMC]

We've gone three times with no kids. The first time, just off the flight in, I approached the Alamo desk at Sanford anticipating the usual "would you like an upgrade" and rehearsing my answer of "no, just give me the I4 I booked" but instead I strangely uttered "what have you got?"

"I got the black Camaro" he said, gesturing out the window. "How much extra?" "£90 for two weeks."
"We'll take it."

So for the first time we had a cool car. We did a great road trip down the west coast, found a radio station with ALL the best driving songs, and more great memories were created.

Back in 1998 I'd left my job to set up my own firm. Standing on Clearwater beach watching the sun set I found the firm's new name, and logo.

We do love going back. So familiar. I guess there are still new adventures to be discovered there for many years to come.

We love Italy too, but that's a different kind of holiday.

[300bhp/ton]

Is £1200 for 2 weeks a normal villa price? They always seem a lot more money when I’ve looked. But maybe looking in the wrong places?

[tight fart]

Florida is anything but cheap at the moment, prices have gone through the roof, I’m there at the moment.
Disney cafe, 4 adult mains, 2 kids meals, 3 beers, $230.
3 star hotel $250 a night, we paid $12 for a bud light.
Can’t find any of the cheap outlets where you could buy RL polos for less than $50 each, even Levi’s are $200 for 4, they were 4 for $100 pre covid.
My daughter has a 3 week Disney pass but can’t use the last week as the parks are booked full.

[alabbasi]

If you like the Atlantic and gulf coast, try Jacksonville (redneck riviera) or beaches in Alabama. Usually not as crowded.

[Muzzer79]

tight fart said:

Can’t find any of the cheap outlets where you could buy RL polos for less than $50 each, even Levi’s are $200 for 4, they were 4 for $100 pre covid.

I last went to FL in 2018 and found similar then. Prices weren’t much better than a UK outlet, once converted to GBP.

During my first visit, in 2009; I was buying RL polos for $20 each and T-shirts for $10 each with an exchange rate of $2 to £1……good times

[bakerstreet]

DJMC said:

We do pop over to Tampa sometimes, but I was thinking initially California though I'm sure villas are more pricey there.

We like to have a day out doing stuff (parks, road trip, sightseeing, food) and then a day by/in the pool relaxing followed by a meal out.

Villas are much lower in number there and considerable more expensive because of it, so I would rule that out.

Your holiday requirements basically say you should just go to Orlando and not go to the Parks. Seems pretty straight forward to me. Crowds are certainly very different to when you first went in 1997.

My two have just turned 7 and 4 and I have wanted to go for years, but its a such a complicated holiday now and getting more expensive each year, I'm just not sure I would enjoy the Bob Chapek Disney Parks. However. the water parks look relatively untouched, but it won't be long until that all changes I recon.

[RC1807]

If in Florida, the Gulf coast, so Tampa / St Pete.

I used to be able to go there a few times a year for work, and I always added a day or more either end for some R&R.


ETA: California had just as well be a different country, because everything about it, bar the $$ in your wallet, is different.

[Sheepshanks]

300bhp/ton said:

Is £1200 for 2 weeks a normal villa price? They always seem a lot more money when I’ve looked. But maybe looking in the wrong places?

It's possible, but I wouldn't say "normal". Some people just go on price, and they'll leave it until last minute and try and batter the price down. I tried that one year when just wife and I went and there's a point, which to my mind was surprisingly high, where villa owners would rather the place stayed empty.

Some people think it's just a place to sleep but we spend quite a bit of time in the villa - when we went with our grandchildren (2019) they went to the resort's little water park once, they just wanted to play in 'our' pool. But that was a 6 bed place in Windsor Hills - one of the closest villa resorts to WDW - and it was $2400 a week (and that was slightly discounted).

[DJMC]

Muzzer79 said:

I last went to FL in 2018 and found similar then. Prices weren’t much better than a UK outlet, once converted to GBP.

During my first visit, in 2009; I was buying RL polos for $20 each and T-shirts for $10 each with an exchange rate of $2 to £1……good times

Around Orlando, I'd agree RL is as expensive as always but we prefer Hilfiger. In 2019 Hilfiger T-shirts were still average $15 (with a coupon we always have loads of them, from the outlet). Bought two pairs of UGG slippers for $30 each pair, Lee jeans $15-20.

I guess everything has either gone up due to low visitor numbers or stayed the same to attract a bigger share of tourist trade?