Miami vs Orlando – Which Florida Destination Is Best for Vacation?
Stuck between Miami and Orlando for vacation? I’ve been to Miami twice and Orlando ten times, both with and without kids. But which one is best?
Miami is best for a beach or city break. Meanwhile, Orlando is best for a theme park-centered vacation.
Of course, that’s not to say Downtown Orlando isn’t a great city break option. The nearby Winter Park and Winter Garden are beautiful. It’s also not to say that Miami doesn’t have some fantastic attractions.
It’s more that most vacations in Miami are centered around the beach. At the same time, most vacations in Orlando are centred around theme parks.
This means that Orlando is more popular with families. But if you want a kid-friendly beach break, South Beach in Miami is great. I took my then-18-month-old son there last year, and we had a fantastic time.
Of course, you could opt for a split vacation. In the past, I have flown into Miami, driven to Orlando (it takes about three to four hours), and then flown out of Orlando. However, you’ll want a week of vacation to do this.
You’d land in Miami and spend three nights here, which is less time than I recommend in Miami, but it’d work. Then, on day three, you’d drive up to Orlando and do a couple more nights here.
With three days in Orlando, you’ll have time to visit two Disney theme parks and both Universal theme parks. However, from experience, I can tell you a vacation like this would be very full-on.
Orlando Travel Planning Guide
🏥 Should I Buy Travel Insurance for a Trip to Orlando?
If you’re travelling to Orlando for vacation, then travel insurance is recommended. Basic travel insurance coverage with Safety Wing averages between $5 – $10 per day and offers peace of mind.
However, if a trip to Orlando isn’t part of a vacation. For example, you live locally. Then travel insurance isn’t likely to be necessary.
🚘 Do I Need to Rent a Car for a Trip to Orlando?
You don’t need to rent a car for a trip to Orlando (you can use rideshare services instead). However, a hire car will make your trip to Orlando significantly more convenient.
I personally use Discover Cars to find the best car rental deals when visiting Orlando. Discover Cars allows you to compare different companies and cars to find the best prices.
🏨 Where to Stay in Orlando?
Deciding where to stay in Orlando can be incredibly overwhelming. Having visited Orlando several times over the past decade, I’m going to try and make it as simple as possible.
- If you’re going to both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World and don’t want to hire a car, then stay in an Orlando hotel with a shuttle to the theme parks.
- If you are travelling with kids and plan to do pool days, then book one of the many Orlando hotels with waterslides.
- If you are going to Walt Disney World on a budget, then stay in a hotel with both a free breakfast and theme park shuttle.
- If you are only visiting Universal Orlando, then spend a little extra for the perks of staying in a hotel onsite.
When booking accommodation in Orlando, I use either Booking.com or Hotels.com. However, for large families and groups, VRBO is my number one choice.
🎟️ Where To Buy Orlando Theme Park Tickets?
If you are visiting a theme park in Orlando, then you’ll need to purchase theme park tickets. If you’re based in the US or Canada, I recommend Klook for your Orlando theme park tickets.
Klook consistently has the most competitive prices. There’s also a range of different ticket options to suit all budgets and requirements.
Meanwhile, if you’re based in the United Kingdom. Then I recommend buying your Orlando theme park tickets from AttractionTix.
I personally use AttractionTix when purchasing theme park tickets. That’s because AttractionTix has the most competitive prices and incredible customer service.
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Thanks for stopping by! Do you have experience with this trip or want to share some of your own tips? We’d love to hear about it! Comment below and let’s chat!