Archive for the ‘Orlando Discount Car Rental’ Category
20 Ways To Save Money On Your Orlando Vacation
We have now finished our guidebook to 20 ways to save money on an Orlando vacation. This guide is filled with ideas for saving money while you are in Orlando on vacation. Before you travel to the MCO airport and rent one of our discount rentals, print out this guide to reference while on your trip!
Download Link To The .PDF Version
Here is the link to download and print out the guidebook. Inside, you’ll get all 20 tips along with two coloring book pages to keep your kids occupied while in your cheap rental car.
Download Now
Text Version of 20 Ways To Save In Orlando
For those of you who don’t want to download and print out the 20 ways to save, here is the full text version of the guidebook.
1. Bring snacks and water with you to the theme parks so you are not spending your money on little items that can be bought ahead of time for much cheaper. You could easily spend $100 on snacks and food inside the theme parks, so pack snacks like juice boxes, small bottles of water, granola bars, cheese and crackers, and fruit.
2. Visit Restaurant.com and look for places that you may want to dine. In addition to getting things like a $25 gift certificate for $10, you can find coupons for the gift certificates, making them even cheaper (We have seen them as low as $2 for a $25 gift certificate). Check websites like couponcabin.com and dealcatcher.com, for 60%, 70%, and even 80% off of the price of the gift certificate!
3. Instead of a normal hotel room, consider a vacation home rental. You will get significantly more room, and it will be easier to prepare meals and relax. Plus, you often get other amenities like a pool and gaming systems for the children. Buy groceries when you first check-in, and eat breakfast and lunches at the rental home.
4. When you arrive, ask people around you like the hotel staff and the companies that you are planning to visit if they have any specials or discounts currently going on.
5. Set budget limits ahead of time on souvenir spending with the children and yourself. Your children will be overwhelmed with the amount of goodies and souvenirs that they will come across while in the theme parks, so make sure that you stick to your guns and only spend what you budgeted for.
6. Consider other activities for arrival and departure days. Spending a few hours in the park might not be worth the price of full admission when you could be visiting free places like International Drive, CityWalk, Disney’s Boardwalk and Downtown Disney. Relax on your arrival and departure days, because you will be walking a lot in warm weather for the rest of your stay.
7. Look for I Love Orlando magazine, which contains many coupons and discounts. You can often find them in tourist area, restaurants and shopping malls. Visit their website here.
8. Bring your film, batteries and sunscreen with you. It can be very expensive to buy convenience items at the theme parks. Remember to stock up on batteries, disposable cameras, and over-the-counter medications before you leave for your trip.
9. Consider purchasing an entertainment book for the discounts. Browse the vendors first to see if you will actually get value out of the purchase because it is area specific (you can’t take it home with you after your vacation is over).
10. Register for a Buy Local Orlando card. It’s free and encourages you to visit the local businesses in the Orlando area. Originally designed for Orlando residents, but the Mayor’s Office was excited when they heard it would be promoted on this list for visitors as well.
11. If staying at Disney, consider the Disney dining plan. It straps you into eating within Disney property while you are visiting, but if that was what you were already planning on doing, it will save you money. Another quick tip: Reserve your dining as far ahead as you can (up to 90 days if you are staying on Disney property).
12. Book an Orlando hotel with a refrigerator to save on quick snacks and breakfast, which can add up over a week long trip. If you can’t find a hotel or vacation rental with a full kitchen, upgrade to something with a small kitchenette to store food.
13. If visiting Universal Studios, consider the Universal Meal Deal. For $20, you can eat and drink all day.
14. Remember that time is money. Plan your day at the parks accordingly, so that you can maximize your stay. For instance, most people watch the Shamu show at SeaWorld at the end of the day. To avoid large crowds, visit the show in the morning. Get an early start when visiting the theme parks. If you are staying on Disney property, take advantage of the special extended hours. You are entitled to visit the parks earlier and later than guests not staying on property.
15. If you are planning on visiting some attractions outside the major theme parks, consider the Go Orlando Card, which gives you entrance into over 40 attractions, plus discounts for dining and shopping, for one low fixed price.
16. Print out your free Orlando Magic Card. You get discounts on hotels, vacation homes, attractions and dining. If it’s free, it’s for me!
17. If you are staying off-property of Disney, Universal or others, see if your hotel offers free shuttle service. Parking at the resorts is expensive ($12 and up per day), so if you can get free shuttle service to the resorts, it may be a factor in choosing your hotel as well.
18. If you are doing grocery shopping while in Orlando, find a retail chain away from the tourist attractions to grocery shop. Publix is Florida’s most popular retail grocery store chain, and you can find everyday deals like “buy one, get one free” on many different items.
19. Consider free souvenirs. If you have really young kids or if you are into scrapbooking, these free souvenirs are a great alternative to expensive park souvenirs. Hotel room keys, napkins, park maps, tickets and items made at Epcot at the Kidcot centers throughout the park are great alternatives
20. Rent your vehicle with E-Z Rent-A-Car. We are the only discount car rental provider located in terminal at the Orlando International Airport, and we offer more ways to save than with any other Orlando car rental company. We provide website exclusive coupons, and you can earn additional automatic discounts just for being a member of our car rental loyalty program. It’s really the only way to the cheapest car rentals for Orlando, FL.
Tags: Orlando Discount Car Rental, save money on car rental, saving money in Orlando, saving money on travel
Best Places To Eat In Orlando, Florida
Orlando is widely known for its great restaurants. Because of the year-round tourism, starting a restaurant is a very lucrative business to be in. Take your pick of any cuisine at any price with any atmosphere, and Orlando has it. Trip Advisor has a list of Orlando restaurants rated based on user reviews. Here are a few of our favorites:
Best Disney Restaurant
Le Cellier (casual, sit-down) It has a cozy atmosphere, great service, and some of the best steaks you will find. This is a great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the theme park. Don’t miss the apple cobbler for dessert. The restaurant is located in Epcot, and it is moderately priced.
Best Restaurant On/Near International Drive
Texas De Brazil (casual, sit-down): Are you a meat lover? This is a brazilian steakhouse, and the meats are served buffet, but the buffet comes to you! If you’ve never been to a Brazilian steakhouse, this will be a fun place to go, and you won’t walk away hungry!
Best Restaurant Downtown
Kres (business casual attire): This is one of my favorite restaurants in Orlando. If you love a great steak, a hot cup of lobster bisque, and fresh seafood, this is the place for you. For your first time, try the mixed grill. It’s a 4 oz. filet, quarter rack of lamb, and two jumbo shrimp with au gratin potatoes and asparagus. The atmosphere hip and trendy, yet comfortable and romantic. This restaurant is located on Church St. in downtown, and expect to pay about $100 for a meal for two.
Best Vegetarian Place
Ethos Vegan Kitchen: I have never eaten here, because I like meat on my plate, but I have heard great things from vegetarian friends of mine! This restaurant is located just north of Downtown, and it overlooks scenic Lake Ivanhoe. The prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious.
Best Sports Bar
ESPN Club: One of my favorite places to watch a game and get some great game time food is the ESPN Club. It’s similar to the ESPN zone’s around the country, but it is more a family style sports bar. Don’t forget to get the buffalo bites and their turkey and brie sandwich! Another cool thing about this restaurant is that it’s located on Disney’s Boarwalk, a fun atmosphere and great place to take kids.
Have any suggestions for your favorite restaurants in Orlando or surrounding Central Florida? We’d love to hear about them. Write a comment below!
Tags: best restaurants in orlando, MCO discount car rental, Orlando Discount Car Rental, visit epcot disney word
Top 5 Hidden Gems of Central Florida
It’s no surprise that the first thing to come to your mind when you hear the word, “Orlando”, is Disney World. After all, if Walt Disney hadn’t decided to buy thousands of acres decades ago to build his magical empire, Orlando may not be what it is today. However, talk to the locals of Orlando, and you will quickly find out that there is much more to do in Central Florida than just Disney and Universal Studios. If you are flying into the Orlando airport and getting a discount rental car for the week, read on to learn about some of Central Florida’s hidden gems.
Mt. Dora, Florida
Mt. Dora is a quaint little town just 25 miles northwest of Orlando that makes you wonder if you are even in Florida anymore. Mt. Dora is widely known for its wonderful bed & breakfast inns, antique shops, and parks. Visit the Lakeside Inn to experience the 19th century feel of Mt. Dora. It is a bed & breakfast that was built in 1883, just three years after the town was established! If you are in Orlando in February, one of the best months to visit Central Florida, be sure to check out the Mt. Dora Arts Festival which attracts hundreds of artists from around the country.
Deleon Springs State Park
Deleon Springs is located just west of Deland, Florida which is just off of I-4 north of Orlando. This state park has a bubbling natural spring as its centerpiece of the park where you can swim in a cool 72 degree pool of water year round. They also have great hiking trails and picnicking areas for the family. My favorite part of this park is the Old Spanish Mill restaurant. This unique restaurant has griddles right on the table, and you cook your own customized pancakes right on the table! It’s delicious, and you must visit it if you come to this park.
Park Avenue in Winter Park, Florida
Like to shop? Then, this is the place for you. Nestled between busy downtown Orlando and the suburb of Maitland is Winter Park, Florida, one of the most popular communities in Orlando. Park Avenue is a hip and trendy street lined with shopping boutiques, tasty restaurants, and charming small businesses. For a moment, you’ll think that you are in a neighborhood near Manhattan. Park Avenue also has a great park, and the entire area is dog friendly. Every saturday from 8am to 1pm, Park Avenue hosts the Winter Park Farmer’s market home to a great selection of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. It’s also a great place for picking up a light breakfast.
NASA Kennedy Space Center
There’s nothing hidden about the Kennedy Space Center, but it is often overlooked as a tourist attraction when visitors come to Central Florida. From the airport, the KSC is only about a 45 minutes drive to the east coast. Kennedy space center offers several different tours of their grounds, and their location is picturesque in itself. You’ll love learning about the rich history of NASA, see the space shuttle up close, and maybe even meet an astronaut! Astronauts and rockets, what more could a kid ask for?
Downtown Attractions
Just north of downtown you will find a beautiful botanical garden called the Leu Gardens. Also, there is a great science museum just off of I-4, on the Princeton St. exit. These are both great places to take kids, and the price of admission is reasonable.
So, if you are in the mood for something a little more than Mickey Mouse and roller coasters, check out these attractions near Orlando, Florida.
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando Discount Car Rental, visit Mt. Dora attractions, visiting deleon springs florida
Motor Trend Video Review Of 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid
As of June 8th, 2009, our Orlando, Florida location started offering a brand-new fleet of 2010 Honda Insight hybrids. I recently wrote an article about the advantages of renting a hybrid car for your next vacation or business trip. In that article we tried to outline the best features of the Honda Insight, but this video from Motor Trend does a great job at highlighting all of the green features of the car. Check it out:
For all of the extreme green travelers, you can squeeze out about 65 miles per gallon on the Honda Insight, but driving without air conditioning and the windows rolled up would be tough in the summer! The test driver then drove the car without any regard to fuel efficiency, and the car used about 28 miles per gallon. If you calculate the average of these two driving methods, expect gas mileage of about 44 to 48 miles per gallon. I also liked how the video shows you the green features such as Econ Mode and the green bar that lights up if you are driving in a green manner.
We are really excited about the new Honda Insight hybrids, so give it some consideration the next time you are renting a car at the Orlando International Airport.
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, honda insight car rental, hybrid rental car, Orlando Discount Car Rental