Book Orlando hotels

Miami’s got the nightlife, Tampa’s got the retirees—and everyone knows that Orlando, Florida, has the theme parks! Yes, the city is packed with ankle biters, families and those who are just young at heart, but like your favourite reality TV, there’s tons to see behind the scenes, too. Discover the cut scenes and off-the-record secrets on your Orlando holiday.

Things to Do in Orlando

Hotels in Orlando are in “The Theme Park Capital of the World” so you’re sure to make a visit to the House of Mouse, experience the wild rides and give in to heaps of cotton candy and funnel cake. But before you cram your days with fried foods and lines, explore some more cultural pursuits. Loch Haven Park, north of downtown, has tons of museums, from the Orlando Science Center to the Orlando Museum of Art and the Mennello Museum of American Art, which showcases rotating exhibits from Andy Warhol to obscure American painters/chicken farmers. Art galleries a little too quiet for you? If loudly yelling is more your style—and why wouldn’t it be?—catch a basketball game at the Amway Center or football (aka soccer) at the Citrus Bowl.

What do all those mascots and performers do when they’re not working the theme park circuit? Orlando, perhaps not surprisingly, has a thriving theatre and music scene. Head to the Central Business District, where live performing arts and rock venues abound (no “Let It Go” here); south of Lake Eola and in the downtown district, you’ll find Elsa and Olaf moonlighting as comedians and magicians.

Getting To & Around Orlando

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is 25 km east of the city’s famed resort and 18 km south of downtown. Hop on a Lynx bus to get to accommodation in Orlando and just about anywhere else within the city and beyond. For door-to-door service, many Florida hotels, especially in tourist-heavy Orlando, provide shuttle service to and from the airport, so you can settle in before you contemplate your crowd-control strategy. Even better, book your own set of wheels with one of lastminute.com.au’s fantastic car hire options. You’ll have more moves than Jagger!

Best Time to Travel

Orlando really comes alive during Halloween and again at Christmas, so these are great times to visit if you want to see the city go crazy with lights, decorations and parades. But really, there’s no bad time to visit Orlando. You’ll find tons of festivals and events in January through May, like Mardi Gras celebrations, American football tournaments and the Orlando Fringe Festival, “10 Days of Theatre, Art, Music and Madness”—if you can handle it. And thanks to the city’s year-round warm weather, you’ll never need to pack more than a light jacket and your sunnies to have a great time in “The City Beautiful”.

Orlando combines the best of all of Florida’s cities to create a traveller’s playground—literally. Check out lastminute.com.au’s deals on Orlando hotels (plus awesome airfares!) and no one ever has to know you forgot to plan this year’s getaway.