So you say to yourself, what could be so different about eating out in the USA compared to the UK, especially as there are so many of the same restaurants?

Well the answer is quite a lot actually.

Americans tend to eat earlier than the Brits do. Therefore you will often find that restaurants are very busy between 5.30pm and 7.30pm but less so after that. There are exceptions to this like on a Saturday evening and in downtown cosmopolitan areas. Also, many of the more popular restaurants do not take bookings so do not arrive expecting to be seated immediately at busy times.

Eating out is less of an event to the average American and more a functional necessity. Therefore, do not be surprised to have your starter cleared away with one hand and your main course delivered with the other; this is how they frequently do it here. Of course you can request that you have a gap between meals but expect to be looked at somewhat strangely in all but the more up market restaurants. Also, do not worry too much about attire. It is common, especially in tourist areas to see people dining in shorts and t-shirts and the days are long gone when you are expected to wear a tie anywhere except when you are in court. On the other hand they air condition their restaurants with an almost fanatical zeal so you could be freezing certain parts of your anatomy off.

Portions on the whole are LARGE so do not over order. There are very few restaurants that you will leave without having to loosen that belt a notch or two. Most will also box any uneaten food up for you to take out so if you like Pizza for breakfast you’re quids in!

Tipping is a fact of life in the US and no more so than in restaurants. Factor in at least 15% when you are looking at the menu (not forgetting that 6% sales tax of course) and if you are in a party of 6 or more be prepared to see an additional 18% added for service whether you like it or not. This is a cultural thing and many Americans think Brits are less than generous with their money (tight is the official term) when they see tips of 5% or even lower. People that wait on tables or work behind a bar rely on their tips solely to get paid and any tip less than 15% is worse then insulting their mother and if you are delighted 20% is normal. You have been warned!

Whilst we are taking about tipping, there has been a recent trend whereas places like Starbucks, Froots and smaller sandwich shops place a tip jar near the till. This is entirely a personal decision and it is not frowned on by anybody other than the spotty 17 year-old making your coffee if you do not tip.

Take-Away Food. The vast majority of places will offer food to take away, even the higher end eateries will often do this. Please don’t ask for the take away menu though as they will think you are talking gibberish. Instead ask to see the carry out menu. There is no need to tip when collecting carry-outs but if they are delivered, work on between 10% and 15% depending on how magnanimous you feel and how many beers you’ve already drunk. Quite often it is already included, so if in doubt ask.

We are going to split this section into 3, take-away, with kids, without kids and something special.

Dining with children

Beef O'Brady's

A great American sports diner from a steak to macaroni Cheese something for everybody, inexpensive and relaxed atmosphere.

T.G.I. Friday's

Just like home, you know what you are getting, be prepared for a wait during peak times but just relax by the bar and have that well deserved drink after your day at the parks.

Houlihan's

Great American food for all the family, nice setting, extensive menu, can’t go wrong.

Chili's

A great Tex/Mex restaurant that has something for all the family, spicey or regular for the grown ups and a great kids menu.

Dining with out children

Olive Garden

A great Italian restuarnt, romantic, fun, great food and great wine. Watch the appetizers as you may not have room for the main course.

Outback Steakhouse

Fantastic Aussie steaks in agreat atmosphere, plenty of tinnys and vino to swill down the food, Don’t miss the signiture Bloomin Onion.

Kobe Steaks Japanese Restaurant

A great dining experience, have your meal cooked at your table by your own personal chef. Great fun and great food as your chef entertains you with his cooking and Knife skills.

Charley's Steakhouse

Not cheap but they just could be the best steaks in town, A fine dining experience that will leave you wanting for nothing.

Something Special

P.F. Changs - China Bistro

East meets west in this exquisite Chine Restaurant. Some of the best Chinese food you will eat with a slight wastern influence. Exquisate dining in a relaxed, luxurious enviroment.

Brio-Tuscan Grille

A great Tuscan grill, that will tease your tastebuds with there extensive menu. A relaxing fine dining experience you will always remember.

The Cheesecake Factory

It’s not just Cheescake, but make sure you don’t miss the cheesecakes. Froma Toblerone cheesecake to a simple new york they are the best of the best. A great varied menu that will never dissappoint but make sure you leave room.

Seasons 52

The new kid on the block, great health concious food with flours you will not believe. A great place to spend all eveing as the bar is lively and fun.

Orlando is probably the entertainment and vacation capital of the world. Some may say it’s Blackpool and obviously the mighty Lancashire resort takes some beating with all those fish and chip shops, coloured bulbs and not forgetting the biting winds off the Irish but we think Orlando just has the edge.

There are numerous great amusement and theme parks all vying for your business so we will give you the low-down on each of them. Then after you have read this you can argue between yourselves until next Christmas about whether you want gentle and relaxing or wild and scary! To save time, you could just ask the kids and they’ll let you know where you are going and when.

There are many places on the Internet that offer cheap tickets into the likes of Disney and Universal. Do not be fooled! The reality is that unless you are a charitable organization, Disney almost never discounts their tickets by any significant amount. Having said that, you can be a bit savvier than the average tourist. There are numerous packages to be had and these represent the best bargains. Therefore, plan how many days you need at each park and buy accordingly. Our advice would be at least one full day per park, so that would mean 4 days for Disney plus any of the water parks (Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach) that you would like to visit although these are usually complementary with any Disney multi-pass. Of course you may want more days, as there is simply so much to do and see. Prices do not really go up that much from say 3 or 4 days passes to 7 days so if in doubt go for the longer deal. Also, that may allow you to re-visit the parks in the late afternoon and early evening to enjoy the firework displays in the dark.

Buy in the UK or buy over here?
The wisest thing to do is check the park websites and see how much they are charging in dollars. Then check out the current exchange rate and see how much that works out at. Finally, see how much you can buy the same tickets for from a UK source in Sterling and compare the two. It’s as simple as that…..almost. One word of warning: make sure you are comparing like for like, there are so many different packages that it can be a bit confusing. As always, if in doubt, ask.

Parking at all the parks is military like in its precision, well sign posted and very easy. They mostly charge $10 per car so don’t take more cars than necessary, and make a note of where you are parked, there are still people wondering Disney parking lots looking for their car from the Milennium celebrations…….probably
Food inside is plentiful and because of the weak dollar relatively inexpensive by theme park standards so no need for that packed lunch, unless of course you have a penchant for scotch eggs, warm cheese sandwiches and hula-hoops.

Keep shirts and shoes on at all times. Disney does not allow its guests to start stripping off no matter how hot it is or how gorgeous you are and you could very well be asked to leave should you decide to do so. The same goes for you ladies.
Park times vary from day to day and from month to month so it is a good idea to check websites and pick up guides on your first day.
Orlando Disney
Theme Parks

Disney MGM Studios
Take a journey through 'tinsel town', courtesy of the Disney MGM Studios. Battle imperial star-fighters on Star Tours, then it's on to the exciting Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Jim Henson's Muppet 3D movie, and superb live shows like the Hunchback Of Notre Dame. Try and make time for the afternoon parade featuring characters from the latest animated Disney blockbuster - 'Mulan' is the current offering and highly recommended. The highlight for many guests is 'Fantasmic!' as Mickey Mouse battles the evil fantasy villains with a barrage of fireworks, water and lasers and don't miss the very quick Rock N Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

The Magic Kingdom Park
The Magic Kingdom Park is what springs to mind for most people when you mention Disney. The park does get busy so get there early and you'll see so much more. Stop by the home of the world's most famous mouse in 'Mickey Toontown Fair' and have a look at where the big cheese actually lives. Take a thrill ride across the galaxy on' Space Mountain', explore the ghostly happenings at the Haunted Mansion, or prepare to get wet with Brer Rabbit and friends on 'Splash Mountain'. Do try and catch one of the wonderful parades featuring some of your favourite Disney characters, and don't come home before you've seen the fireworks high above Cinderella Castle. It's a long day but an absolute must!

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is an adventure involving the very real, the imaginary and the extinct! Ride 'Kilimanjaro Safaris' where the animals are almost close enough to touch. Come face to face with a magnificent troop of gorillas, or travel back in time on 'Dinosaur'. Asia is the newest area of the park where you can cool off on 'Kali River Rapids'. Animal Kingdom is a great combination of the magic and fun of Disney and all that Mother Nature has to offer. Make sure you get there early when the animals are at their most active and don't miss the 'Lion King Stage Show' and the highly amusing 'It's Tough To Be A Bug'. Also, don’t forget to visit Disney’s newest roller coaster, Everest. This one is very quick and has a real twist to it but we’ll not spoil it by telling you now.

Epcot
The Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow is a showcase for cutting edge technology along with an eclectic mix of international entertainment and cuisine. In Future World you get an enthralling look at how our modern world has developed along the very latest developments in science and technology, and it's all dine in a fun and often interactive setting. Make sure you see 'Honey I Shrunk The Audience'- Disney's 3D magic is not to be missed! World Showcase, on the other hand, features the traditions and cultures of people from around the world. Eat and drink your way around the globe in a day and don't miss 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth' every night around the World Showcase lagoon - it's truly a breathtaking event.

Pleasure Island
If it's clubbing you're into then head over to Downtown Disney Pleasure Island - 'Mannequins' is a dance palace of epic proportions for over 21's, or there's jazz, comedy, hip hop, and country and western on offer as well The 'Adventurers Club' is a little on the wacky side with its off the wall look at life in the 'Raj', then head outside with your family for a non-stop street party with live shows and fireworks. Look out for some very well known bands playing on the West End Stage and don't forget to stay late!
Please note: Pleasure Island is going through a refurbishment process so some parts may not be completely re-opened until late 2007.

Downtown Disney West Side
The West Side features a huge Virgin Mega (3rd biggest in USA) store for cheap CD's, a 20-cinema complex to catch the latest films, live music at the House of Blues, and numerous excellent eateries like Wolfgang Puck Café, Planet Hollywood and Bongos Cuban Care. Disney Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park is a video game fanatics dream come true with 5 floors of high tech entertainment! The amazing Cirque Du Soleil, a mix of street theatre and circus artistry, is hard to describe and it's not the cheapest ticket in town - even though it's worth every penny if you like that kind of thing. Downtown is usually fairly quiet in the daytime but gets busier after the sun goes down.

Disney Water Parks
Disney water parks are great fun and suitable for all ages, Makes sure you have some good sun block and keep re-applying it throughout the day. In the blazing heat of the summer 3-4 hours without any shade is plenty so don't overdo it.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park is a highly unusual ski resort where the snow has melted and turned the place into a mecca for water rides and slides - look out for the one and only 'Summit Plummet' but hang onto that swimsuit if you pluck up the courage to slide!
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is home to the biggest surf wave ever to hit Florida and is a tropical paradise full of slick flumes and giant slides like the 'Humunga Kowabunga'. Makes sure you take time to snorkel 'Sharks Reef' and then hit the hammocks on the manmade beach for some well-deserved kip.

Disney Quest
Disney Quest is an Indoor Interactive Theme Park, combining cutting-edge entertainment technologies such as virtual reality and 3-D with Disney stories and characters to create a one of a kind experience. Climb into a real river raft, ride the rapids and ovoid hungry dinosaurs in a Virtual Jungle Cruise. Design your own roller coaster and then ride it on Cyberspace Mountain. Explore five floor of virtual fun with over 250 attractions, rides and games.

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios
Park number one is where Hollywood, movies and television come alive in numerous excellent rides, shows and attractions. Jaws is always good value as is the revamped ET. 'Back To The Future Ride' is still one of the best simulator rides ever and Terminator 2: 3-D is definitely worth the wait. 'Twister' will definitely put the wind up you and if you're a sucker for 'Lassie' head over to Animal Planet Live. Men in Black Alien Attack and The Mummy Ride are the newest addition. It's a very full day and lots of fun.

Islands Of Adventure
Park number two is an all new them park definitely designed for the 21st Century. You'll experience some of the world's most advanced ride and show technology on five exciting islands. Seuss Landing is where you'll find Cat In The Hat; hurtle around the Last Continent on 'Dueling Dragons' and a monster of a water ride in Jurassic Park. Toon Lagoon is full of high-spirited cartoon fun and Marvel Super Hero Island is where you'll find Spider-Man (the best ride of it's kind in the world) and the Incredible Hulk Coaster with its cheek chattering inverted turns and loops.

City Walk
This is Universals nighttime entertainment complex where you might grab a top notch dinner at Emerils, a cocktail at Jimmy Buffet's Margeritaville, dance the night away at The Groove or grab a water taxi over to the Portofino Bay hotel and experience the Italian themed cobbled streets and eateries. There's also a 20 cinema complex with stadium seating that serves wine and beer - who cares if the film's not great! Look out for top name acts at Hard Rock Live and check out the infectious beat of the Motown Café. You have to walk through CityWalk to exit the two main theme parks so maybe take a break from the crowds and stop for dinner or a drink at the end of a very enjoyable day.

Sea World Orlando

Sea World
This Orlando favourite draws visitors back time and time again year after year. Grab a show schedule upon arrival and plan your assault on the park. Touch and feed dolphin, pet some perfectly harmless stingrays or get face to face with Shamu and family. If it a hot day a front row seat at the whale show is a guaranteed way to cool off, then dry your clothes in 60 seconds flat on the all new Kraken, a roller coaster without a floor that turns you over no less than 7 times! Journey to Atlantis is part water ride part roller coaster and Wild Artic also features a somewhat bumpy ride en route to some very cool encounters. Like Busch Gardens the park is owned by Budweiser brewer Anhueser Busch so free samples (only 2 each mind) can be had at their purpose built hospitality and tour area in preparation for that ride on Kraken.

Wet n' Wild Wet'n Wild
Orlando's original Beach Within Reach is very conveniently located on International Drive right in the heart of 'Tourist-ville'. It's well known for some great multi-person rides where the whole family or group can splash around together. All ages are well catered for and tiny tots have a very safe water playground where they can paddle and slide in complete safety.
'Der Stuka' is quite a ride as is 'The Bomb Bay' - the names say it all! If you aren't into a daredevil descent then head over to the aptly named Lazy River the best place in town to get a tan. The Surge is a great place for a family get together as is the Bubba Tub and it's a lot more fun than riding on your own.

Busch Gardens

Bush Gardens
Located in Tampa about an hours drive (traffic permitting) from Orlando down the I4, Busch Gardens is a 335-acre African themed park featuring cleverly designed animal attractions, thrilling rides and live entertainment. Edge Of Africa is a lot of fun or take an off-road adventure on Rhino Rally. The park is best known for an incredible collection of roller coasters like Sheikra, Florida’s highest at over 200 feet with a 90 degree face down drop, Montu, Kumba and the new dueling wooden roller coaster Gwazi. The Tanganyika Tidal Wave, is as the name suggests, a good way to cool off but if that sounds a bit strenuous the park is owned by Budweiser, so a free sample may be in order.

Kennedy Space
Center

Kennedy Space Center
The home of America's space program, Kennedy Space Center features a variety of exhibits, shows and tours, which are both interesting and informative. An hour away from Orlando its very family friendly and whether you're of the Apollo generation or a Shuttle space cadet there's plenty to enjoy. Don't miss the stunning Imax movie or the Spaceport USA bus tour which gets you out to the observation gantry overlooking the biggest rockets you're ever likely to see - if you're not careful this could be the most fun you ever had in a science lesson!

Gatorland Gatorland
The Gator Capital Of The World is home to over 5000 of Florida's original residents. The park is very concerned with the conservation of the Florida Alligator so fun shows like Jumparoo and Gator Wrestling have an educational side to them as well. A lot of the activity centers around a beautiful breeding marsh, which is also a haven for hundreds of birds-any amateur ornithologists will have a great time. Jungle Crocs Of The World features some more fearsome imports and feeding time is not to be missed! Gatorland is a reasonably priced and entertaining half-day attraction that kids particularly will enjoy.

Note: Gatorland underwent a fire on November 6th 2006. For short period it will be closed. Please check their website for the latest details.

We're confident that you know what clothes and toiletries to bring, but we’re going to tell you anyway because otherwise we’d have nothing to write about and we need to feel useful.

Florida can be hot and humid all year around, so pack loose, light fabrics—sundresses, halter and tank tops, shorts, tuxedos, T-shirts, beachwear, swimwear and casual holiday attire. Note: One of the previous may not really be totally necessary.

The following list may be helpful in determining what Florida essentials to bring. However do not worry too much if you forget sunscreens, repellents, kids etc as they can be bought in local supermarkets and are quite often cheaper than in the UK.

• Sunscreen SPF 15+ (30+ for kids)
• Suntan oil/lotion
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Hats, visors, sombrero’s, silly hats etc
• Beach towels
• Sandals
• Aloe Lotion or burn cream
• Bug & Mosquito repellent
• Lip balm
• Credit Cards!

Note: Ladies you can buy most salon products such as Paul Mitchell, KMS, Rusk, TiGi, Redkin in supermarkets cheaper than they are in the UK.
Travel FAQ's
Do I need a Visa to visit Florida?
Generally holders of a valid UK (EU) passport who wish to visit Florida can do so without a Visa if their visit is for less than 90 days and they are in possession of a return flight ticket.

This is possible via the (Green) Visa Waiver Programme and requires US Immigration & Customs forms handed out by the airlines to be completed prior to your arrival at the airport. Please ensure that these are completed for each member of your party without any mistakes or crossings out and don’t hesitate to ask for a new form if you make a mistake. Have your US address to hand as you will need this when filling in immigration information. You will also be given a white customs declaration form that is to be filled out by the head of the household. Sorry ladies this is America and that is usually considered to be the male, although of course we know differently and you can if you insist put your name down as the head of the household ;-)

On arrival at the airport you will need to produce these forms to the Immigration & Customs official and be prepared to have eye “iris” scanning and fingerprints taken. Don’t panic, as this is normal practice. If they then ask you to wait in a back room to check some ‘irregularities’ then you can panic.

Prepare to queue (stand in line). This can be annoying after a 9 hour flight but airports have long periods of inactivity and then mad rushes when 2 planes with almost 1,000 people onboard land at about the same time. It’s a bit like watching cricket, nothing happens for 5 hours and then it’s pandemonium for 10 minutes with men in strange uniforms running around shouting at each other. Anyway, you can idle away the minutes laughing heartily at the poor souls that have filled in their forms incorrectly and are being sent to the back of the line before realizing that it’s your friends and you will now have to wait for them on the other side. You never really liked them anyway.

Please no jokes to immigration officials. We are very serious about this!

Any comments that you have drugs, a bomb, or half a cow in your suitcase will result in your immediate arrest and imprisonment and American jails are not fun places to be in we are reliably informed.

Point to be aware of. On the whole, you cannot bring meat products or fruit and vegetables into the USA, so please leave those sausages and black pudding at home. Even if you do manage to sneak them in we will be forced to confiscate them and eat a full English breakfast in front of you as punishment whilst you munch on a dry bagel.

What type of insurance do I require?

The main insurance coverage you will require falls into 2 categories:

Car Hire Insurance

When hiring a car ensure you have adequate insurance for all drivers and we recommend that it includes Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). We also suggest you check your Public Liability Insurance (PLI) within your travel insurance and if it is at least $1 million then you will not need this cover from the car hire firm.

Many car hire firms and travel agents offer car hire packages which include comprehensive insurance so if in any doubt ask what is included. Information can be obtained from the links included on this page.

There is more on car hire and driving in the US on day 2

Travel Insurance

For your peace of mind it is recommended that all members traveling in your party have insurance coverage that covers the whole duration of your stay. This cover should include medical expenses as these can be very high if, unfortunately, someone needs medical attention, loss of personal belongings, cancellation or delay of travel, personal accident etc. Once again these are available from a reputable travel agent or online (see below). The same goes for dental cover. If you are a member of an organization such as Denplan that covers you overseas bring your membership card. Dentists earn slightly less than Hollywood ‘A’ list actors and with fillings costing up to $1,000 a throw you may want to avoid that 7th bag of Skittles.

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travelinsurance

Should I change my cash to US dollars before I leave for Florida?

There is a limit on how much cash can be brought into or taken out of the US (which is $10,000) and must be reported to the Customs officials. However, you can change your cash into dollars either before departure or on arrival at the airports. Cash can also be changed at many US banks but you will need 2 means of identity to do this and your passport and a credit card should suffice.

We would advise Travelex for you’re the best currency rates but make sure you preorder online as you will get a much better rate than if you simply turn up at the airport and try and buy.

www.travelex.co.uk/

Should you not bring enough cash ATM machines are widely available and most will allow you to use your current bankers or credit card and PIN to withdraw cash for a small fee. These have pretty much removed the need for traveler’s cheques. However, if you feel happier with these then that’s fine and they are available from most banks, post offices or travel agents before your departure. Please note that if you use travelers cheques in stores to pay for items you will need proof of identity with you. By the way, Americans spell cheques, checks (makes sense really) and remember they write their date with the month first, so 1st December 2006 would look like 12/1/06. They also eat pancakes and syrup with bacon but that’s a whole different ball game.

Note: Asking for ID is the norm in the US, so even if you do not plan to drive it is highly advisable to carry your driving license with you so as not to necessitate keeping your passport on you all the time. A lot of stores wont sell alcohol to anybody who even appears to be under 30 without proof of age and that can be very embarrassing when you are 39 and you have kids that are old enough to buy booze in the UK!

Can I use my electrical items in Florida? The UK works on 240 V whereas in the US it is only 120 V, so items such as hairdryers, vacuum cleaners and curling tongs will work with an adapter but at a much reduced capacity, however, most villas have hairdryers available and you’ll not be needing that vacuum cleaner unless you have a cleaning obsession. In which case let us know and we can introduce you to several more villas. Most electrical items that incorporate an inline transformer such as laptops and mobile phones will work/charge as long as you have an adaptor, they just may take a little longer on the reduced voltage.

Adapters are available from the airports or reputable chemists, electrical stores etc before you leave the UK. Be aware they are much more difficult to buy in the US, and differ from European adapters although they look very similar. It’s a bit like Indian and African elephants, they are both elephants but they’re not the same.
Will my moblie phone work in Florida?

Yes it will work if it is a Tri-Band phone and you activate roaming with your supplier. Alternatively spend hours of fun holding your phone up at strange angles and wondering why it doesn’t work whilst cursing the day you were born.

Remember that Americans call mobiles cell phones. So if you hear this term they are not referring to something you would use to call your brief on after you’ve been banged up in the local nick for being a bit leary after a night on the sherbet! Got that?

Costs of calls using a mobile phone may prove to be somewhere between expensive and ‘what the……have you seen the cost of those calls you made to your mother when we were in Florida? For that money we could have brought her with us’. A good alternative to this is to purchase pre-paid International phone cards which can be used from the telephone in your villa and you will never exceed you budget.

You can easily obtain the contact telephone details of the villa for friends, family or business. This can be provided by the management company prior to your arrival if necessary.

I am taking medication precribed by my UK doctor, will I be able to get more if need while in the US? Our advice is to bring sufficient prescribed medication with you for the whole duration of your stay in the US. However, sometimes there are delays/cancellations so it is best to plan and have enough medication for every eventuality. These can be safely carried in your hand luggage and will prevent an expensive trip to a US doctor to get more medication. Over the counter drugs are available in most supermarkets, chemists (Walgreens/CVS) to cover other minor illnesses, injuries etc.

A few quick safety tips when you arrive: • Secure valuables in trunk/boot of your car
• Never leave the keys in the ignition (see driving tips to follow)
• Keep tickets/passports/jewelry safe in the villa
• Keep the villa locked at all times
• Don’t drink 12 bottles of beer and then go staggering into the woods playing hunt the Alligator. They get very tetchy when woken up
• Drink plenty of water. Even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid excesive alcoholic beverages and caffeine—they dehydrate the body, worsening the effects of the heat. We know you are on holiday and like a drink but try to be sensible.
• Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive, especially between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Do not sunbathe for long periods at a time. Many people suffer from sunburn for days from their first long day of sun exposure. They cook live lobsters over here and there have been one or two tourists that have been lucky to escape the pot.
• Do not be confused by cloud cover, you can still burn easily.
• Wear eye protection. Sunglasses with UV protection are a must. They protect the eyes from sun damage. Your sunglasses should absorb a minimum of 90% of UV rays. Welding goggles will do as a substitute but are not quite as cool.
• Wear protection. No, not that kind, for your feet we mean. Wear sandals, deck shoes or knee length wellies at the beach to prevent feet from getting burned on the very hot sand or cut from glass or sharp shells in the sand.

It is almost impossible to even get to the shops without a car in the USA. A car is a necessity in the USA not a luxury. Let us repeat that. A car is a necessity in the USA not a luxury. Ask people how far away something or somewhere is, and they will generally give you a time to drive to it rather than a distance. Then tell them that you wish to walk and watch patiently as they summon men in white coats bearing strange jackets with long sleeves. This is the country that developed drive-in movies, banks, churches and we kid you not, crematoriums, walking is for New Yorkers, going to the bathroom and the mentally infirm.

If your holiday is not a fly-drive, we strongly advise that you hire a car. Alternatively, you can negate the need to drive on arrival after a long flight by getting a taxi but this will be expensive and not very practical.

A word to the wise. If you think it would be way cool to hire a convertible for your vacation remember one important thing. They have boots (trunks) designed to take a bag of small groceries, a ladies compact and a spare pair of underwear and not the 2 weeks luggage you will probably have with you.

When picking a car it would probably be advisable to hire one slightly bigger than you think you need. The prices do not go up too much and it’s better to have too much room than not enough. Also, make sure you booking the UK otherwise you run the risk of not getting what you want and paying a lot more for what you don’t want.
We know you can
do this!

Don't panic, It’s actually easier than you may think!
If you have never driven in the USA before, read through this section and get to know the differences. If you have driven in the USA before, read it anyway and spot the errors that you made on that first trip.

Before we begin....

On a serious note, we strongly recommend that you read and understand The Florida State Drivers Handbook:

http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=24

There are numerous law differences over here and it is better to know up front.

The days that you can charm a police officer with a nervous smile and a cute British accent are long gone. Over 1 million Brits a year visit Florida so it’s fair to say the Police have heard every excuse in the book and some that you would not believe. How about, ‘I thought it was ok turn left on a red light if you really meant to turn right’ or ‘Somebody told me that speed limits were only applicable to people that lived here’ Neither person was waved off with a jaunty laugh and a cheery wave.

If you have kids with you, note the section on Child Restraints.

By the way, like the UK, Florida law insists that drivers buckle up. That’s wear a seat belt to you and me and you will be fined if you are stopped and not doing so.

Preparation

Don’t forget your Driving License (including the paper bit if you have one of those sexy new picture licenses) and any vouchers or paper work about Car Hire that your Travel Company or Agent has given you.

Your first 'drive' will be from the Airport to your accommodation. You will be given precise instruction from Dreaming Orlando to your villa.
Nominate a co-pilot as your right hand person. (Literally right hand; remember you will be on the Left of the car)

Go over and over your directions trying to get a mental picture of where you are going. You can use on-line mapping systems to help. Note that they don't often show the 'best' route just the quickest. Use Airport codes in their system as 'Place name in North America' - MCO (for Orlando International) & SFB (for Sanford)
Alternatively, do you have a Tom Tom Go? If so, you can buy a flash card with US maps. Not cheap at about 120 GBP but if you are planning more trips to the US or there is a large group of you, very valuable indeed. You can always try and sell it on Ebay after your holiday and watch nervously as with 5 minutes to go the top bid is 15p and a bag of wine gums. The other alternative is to book a car with Sat Nav or GPS as they call it over here. This can save you a lot of time and aggravation and is well worth the extra money if you are going to be doing a lot of driving.
If you do get lost do not panic. Find a well lit area if it is night that has plenty of people around such as a filling station and stop to ask for directions. The locals are used to people that are lost and are generally very helpful. After all we pay their wages in a lot of cases.
Keep alert. Don’t drink alcohol on the plane if you have to drive.

Unlike 10 years ago U.S. Drink Driving law is now very strictly enforced and you will be charged if caught and end up spending a night in the cells. Not a good way to start the holiday!
Driving on the "Wrong" Side

The most obvious difference with driving in the USA is that they drive on the Right hand side of the road and you do it from the Left side of the car.

You may be familiar with driving your own car on the Continent and, if you have done this, you will know that strange feeling of being on the wrong side of the road.

It felt unusual and maybe scary for a while but your car had a familiar set-up and you soon get used to driving in the gutter although overtaking was interesting and not a little challenging especially if your passenger had decided to take a nap at the precise moment you wished to overtake 9 cars, four caravans and a tractor towing a trailer full of manure.

The biggest difference to this is that in the US you will be on wrong side of both the road and the car. The arm you lean out of the window is the wrong one however, the good news is it does balance the suntan, the gear change (shift) is on the right, the person to scream at / talk to, is also over there and it’s almost certainly automatic...

You will be used to judging the greater distance on your left side but now the width of the car will be on your right. A great tip is to always make sure that your side (if you are the driver) of the car is close to that side of the road; it makes it much easier to judge. This will always mean that you are safe unless of course you have hired a Hummer in which case you will left a trail of death and destruction in your wake as these things appear to be about 50 feet wide.

Before leaving the automotive rental pound (car hire place) get familiar with the controls of the vehicle.

Never leave keys in the ignition with or without the engine running get out and close the doors behind you. Many US cars have a security feature that causes the doors to lock when the keys are in the ignition. It is very embarrassing and expensive to call a mechanic out to open up your car for you – trust us, we have been there.

Have you ever
driven an
automatic?

First and foremost it is easier than driving a manual as there is less to do, so relax.
Always have the parking brake 'On' when you put the vehicle into 'Drive'. Just in case the engine is revving or the tick-over is set too high otherwise the car may jump forwards. If the car wont start it is probably because it is in gear so make sure the stick is moved into park. Similarly, if you can not get those pesky keys out the ignition despite wedging your foot against the steering column and pulling for all your might, you may want to place the car in park and try again.

If the parking brake appears to be missing it may simply be a foot-operated pedal on the far left of the wheel well. Trust us, they do all have one, so take the necessary time to find it.
Only use one foot (the right one!) for operating the accelerator (gas) and foot brake pedals. You should keep the left foot well over to the left or tuck it up against the seat.

There is a very slight possibility that when you have to stop quickly you will instinctively stab at the non-existent clutch pedal with your left foot. Possibly hitting the brake pedal with too much force.

This was far worse in older cars that tended to have long foot brake pedals, not so bad nowadays. Keep that left foot well away! In fact if you are a Yoga teacher you could try wrapping it round your head for safe keeping

Most automatics will 'creep' at tick-over without the Brake. You can move slowly forward or backwards by just releasing and applying the Brake pedal.

Use this technique in slow areas such as car parks and only use the accelerator to finally pull-away. Gently though or you will get that tire screeching sound that you probably more closely associate to Starsky & Hutch! (especially on polished Car Park floors) This will generate lots of eye rolling from your passengers and looks of contempt from passers-by as they spot the latest tourist that hasn’t a clue how to drive an automatic.

Filling Up All rental cars run on unleaded gas. As long as you put this in the tank do not worry too much about the grade, in fact go for the least expensive or maybe the second least expensive if you are the kind of person that always buys the second cheapest bottle of wine in the restaurant and don’t want to appear a tight wad.
Of course if you have ignored our very sensible advice to check over the car when you first pick it up you will now have absolutely no idea of how to open the filling cap. Most cars have the latch inside the cabin so expect a light above your head flashing ‘Tourist, Tourist’ as you attempt to force the thing open from the outside using everything from a key to the conveniently positioned crow bar by the side of the pump. Fortunately your 5 year old will have already spotted the little button and saved you from any more unnecessary grief.
Almost no filling stations will allow you to fill up without prepaying these days (we think there may still be one in Northern Wisconsin but if you are there you are lost and need to grab a map). You can prepay in one of two ways. Either go into the shop and say ‘I want 20 bucks on number 5 please’ (only if you are stopped at number 5 of course, this will not work if you are at number 2 pump although you will become popular very quickly with the locals) or try and use your credit card at the swipe thingy. A word of warning: Some garages require that you enter your zip code rather than your pin number for verification. UK postcodes will not work. At this stage accept you are a beaten man or women and walk into the shop and say ‘I want 20 bucks on number 5 please’
Gas is significantly cheaper than petrol although a US gallon is marginally smaller than a UK gallon. It is important to realize that gas prices can vary by alarming amounts. As you are driving round try to get a feel for prices at the local garages as they can vary by over 20 cents per gallon especially in tourist areas where they just love to help you spend your hard earned.
Toll Roads There are a lot of toll roads in Florida and it is highly recommended that you keep a good handful of quarters in the car for when you encounter these. MOST tollbooths have the ability to offer change but there are many exit tolls where the exact amount (usually 25c or 50c) is required and they are unmanned. Imagine that little surprise as you sit at the bottom of the exit with no way forward or backwards hoping that you can find the right money down the cracks in the seats. Yikes!
Enjoy your driving experience it can be great fun... and in the words of Corporal Jones, ‘don’t panic.’

Orlando Shopping Experience

There has seldom been a better time to shop in the USA for British visitors, unless of course you are a typical guy that detests shopping with a passion in which case you are in for a few hours of ritual torture and total misery and no doubt you’ll also have to pay for the privilege.

Sterling has been strong against the dollar for a while now and with an exchange rate that has hovered around $1.80 for several months and at the time of writing (Nov, 06) is nearer to $1.90 there are plenty of really great bargains to be had, so keep some room in that suitcase!*

Orlando is truly a shoppers paradise with every taste catered for. There are the really high-end stores at the Mall at Millennia, great bargains at the retail outlets such at Beltz and Orlando Premium Outlets and then there are the real low end thrift stores catering for people that think tins of beans at 3p are over priced, but we’ll steer clear of the latter.

Firstly, nearly all the great shopping is situated close to the (Interstate) I4 so it’s easy to get to by car, presuming of course that you have taken our advice and hired one. If you haven’t, then curse and moan for a day or two before relenting and then paying over the odds because you didn’t take advantage of the rates before you left the UK.

Remember, that unlike the UK, the vast majority of prices are exclusive of local sales tax, which is then added at the checkout at a rate of 6% for Florida. Many a shopper has acquired an embarrassed look when offering the exact money only to be advised it is more than they anticipated. The usual course of events is that they then turn round to their partner for the difference only to see them just disappear out of sight. Cue much mumbling from the people in the queue behind.

One or two other points to mention: Similarly to the UK, all shopping malls are strictly no smoking. This can be enforced with an almost fanatical zeal and a request that you leave the premises or be put in stocks and pelted with rotting fruit until you admit the error of your ways. They are all well (some would say too well) air-conditioned, so if you are out for a days shopping it may be wise to leave the shorts and bikini at home, the same goes for you ladies. If you are buying electrical goods check that they will work in the UK (do not just take the store assistants advice – they have been known to fib on occasions!). Also, be aware that the guarantee may not be accepted in Europe if it breaks down. If you buy dvd’s ensure that your dvd player at home is multi-regional as the US operates on a different format.

Opening your eyes to the pitfalls des not mean you can’t get some stuff much cheaper than in the UK because you can and most of it will work fine. A good idea would not be to buy on impulse but to plan what you need and then research online whilst still in the UK. If you use Google.com rather than .co.uk you can usually find US sites with prices and specifications.

The Mall at Millennia
A fantastic experience for the high-end or window shopper. Mall at Millennia has been beautifully designed and laid out and is probably Florida’s finest mall.

Stores include Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Tiffany & Co., Apple, Chanel, Gucci, Coach, Jimmy Choo’s, Victoria’s Secret, Mac, Aveda, Hollister, Neiman Marcus and Burberry. You’ll not find too many of those at Meadowhall, Lakeside or the Metro Centre. Also great dining at The Cheesecake Factory (not just cheesecakes but a fabulous menu ranging from Tex-Mex through to Steaks and Seafood), Brio, PF.Changs , McCormick & Schmicks. There is also a big food court for fast food if time is at a premium and if you like fresh made sandwiches on gorgeous bread check out Panera Bread.

The Florida Mall The Florida Mall –This is a large mid range mall that will definitely cater for your retail therapy and is slightly down market from Mall at Millennia but still well worth a visit with some great stores. Stores include Saks 5th Avenue, Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sephora, Express and Sears.

Orlando Premium Outlets Stores include, Nike, Guess, Versace Adidas, Reebok, Gap, Calvin Klein, Boss, Barneys NY, Timberland and Ralph Lauren. Bargains galore here! A must go to on your visit if you are looking for some great deals. It can get very busy at the weekends so maybe worth checking out mid-week and late mornings. The shops are outdoors but there are plenty of covered walkways if it rains. Usually stacked to the gunnels with Brits doing last minute shopping so don’t expect to look cool and sophisticated in your football shirt because about 30 other people will be thinking the same thing about themselves.

Belz Factory & Designer Outlet Centers Stores include Gap, Bass, Nautica, Kenneth Cole and Bose. More spread out and not under cover this is at the end of international drive.

Festival Bay Includes the very cool, hip and trendy (yes, we have time warped back to 1975 but what the heck) Ron Jon Surf Shop, as well as Bass Pro Shops/Outdoor World and Shepler’s Western Wear. Fairly new and still finding it’s feet. This is also at the end of International drive. They do have a movie theatre and a skate park for the adventurous.

Universal City Walk Stores include Fossil, Quiet Flight Surf Shop, Fresh Produce and Glow. This is good to tie in with a trip to Universal, plenty of restaurants and fun things to see and do. Most visitors rate this as one of the best free attractions in the Orlando area with a great night time atmosphere more suited to adults.

Downtown Disney Stores include Virgin Megastore, Lego Imagination Center, Sosa Family Cigars and many Disney stores. It’s a great place for the kids to pester you senseless at as every possible thing you can buy from Disney is on sale here. There is even a traditional carousel and great views over the lake. This is also the home of Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Café. Parents on an ultra-careful budget can even tell the kids that this actually is Disney and save on park passes!

* Please be aware of restrictions on duty when taking goods back into the UK. It’s no fun after he has found some undeclared stuff on your person seeing that nice man from Customs and Excise starts to put his rubber gloves on.