holiday info (orlando) please! - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Larry Delor · #16 03-01-2006, 07:26 PM

There are all kinds of things to see and do on International Drive. If you like lobster, there are several all you can eat lobster restaurants.

Gators, swamps and swampboat rides are several hours south in the Everglades. From Orlando about 5 hrs. On the way, you can stop at a Casino (Immokalee I think)...it is run by native americans. (they have a casino at the hard rock cafe in Tampa also).
Tampa/St.Petersburg/Clearwater are less than 2 hours away and they have some lovely beaches there.

There is an upscale mall in Orlando, called the Florida Mall...nice stores.

Have fun, and bring sunscreen.

reinier · #17 03-02-2006, 04:26 AM

Okay, now you bring up shopping.....
My girlfriend was told by the travel agent, that in Miami there were some/a lot shopping outlets or something like that, where you can buy all sorts of clothing etc (also child clothes) for nice (cheap!) prices (we ARE still dutch people

).
She almost wants to bring an extra (empty) suitcase with us....

Now i just have 2 questions about this:

first: Always liked Maimi Vice (who didn't), so it would be nice to visit Miami. On the other hand: my brother told that Orlando was nice but he thinks Miami has a lot more 'dark' sides aka criminals etc. Also heard stories of tourists who drove through the wrong neighbourhood there, and got robbed, or worse... Now thats off course stories 5th hand heard, and my brother didn't in fact visit Miami, but what is true? and is it worth visiting Miami? (in other words: will i bump in to Sonny en Tubbs

)

second: When we dont visit Miami: are there also some cheap outlets in Orlando where i can leave my girlfriend for a couple of hours to shop, and what are they called/located?
Otherwise my girly will go cold turkey ond the plane home....

rs899 · #18 03-02-2006, 06:30 AM

I will leave it to the South Florida members to defend their locale. There are plenty of bad places in both Orlando and Miami. Stay away from downtown Orlando and you will be fine. I lived in Miami for a short time and did not like it as much. South Florida is nice if you have a LOT of money to spend.

As for shopping, there are plenty of factory outlet malls on International Drive in Orlando to keep your girlfried occupied. Too bad for you that the dollar is up to $1.19 = 1 Euro, but I know things will still seem like a bargain to you.

Please try not to judge all of the US from a trip to Central Florida. It's not exactly like this in the Midwest, or NYC, or Idaho (thankfully). When you return, (or if you can get to a computer while you are here) please give us your reaction to what you saw.

reinier · #19 03-02-2006, 06:52 AM

Thanks for the info. As it seems all Hotels in miami are already fully booked, so maybe we wont go to miami.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Please try not to judge all of the US from a trip to Central Florida. It's not exactly like this in the Midwest, or NYC, or Idaho (thankfully). When you return, (or if you can get to a computer while you are here) please give us your reaction to what you saw.

Certainly wont!
I know already what kind of people americans are..... I've watched a lot of Jerry Springer episodes

just kidding of course, although i must say that when american people are portrayed on dutch television, ussually the 'not normal' ones are portrayed.
But thats what tv is about these days: not normal is ok for tv

Anyway: i definately will let you know my usa-experience (i should say Orlando-experience), but i already have in mind that i'm going to a very, very touristic place, which not reflects a whole country.

greets, Reinier

dannym · #20 03-02-2006, 09:29 AM

You can go on air boat rides. They always find aligators when doing that. Plus it's a lot of fun.

They do it in St. Cloud on lake Tohoe. There are also places out East that do it.
If your interested let me know and I'll try to find more info for you.

Danny

tenknots · #21 03-02-2006, 10:38 AM

A trip down parts of Orange Blossom Trail (a major Orlando road) will get you anything you might be missing in the Netherlands

. Don't worry about Sonny and Crockett, Orlando has plenty of vice. Bet you'll see at least one Ferrari.

Larry Delor · #22 03-02-2006, 05:38 PM

Try this website for Kissimmee Florida...(its only several minutes from Orlando ...actually, it's probably more like a suburb of Orlando).

Anyway... you should be able to find info on here http://www.floridakiss.com/ for shopping and all kinds of other stuff.

Just peruse the site, and you'll find all kinds of stuff to do. (as a matter of fact, I discovered that Cirque du Soleil is there - I had no idea)

If you're going to venture to Miami, bring a map, a tank of fuel, and do in the daytime...stay near the Atlantic. For a tourist, they have way too many people driving way too eratically and way too fast on their highways...Odds of getting lost are in your favor.

reinier · #23 03-03-2006, 05:19 AM

holliday is booked at the travel agency. Miami Hotels were all fully booked, so IF we go, we'll probably wont make the drive to miami.

Untill the Orlando Hotel confirms, we are still not sure that we will spend or holliday in your country. So now its just waiting and waiting..............

Cant believe that in these days (internet, everybody has a cell phone) it has to take so long (travel agent said up to 3 days or more...) for a organization to check and confirm.

rs899 · #24 03-03-2006, 06:18 AM

It is hard to believe ALL the South Florida hotels are booked. Did you try looking in Orbitz or Travelocity or any of the hotel websites directly (such as Holiday Inn, Marriott or the cheaper Days Inn, Motel 6 , Red Roof Inns, Super 8 etc)?

Rick

Larry Delor · #25 03-03-2006, 06:59 PM

I'm curious as to what kind of rate they are charging you for a room.

Over on my coast, you can get an efficiency (bedroom, bath, living/dining room/kitchen) for around $150/night, and that's 150 feet from the gulf.

reinier · #26 03-04-2006, 07:47 AM

Orlando here we come!

Just been called by the travel agent, and the trip is confirmed!

The reason we wanted a fully organized holliday (and not book a hotel by ourselves) is that we 1. have with us a 1,5 year child 2. my mother in a wheelchair and 3. we'll all be almost asleep when we land in Orlando, because of the time difference.

Therefore we wouldnt take any chances.
When i would be alone, all i would need is a flight and a pocket full of dollars, and I would be allright, but that wasnt the case here.

reinier · #27 03-13-2006, 11:26 PM

Okay, im in Orlando.

Seaworld is great! Been there 2 days, second day was a bit more crowdy, because of the weekend.
Saturday went to Daytona, with my girlfriend, 1,5 y old daughter, and my mother. Great day, first motorrace (daytona 200) for my daughter. She liked it, was enyoying it all the way. Thinks she has petrol in her vains...
Apple doesnt fall far from its trees.

The to daytona Beach. On the way there came by an old MB shop, with W126 and w123s.

Fun to look at all the heavily modified bikes, cars, and people!

Today went to disney, but way to crowded and warm for us. Didnt like it that much because of that, and went 'home' early.
Some kind of holliday here this week....

As for the US, and its people: different world from the Netherlands, alltogether.
More different for me than Egypt for instance, dont know why......

Mostly friendly people here. Much more people with a weight problem here than in europe. Also a lot of old people who are still working at the parks etc.
Why's that? for fun, or because they have to?
In Holland, at 60, you cant get a job anymore.

Like the roads here, but not the speeds.
Like the weather very much.
Love the vehicles, the vision on the street is totally different than in Europe.

Anyway, thats it. Tell more of how a dutch 'farmer' boy sees Florida when i get home!

Austin85 · #28 03-13-2006, 11:49 PM

Reinier;

How far are you from A-dam?
I live in south Florida, about 3 hrs south of Orlando. I have an ex? fiance in Amsterdam. I took her to Orlando and the parks about 4 yrs ago, and she liked it alot. It is like a microcosim of the US as far as the people, since there are alot of tourists there from all over. But it is not like anyplace in the US since we don't have giant mice coming out of our sewers at night to sweep the streets.

If you have the time you should try to drive to the beach for a day trip since the ocean here is somewhat warmer than the sea in Holland. Just check the weather,, this week looks good.

Don't try the cheese here it really is not too good.
Austin

reinier · #29 03-17-2006, 01:44 PM

about 80 miles from A'dam.
Definately yes, we have better cheese

Anyway, also went a day to Canaveral National Seashore (thanks for the idea!). First to the Blackpoint Wildlife drive, was very nice! (alligators, small snakes, pelicans, flamingos, armadillo etc)
Then to the beach, but that was closing in one hour, so only took a few pictures, didnt swim (also: my little girl was asleep...).

Next da again to Canaveral: Kennedy Space Center.
Was also very nice, but again: 1 day is not enough time......

In the evening i went with my girlfriend to an Orlando race track, on SR50.
Enyoyed it VERY much! Incl. my girlfriend!
Was dragracing, cars en cycles.

Only been there one hour, because we were late, and only saw a few VERY fast cars. The rest of them already was leaving.
For this I would come and live in the states! Racing on wednesday, friday and the weekends...........phew, like that!

Even enyoyed it when the lady at the entrance asked: racing or watching?

Now I am at home again......

dannym · #30 03-17-2006, 03:35 PM

You think the racing is fun, you should go for Crash-A-Rama!!

Danny