Florida is a destination of choice for tourists, travelers and business people from over the world. As a holiday getaway, Florida attracts more than its fair share of tourists. Over 1.5 million Britons, for example, traveled to Florida, a staggering number when you think that the feelings towards the US throughout Europe have not been as positive as it was before 9/11. Still, more than any other European nation, England, after the lull of the period post 9/11, has provided an increasing number of visitors and today’s figures are more than encouraging. One think is sure, in spite of political or other such considerations, Florida is still overwhelming popular and that shouldn’t surprise us.

Florida boasts some of most beautiful beaches around notwithstanding the obvious popularity of our theme parks in and around Orlando. Miami in particular with its rich diversity of people from Latin America, the Caribbean Islands, Europe and elsewhere is a unique melting post of cultures and languages.

Getting to Miami is increasingly easy and if plans are made in advance, it is possible to find air fares that can indeed compete with more local travel fares. Accommodation is usually provided in the forms of hotels and motels, with varying degrees of amenities, services and budget.

However, if you travel to Miami with your family, then you will know that staying in crammed hotels, however luxurious or fancy they might be, may not be the solution for you and your family. Renting a room with 4 beds may prove to be attractive when you are sitting comfortably at home making plans for your next vacation, but once you’re there, you will wish you had looked at another alternative.

One such alternative of course is renting a holiday apartments and as luck would have it, this is precisely what you can do in Miami as well. And just in case you are asking yourself why you should consider renting a Miami Holiday Apartments, just think about the one hotel room scenario, your wife, your kids and you. But there are also other considerations, less romantic perhaps but nonetheless important, particularly in you are on a budget, or simply not eager to throw good money away.

Miami Vacation Apartments may not provide room service although some hotels have suites that are equipped with the usual amenities provided by conventional apartments, but they provide more room for your money. So you may very well be able to take that mid afternoon nap in your own bedroom whilst your kids do what kids do in the lounge or their own bedrooms. In addition, you may opt to have some of your meals at home and whilst you may not be inclined to cook elaborate meals, the kitchen in your apartment is equipped to deal with most culinary vacation requirements. Just thinks about the extra savings..

What you do when you live your comfortable holiday apartment for your daily explorations is of course up to you. Luckily, Miami is spoiled for choices and your first destination might very well be Miami Beach, which is the hub for the more world known model agency. Mingle amongst the ladies of the cat walks and they wonder through their daily activities or go for a stroll around Deco district, this icon amongst icons of Miami architecture.

Miami’s proximity to Cuba and other Latin American destination makes it possible for you to enjoy and sample of their own culinary traditions as if you were there. Coffee lovers will marvel at the smoothness of a real Café Con Leche, and if you have a sweet tooth, do not forget to try the “Tres Leche” cake.

Or you could simply take some food back to your Miami Holiday Apartments at the end of the day and enjoy a meal around the dinner table in the comfort of your own home away from home.

There is one more thing you must try is a Pina Colada, but you can leave this threat for later when you and you wife leave the kids at home whilst you go out to sample of the mysteries of Miami night life.

Whatever you do, you’ll likely enjoy it much more if you base yourself in the comfort of a Miami vacation home.

One last thing to consider when searching for a holiday apartments is that they are also called Vacation Condos, Miami Holiday Accommodation or even Vacation Apartments.

Miami Holiday Apartments: Don’t travel without them!

As an expatriate living in sunny Florida, I often received phone calls from family and friends living in other parts of the world asking me about life in Florida. Some ask because they want to come and actually live here, others out of interest, whilst the majority expresses a desire to come here on vacation, or holiday, as they say in Europe. After all, if you live in Europe and don’t want to travel half way around the world, where else can you combine miles upon miles of pristine beaches with the magic of Disney and other attraction parks.

Airline competition is such that is possible nowadays to travel back and forth for around $600 a person (if you play your game right) and with the cost of living in Florida and the various deals available, our shores are a very fine option as a destination for a once in a life time vacation.

After all it wasn’t that long ago when I and my two young daughters (they were 10 and 13) boarded a plane from London to Miami and I can remember the trepidation of the trip as if it was yesterday. Granted, part of the attraction was that we were visiting with my parents who were living in Tampa, but the thought of landing in the land of Disney was an experience neither my daughters, nor I have forgotten.

The purpose of this post is not to act as a guide for your next Florida vacation but if you would like to follow the advice of a lucky man having realized his dreams of living under the sun, here goes..

1. Rent a car. Public transport is practically non existent here in Florida, and I have never understood yet why the folks in government have not thought it necessary to introduce high speed trains between Miami and Orlando for example, the hub of the kingdom of magic.
2. Make sure the car comes with a GPS. There are road maps, but if you are used to maps made in Europe, you’ll be sorely disappointed with what is available here. Besides, GPS can prevent you from getting lost in less desirable neighborhoods which is always a plus in my books.
3. If you can, rent an apartment, or house. I have always preferred to live in the comfort of a home even on holiday and if you have kids, you will love being able to have the extra room and the kitchen for at least a meal a day, which should end up saving you quite a bit of money.
4. Attraction Parks are usually less busy when the kids are back at school so if you can travel during school time (Florida school time) you’ll absolutely love to be able to go straight into your favorite roller coaster without having to wait a second in line.
5. Bring sun tan lotions. Living as I do in South Florida, I see my share of burned bodies, but none more than those of European tourists who think their skin is immune to the effect of the sun and turn into an exquisite shade of red at the end of a few hours unprotected under the sun.