Aug 17, 2007
How to match Southwest Vacation's Orlando deals, even if you're in a city from which the airline doesn't fly
The traffic to Orlando is so massive, and the rewards so great, that numerous tour operators compete for cost-conscious family traffic. Residents of the Midwest should never neglect to check out the offerings of Funjet (tel. 888/558-6654; www.funjet.com), which like Southwest sells three-night air/hotel packages. This fall, prices from Milwaukee will be an amazing $329 per person, and $414 from Chicago, including air.
Vacation Express (tel. 800/309-4717; www.vacationexpress.com) operates charter jets from a number of major American cities, but also creates packages with airfare on scheduled flights to Orlando. Sample deal this fall: an air-included $377 from Atlanta or $346 from Houston to stay three nights at a two-star motel a 10-minute drive east of Disney. Apple Vacations (tel. 800/517-2000; www.applevacations.com) manages similarly low tariffs and offers a wide range of hotel choices. Always check out their website for Orlando flights and packages.
And some of the best deals come from Florida-based eLeisure Link (tel. 888/801-8808; www.eleisurelink.com). Here, you'll not only find air and hotel combined, but often, you'll get a rental car, too. This fall, one of its best promotions is five nights at the Nickelodeon Suites hotel (just outside Disney, and like a theme park unto itself), plus airfare and a car, from $499 per person based on a family of four (additional travelers would pay only $249 more). That price was good from eight major cities, including New York, Dallas, and Chicago, although other cities are available for a little more. Its deals are constantly changing, but they are listed on its website, and they often have booking deadlines that are several months before the travel
dates.
Some general considerations: often, in listing their air-and-land packages, both the airlines and tour operators will create two categories: one for Orlando generally, the other for Orlando vacations using Disney hotels or hotels at Universal Studios. The Orlando deals are as much as 60 percent cheaper than the ones using the Disney-run or Universal properties. The key to saving money on an Orlando hotel is always avoiding the park-run options, no matter what.
Finally, what about Orlando stays for a week and more? Those are best enjoyed using a vacation home (try www.evrentals.com or www.vrbo.com), which often cost less and afford you much more space and privacy.
Write and read comments about this post.
Vacation Express (tel. 800/309-4717; www.vacationexpress.com) operates charter jets from a number of major American cities, but also creates packages with airfare on scheduled flights to Orlando. Sample deal this fall: an air-included $377 from Atlanta or $346 from Houston to stay three nights at a two-star motel a 10-minute drive east of Disney. Apple Vacations (tel. 800/517-2000; www.applevacations.com) manages similarly low tariffs and offers a wide range of hotel choices. Always check out their website for Orlando flights and packages.
And some of the best deals come from Florida-based eLeisure Link (tel. 888/801-8808; www.eleisurelink.com). Here, you'll not only find air and hotel combined, but often, you'll get a rental car, too. This fall, one of its best promotions is five nights at the Nickelodeon Suites hotel (just outside Disney, and like a theme park unto itself), plus airfare and a car, from $499 per person based on a family of four (additional travelers would pay only $249 more). That price was good from eight major cities, including New York, Dallas, and Chicago, although other cities are available for a little more. Its deals are constantly changing, but they are listed on its website, and they often have booking deadlines that are several months before the travel
dates.
Some general considerations: often, in listing their air-and-land packages, both the airlines and tour operators will create two categories: one for Orlando generally, the other for Orlando vacations using Disney hotels or hotels at Universal Studios. The Orlando deals are as much as 60 percent cheaper than the ones using the Disney-run or Universal properties. The key to saving money on an Orlando hotel is always avoiding the park-run options, no matter what.
Finally, what about Orlando stays for a week and more? Those are best enjoyed using a vacation home (try www.evrentals.com or www.vrbo.com), which often cost less and afford you much more space and privacy.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: accommodations, disney, orlando
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
