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Orlando TRAVEL GUIDE AND DEALS

There's more to Orlando than Mickey Mouse. While its theme-park thrills appeal to children of all ages, its abundant nightlife, lakeside parks, and shopping options make grown-up wishes come true too.

Why Go

 To let your hair down and be a big kid for a day in a one-of-a-kind fantasyland – with or without little ones in tow.

Orlando Travel Deals

Orlando Hotels

Orlando offers a range of accommodations, from five-star hotels to budget properties. Hotels located in Walt Disney World are convenient for visitors paying their respects to Mickey and Minnie, but they come with a much heftier price tag than comparable digs outside the theme park.

= Smart Splurge = Great Value

Buena Vista Palace
Downtown Disney is right across the street from this resort, which offers a 10,200-square-foot spa for post-theme-park stress... family | spas | resort | pool

EO Inn and Urban Spa
A former youth hostel, EO Inn underwent a serious facelift in 1999 to create 16 fashionable, minimalist rooms - most with lake... spa | moderate | great value | editor pick

Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center
With a whopping 20,000 square feet devoted to wellness, beauty and fitness in the form of the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, Gaylord... spa | family | moderate | pool | great value | water park

Residence Inn SeaWorld and International Center
Close to I-4 and I-Drive, this kid-friendly, 350-room hotel mingles tropical décor with folksy touches like rocking... family | pool

Courtyard at Lake Lucerne
Popular for weddings, this tucked-away B&B features four historic buildings – the 1883 Norment-Parry house is the... romantic | b&b | gardens

Days Inn International Drive
The busy International Drive location of this chain hotel is far from scenic, with tacky tourist shops and chain restaurants... family | pool

Hampton Inn Convention Center
The 170 rooms in this seashell-pink chain may be plain, but the locale, near family-friendly eateries and attractions, is very... family | pool

The Veranda B&B
A popular wedding venue, this 10-room bed and breakfast situated in a residential district in downtown Orlando feels more like... spa | family | romantic | budget | b&b | pool | gardens

Grand Bohemian Hotel
Italian renaissance meets upscale bordello in this hip hideaway that's more Vegas than Disney with its jewel tones and... smart splurge | trendy | expensive

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando’s most upscale resort attracts honeymooners and expense account executives alike. Expect all of the usual... spa | golf | family | business | trendy | pool | expensive

Ginn Reunion Resort
A quiet, self-contained world less than 10 miles from DisneyWorld, with three golf courses, a water park, horse stables,... golf | spas | expensive | water park

The Peabody
Business travelers to Orlando frequently book into the Peabody for its free wireless internet and proximity to the Convention... family | smart splurge | business | resort | expensive | spa | editor pick

Buena Vista Palace
Downtown Disney is right across the street from this resort, which offers a 10,200-square-foot spa for post-theme-park stress... family | spas | resort | pool

EO Inn and Urban Spa
A former youth hostel, EO Inn underwent a serious facelift in 1999 to create 16 fashionable, minimalist rooms - most with lake... spa | trendy | great value | editor pick

Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center
With a whopping 20,000 square feet devoted to wellness, beauty and fitness in the form of the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, Gaylord... spa | family | trendy | pool | great value | water park

Residence Inn SeaWorld and International Center
Close to I-4 and I-Drive, this kid-friendly, 350-room hotel mingles tropical décor with folksy touches like rocking... family | pool

Courtyard at Lake Lucerne
Popular for weddings, this tucked-away B&B features four historic buildings – the 1883 Norment-Parry house is the... romantic | b&b | gardens

Days Inn International Drive
The busy International Drive location of this chain hotel is far from scenic, with tacky tourist shops and chain restaurants... family | pool

Hampton Inn Convention Center
The 170 rooms in this seashell-pink chain may be plain, but the locale, near family-friendly eateries and attractions, is very... family | pool

The Veranda B&B
A popular wedding venue, this 10-room bed and breakfast situated in a residential district in downtown Orlando feels more like... spa | family | romantic | b&b | trendy | pool | gardens

EO Inn and Urban Spa
A former youth hostel, EO Inn underwent a serious facelift in 1999 to create 16 fashionable, minimalist rooms - most with lake... spa | moderate | great value | editor pick

Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center
With a whopping 20,000 square feet devoted to wellness, beauty and fitness in the form of the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, Gaylord... spa | family | moderate | pool | great value | water park

Grand Bohemian Hotel
Italian renaissance meets upscale bordello in this hip hideaway that's more Vegas than Disney with its jewel tones and... luxury | smart splurge | expensive

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando’s most upscale resort attracts honeymooners and expense account executives alike. Expect all of the usual... luxury | spa | golf | family | business | pool | expensive

The Veranda B&B
A popular wedding venue, this 10-room bed and breakfast situated in a residential district in downtown Orlando feels more like... spa | family | romantic | budget | b&b | pool | gardens

Ginn Reunion Resort
A quiet, self-contained world less than 10 miles from DisneyWorld, with three golf courses, a water park, horse stables,... golf | spas | expensive | water park

Grand Bohemian Hotel
Italian renaissance meets upscale bordello in this hip hideaway that's more Vegas than Disney with its jewel tones and... smart splurge | trendy | expensive

The Peabody
Business travelers to Orlando frequently book into the Peabody for its free wireless internet and proximity to the Convention... family | smart splurge | business | resort | expensive | spa | editor pick

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando’s most upscale resort attracts honeymooners and expense account executives alike. Expect all of the usual... spa | golf | family | business | trendy | pool | expensive

Orlando Restaurants

With a few exceptions, restaurants in Orlando tend to stick to American favorites like Italian, sandwiches, and comfort food. Although big chains rule the roost in many places, there are number of off-the-beaten path options that supply surprisingly excellent cuisine.

= Smart Splurge = Great Value

Dandelion Communitea Café
In a city prone to clone, Dandelion is an original. Vintage velour couches and local art create a cozy vibe inside this... cafe | patio | organic

Market Street Café
Comfort-food favorites like meatloaf and turkey and homemade milkshakes will please the pickiest of eaters at this friendly diner. family | comfort food | diner

PR's Taco Palace
Students from Rollins College and Winter Park doctors and lawyers make for an eclectic crew at this favorite Tex-Mex joint.... mexican | bar | local favorite | tex-mex

Press 101
A trendy spin on a sandwich shop, Press 101 takes things up a notch with an accompanying wine bar and outside patio. great value | patio | wine bar

Del Frisco's
The best place for beef in all of Orlando is this family owned steakhouse in Winter Park. The steaks – Midwestern beef... romantic | smart splurge | steakhouse | restaurants

Hue
Leave the kids at home and hit Hue to dine on a "progressive American" menu of wood-grilled steak and fish in this... architecture | bar | new american

Le Coq au Vin
Step off the beaten path for this antidote to chain-restaurant overload, which serves its namesake dish and other authentic... smart splurge | french | editor pick

Norman's
Caribbean, Latin American, Continental, and Asian inspirations all find a place on the menu at this fabulous restaurant inside... romantic | notable chef | global fusion

Dexter's
Inventive salads, fresh fish, and white spinach lasagna combined with a casual, art-lined space make Dexter's worth a jump off... trendy | art | great value | new american | editor pick

Fifi's Bistro and Wine Bar
A favorite Thornton Park brunch spot, this artsy eatery, all done up in pinks and purples, does gourmet lunches and dinners,... great value | patio | french | breakfast | lunch | continental

Shari Sushi Lounge
All shiny metallic surfaces, white leather and halogen lights, this Thornton Park sushi restaurant is as much about substance... trendy | lounge | sushi | bar | patio

The White Wolf Café
Look for the explosion of flower boxes announcing this quirky eatery, which is overrun with antiques. Vegetarians have ample... trendy | comfort food | local favorite

Dandelion Communitea Café
In a city prone to clone, Dandelion is an original. Vintage velour couches and local art create a cozy vibe inside this... cafe | patio | organic

Market Street Café
Comfort-food favorites like meatloaf and turkey and homemade milkshakes will please the pickiest of eaters at this friendly diner. family | comfort food | diner

PR's Taco Palace
Students from Rollins College and Winter Park doctors and lawyers make for an eclectic crew at this favorite Tex-Mex joint.... mexican | bar | local favorite | tex-mex

Press 101
A trendy spin on a sandwich shop, Press 101 takes things up a notch with an accompanying wine bar and outside patio. great value | patio | wine bar

Del Frisco's
The best place for beef in all of Orlando is this family owned steakhouse in Winter Park. The steaks – Midwestern beef... romantic | smart splurge | steakhouse | restaurants

Hue
Leave the kids at home and hit Hue to dine on a "progressive American" menu of wood-grilled steak and fish in this... architecture | bar | new american

Le Coq au Vin
Step off the beaten path for this antidote to chain-restaurant overload, which serves its namesake dish and other authentic... smart splurge | french | editor pick

Norman's
Caribbean, Latin American, Continental, and Asian inspirations all find a place on the menu at this fabulous restaurant inside... romantic | notable chef | global fusion

Dexter's
Inventive salads, fresh fish, and white spinach lasagna combined with a casual, art-lined space make Dexter's worth a jump off... trendy | art | great value | new american | editor pick

Fifi's Bistro and Wine Bar
A favorite Thornton Park brunch spot, this artsy eatery, all done up in pinks and purples, does gourmet lunches and dinners,... great value | patio | french | breakfast | lunch | continental

Shari Sushi Lounge
All shiny metallic surfaces, white leather and halogen lights, this Thornton Park sushi restaurant is as much about substance... trendy | lounge | sushi | bar | patio

The White Wolf Café
Look for the explosion of flower boxes announcing this quirky eatery, which is overrun with antiques. Vegetarians have ample... trendy | comfort food | local favorite