Florida for the whole family

Today, your adventure begins as you jet off to the southernmost state of the continental USA – Florida. You’ll fly from your selected airport to Orlando, located in the heart of the state.

Upon arrival, you’ll pass through immigration and collect your luggage. In the arrivals hall, follow the signs to the car hire office, conveniently located within the airport itself (details can be found on your voucher).

It’s only a short drive from the airport to your hotel, where you can take a refreshing dip in the pool or simply put your feet up before settling in for the night.

Today’s driving distance: approx. 29 km / 30 mins.

There is an option to upgrade your rental car. Get in touch with your travel specialist if you want more information.

The coming days are entirely at your leisure. There’s time to shake off the worst of the jet lag by the pool, and plenty of opportunities for adventure. Orlando brings to mind pool time, theme parks, shopping, and exciting day trips to the many highlights of the area.

You’ll be staying in the city of theme parks – and although it can be a pricey experience, it’s great fun and perfect for the whole family. The only challenge is choosing which park to visit – there are plenty! If you’ve planned to visit more than one, it’s a good idea to allow for a few relaxing pool days in between.

If you’re fascinated by rocket launches and outer space, then a visit to Cape Canaveral is a must. This barrier island, located on the so-called “Space Coast”, is home to both the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the starting point for many of America’s manned space missions. The journey from Orlando to Cape Canaveral is easy – just a 90-kilometre drive.

If you’re looking for a charming shopping district with boutique shops and restaurants, Celebration is a great choice – it’s a small town developed by Disney, and as such, it’s wonderfully family-friendly. If large-scale shopping is more your thing, you’re in the right place – there are several malls and outlets to choose from.

You can also book a guided day trip to the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, where you’ll discover the town’s European roots dating back more than 450 years.
Or perhaps you’d like to try one of the iconic airboats while keeping an eye out for alligators?

Today, you’ll leave the fast pace of Orlando behind and head for a quieter corner of Florida – the small town of Crystal River. You won’t find traditional beaches here, but instead swamps and lush wetlands, home to one of the state’s most famous residents: the manatee. These gentle giants can typically be seen from November to March in the warm springs at Three Sisters Spring, when sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico drop. At Three Sisters Spring, you can follow a scenic 3-kilometre trail system leading to the springs, where you can gaze out at the many plump creatures floating gracefully on the water’s surface. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also rent a kayak and explore the springs at your own pace. If you visit during the summer months, most manatees are likely to have returned to the Gulf of Mexico, but the area still offers stunning nature, kayaking opportunities, and an abundance of birdlife.

The town of Crystal River itself is small, yet it offers several waterfront restaurants where you can enjoy sunset views and perhaps even spot dolphins – and maybe a manatee, if you’re lucky.

Please note the timing of the water activities in the area, which usually take place in the morning – you should take this into account when planning your day, or consider starting tomorrow with an activity before heading off. If you’d like more time to enjoy the water, you can add an extra night in Crystal River.

Today's driving distance: approx. 156 km / 2 hrs.

No visit to the Sunshine State is complete without experiencing one of the countless sandy beaches stretching along Florida’s more than 2,100 kilometres of coastline. Some of the finest beaches can be found along the Gulf of Mexico in southern Florida – and that’s exactly where you’re heading today. 

You can shape today’s self-drive route as you please, making charming little stops at postcard-perfect beaches such as Clearwater or Anna Maria Island, or perhaps pausing for a leisurely lunch at local favourites like John’s Pass Village, followed by an ice cream at Pass-A-Grille while enjoying views of the sea. In John’s Pass Village, you’ll find shops selling local crafts and waterfront restaurants frequented by pelicans – and don’t miss the local speciality gator bites on the menu. You’ll be adding a bit of time to the ‘direct route’ to Fort Myers, but then again, what’s a road trip without a few scenic detours along the way?

Later in the day, you’ll arrive at your hotel on the outskirts of Fort Myers, perfectly located at the crossroads of some of the state’s most famous beach destinations: Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island, and the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, which are just a short 15-minute drive away. If you’d prefer to stay right by the beach, you can choose to upgrade your hotel. For long sandy beaches and a classic resort atmosphere, opt for Fort Myers Beach, while if you’re drawn to island life and secluded coves, Sanibel or Captiva are excellent choices.

Driving distance today: approx. 347 km (3 hrs 45 mins)

The next few days are yours to enjoy in Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva — and you’ll set the pace. Taking a dip in the ocean here is an absolute must, with countless beautiful little coves and beaches waiting to be explored. But there’s far more to experience here than just powdery white sands.

Close to Fort Myers and on the barrier island of Sanibel you’ll find some of the largest mangrove ecosystems in the USA, including the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and the “J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge”. In J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling, you can explore by car or bike along a scenic route, stopping whenever something catches your eye. Keep an eye out for the roseate spoonbill — a stunning pink wading bird — as well as herons, ibises, otters, raccoons, bobcats, and perhaps even an alligator gliding along the water’s surface.

Sanibel is famous for its abundance of seashells, thanks to a unique combination of the island’s geography and ocean currents. The island’s east-to-west curve acts like a giant sieve, catching the shells carried in by the tide. Visitors from all over the world come here to collect them – an activity affectionately known locally as “shelling”. Among the island’s most iconic beaches is Bowman’s Beach, where shells of every imaginable shape and colour decorate the white sand. If you’d like to explore Sanibel Island’s other stunning beaches, you won’t have to look far – Lighthouse Beach Park, Blind Pass Beach, and Gulfside City Park Beach are among the most popular.

We highly recommend a visit to neighbouring Captiva Island, which is just a short drive away. Though modest in size at only around 3 km², the island’s charm lies not in shops or eateries, but in its paradise-like beaches, quaint little cafés, and beautiful holiday homes that are sure to take your breath away.

If you’re craving city life and a touch of cultural history, make a stop in the charming town of Fort Myers. In its historic district, you’ll find a wonderful selection of restaurants, shops, and nightlife. You can also step back in time by visiting the Edison & Ford Winter Estates museum, where inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had their winter residences. The estate was the birthplace of more than a thousand patents, and you can explore the laboratory where many groundbreaking ideas came to life.

You can also enrich your experience by joining one of the optional tours below.

Today it’s time to say goodbye to the Sunshine State and begin your journey home.

After checking out from your hotel, you’ll drive to Fort Myers Airport to match your flight schedule. Remember to return your hire car first – your car hire voucher details exactly where and when it must be dropped off*. The process is straightforward, and afterwards you can take your luggage into the airport. You’ll then board your flight to Europe, with connecting flight(s) along the way. 

If, on the other hand, you’re craving even more adventure and wish to extend your tour when booking, you can easily combine this tour with a visit to vibrant cities such as Miami (approximately a 3 hours’ drive from Fort Myers) or other urban gems like New York City, Chicago, or Toronto.

Today's driving distance: approx. 30 km / 30 mins.

*It is your responsibility to arrive at the airport on time, regardless of whether the drop-off time for your rental car is close to your flight departure. Consider the car’s return time as the latest possible – but feel free to return it earlier. Remember to allow time to refuel the car to the same fuel level as when you collected it.

You’ll return home after an unforgettable holiday.