How to visit Florida on a budget

24.09.2023 - 19:03 / lonelyplanet.com / Sunshine State

From weeklong family trips Mickey-ing it up at Walt Disney World to the most lavish of weekends partying on South Beach, the costs can spiral quickly no matter where you find yourself in Florida.

But, amid the often sunny-meets-relaxed razzle dazzle, there are plenty of opportunities for budget-conscious travelers to feel right at home in the Sunshine State. And these money-saving measures can often lead to enriched experiences, be it taking in Fort Lauderdale’s skyscape via water taxi, laying out on one of Florida’s free beaches or seeing the southern half of the state via one of the most modern, high-speed train systems on Earth.

As you soak up the Florida sun, here are 13 ways to save some dough along the way.

Florida has more than 100 public-use airports. Sixteen of them serve international passengers, with the airports in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa being among those with the most flight options. When considering flight options, look beyond the cost of the individual flights and consider the taxis and/or car rentals required to get to your final destination – it adds up quickly.

Florida is nearly 500 miles north to south and, for example, a drive from Jacksonville to Miami takes five-plus hours. Choosing the cheapest flight you can find without considering location can put an almighty dent in your budget when you land.

Approximately 90 percent of Florida’s beaches are open to the public and there are more than 1350 miles of coastline to explore. Some of Florida’s top white sand beaches that remain totally free to access for visitors include Clearwater Beach, Daytona Beach, Panama City Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Destin Beach and Amelia Island.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. If you're traveling in this timeframe, keep an eye on the weather forecast. While hotel and tour bargains are to be had during the entirety of hurricane season, September and October are much more pleasant temperature-wise than their oft-sweltering summer counterparts. The right travel insurance can hedge against a hurricane scuttling your vacation plans, but it comes at an extra cost – shop around to get the best deal.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, a bathing suit, a hat, a blanket and, of course, sunscreen – all of it is essential for a Florida beach adventure and keeps you safe and/or not looking like a tomato. Brings as much of the aforementioned as you can as anything beach-y is priced at a premium once you get anywhere near an access point.

If the cost of a day at sea, on the river or along Florida’s Intracoastal waterway (someone in your group will have to captain the vessel or you'll need to hire a captain) would implode your budget, consider a water taxi in regions with river and