Florida Travel Report Shows That Florida Residents Want To Vacation – In Florida

Putting together a Florida Travel Report, the team at AirportParkingReservations.com conducted a survey to reveal how Florida residents are planning to travel in the summer of 2024. It looks to be the summer of 'staycation'.

Collectively as a state, we were reminded during the COVID times that where we live is pretty amazing. Remember back when we weren't allowed to go anywhere? That's when I was reminded that hitting up the beaches or just lounging by my pool is pretty amazing. I see why people vacation here.

According to VistiFlorida, Florida has approximately 135 million tourists come to the Sunshine State each year.

So according to the report, half of us are planning a beach vacation this year. That shouldn't be hard to do considering that only Alaska has more coastline than the state of Florida. We have choices!

A beach vacation for a Florida resident can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. As the Florida Travel Report shows, a lot of that vacation is going to go on the credit card. So you have choices, keep it local and keep the costs down, or travel outside of Southwest Florida and see another part of Florida.

I have a relative that works for Marriott so we get the 'friends and family' discount which is why I was at the W on South Beach last December. The JW Marriott on Marco Island is just amazing, too. If you've got connections, use them. If you want to vacation in Florida at some place truly amazing (but not cheap), here are some ideas.

Florida has some amazing hotels, some of the best hotels in the USA, and I have been to many of them. Here in Estero I stayed at the Coconut Point Hyatt. In Naples I've been at both Ritz Carltons. The Seminole Casino Hotel in Immokalee has suites on the top floor that are just amazing.

Outside of Southwest Florida, my favorite in Orlando is The Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney. The place is so amazing you'll not even care if you make it to the park. I've stayed at the legendary Fontainebleau on Miami's South Beach, but I'd put them second behind the Junior Suites at W South Beach. That felt more like a luxury apartment that it did a hotel room.

So did any of those hotels make the top 25? No, they did not. Not that they aren't amazing in every way, but Florida is just on top of things when it comes to luxury accommodations. That's why they show up so often on these lists.  As Zach Watson, senior travel editor at U.S. News states "The 2024 Best Hotels rankings offer travelers dependable options to stay for every type of trip, balancing location, amenities and quality service to ensure an enjoyable experience."

For the second year in a row, Acqualina Resort & Residences in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, takes the No. 1 spot, setting itself apart with its oceanfront pools, memorable dining and Mediterranean-inspired decor. The beautiful hotel is located on 4.5 beachfront acres in Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach. If you're planning on a stay, maybe check your finances first. The best price I could find for 2 adults was $1,599 a night. That's for a room that doesn't even face the ocean, but, as the website states, breakfast is included. Ok, I'm going to back off on judging that price too soon. The breakfast does look absolutely amazing.

Plus, I took a look ahead to see how much number 2 on the list is charging.

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida. A legendary Miami Beach-area hotel that offers guests stellar service and unique experiences at its world-class spa ranks No. 2. Now keep in mind, we are in full season here in Florida. These are going to be some of the most expensive rates of the year. That being said, I found an oceanfront room on booking.com for $2,720 a night. That view is incredible.

Always mentioned as one of the best hotels in the country, this Orlando resort takes the number 7 spot. Perhaps what's bringing it down a notch is the construction of a residential development nearby. I did see a "construction discount" on the price, so they're definitely aware of it. It's still a Four Seasons hotel, and it's still amazing.

Rounding out the top 10 of the list is the Faena Hotel. US News states "Rooms are decorated in a modern, South American style and come outfitted with sleek wooden furnishings and colorful accents." I did find a room for $1,140 a night, but spring for the extra and get the ocean view and a balcony. Because of the hotel's location, rates will also fluctuate based on events in the area. 

The Setai Miami Beach finds itself at number 11 on the list. If you enjoy the water, you're in luck. The hotel is not just on Miami Beach, but boasts three on-site infinity pools. I did find a room for $1,080 a night, but expect double that rate if you want the ocean view. This is the ocean view.

Down a few spots, to number 17, is The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. This resort, 10 miles north of South Beach has amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. And being a Marriott hotel, likely boast some of the cool tech like the W South Beach has like automated controls of the lights, blinds, and thermostat. Best price I could find was $1,299 a night but if you know someone who works for Marriott, ask them about the hotel's "friends and family" discount. 

Finishing up their top 25 list, at number 25, is The Breakers Palm Beach, an Italian Renaissance-style resort on the coast. if you're looking for an active stay, this is where you'll find it. Two golf courses, four pools, and 10 Har-Tru tennis courts. If you'd rather relax, they have a private beach. So, if you want a top notch resort hotel on the Atlantic, but don't want Miami, here it is. There's also a lot of history, here. I did see Booking.com have a room for $1,290 a night. But again, I'm writing this in February, when rates are usually the highest. 

The full list of 25 can be found here.