Gulf Coast

Drive from St Pete across the amazing Sunshine Skyway (a bridge so high that even cruise ships can pass comfortably underneath!) and enter the ‘hidden Florida’ of Sarasota and Bradenton. This peaceful resort area boasts fantastic, white-sand beaches and a range of activities from kayak trails and fishing excursions to upmarket shopping and waterfront dining. Cultural attractions are also high on the agenda, with opera and art galleries being particularly popular. Don’t miss the Ringling Estates, where you can discover more about the famous Ringling Circus. For some retail therapy head to St Armand’s Circle for speciality stores or to historic Venice Main Street for a taste of small-town Americana, malls include Ellenton Mall Factory Outlet and Westfield Shopping town with over 140 shops and outlets stores.

All of our Florida holidays are packaged with car hire to enable you to get around and see the best of this state at your own convenience. However, return transfers can be arranged to selected properties, so please ask at time of booking if this is something that you would prefer. Orlando The Gateway to the attractions of central Florida, Orlando is the USA’s 4th most-popular destination. The wealth of entertainment in and around the city is breathtaking, from the hugely popular WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort to Universal Studios®, Orlando, Sea World® Orlando and Discovery Cove®, each offering unique attractions - you will just have to experience them all! As well as all the theme park fun, Orlando is a great shopping destination with plenty of premium outlet and designer malls to tempt you! A great place to grab a bargain or two! Alternative Florida When you tire of the hustle and bustle that is Orlando, why not take a few days out and head to the coast? With miles of glorious sand beaches, the Gulf Coast is the ideal retreat, a perfect combination for your Florida experience. We have a range of accommodation available from Clearwater and St Pete’s, all the way to Fort Myers. Orlando Stay and Caribbean Cruising Are you looking for something a bit different? Have you ever thought about a cruise? Well we can now offer you 3 cruises that set sail from Tampa, Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale to some great destinations in Caribbean waters. What better way to end your Orlando experience than with a week cruising with some of the world’s leading cruise operators. It’s a great way to see the world effortlessly and in the lap of luxury. Still not sure? Then call one of our expert Florida travel consultants who will be delighted to help you tailor make your perfect holiday.

History, culture and scenic beauty all combine to make the Fort Myers region a peaceful yet fascinating place to unwind. Planning restrictions on the resort islands of Sanibel, Captiva and Bonita Beach
ensure that no buildings are taller than the surrounding palm trees, making this leafy area feel very low-rise and relaxed. The area is also popular with the local wildlife, especially the endangered Florida manatees. These gentle, lumbering ‘sea cows’ can be encountered at Manatee Park, where it’s even possible to kayak amongst them in their natural habitat.

Legend has it that Indian Rocks Beach reputedly got its name when a native medicine man miraculously healed his chief with the waters from a natural sulphur spring believed to have been located in the current day town! These days Indian Rocks brings out a more serene side to this slice of Florida, with a laid-back ambience, welcoming locals and a fabulous beach that stretches the length of the island.

Drive from St Pete across the amazing Sunshine Skyway (a bridge so high that even cruise ships can pass comfortably underneath!) and enter the ‘hidden Florida’ of Sarasota and Bradenton. This peaceful resort area boasts fantastic, white-sand beaches and a range of activities from kayak trails and fishing excursions to upmarket shopping and waterfront dining. Cultural attractions are also high on the agenda, with opera and art galleries being particularly popular. Don’t miss the Ringling Estates, where you can discover more about the famous Ringling Circus. For some retail therapy head to St Armand’s Circle for speciality stores or to historic Venice Main Street for a taste of small-town Americana, malls include Ellenton Mall Factory Outlet and Westfield Shopping town with over 140 shops and outlets stores.

Long a favourite haunt of sun-starved Brits, easy-going St Pete Beach offers a mix of budget and first-class beach hotels alongside some excellent, family-friendly attractions. Animal lovers will enjoy the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, where injured seabirds are nursed back to health. The beach itself is as splendid as you might expect but for something just that bit more exquisite, head to Fort De Soto State Park, whose spectacular beach frequently appears in the Top 3 listings for America’s Best Beach.
Nightlife is very low-key here so if you fancy something a little more upbeat head to Downtown St Petersburg, it’s less than a 20 minute ride away by taxi. There is an array of international cuisine to choose from and you can dance the night away in some of the top lounge bars and clubs. Downtown St Petersburg is the county’s best kept secret, as celebrities such as Paris Hilton have been known to drop in for an impromptu night out now and again! If you want to toast the Sunset why not hop aboard a dinner cruise or head down to one of the Beach Bars, or there are other bars and dining
choices at St Petersburg’s Baywalk. Or you can try your luck at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, less than an hour’s drive away with over 3,200 slots and machines, restaurants, bars, and lounges.

This peaceful beach resort’s main claim to fame (aside from its white sandy beach of course!) is the eclectic boardwalk ‘village’ at John’s Pass. Here you’ll find a range of fun dining options and quirky shops alongside a multitude of fishing, watersports or sight-seeing excursions. Treasure Island is a very laid-back resort area, making it ideal for those needing quiet time to recover from the thrills and spills of Orlando!

New Port Richey is most recognised for its cultural heritage and unique riverfront landscape. Offering the tranquility of nature and the warmth of Florida's Gulf beaches, with glistening waters perfect for snorkelling, scuba diving, boating and fishing. The nearby Cotee River, once a retreat for silent film-era movie stars, offers tours through its enchanting jungle areas, replete with alligators and parakeets. There are a number of festivals in the New Port Richey area that offer a healthy mixture of entertainment and cultural history. The most well known festival is the Chasco Fiesta, describing the capture of a Spanish expedition by a Calusa Indian tribe. Today the event offers a combination of fun, food, and entertainment with a Native American Pow Wow, street & boat parades, a carnival and much more. If you are looking for family fun and heritage this festival held in March each year honouring tribes from as far away as Mexico and Oklahoma is not to be missed!

The white sands of this ever-popular beach resort are so perfectly soft and sugar-fine, it actually squeaks when you walk over it! The resort has recently undergone something of a transformation, with new hotel developments giving the area a much more upmarket feel. Besides soaking up the year-round sunshine, daytime activities include jetski rental, dolphin-watching tours and kayaking in the mangroves, while daily sunset celebrations at Pier 60 are a perfect way to round off the day. If you’re still hankering after some theme park thrills, both Busch Gardens® and Adventure Island® over in Tampa can be reached in under an hour’s drive.