Orlando Travel Category

So it is that time of year again when the roads are crowded, the planes are booked, everyone is late and nothing seems to be going according to plan. Yes… I mean the holiday season! The hustle and bustle is in the air and not a single person has time to spare. Traveling can be difficult around this time of year. Mostly because we all wait until last minute to plan, much less actually have the time for the traveling. So, here are a few helpful tips to hopefully make the holiday season a little bit easier.

Plan in advance in as much time as possible. This is especially necessary if traveling with more than just yourself as groups tend to take longer to coordinate (for anything). However, if short notice then try to make a list to ensure everything is remembered. Try to use time wisely. Allow for all of that extra traffic and I hate to say it, but plan for the worst. Of course while hoping for the best. You don’t want to be on the road in a rush with a little one at the airport and out of diapers or who knows what else (depending on your group of course).

If possible keep some sort of emergency cash on hand. There is nothing worse than traveling and your financial institution decides that it is abnormal activity on one or more of your accounts and decides to lock up those cards that we all have come to love. Now in most cases its a quick call and a fix, however, with the holidays sometimes that quick call can still cause a few day hold as it may not be “a business day”. So cash and or travelers checks are always handy to have. Even if you do not end up using them. Keep enough extra to cover the lodging and some for other necessities such as gas or food.

I think one of the most important things to do is to stay calm and try not to rush. That is also one of the hardest things also. As most of the time running late during this busy season seems to be the unavoidable nuance that comes with the holidays. However, being the person who is flustered and hurried not only interrupts those around you, but also makes you more likely to miss or forget something. Doing that just makes things even more stressful. So as difficult as it is to do, sometimes slow and steady really does win the race.

I hope these quick three reminders are helpful to you. Its always better to get somewhere relaxed and collected than frantic and stressed. As always remember that if your travels take you to the Orlando area, don’t forget to look up OrlandoShuttleService.com for all of your ground transportation needs and let us help with those stressful commutes.

Be safe this holiday season from everyone at OrlandoShuttleService.com

Oh no!!! I have done it again!!!… You guessed it! Another BLOG!!! Are we ready to dive into another Orlando related topic? Well, I am! So you wont believe what I have to share with you this time!!! Not to mention it carries over to more than just Orlando with this tidbit of travel savvy information! Did you know that waiting to go through Security at the airport (particularly large and crowded ones) is no fun and takes up way too much of your valuable time? HA! I know me either, we all love TSA and the wait! Well, the days of long security lines, mindless waiting, and annoying removal of everything could be in the past for you. Do you know how this is possible? Did you even know it was an option? Guess what… it is!!! Waiting in line with everyone else could be a thing of the past for you. I know what you must be thinking… Doesn’t everyone have too deal with TSA? Well, yes, but not in the same way.

 

It is this amazing thing called TSA PRE-CHECK!!! I know. I know. This has got to be too good to be true, however, it is amazing and fairly simple to obtain this status. You can schedule a time to go to an airport or area TSA office and speak with TSA to do a simple background check to get you qualified. Now I do understand that we all don’t have a lot of time in our days, but I will assure you that taking this time to become a TSA PRE-CHECK traveler is very worth the time given all the time it will save you in the future.

 

This is fairly inexpensive to do about $80.00 and it will be valid for 5 years. Yes!!! 5 years!!! I do not know about you, but I am thinking that is well worth an hour of my day to get me out of the general security line and be able to breeze through security for the next 5 years after you become TSA PRE-CHECK approved. So if you travel as much as I do or even once or twice a year this is definitely something that you should obtain for yourself.

 

Even if you are using other forms of transportation, here at orlandoshuttleservice.com we always want to get you where your going in the best and most pleasant way possible for you. I hope this information has been helpful and remember… “quality is doing the right thing when no one is looking” -Henry Ford. So here at OSS quality is what we do for every interaction, every person, every time!! Happy flying and lets hope you can get yourself a TSA perk!!!

So you’re going to Orlando you say?… Whats that?… Oh… and you’re wanting to visit Universal Studios as well?… I think that sounds like a grand idea!!! Are you aware that Universal Studios is actually made up of 3 separate parks as well as an amazing city walk? I know what you are thinking… I don’t need to see all three parks and the city walk. Well… let me inform you that once you arrive and realize how different each park is and the way that they are linked you will, without a doubt, be wanting to visit all of the attractions that Universal has to offer. Each park is unique in the types of attractions and the experiences that they offer. Not to mention that two of the parks are linked by the Hogwarts Express. So, if you only get a single park pass… You guessed it! You wont be able to experience the uniqueness and fun of the Hogwarts train or stations. That my friend is a sad time, because that is an experience all ages can enjoy! However, that is just the tip of the iceberg of things that you will be missing if you don’t consider a multi-park/multi-day pass. Not to mention we haven’t even chatted about fast passes yet, but don’t worry… I’m going to fill you in on that as well a little later on!

Now that I have your attention, let me help you with some good information on what you may want to think about doing for an amazing Universal Studios experience!!! There are a few key things that everyone needs to think about when planning a trip. Usually these things consist of transportation, lodging, tickets, attractions, and unfortunately the dreaded word… budget. Hopefully I can help with a few of these decisions or at least add some new information for you.
First, many of us may not live close enough to walk to the parks. Or all of us for that matter. So that is where transportation comes into play. You may need to fly, or drive, or possibly both. However you may need to get there, no one wants to deal with the hassle or the cost of tolls, parking, rentals, or gas! I mean you’re going to the park to have fun… not hassle with a car and all of the daily fees associated with it, correct? Well I do happen to have a solution for that and it does not involve having to learn how to grow wings! Its called orlandoshuttleservice.com and it is more convenient than you may think. I know what you’re thinking… Ugh another thing to have to deal with, but in reality its more like a gem that most don’t realize exist. orlandoshuttleservice.com is not just another transportation company. It is a personalized and individualized experience for you and/or your group. Not to mention usually cheaper than other companies that force you to ride with large groups of strangers! With OSS (orlandoshuttleservice.com) you set your pick up time, the type of transportation needed (car, suv, limo, shuttle, bus, motor coach), and the level of service you prefer (economy, business, or first class). You are also able to schedule a return trip at the same time as well. It is awesome!!! Then boom! OSS has eliminated daily parking fees, gas, tolls, and the hassle of dealing with the directions and traffic. With an easy to use website and top notch service I personally do not know why anyone would not choose to travel via orlandoshuttleservice.com any time they are in the area!

Now that we have your transportation figured out lets move to the next topic. Lodging!!! The easiest and maybe the most effective and convenient way to experience Universal Studios is to stay at a Universal Resort. I know… I know… that seems intimidating! Let me share with you why it is very much the opposite and how it will make your visit that much more enjoyable for everyone. Lets face it, one less hassle is one more happy moment for everyone. There are many “perks” to staying at a universal resort that you may not have considered. Lets start with the express pass that is included when staying at a Universal Property. An express pass allows you to jump ahead in most lines at all three parks! How awesome is that? Not to mention there are water taxis to and from the resorts and parks every 15 minutes until 2:00am, meaning your not confined to standard hotel shuttle time restrictions and can experience your days as you want to on your schedule. That also means that you do not have to pay for parking at the park or your place of lodging everyday, with could easily equal over $40 per day. That adds up! I am all for free water taxis and express passes to make my trip amazing. Now, there are many more perks, but that gets more specific based on where you stay and what type of stay you book. Those are the two common and most exciting/money saving ones that cover all onsite universal properties.

Next, comes tickets!! Oh boy we are getting to the fun stuff!! So to make the best out of your trip you should consider more than one day. So a multi day pass is always a great idea. Mostly because you can not possibly see everything in one day!! Believe me, you will want to see it all. There is just too much awesome stuff to pick and choose. With a multi day pass you should also consider a multi park pass as well, otherwise, you are restricted to the park you purchased for and can not experience any attraction (such as Hogwarts express) that link parks. A multi park pass is definitely the way to go to get the best experience and the best bang for your buck!! So now that you’re getting a multi day, multi park pass we don’t even need to talk about an express pass because you will be staying in a Universal Resort property. Correct? Well… if you are not staying at a universal property on site you should look into the express pass. It is an amazing little ticket that lets you skip ahead and not have to wait in the dreaded long hot lines. No matter how many day pass or how many park pass the express pass is a must have. You will be amazed at how much more you can experience when you aren’t having to spend your day waiting in long lines!!

Okay, we are now to the really fun part. Attractions! Universal Studio Parks offer three separate parks. All are accessible from one another, but in order to do that you will need to have that multi park pass I mentioned earlier and I promise you will want it. There is the original area of Universal Studios. Very awesome park with original screen sets and something for everyone as well as the exciting Diagon Ally attraction from Harry Potter. From there you are able to connect to another Park, Islands of Adventure, by the Hogwarts Express. This connects you into Hogsmead at Islands of Adventure. This park offers roller coasters, many shows, and the number one rated amusement park restaurant in the world 6 years in a row!! The third park and the newest park is Valcano Bay. This park is a 23 acre resort style water park that eliminates the lines and piles on the fun and relaxation. Then the last thing with these three parks is that they are all also connected by City Walk. The City Walk offers dining, shopping, and nightlife giving you no need at all to have to leave the Universal Orlando area and making your visit easy.

Last but not least we are onto that thing called budget. Yuck!! However, we all have one to some sort of extent. Now if you stay on property at a Universal Resort, granted it may seem a tad high, you are already saving money. Express passes get included, no parking costs due to using orlandoshuttleservice.com for transportation to and from the resort and not paying for parking at the parks or hotels with the water taxis. Also, many of the on site properties offer special early bird park hours as well as snacks and or drinks and meals. You will be saving money and having a one of a kind resort style vacation packed with fun and excitement.

So you’re looking to book some transportation?
Have you evaluated all options?
Do you have the time to evaluate options and compare?
Looking for an easier way?

If you’re reading this then chances are you are looking for an easier way to book transportation. Well, good news for you. That is exactly what we provide here at Orlando Shuttle Service. We have taken all of the guessing out of reserving a vehicle for one person or a group of any size! We have compared, evaluated, and matched the best transportation possible for every situation.

Here at Orlando Shuttle Service we pride ourselves on providing a worry free experience that is both easy and enjoyable. We take the guessing out of the game. Allowing you to focus on what really matters while we handle getting you and/or your group where you need to be. All of that without wondering if you got the best deal, because guess what… You did!

Knowing you got the best deal for a great experience and speedy service is a breeze. When looking to reserve your transportation you will be provided with a list of options showing the best match in economy, business, and first class services for your requested trip. So you will always have the experience you want and deserve with no question of what you are getting. I don’t know about you, but that sure does make me feel better about setting up my transportation when there are so many different options out there.

So save the time and save your sanity. Let us here at Orlando Shuttle Service be your preferred provider of transportation. It is convenient and worry free. Not to mention… You got to your destination, but wont you need to get back? We also offer round trip rates. So save even more time when you reserve transportation for the return trip.
Here at Orlando Shuttle Service we aim to please and make sure you have the best and easiest experience possible no matter if you are coming or going. Please check out our website www.orlandoshuttleservice.com and let us become your favorite and preferred method of transportation throughout Orlando.

My first night on my return to Orlando, I wanted to “get the lay of the land” so I drove around in one big square — and experienced some very interesting sites! (Just what I was wanting, but not necessarily recommended!) So here’s what I learned so you can stick to the places you want to see & avoid the ones you don’t..

I rented a car for this trip from the Avis desk inside the DoubleTree by Hilton Universal Entrance. I started my tour heading south on Kirkman Road, then angled over to check out the strip of hotels and sights along the main drag of International Drive. [Very nice! You’ll like this area if you like typical tourist destinations.]

Apopka Vineland Road is another major thoroughfare, though not a walking destination like International Drive. Apopka Vineland also runs alongside Walt Disney World, and I particularly wanted to see that entrance and how it is situated in what I’d call the “old Kissimmee” tourist area. Everywhere around you can see that not too much has changed in the last half century since this place started up as the the tourist destination surrounding the Disney parks. It reminds you of any number of “typical” coastal strips from the era when family travel first became popular, complete with hotels, restaurants galore, and of course, miniature golf among elaborate settings.

I chose Osceola Parkway as the bottom of my square route; not much to see — it’s more of a connector highway through this particular area. Then I turned back north on Orange Blossom Trail — really the only major road you’ll notice on any map of the city.

Driving north on this road I noticed the scenery change distinctly from the tourist-y Disney and Universal Studios areas of Orlando. I’m sure this red light district gets its share of visitors, but it’s certainly not the same family destination that you’ll find on the opposite side of town. I moved through quickly and turned left on Colonial Drive.

Colonial Drive marks the middle of downtown Orlando and connects over to eastern-most UCF — the University of Central Florida. Though few visitors will have business in this area, I wanted to see how it all connected. And I had my biggest excitement shortly after I turned onto this street.

Driving down the road, I noticed to my left a woman pushing her van in the opposite direction. Almost as instantly I could see illuminated by the street lights that there was a baby in its car seat in the second row. I quickly pulled my car into the left turn lane beside me, shifted into Park, and frantically searched for the hazard light controls. The hour was quite late at this point, so there wasn’t too much traffic along this part of the road. I pushed for a while, but lady who was pushing & steering at the same time didn’t turn into the first parking lot. We turned the nearby corner and another man joined us in the task.

Several times I nearly lost my flip-flops. (It’s not easy to push a heavy vehicle without real shoes!) After a few more missed parking lot opportunities, the three of us began to speak to each other, and we two men learned that the women knew of a secluded spot “just down the road another 500 feet” where she could safely leave the van and her belongings overnight until she could resolve the shortage of gas situation.

But instead, once we found the van’s intended landing spot, we took the empty gas can from her trunk and I walked her over to a nearby gas station to get her started back on her way.

It was especially funny to me to notice what I saw when I finally made it back to my own car. Parked right in the middle of the road, driver’s door propped open and keys in the ignition! For roughly 20-30 minutes I’d guess. So I guess this particular area is perhaps a safe one  😀

I slept well that night.

Hey All-

We just updated our website with a completely new – and easier to use – website. Now instead of 4 steps to creating a reservation, there are only 3 steps:

1. Enter basic trip details
2. View free quotes
3. Reserve your transportation

The process couldn’t be easier! When you start typing a hotel or cruise ship name, a list appears showing you all the available resorts, airports, and options that match your search. Just select the one you want, and the street address also appears, so you can quickly and conveniently confirm your selected location.

Clicking the “Compare Quotes Now” button instantly brings up a listing of shuttle rates for your transfers from the best transportation companies in Orlando. Then you can click “Select” next to the service and price you like best, and enter your name, trip dates, and credit card information on the next page.

Next to come: an easier mobile website to streamline bookings from your smartphone.

We are dedicated to making the quoting and booking process fast and easy – helping travelers find the best deals in Orlando shuttle transportation.

Please let us know what you think of our new site!

Today we made major changes throughout our site. For the more than two years since Orlando Hotel Shuttles first went online, we have listed all the competitive rates from every transportation company servicing the Orlando area. Some of these rates were “Verified Best Price” rates, which we confirmed with each company to ensure there were “no surprises”; rates that included all fees and surcharges — everything except driver gratuity — so our customers could have a true apples-to-apples comparison when making their decision about which company to choose for transport to their hotel or resort from the Orlando airport.

Some of the companies wouldn’t commit to a definite price, so we listed the rates from their websites, but clearly notated that those rates were unreliable and might change if and when that transportation company accepted the new reservation. In all cases, however, we offered the most convenient and secure online reservations process to simplify the booking process.

Now, as time has gone by and we’ve gotten to know each company better — and the quality of service they provide — we have “settled” on a group of the Top Ten local transportation companies that we know are reliable and provide excellent service.

Our website has now been updated to list just those top vendors — still with the convenience of secure, online reservations and NO FEES added from us at all.

We hope you will find the new site to be just what you need for your Orlando hotel and Port Canaveral cruise transfers. We do the research so you don’t have to!