Fort Lauderdale is quickly becoming a super-popular vacation destination for singles, couples, and families. If you’re planning a vacation to Fort Lauderdale, here are some top tips to help:

Getting around

If you’ll be flying into Fort Lauderdale, you’ll probably want to fly into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Be sure to look for flights well in advance, and keep your eye out for a great deal. Sometimes, you can save hundreds of dollars by choosing a flight with a stopover- although if you’re only visiting for a few days or you have kids, you may just want to fly direct.

Fort Lauderdale is located in the Gold Coast of Florida- halfway between Miami in the South and Palm Beach in the North. While public transportation is an option, it’s a better idea to rent a car in the airport so you can easily get around.

You’ll also want to explore the water in Fort Lauderdale, and the water taxis make this easy to do. You can easily use it to get around the waterways and take your own tour so you can see some of the most amazing houses in the area.

Where to stay

There are more than 33,000 hotel rooms in Fort Lauderdale, so there really is something for every budget. To get the best deal, compare prices in different months, and check what’s happening in the area during the time you’re planning to book- a large conference or convention can easily drive up prices and availability decreases.

Hotels range from the Atlantic Hotel, which was the first luxury beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale to cute, boutique hotels.

Planning in advance

Whether you’ll be visiting for a couple of days or a couple of weeks, you’ll get more out of your trip if you plan in advance. There are so many attractions to choose from, that you may end up overwhelmed or exhausted if you try to see as many as you can when you arrive.

Not only are there plenty of amazing beaches, bars, restaurants, but there are also lots of amazing attractions within driving distance- another reason to rent a car in Fort Lauderdale. Make sure you leave plenty of time to take a road trip so you can see the sights in the greater Fort Lauderdale area.

If you have time, you may also want to take the opportunity to drive up to Orlando. If you’re bringing the kids, this will help ensure it will be a vacation to remember, since you’ll be able to take them to Disney World and/or Universal Studios. There are also plenty of other theme parks to choose from, including SeaWorld, Animal Kingdom, and more. If you do choose to visit, grab your tickets online before you leave Fort Lauderdale so you don’t need to wait in line.

Relaxation

Since there are so many attractions surrounding Fort Lauderdale, it can be easy to try to squeeze in as much as you can. It’s better to leave a few things for a return trip than to leave feeling exhausted and stressed out. Add a few hours each day to stroll along the boardwalk, people-watch from a cafe, take a nap or spend time by the pool in your hotel.

Of course, no visit to Fort Lauderdale is complete without some beach time, so be sure to grab some fins and a mask and go snorkeling so you can see tropical fish hanging out right off the beach. If you’re lucky, you’ll also be able to see lobsters and even sea turtles.