You've saved for your Florida vacation, and you are excited! You are counting the days until you can travel to the Sunshine State. Or perhaps you are planning a trip to Florida in the near future.

The purpose of your Florida vacation is to relax and have fun. I am a Florida native, and I also like traveling around this great state. Here are a few tips to make sure you have a great time.

First, know the weather in Florida. I have seen statistics posted that our average temperature is in the mid 80's in the summer, and the mid 70's in the winter. As a Florida native, I can tell you that the averages don’t reflect reality. In the summer, expect temperatures in the 90's with very high humidity. In the winters, daytime temperatures in the 50's are not uncommon. I don’t want to dissuade you from visiting Florida. I just don't want you to be unpleasantly surprised.

Florida is a long state, and it takes time to travel to the different areas. If you want to visit both the Florida Panhandle and also Key West, be aware that you will spend a lot of time on the road. If you have at least two weeks for your vacation, it may be feasible; if you only have one week, you will miss much of Florida's charm. Instead, you'll be in the car, fighting the traffic.

If you plan to bring a notebook computer with you, be aware that not all hotels offer high-speed internet access. And the

Speaking of hotels, you tend to get what you pay for. Many hotels offer prices of $29 or lower per night. You will get a bed and linens, but don’t expect anything more – including extra towels. It is usually worth spending a little more money for another hotel; you'd be surprised at what a nice room $45 a night can buy.

If you don't like crowds, plan your Florida vacation for the shoulder seasons. You tend to get a bit better service and often a break on hotel prices. February and October are the two best months, and as a bonus tend to have some really nice weather.

In your vacation planning, take into account not only major holidays, but local events as well. These events can substantially increase both hotel prices and crowds. Some examples of local events are the lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys, the seafood festival in Cedar Key and the Firecracker 400 NASCAR race in Daytona Beach. I have seen hotel prices literally double for some events.

If you'd like some more information and fun facts for planning your perfect Florida vacation, I'd love to have you visit me at http://www.great-florida-vacations.com

Gail Nettles is a Florida native who enjoys sharing the wonders of Florida. She publishes the website http://www.great-florida-vacations.com as a resource for Florida vacation planning.

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