Florida is the most popular destination in the US

If you’re looking for a vacation destination in Florida in 2023, you aren’t alone. 150,000 other people used google to search for vacations in Florida this month alone.

The study by vacation rental marketplace FloridaRentals.com analyzed Google searches for each state on vacation packages, rentals, and spots to see which states were most popular for a vacation.

It found that Florida was the most popular state for a vacation. “The Sunshine State receives, on average, 155,110 searches from vacation-goers every single month. In addition to visitors from other states, more than 10 million overseas tourists visit the state annually.

Hawaii comes in second place on the list, with average monthly searches for vacations in the state sitting at 125,590. A 2019 study from the Hawaii Tourism Authority found that tourist spending in the state brought in more than $17 billion a year, supporting more than 216,000 jobs.

The state with the next highest number of searches is California, with 30,680 on average every month, giving it the third-place position. Visitation to the state is constantly increasing over the past few years, up 22% in 2022 and predicted to increase by 8% in 2023.”

Colorado takes fourth place on the list, with Maine coming in at a close 5th.

If you are planning a trip to Florida this year, what does this mean for you?

Accommodations need to be booked ahead of time

 

There are thousands of accommodations in Florida, from basic hotels to Disney Hotels and Harry Potter Themed Airbnbs. But you will still struggle to find somewhere to stay if you are traveling during peak season (which is Thanksgiving through April). Stay where you want by booking at least a month in advance, but two months is even safer.

If you can’t find a hotel that has a room, you may be able to find some luck with an Airbnb or a VRBO vacation rental. New options are being posted often.

Related Post: The Best Things to do in Orlando with Kids

Popular attractions require you to book in advance as well

Many of Florida’s popular attractions, such as theme parks and museums, must be booked ahead of time. Booking online or calling the attraction directly should help you avoid long lines and crowded areas.

If you can’t find availability, check weekdays which tend to be less busy.

Be prepared to wait in line

If you are heading to Disney World or Universal Studios, you will be faced with lots of lines.

Even if you get into one of the theme parks, you will have to wait in lines for rides, food, entertainment, etc. Make the most of your time by pre-booking restaurants, using the express pass at Universal, the Disney Genie+ at Disney World, and getting to the parks early in the day.

Many people don’t know that Disney World actually caps the number of people they will allow into each park. If the maximum number of guests is reached, you will not be allowed in until people begin to leave.  (There are ways around this, like having a park hopper or a multi-day ticket.

Choose to travel in the off-season

Not everyone can take a vacation during the off-season, but if you do, it can save you money and enjoy attractions with fewer crowds. The summer months tend to be the least busy time of year in Florida, while winter is typically the busiest.

If the heat is too much of a detriment, you may enjoy visiting in October or May when Florida still hasn’t reached peak temperatures.

Be prepared for larger crowds.

For some people, large crowds are a deal breaker, and they would rather stay home. For others, they are manageable with some easy tips.

Monica from Planner at Heart found it easy to manage the crowds by limiting time at busy spots.

We visited Orlando, America’s most visited destination, during one of its busiest times of the year, Spring Break. We knew Disney theme parks would have record-level crowds, so we only had two park days out of our week-long vacation to keep the trip enjoyable. The rest of our holiday was spent leisurely at our resort’s four pools, participating in their long list of on-site activities and playing Disney’s putt-putt golf courses.”

Overall, if you’re planning to visit Florida in 2023, it’s important to plan ahead and get reservations made early. With the increased number of visitors, it’s important that you prioritize doing the research before your trip to make sure everything goes as planned.  By taking some simple steps like booking in advance and preparing for crowds, you can have a great time in Florida with 150,000 of your friends!