Orlando

Travel Tips

Itta Bena

Itta Bena

Casual Dining
13 miles to Orlando International Airport

Located on the second level of Pointe Orlando, behind an old facade of New Orleans, is Itta Bena, This is Orlando’s newest restaurant specializing in great steaks and seafood. When you walk in, you’ll see a beautiful copper bar and a pianist playing gently.

Choose from the 16 oz. bone in Cowboy Ribeye and Surf and Turf, to the Signature She Crab Soup, and the delicious desserts, Itta Bena is ready to satisfy everyone.

This is a great place for good food and true Southern hospitality in a casual atmosphere. Also popular for small gatherings and large parties, Itta Bena features three different rooms that can accommodate 100 persons for a seated dinner and up to 250 persons for a reception.

Address: 9101 International Dr, Suite 2210, Orlando, FL 32819-8124
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 5PM – 10PM / Friday – Saturday 5PM – 11PM

Itta Bena is 7 miles to Walt Disney World Resort and less than a mile to Orange County Convention Center.

Planet Hollywood Orlando

Planet Hollywood Orlando

Casual Dining
24 miles to Orlando International Airport

You will feel like a Very Important Person the moment you enter Planet Hollywood Orlando.

When you walk into Planet Hollywood, you will be taken back in time with its turn-of-the-century designs and magnificent architecture. You will discover several exhibits of one-of-a-kind?Hollywood artifacts and a gigantic?4,500-square-foot wall of?a movie in?state-of-the-art sound and media.

And the food is pretty good too. The menu has been revamped, featuring a unique selection of burgers and sandwiches from chef Guy Fieri. With an assortment of shareable starters and the upscale dishes like New York strip steak and the world-famous Chicken Crunch, you can’t go wrong here.

You will enjoy the innovative cuisine, live entertainment, and rare Hollywood memorabilia featured at Planet Hollywood Orlando.

Planet Hollywood is 8 miles to Orange County Convention Center and less than 2 miles to Walt Disney World Resort.

Emeril’s Orlando

Emeril’s Orlando

Fine Dining
21?minutes to Orlando International Airport

Emeril’s Orlando, located at Universal’s CityWalk, is in a two-story building that is full of energy, an environment perfect for eating and drinking fine food and wine. The thirty-foot ceilings, stone walls, and iron staircase lend to the feel of an industrial warehouse loft.

There is an open kitchen and a chef’s food bar in the middle, where a few hand-picked guests can watch the chef’s working up close. The second floor features two private rooms featuring stunning oak barrel slat ceilings, a wine gallery, and a chef’s tasting room.



Emeril’s features American, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan, and Gluten Free dishes. They are open for Lunch, Dinner, and Late Night.

Address: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819-7640
Hours: Sunday – Saturday, 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM

Emeril’s Orlando is just 3 miles from the Orange County Convention Center and only 9 miles to Walt Disney World Resort.

5 Common Traveler Mistakes

Unexpected issues?can?and usually do arise during travel, from small things. like forgetting the sunscreen to major problems, like losing your bags. or missing. your flight altogether.

Nevertheless, many. of these travel issues are preventable. ?In very simple terms try to prepare ahead of your departure. You will overcome these inconveniences more easily if you are prepared than when not. Make lists of what you want to bring on your trip. Keep track of? the news and weather report. and check with your airline to confirm flight times. Bring some healthy snacks on your flight so you don’t become fatigued. and to save you time. and money.

If you are well-prepared, you will go far in, preventing travel mishaps.?Below are more detailed approaches to 5 ways to prevent those travel faux pas we all know too well.

1)?Issue: Overpacking / Underpacking ?

Solution: If you tend to overpack your suitcase, then here are a few tips to help you get around that. When packing your clothes, don’t fold them individually like you normally would. Rather, roll them individually or fold a few items together. If you are traveling with a suitcase or other luggage, fold two items together in order to maximize space. This will give you the added space for souvenirs or other items you buy on your trip.


Additionally, another good tip is to make a list before you even begin packing. This will help you prioritize the items to bring or leave behind and will help you to remember to bring important items, like medications, passports, and cameras.

2) Issue: Security?Confiscates your Belongings

Solution: Plan ahead! Make sure you bring. only the amounts that are allowed. Prepare small bottles for your toiletry essentials. Or better yet, purchase the small, travel-size variety. of things like deodorant, mouthwash, and cologne. Read the labels and make sure they are TSA-compliant.

3) Issue: Flight Delays

Solution: Take Precautions. But let’s face it, flight delays happen. They are a part of traveling and most veteran travelers are used to them. However, you can take a few steps to avoid them. In general, early morning flights are not delayed or cancelled as much as afternoon or evening flights. So, if you can, book your flight for morning. But if your flight is cancelled nevertheless, then try to spend the time exploring the city you’re in. If you’d rather stay at the airport, you can always hang out at the bar or lounge. These places are generally more relaxed than the rest of the airport.

4) Issue: Not Staying Fit and Healthy

Solution: Traveling is hard on everybody. We are always rushing with barely any time left to eat right and exercise. So many of us let ourselves go when we travel. This does not have to be so. If you plan ahead, you can eat right and get some exercise.

Know your itinerary. Know how much time you’ll have to eat and exercise. Pack healthy snacks so you’re not tempted to buy them at a candy bar or soda. If possible, try to stay at a hotel with a gym so you’ll be able to squeeze in a workout. Or better yet, use the hotel stairs! If the weather outside is uncooperative, go up and down the stairs a few times. That’ll get your heart pumping!


5) Issue: Lost Luggage

Solution: Whether the airline loses your bags or you yourself accidentally leave them in the back seat of a cab or bus, know what to do when this happens.

If you leave your bag in a cab, the best solution is to just buy some new clothes and necessities. But if your airline has lost your luggage, ensure that you file a lost baggage claim immediately.

We hope you never encounter any of the above issues. But if you do, you are now better prepared to handle them. Just remember, travel is not perfect and issues will arise. Your best defense is to arm yourself with knowledge and preparation so that if these problems occur, you’ll know exactly how to handle them.

Traveling With Pets

Traveling With Pets

It is beyond trendy. More and more people are now taking their pets along everywhere they go. It’s not unusual to see someone carrying their little pooch in a fashionable dog case at the mall or even a coffee shop. Of course, when going on vacation you want to take your best friend with you too. Pet travel is a growing business and it’s here to stay, so here are a few tips to your trip not only pleasurable for you but for your little one.

It’s important for you to know what kind of pet you have and what size she is. Many airlines allow small pets such as dogs, cats and domestic birds as carry-on luggage. Your pet will need to fit in TSA-compliant carrier that must fit under the seat. She’ll need to be least eight weeks old and completely weaned. And she must be calm. If your pet shows any signs of distress or aggression, the airlines will not allow her on board. Your pet’s current health certificates may also be required by certain airlines.


Once your pet has met all these requirements, its time to prepare her for a comfortable trip. The crate should be large enough for her turn around and stand freely, and lie down comfortably. Be sure to trim her nails so they don’t snag on the crate door. Last but not least, place a favorite blanket or toy in the crate to make her feel comfortable. If your friend gets nervous whenever she flies, be sure to get her used to the crate before your big trip. Steer away from sedatives, which the ASPCA and many veterinarians strongly recommend against using. Some airlines will not even allow your pet on the plane if they know she has been sedated.

Many countries have strict quarantine requirements for animals arriving internationally. For places such as the Bahamas, you will definitely need a special certificate.

Be prepared to pay for the privilege of traveling with your pooch. Some airlines will charge anywhere from $30 to $150 each way for letting Fluffy or Fido sit under the seat. Also, some airlines will consider your pet a part of your carry-on allowance. Once you decide to bring pet on your vacation with you, try to reserve his space as far in advance as possible. Many airlines allow only one crate in first class and two crates in the main cabin.


Please be considerate of others around you when traveling with your pet. You won’t want to inconvenience someone who is allergic to dogs or cats. Think twice about bringing her if he barks and keep her inside her crate at all times.

5 Steps to Conquer Your Fear of Flying

Conquer Your Fear of Flying

When it comes to overcoming fear, most of it is reconditioning the mind and the rest. is knowing the facts. Some of the nightmares are nearly impossible. Scared the plane will fall out of the sky? Scared the engines will fail? Turbulence, though it feels frightening, generally does not harm the plane. Turbulence is similar to bumps in the oxygen, exactly like bumps in the street. It might feel frightening, however, the planes are designed for it. Additionally, it is key to remember that the chair belt light goes on so that you do not fall over other passengers, not really because there’s a flight risk.

Remind Yourself How Unlikely Accidents Are

You’ve probably heard you are more likely to come to be injured or perhaps killed in a motor vehicle accident, a tornado, or a power current, as well as from appearing crushed by a pig than be engaged in a serious plane accident. In 2012 the International Air Transfer Association (IATA) documented one car accident per 5 million flights on Western-designed jets and about 96 % of folks survived those few accidents. When you start considering disaster, remind yourself how improbable it really is.

Pick Your Seat

If you don’t fly business you won’t get very much legroom. If you fear flying, make an effort to choose a front side row or exit row seat, ideally in the aisle part, as these offer you extra space. Check out SeatGuru.com and SeatExpert.com. These sites will outline aircraft types and the pros and cons of each of the seats.


Mind Over Matter

One exercise to reduce stress is to assume you’re in a safe place, one that you are feeling welcome in. Closing your eyes and concentrating on this place, imagining all you would check out, smell and touch is one approach to distract yourself. If you keep considering what can fail with the plane, another workout is to complete the storyline rather than concentrating on the most disastrous picture possible. Therefore if you’re picturing the plane crashing, also photo the staff releasing safety equipment. You’d be found by a rescue team and if important, taken to hospital. From then on, you’d be safe. It might also help to envision the plane landing properly every time you begin to think about disaster.

Listen To Music

Music is calming. Some special tunes might help in calming jittery nerves. Adele’s. Somebody Like You? was suggested as the most suitable, due to the tempo and harmonious tones. Listening through headphones and closing your eyes can decrease your anxiety and calm your mind. These are simply a few tricks to get you on that flight and to your destination. The best remedy for fear of flying is usually to just be exposed to it. Who knows, one day you may actually enjoy flying!

You Can Avoid Jet Lag

How To Avoid Jet Lag

Jet lag could be a burden to even the most typical of travelers. Whilst there is little that you can do to remove jet lag altogether, here are a few things that you can do to lessen the consequences.

If you’re keen on avoiding getting to your destination feeling totally out of sync with the time zone where you have landed, then here are some tips that might help. Even for many who feel like they have thought of everything before going, jet lag can prove to be problematic. You may have bought yourself a travel book, stocked on sunscreen, and booked your parking at the airport, but have you thought about how precisely you will cope with the effect of plane lag? Not merely are you more likely to feel over-tired, but you may also feel disorientated and even unwell. This may spoil the first couple of days of your trip, and be even more problematic for those who must travel for business.



One method of dealing with jet lag is to switch your sleeping patterns to the time area of your vacation spot a few days before your flight. This way, your body will already be in tune with the time zone to which you are flying by the time you arrive at your destination. If this is not practical, then merely changing your watch to the neighborhood time of your vacation spot at the beginning of your air travel can combat the effect of plane lag, whilst ear plugs, pillows, and eye masks can all allow you to sleep on the flight. Furthermore, you should make certain you drink plenty of water through the entire duration of your airline flight, as dehydration can also be accountable for a lot of symptoms of plane lag.

Curbside vs. Ticket Counter Check-ins

Curbside vs. Ticket Counter Check-ins

Curbside check-in is becoming more and more popular with airlines and airports. This, in turn, offers many conveniences to passengers.

  • Curbside check-in is when you are able to check in with the help. of an airport staff member, or “Skycap,” even before you step inside the airport.
  • It also. makes the checking-in process quicker for the passenger. In addition, it reduces the amount of time travelers spend in the pre-security area, thereby making them free to spend money at on-site restaurants and shops.
  • The curbside check-in process is designed to be as quick and easy as possible. Airports assign employees to “drop-off zones” and all the work gets done right there. You will receive the same level of service at curbside check-ins as you would at a ticket counter.
  • You’ll be able to register your seating preferences as well as diet requirements, and also pay any baggage fees along with a tip of $$ for them to handle your luggage,
    With curbside check-in, you are able to hand your luggage to the Skycaps who will take your bags to be checked in so you don’t have to waste time. And you will avoid unnecessary waiting in lines.


  • Another advantage of curbside check-in is that by choosing this option, you are confirming you have arrived at the airport and you are checking in with airport staff, as opposed to a computer system.
  • Many of the major airlines are now offering this service, including American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue, United, and Southwest Airlines. Some international airlines are also stepping in. These airlines offer curbside check-in for free, but you’ll have to pay a tip for any baggage that you check-in. So have your credit cards ready, because sidewalk check-in systems will not accept cash, aside from the tip, traveler’s cheques, or any other form of payment. Remember that Skycaps work for tips, which are always appreciated for good service.

Curbside check-in is generally in operation during the same hours that the standard check-in desks are. Typically, this will be from 2 hours to 30 minutes before your flight time, but please check with your airline, as this may vary.