Wolfgang Busch

Orlando is known for its huge theme parks such as Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. But unfortunately, tickets to these attractions don’t come cheap and if you're paying for your whole family the cost will quickly add up.

However, just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't still enjoy yourself in Orlando as there are in fact a host of great and low-cost things to do in and around the city, starting with finding Orlando villa rentals that won't break your budget. Furthermore, many of these are likely to be much more appealing to older holidaymakers than the kid-oriented theme parks, while there's also plenty to do to keep the little ones entertained.

Even hiring a car can be surprisingly low cost and offers a great way to get around and see all the various attractions. Click here to see prices on getting a car at Orlando Airport. Meanwhile, below are a few of the top low-cost things to see and do in the city.

Orlando is home to a number of top museums and galleries, many of which offer free admission at least some if not all of the time. These include the CityArts Factory - an eclectic collection of art galleries in downtown Orlando showcasing local and international artists, admission to which is free each week from Tuesday to Saturday.

There is also the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, located out in Winter Park, which is home to one of the world's best collections of works by famed artist Louis Comfort Tiffany and is free on Friday between 4pm and 8pm from November to April.

Another good choice is the Cornell Fine Arts Museum on the campus of Rollins College. It houses a collection that includes works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Thomas Moran. Usually the museum is free only to those with a student ID, but to celebrate its 35th anniversary all admission fees are being waived throughout the whole of 2013.

One of the best ways to enjoy a trip to Orlando without spending vast sums on tourist traps is to make use of the region's natural attractions, which you can’t be charged a penny for. You don't even need to go outside the city - just head to Lake Eola Park, a 43-acre recreational area in the heart of downtown Orlando. Here you can enjoy a picnic by the lake, listen to a free concert at the amphitheatre or check out the goods on offer at the farmer's market on Sundays.

Other great outdoor locations include the University of Central Florida's Arboretum, which is home to more than 600 plant species, and the 5.22-acre Kraft Azalea Gardens located on the shore of Lake Maitland and often referred to as Florida's 'secret garden'.

Finding things to keep your kids occupied while on a family holiday can be a challenge at the best of times, particularly if you have a strict budget to stick to. In Orlando, however, there is a selection of free attractions that could come to your aid. These include the LEGO Imagination Center, at downtown Disney Marketplace, where kids can build every conceivable object out of lego to their hearts' content, and Disney's Boardwalk, where you'll find a wealth of free street entertainment from magicians to comedians and fire shows.

Kids will also love the Fort Christmas Historical Park, located just outside of Orlando, where old-time Florida comes to life through the faithful recreation of a 19th century pioneer town and fort, entrance to which is free.

Africa has become a choice destination for world wayfarers. Certain countries within this expansive continent have enticing appeal for their rich cultures, diversity, and even wildlife offering visitors an experience that just cannot be matched in North America or Europe. Countries like Burkina Faso and Morocco are known for their friendly locals. (Morocco, as an example, was just voted the third most friendly country for tourists in a recent international CNN poll.) Other destinations such as South Africa, Botswana, and especially Tanzania are on travelers' radar as destinations to really get off the beaten path, experience nature (and even high peaks such as Kilimanjaro), as well as truly remove themselves from the daily grind.

When traveling to Africa an important decision has to be made that answers the question: Do I travel independently, with an organized group, or on a private trip? At its core, these are the choices one has to ponder that could make or break the trip of a lifetime. And, while I am slightly biased since I run and own a travel company in Morocco called Journey Beyond Travel, I have traveled Africa for many years, write for various guidebooks, and believe I can offer the newbie to Africa some helpful words of wisdom on how to think about independent and private travel in new and perhaps enlightening ways.

The real appeal of independent travel is the satisfaction that one has to be truly free while on the road. No need to rise early to catch up with your group and no need to stick to a fixed program. Independent travel maximizes the chances that you'll have a unique experience as you leave both your options and world open to what comes your way.

Some countries in Africa truly lend themselves to the independent adventurer. South Africa is a superb example. Because it stands as a beacon of a developed nation with amazing infrastructure in place, solo travelers with only a plane ticket to bide their time can enter South Africa and allow the road of travel freedom guide their path. Another draw to South Africa is it's affordable accommodation, transport, and food. While many countries in Africa can cost double or triple the cost of a trip to Europe, South Africa has hostels, guesthouses, BnBs, and chain hotels that truly appeal to the spectrum of backpacker, flash packer, and trust-fund travelers. Another bonus is the language given that more than 80% of the population speaks English.

Certain West-African nations are also good choices for independent-minded wanders. Their relatively small size makes them easy to explore and a country like Senegal is not only used to foreign visitors, but has its tourist infrastructure basically well organized.

It should be stated that there is a real difference between big bus tourists and small-group ones. It should be said that no real traveler belongs on a large bus tour since the distance placed between you and the 'real' country is too great and leaves no room for intimate exploration. Small-group trips differ in that these trips tend to focus on getting you to places that only a small group of people can visit, such as mountain villages or family homes. Certain tour operators focus on what they call 'group departures' where a small group of perhaps six to twelve persons not only get to explore and learn about a new country together, but have an opportunity to learn from each other as well. Various countries in Africa have small group trips taking place including Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Tanzania. A superb place to enjoy a small group venture is in Botswana where you can mountain bike safaris, enjoy remote wilderness, and see animals running freer than in any other country. Mixing your trip with independent and small group travel is one way you can experience a country through different lenses, plus it can also save you some money. 

A private or customized tour is a travel adventure where an individual, couple, or small group (whether family or friends) wishes to explore a country with their trip pre-organized and arranged. Many operators arrange private trips such as this worldwide, but choosing one can be difficult. The factors that can and probably should be considered include: Is the operator located in country? Does the operator follow any sustainable travel standards, such as offering eco-friendly travel, responsible travel, or are they involved in local, sustainable-type programs? What is the travel company's background, track record, and mission? Both eco-tour directory along with Responsible Travel are two resources that come to mind when researching holidays that fit within these parameters.

One of the most popular activities in Africa is going on a wildlife safari. If a big game safari in Kenya or a gorilla safari in Uganda is activities on your mind, it's important to make arrangements for a guided tour before you visit since both safety and logistics are factors important to this type of get-away.

If North Africa is on your travel calendar, a tour set up beforehand in Morocco can help you choose the best local accommodations, meet locals and their families, and even enjoy walking tours into areas where the masses do not tread. Access to local advice and the best way to travel from one point to another are real benefits to private travel.

In other countries, such as Gabon, pre-arranging your travel on your own can prove nearly impossible. While websites for certain parks and hotels exist, getting a response after a booking inquiry may never happen. A part of the visa application alone is mentioning what tour operator you are using, so it's quite common and recommended in such remote destinations. And, once you land in country and your country of choice opens up, you can rest assured that all is ready, and the rest is left open for you to truly enjoy and experience a land vastly different from your own.

They say that you’re never too old or too young for Disneyland. Whether your first Disney experience was watching “Bambi” in 1942, or watching “Cars” in 2006, the characters of Disney always manage to hold a special place in our hearts. Over the last decades, Disney has grown from being an America film company, to an internationally recognized household name. In 1955, California became home to the first and only Disney theme park. However, it didn’t stay that way for long; in 1971, Disney World opened in Florida, and in 1983 Tokyo Disneyland opened up. In 1992, Europe welcomed its first Disney amusement park: Disneyland Paris, which quickly grew to be one of the most popular destinations on the continent.

Originally called Euro Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris is family-friendly vacation theme park located in Marne-la-Vallée, in the eastern suburbs of Paris. The Disneyland Paris resort is made up of the Disneyland theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Golf Disneyland, several hotels, and a complex that will meet all of your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs. With so many terrific sights and activities, it’s no surprise that Disneyland Paris tickets continue to be Europe’s best seller themed attraction.

Disneyland Park is home to a variety of great rides and attractions that are ideal for visitors of all ages. Younger kids will love “It’s a Small World”, a mini, musical cruise filled with joyful songs, while thrill-seekers will love exciting rides such as “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril” and “Big Thunder Mountain”. Another must see for all visitors is the Disneyland Parade, which features a magical procession of everyone’s favorite characters.

Additionally, make sure to stick around for the nighttime shows, a spectacular extravaganza of lights, lasers, and fountains, all focused around great Disney stories and characters. Those who aren’t fans of rides can get their thrills from meeting Disney characters such as Cinderella and Mickey Mouse. Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Studios Park focuses more on life behind the cameras, and features shows such as “CinéMagique”, a big-screen experience that explores 100 years of movie-making, and “Moteurs…Action! Stunt Show Spectacular”, an explosive performance of unforgettable car and motorcycle stunts.

There are many ways to get to Disneyland Paris. The train is a great choice, with the "Marne-La-Vallée/Chessy" station located right outside the main entrance to the parks, as well as being very close to the Disney hotels (with the exception of Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch). It is a 35 minute train ride from the center of Paris on RER A express train. If you’re driving to the park, take the A4 expressway; exit 14 will bring you to the park. For those who have flown into Paris and are heading directly to the park or to the hotel, use the VEA shuttle service that connects Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport, and Disneyland Paris.

Buying your admission in advance always makes your trip more enjoyable, and there are many options to do so online. Even if you do not know the exact date of your visit, you can select Disneyland Paris tickets valid for any one day for the year following your purchase (note that it is cheaper to purchase a ticket for a specific date). Other options you can select include multi-day tickets, and multi-park tickets (allowing access to both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios).

Adult ticket prices range from $113 USD (for a one-day, two-park, date-specific ticket) to $250 USD (for a five-day, two-park, flexible-date ticket). Admission prices are slightly lower between March 28th and November 7th, and are reduced for children. Opening hours, so make sure to check the website, but generally the Disneyland Park is open from 10am to 10pm, and Walt Disney Studios are open from 10am to 7pm.

Photos by Sparkly Kate, bubble_gum, nikontino via Flickr Creative Commons 

Luck is a fickle thing, and there are many sayings about it in English – from “lady luck smiling” to “fortune favours the bold”. If you’ve always wanted to change your fortune, you should know that there are statues and stones located around Europe that you can interact with to have luck ‘rub-off’ on you. If you’re planning a trip in the near future, here are some statues to consider visiting:

Lion Statues outside the Residenz, Munich, Germany

I’m sure many knew this one would be on the list, as it’s the most widely-known symbol of luck, and has had millions of visitors over the centuries, including silver-screen stars, politicians, and the literary minded. The catch is that you have to suspend yourself, upside down, and lean over a very large gap to smooch the well-weathered stone.

Why: It’s considered lucky to kiss the stone, as after, you’ll supposedly be blessed with eloquence, meaning you’ll never stand around tongue-tied again.

The Schöne Brunnen, also called the Beautiful Fountain, is a replica of the original that was created here in 1385. It is decorated with over forty figures from history, and has a beautiful golden sheen. Local lore says that the ring placed in the crown on the right side of the gate is the real ring of luck – it was added to the fountain in 1902. There are also two small brass rings embedded on the fence surrounding the fountain, which are often mistaken for the luck-bringing ring. As the tale goes, if you turn the ring three times, a wish that you make while standing there will come true.

Not the original: The rings have changed over the years, due to wear and tear, and were once changed to black ones.

The 8th statue along Charles Bridge, if you’re heading towards Prague castle, is of the martyred St John of Nepomuk who died by drowning – conflicting stories say it’s either because he refused to divulge the queen of Bohemia’s confessional secrets, or because he disagreed with King Wenceslaus over a law. Apart from being the oldest statue on the bridge, it is thought that rubbing the falling priest on the copper plaque on the right will bring luck and good fortune.

Keep an eye out: For the small golden cross on the bridge, found on the side heading to Old Town Square, which is supposed to have been where St John was thrown from the bridge. If you find it, touch it and make a wish, it will supposedly come true in a year and a day.

The tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet is well known, though considered a creation of Shakespeare, but a small house in Verona claims the tale is true, and that their house was once the home of Capulet and his daughter. There is a small balcony overlooking the street (Juliet’s balcony) and in the garden, you’ll find a statue of Juliet, with only her lower half clothed. The wall outside the house is filled with the names of lovers, who believe that placing their names here will make their love everlasting.

Touch: The right breast of the Juliet statue, as it is supposed to bring good fortune to those who do. You’ll notice it’s quite worn down from the thousands of visitors who’ve done just that.

About the Author: Roseanna McBain is a writer for TravelGround.com, who has a passion for knowledge and exploration. If she’s not out with friends, you’ll find her out and about the country, discovering unique little towns, and beautiful landscapes to photograph.

Photos via Flickr Creative Commons