Florida Package Holidays vs DIY: Which is Better?

Dreaming of sunshine, palm trees, and Florida magic? Before you book, you have one big decision to make: should you choose the convenience of a package holiday, or take the DIY route and arrange everything yourself?  

The honest answer is that there’s no one-size-fits-all option. A package can take a lot of the hassle out of planning and can offer great value, while booking independently gives you more freedom to tailor your trip exactly how you want it. So, which is the better choice for your Florida holiday? 

What is a package holiday? 

A package holiday often comprises two main elements: flights and accommodation. Sometimes transfers and meals will be included, and you can add car hire or tickets for theme park destinations such as Orlando. Everything is handled in one place by a travel specialist, including logistics and itineraries, offering support and reassurance from start to finish.  

Crucially, package holidays - like those booked through Ocean Florida - are also covered by ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence), which protects you financially in the event of a cancelled trip or if a company ceases trading, giving you peace of mind. 

What is a DIY holiday? 

A DIY trip involves you organising and booking each component yourself, including flights, accommodation, transportation and meals. Many travellers use third-party comparison websites, which allow customers to source cheap, flexible flights before booking accommodation separately through online marketplace platforms such as Airbnb. 

Which is better?  

There’s no definitive answer for this because everyone’s holiday needs are different. If you’re after a short-haul city break or craving a backpacking adventure with the lowest upfront price, then a DIY holiday might be your best choice for flexibility, speed, and cost. However, holidays to Florida can be more complex and require knowledge and expertise. Ocean Florida’s team of travel specialists has first-hand experience and can create bespoke packages centred around you and your family.  

From the moment you receive your first quote to when you touch down back home, Ocean Florida is here to help you enjoy a truly stress-free Sunshine State escape. Our Confidence Guarantee also provides added protection in a changing environment. We offer locked-in prices for all departures through to 2029, with no additional surcharges added to your holiday cost as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. 

We also include full cancellation protection should an ESTA application be declined, along with the flexibility of one free date change on select holidays for added peace of mind. This is in addition to our full ABTA and ATOL protection, and free Florida experiences that make your trip even more memorable. 

Finally, knowing you have 24/7 support throughout your trip gives you the reassurance that comes with having someone there when you need them, which is near impossible to find if you book everything yourself. 

Holiday Type 

Orlando Theme Park Trips 

When it comes to Orlando theme park holidays, a package can take a lot of the hassle out of your hands, especially when our experts have lived and breathed Walt Disney World and beyond. Looking for the latest Star Wars ride? Want to know how to beat the queue at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Or are you simply looking for a family villa near the magic? We’ve been there, and we can provide expert advice that helps you craft an itinerary that is both bespoke and practical.  

Plus, as we have touched upon, having your flights, accommodation, and other elements arranged together means less time spent getting bogged down comparing options, while having a single point of contact with 24/7 support can be particularly comforting for families. 

Booking an Orlando theme park holiday DIY, on the other hand, provides you with more freedom and flexibility to choose exactly where you stay, when you fly, and which extras you want. This can work well if you have specific requirements or you’re confident in scoping out the best individual deals. The trade-off is that you're responsible for putting all the pieces together and sorting things out yourself if something doesn't go to plan! 

What's right for you

Choose a package if: you want convenience, support, less planning, and more time to get excited. 

Choose DIY if: you want maximum flexibility and enjoy organising your own holidays. 

Florida Beach Getaways 

For Florida beach stays, the balance is slightly different from Orlando. Whether you're looking for a relaxing week on the Gulf Coast or want to explore several coastal towns, how you book can have a big impact on the type of holiday you create. 

The main appeal of a beach holiday package - as with Orlando theme park holidays - is often the ease and reassurance of having everything organised, including accommodation, transfers or car hire, flights, and other extras. You will often get good value stays with competitive pricing on selected hotels and airlines too. 

Alternatively, DIY can be particularly attractive for a Florida beach trip if you want to explore several different beaches and coastal towns, road-trip style. You’ll get more variety in where to stay and for how long, and you can build and even change your route exactly as you want it without being tied into a package itinerary - perfect for a more adventurous trip! There’s real potential to save money this way as you can shop around for hotel and flight deals, while also having more control over your budget and choosing where to splurge or save. 

However, if you want your beach holiday to be road-trip ready, look no further than our multi-centre itineraries for more inspiration! 

Which is right for you? 

Choose a package if: you want to keep things simple and spend more time relaxing in one place. 

Choose DIY if: you want to explore more of Florida at your own pace and create your own itinerary. 

Multi-centre Trips 

Like a Florida beach getaway, a multi-centre trip promises the chance to experience more of the Sunshine State in one holiday – from the excitement of Orlando or the laid-back Gulf Coast to the Florida Keys or the vibrant streets of Miami. But with several destinations, connecting travel arrangements, and experiences to coordinate, there’s a lot more to think about, making the choice between a package and DIY particularly important. 

Booking a multi-centre package holiday takes the complexity out of planning. Our skilled travel specialists know Florida inside out and can turn your wish list into a bespoke itinerary tailored to you and your family. We’ll align your flights, accommodation, car hire and transfers, while arranging a wide range of experiences and other extras in advance, giving you a clearer picture of your holiday and costs before you travel. When the different elements of your trip form part of a qualifying package, you also benefit from important package travel protections such as those with ATOL, offering vital reassurance if something goes awry. 

While choosing the DIY route for multi-centre holidays gives you complete freedom to create your own itinerary, the trade-off is that you're responsible for making sure every element connects, from flight timings and transfers to hotel check-ins and onward travel. If one element is delayed or cancelled, it may also create a knock-on effect on the rest of your itinerary, and you’ll need to deal with each supplier separately before or during travel. 

What's right for you

Choose a package if: you want to experience more of Florida without the job of organising every last detail. 

Choose DIY if: you enjoy planning road trips and want complete control over your journey. 

Cruise & Stay Getaways 

Combining a Florida holiday with a cruise gives you the best of both worlds in one amazing trip, but with fixed cruise departures to coordinate alongside the typical elements of flights, hotels, and transfers, there’s more to consider than with a traditional Florida holiday.  

We can arrange a pre-cruise stay in your package, giving you time to enjoy Florida before setting sail and avoiding the stress of trying to reach the port immediately after your flight. Alternatively, a post-cruise stay will give you the chance to unwind and enjoy more of Florida after disembarking, without the need to rush straight to the airport. Whether you choose to stay before or after your cruise, having your accommodation, transfers and flights coordinated makes for a smoother, more relaxed holiday from start to finish. 

Booking a DIY cruise and stay package will still only provide a limited amount of flexibility, as cruises have fixed departure dates, and you would need to coordinate the timings and manage separate bookings and suppliers all by yourself.  

What's right for you

Choose a package if: you want the reassurance and ease of having your cruise and Florida stay synchronised. 

Choose DIY if: you have a particular itinerary in mind and want to build everything around it, with the flexibility to change plans if necessary.  


Ready to start your next Florida adventure? Our experts can help find the right option for you. Call today or enquire online, and let’s get planning!