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We chatted with Florida’s best mommy bloggers to find out how to plan a memorable family vacation. Besides sharing tips for traveling with kids, our experts also talked about a few of their favorite Florida hotels. Let’s meet the crew one by one…

RELATED: 10 secret places Florida locals vacation that aren’t on your radar

Amy West

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Photos courtesy of Amy West

When Amy West isn’t covering the hottest new hotels and restaurants on Florida’s northeast coast, she’s at home with her growing family in Jacksonville. With daughter Sienna and younger sib London, this busy mom says that when you’re planning a vacation, sometimes less is more. “Focus on quality not quantity and don’t overbook your travel,” she says. Amy should know: Besides blogging at AmyWestTravel.com and other media outlets, the travel pro makes regular TV appearances on local morning talk shows. “Kids do enjoy the simple things and sometimes a half day at the park is better than a full day and sometimes they just want to enjoy the pool.” She adds that focusing on the simple things will help you save money and hone in on those great memories instead of becoming overwhelmed with too much to do.

Favorite Florida Family Vacation Spot: The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort on Amelia Island

The Omni underwent a major ‘reimagination’ a few years ago. “The result is fabulous, says West. “Our daughter loved the huge multi-level poolscape which is the largest of its kind in the region, and we loved all the amenities offered, including the incredible food, craft cocktails and full service spa,” she says. “The kids club is a great offering and tons of activities are planned daily, so no one gets bored.”

Tampa Mama

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Photos courtesy of Marisa Langford

Known as Tampa MamaMarisa Langford is an expert on all things related to kid-friendly travel. The mother of four: Jake, Mia, Shelby and Abby, likes to do her homework and look for discounts before she embarks on a trip. “I personally don’t like to build huge itineraries too far in advance,” says the multi-tasking mom. “But I like to know in advance what I shouldn’t miss! So I ask the kids and I start figuring out a list of our top things to do.” And she’s very involved in the Tampa community, including the Fit Kids Playground.

Favorite Florida Family Vacation Spot: Loews Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach

“The moment you cross the bridge onto St. Pete Beach, your eyes immediately are fixated upon the gorgeous pink palace that sits right on the Gulf of Mexico,” says Langford. “It is a stunning sight to see and a more fabulous place to stay and play while on a vacation to one of America’s best beaches. With plenty to do there for kids, sunsets that are postcard perfect and the softest sugar sand we’ve ever walked on, our family loves this property and all that it offers!”

Carrie on Travel

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Photos courtesy of Carrie McLaren and Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort

For mommy blogger extraordinaire, Carrie McLaren, the best family vacations are the ones where her two girls, Maggie and Molly, help decide what to do. The family travel expert and voice behind CarrieOnTravel.com says the planning process is part of the joy. “My best tip for planning a family vacation is to let the kids get in on the fun of coming up with an itinerary. I love making a list of options and let my girls help decide what we do,” says McLaren, who also hosts travel videos for outlets like VISIT FLORIDA. “It’s fun to see what they pick—sometimes it is as easy as extra time at the pool, while other times it is exploring a new museum. I love knowing that they helped in the planning process and that they have something special that they chose for us to do together as a family.”

Favorite Florida Family Vacation SpotUniversal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando

“We love staying on-site at Universal Orlando Resort. The Loews Royal Pacific has a fantastic character breakfast, including Minions, great dive-in movies at night and the ExpressPass is included with your stay, making it easy to hop to the front of the line at most rides in the parks,” says McLaren. “They also have a Fisher-Price amenities check-out program where parents can check-out bouncers, toys and even toddler-sized toilets to make your room feel more like home for kids.”

Mommy in Sports

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Photos courtesy of Kristen Hewitt

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Kristen Hewitt is a South Florida sports reporter and the mastermind behind her inspirational blog. When she’s not on the sidelines talking about the Miami HEAT, Kristen is at home with her two daughters Lila and Emylia. “When planning vacations, my best tip is don’t push your kids. Set plans, try to get them to try adventures, but if they’re not into it—it’s not a big deal,” Hewitt says. “And don’t plan too much; always leave a day or two open. When we expect the unexpected and go with the flow, everyone seems to have a great time!”

Favorite Florida Family Vacation Spot: Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Marco Island.

“I love the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort,” says Hewitt. “They have an awesome pool for kids, and amazing beaches and shells. This is our go to when we need a little getaway!”

Now that you have a few tips from the pros, where are you off to next?

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Tagged: Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

Kara Franker
A purveyor of the coastal life and a self-admitted beach addict, Kara is a travel writer based in Miami. Follow her on Instagram @KaraOnTheCoast and check out her blog karaonthecoast.com.

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