Florida road trip: Overseas Highway meets Miami heat

Welcome to vibe central, aka Florida’s East Coast! The sun’s blazing and you’re raring to go, so you hop in your hire car and head to Orlando, where the perfect mix of excitement and relaxation awaits. If you arrive early, treat yourself to a visit to the Kennedy Space Center, the real NASA spaceport (tickets can be booked on the day but it’s absolutely worth it!). Things really kick up a notch in the Shuttle Launch Experience, which simulates a rocket launch up close and personal – childhood dream unlocked and astronaut vibes included! Outside, Orlando is the ultimate entertainment mecca full of rollercoasters, shows and a great atmosphere everywhere you go. But of course, you’ll need a moment to wind down, too. So why not spend your first evening in style at Wall Street Plaza! Enjoy a delicious dinner under the palm trees, surrounded by buzzing urban energy and cool beats.

Just hearing the name Orlando makes everyone think of giant theme parks. And rightly so, as no other city in the world has so many of them. The Walt Disney World Resort, the Universal Orlando Resort, which consists of four theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Universal's Volcano Bay and the Universal CityWalk) – how are you supposed to decide which to visit? Well, in the best case, you won't have to! With a combo ticket (optional, bookable online or payable on site), you can experience several parks at a bargain price. Watch your favourite film legends and myths come to life and feel the adrenaline rush as you ride the world's craziest roller coasters. And if it's a different kind of entertainment you seek, you can explore St. Augustine, the first settlement in the United States. Thanks to its turbulent history, there are plenty of architectural treasures to marvel at in the oldest US city, right on the Atlantic!

Time for the ultimate road trip. You jump in your hire car, crank up the tunes and head south across the Sunshine State. With the windows down, wind in your hair and good vibes on max, Orlando slowly shrinks into the distance – pure freedom on four wheels.

Your destination? The beautiful Florida Keys! Before you know it, there it is: the Overseas Highway. Nothing in front of you but the road ahead and nothing around but the sea glistening in the sun – absolutely mad. With more than 40 bridges spanning the sea to the nation's southernmost point, over 113 miles of pure road trip energy awaits. Hard to believe, but absolutely real. And when you finally arrive? Slip on your swimwear and head to the beach! In the Florida Keys, the sea is never far away – literally just a few steps and you're right in the heart of island paradise.

'Good morning, paradise!' Start your day with a taste of the island life and head out for a laid-back stroll. Between the pastel-coloured wooden houses in the historic district of Key West, the clocks just tick slower. Did you know the writer Ernest Hemingway once lived here? You can even visit his old house if you like, as well as it's surprising animal inhabitants, the legendary six-toed cats (admission payable on site). And when the day draws to a close, you've got to hit up Mallory Square! This is where the magic happens – in sunset mode. The spot is famous for its golden hour vibes, complete with street performers, live music, a sky full of mad colours and people applauding the epic sunset; no joke. Crazy, crazier, Key West... and you're bang in the middle of it.