Orlando, Florida

• Orlando is really two places: the theme-park and resort corridor most visitors come for, and a smaller core of lakeside parks, murals, independent restaurants and tree-lined residential streets where locals live. The city is built around cars, so where you stay decides how easy everything is. Staying downtown, in Winter Park or in College Park gives you a walkable base, while the resort areas are mostly a hotel, a parking lot and a long road.
• Safety is generally good in the places visitors go. Resort areas, International Drive, Lake Eola, Thornton Park, Mills 50, College Park and Winter Park are busy, well lit and used to people traveling alone. The usual problems are theft from parked cars, theft in crowded attractions, and pushy timeshare and discount-ticket pitches. A few blocks of downtown, and the neighborhoods west and south of it, are best avoided after dark.
• Eating alone is normal. Bar seats, counter seats and patios are standard, and staff in tourist areas are used to people dining by themselves. English is spoken everywhere, and Spanish is common too, especially along the Orange Blossom Trail and in Kissimmee.
• Plan on rideshare for most evenings. Public transit exists but is thin at night and on weekends, and the distances between the parks, downtown and the suburbs are long. Heat and sudden thunderstorms cause more trouble for visitors than crime does, so carry water and check the forecast before walking far.

English is the main language, and Spanish is widely spoken across the city. 911 operators can connect an interpreter if you speak another language. Stay on the line and say which language you need.

• Dress is casual almost everywhere, from swimsuits and cover-ups at the pool to shorts and sundresses in restaurants. Bring a light layer, since air conditioning indoors is strong and winter evenings can be cooler than expected.
• Tipping is expected: roughly 18 to 20 percent at restaurants and bars, and a few dollars per bag or per day for hotel staff and housekeeping. Menu and shelf prices don't include sales tax, and some hotels add resort fees.
• Small talk with strangers is normal and usually just politeness. A calm 'no thanks' and walking away is the standard way to turn down timeshare offers, discount ticket sellers and promoters. Don't hand your card or ID to street sellers.
• The sun is strong and storms arrive fast. Use sunscreen, drink water often, and go indoors at the first sign of lightning. Parks pause rides or close sections during storms.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance): 911. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) is the easiest way to get around, especially after dark. Check the plate and driver photo before getting in and sit in the back seat. Taxis wait at the airport and hotels but are rare on the street.
• LYNX buses connect downtown, International Drive and the suburbs for a low flat fare, but they are slow and service thins out in the evening. LYMMO is a free downtown circulator that stays within the core. SunRail commuter trains run through Winter Park, College Park and downtown, with limited evening and weekend service. The I-Ride Trolley serves the International Drive area.
• From Orlando International Airport (MCO), a rideshare or taxi to downtown or the resort area takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Brightline trains link the airport with South Florida. Walking works inside neighborhoods like Thornton Park, Winter Park and College Park, but sidewalks and crossings on big roads such as International Drive and Orange Blossom Trail can be dangerous, so stick to marked crossings.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.

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