Orlando

Florida's theme-park capital delivers on the big promises. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld between them cover more ground than some small cities, and families can easily fill two weeks without repeating themselves. The sheer scale can feel overwhelming at first, but that's what planning is for. Beyond the parks, Orlando has genuinely good resort hotels — many with their own pools, dining and entertainment that make staying on-site feel worthwhile rather than just convenient. International Drive offers a buzzy strip of restaurants, attractions and outlet shopping if you need a break from queuing. For UK families, the flight is around nine hours and the time difference is manageable. Value varies enormously depending on when you go — school-holiday pricing is brutal, so if you can travel outside peak UK dates, you'll notice the difference immediately. It rewards proper research, but the payoff is real.