If you want to swim with dolphins in the morning, buy an Armani suit over lunch, solve a murder at dinner, and dance the night away, then (a) you’ve been partaking of far too many James Bond movies, and (b) you need to head for the International Drive resort area of Orlando. International Drive packs the most diverse set of attractions, nightlife and shopping experiences imaginable into one convenient, easily accessible area. There are no animatronic children of the world singing in harmony on I-Drive, and that’s sort of the point. When the sun sets and you’ve had your fill of the gnashing teeth of live alligators and the freefall thrills of indoor skydiving, I-Drive offers a bounty of bars and clubs suited to every imaginable taste. Universal CityWalk boasts not only the boisterous vibe of the Hard Rock Live, but jazz, Motown and Latin clubs as well. You can even be jammin’ to live reggae in the open air at Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, a replica of the reggae king’s hometown of Kingston, Jamaica.

Pulsating dance beats emanate nightly from Metropolis and Matrix on I-Drive. These two adjoining clubs cater to two different audiences: Those who can successfully describe the differences between house, techno and trance belong at Matrix, while those who loved Moulin Rouge’s set decoration and regrooved ‘70s classics belong at Metropolis. At Matrix, the decor is styled with the cool blue and silver tones that decorators insist represent the future. The hard-edged dance tunes and frenetic light show are for serious clubbers, and trendy club wear is de rigeur. In this case, trendy club wear is defined as a ratio between the cost of the clothing and the amount of skin it reveals or defines – both should be extremely high for an optimal reception by Matrix denizens. If Matrix is FX or the WB, Metropolis is Bravo – more artsy, less amped. Florida’s jet set converges on Metropolis while in town for photo shoots or business meetings. The music here consists of familiar pop hits from the ‘70s through the ‘90s, and there are plenty of ways to remain entertained that don’t involve bumping and grinding. Pool sharks will feel right at home with the purple felt hand-carved pool tables. If you prefer cues of a different sort, you can always chat up your companion while perched on a lipstick-red velvet chair.