Learn More About the Top Home Security Company in Polk City, FL

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Activities galore

Cozy cottages

Here's the theme

Historic hideaways

We all need a staycation or a trip to a different city from time to time. Whether you’re a Lakelander feeling a little cooped up or a visitor looking for a special Central Florida experience, picking the perfect home away from home is crucial.

We went looking for unique lodgings around town that showcase that Lakeland spirit. Choose your ideal digs, pack your bags, and get ready for a memorable getaway at one of these spots in or around Lakeland.

Safari Wilderness Ranch | North LakelandTake staycationing to a wild new level at this animal safari ranch. Camp out in furnished tents on wooden decks and enjoy a panoramic view of the animal herds. Overnight guests also have access to sundown safaris, mountain biking, and animal encounters.

Streamsong Resort | Bowling GreenOutdoor adventures meet indoor luxuries at this thoughtfully designed golf resort with Florida’s top rated collection of courses. And it’s not just for golfers — make reservations at the spa or many restaurants, then head outdoors for archery, bass fishing, and other experiences.

Camp Margaritaville | AuburndaleBook a Cabana Cabin and enjoy amenities like pools, parks, restaurants, and a tiki bar for an upscale trip. RV and motorhome owners can also park here for great views of Lake Myrtle. Pro tip: Motorhome sites come equipped with a private tiki area.

TreeHouse in the Cloud | St. CloudCozy up in a cottage nestled high in the oaks. Enjoy lazy mornings on the wraparound porch, feed the horses that live on the property, and spend nights cuddled around the firepit.

JR Cabins | DavenportThis gated retreat is comprised of three cabins formerly part of Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort. How many “hidden Mickeys” can you find in the cabins’ decor?

SUN ‘n FUN | South LakelandGet close to all the aviation action SUN ‘n FUN has to offer with year-round RV and dry tent camping. Reserve a spot for a few days or a few weeks — discounts are available for monthly campers. Enjoy aircraft displays, natural golf cart paths, and activity fields.

Mission to Mars Extreme Private Attraction | DavenportThere’s no astronaut training required for an out-of-this-world stay. This luxury travel experience is designed for groups. With 20 suites, a lazy river rocket, and the world’s largest private residential 3D video wall, this stay is one you won’t forget.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort | Winter HavenChoose from the LEGO bungalows at Beach Retreat, treasure hunts at Pirate Island Hotel, or different themed rooms at LEGOLAND Hotel. Pro tip: All options include free, family-style breakfast and separate bunk-style sleeping areas for kids.

The Terrace Hotel | LakelandLakeland’s oldest operating hotel can be found in the heart of downtown. Book a stay here to be in the center of the hustle and bustle, from Saturday farmers markets to First Fridays.

Lakeside Inn | Mount DoraBook a room in Florida’s oldest operating hotel where, as the name suggests, the cozy accommodations have views of Lake Dora. These quaint rooms are decorated in the traditional American style — choose from buildings in the Lakeside, Gables, Terrace, or Sunset Cottage buildings. Don’t forget our guide to Mount Dora fun.

What's the best internet provider in Polk City?

While less than 1% of Polk City households have access to 1,000Mbps download speeds, and only 56% of rural households have access to speeds of 250Mbps, there are still plenty of internet options. CNET's experts recommend Spectrum as the overall best in Polk City, mainly because it is one of the most broadly available services in the city with coverage extending to 93% of households, according to the FCC. It is also the fastest internet provider in the city, offering speeds of 500Mbps for $50 and 1,000Mbps for $70.

For those looking for fixed wireless options including satellite and 5G internet, we examined several options. Verizon 5G Home Internet came out on top as the best fixed wireless provider in Polk City because of its availability and decent average speeds.

If you live in or are moving to a more rural area and aren't eligible for internet service from Verizon, Spectrum or T-Mobile Home Internet, you can turn to satellite internet. CNET’s pick for the best rural internet option in Polk City is Starlink. The downside is that Starlink has high upfront costs and a monthly fee of $120. However, it's well worth it, as its speeds range from 20Mbps to 250Mbps and are pretty consistent.

Spectrum offers the cheapest internet in Polk City, with plans starting at $30 per month for 100Mbps, while most other providers start at around $50. You can also receive discounts from Spectrum, T-Mobile, and Verizon by bundling your internet and mobile plans, potentially lowering your monthly rate to as low as $35 with T-Mobile and Spectrum.

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Polk City across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also closely read providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, call ISPs to verify the details.

Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider's website.

Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Polk City. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.

Other available Polk City internet providers

How to find internet deals and promotions in Polk City

The best internet deals and top promotions in Polk City depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Polk City internet providers, like Verizon 5G and Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons" target="_self for a limited time. Others, including Starlink, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How fast is Polk City broadband?

Polk City doesn't have a lot of speedy internet options. Spectrum offers the only internet plan with speeds up to 1,000Mbps. In some cases, you may be able to get up to 1,000Mbps with Verizon 5G, but that's not a guaranteed speed.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What's a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Polk City

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Polk City FAQs

Spectrum Internet is the best internet service provider in Polk City because of its wide availability, competitive prices and fast speeds. With prices ranging from $30 to $70 per month, you can get speeds up to 1 gig. Customers of the 1-gig tier get a modem and router for free, and customers of the 300Mbps and 500Mbps plans will pay $10 monthly for a router rental. Since Spectrum is available to around 93% of Polk City, there’s a good chance you’re eligible for service.

Unfortunately, there’s no fiber internet service in Polk City yet.

Spectrum offers the cheapest plan in the area at $30 per month for 100Mbps speeds. If you opt for bundling a mobile plan with your internet service, you can also get T-Mobile or Verizon service for as low as $35.

Spectrum offers the fastest internet speeds in the city with its 1,000Mbps tier. Spectrum is the only provider to offer that fixed speed in the city. Verizon 5G Home Internet can technically reach 1,000Mbps, but it doesn’t guarantee that speed and is likely unavailable in most of the area.