Most people come to Disney with children and long days are spent at the Theme Parks. These can be very hot in the summer and always exhausting no matter what time of the year.

To come home to your very own private air-conditioned villa and cool off in your private pool and relax with a cool drink, what could be better?

A fully equipped kitchen is a godsend when the kids are tired and do not want to go out again in the car to a restaurant, a meal at home is so much less stressful.

Many private villas have two sitting rooms, great for two family’s holidaying together.

They will have en-suite bedrooms and two or more bathrooms.

You may find TV’s in all bedrooms, DVD players, Play Stations and even Games Rooms with Pool Tables.

No need to bring towels and linen – it’s all provided for you.

All the villas are privately owned, bought by people like myself because we love our little piece of Florida. In renting a villa you will deal with the villa owner direct and not a tour operator and can be assured of a very personal service. Many have management companies who look after the guests and are there 24/7 if needed.

Renting a villa is great value for money as the price you pay is for the villa and not per person.

There are many communities to choose from, most of them are within 20 minutes from Disney, all sizes of villas ranging from 3-7 Bedrooms, the fun is choosing which one of the wonderful homes to stay in for your Florida vacation.

Many PGA Tour players including Tiger Woods and Ernie Els alongside legends Arnold Palmer and Gary Player make Orlando their home. Why? Within an hour’s drive of Orlando are more than 150 superb golf courses designed by the best players, Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Johnny Miller to name but a few. Designers like Robert Trent Jones, Tom Fazio, Ron Garl and David Harman have added to the plethora of challenging and spectacular courses on offer right on your doorstep.

Prices vary from as little as £12 per round without a cart in low season to £90 per round with a cart in high season. With an average annual temperature of 72 degrees seasonal weather doesn’t vary nearly as much as in Britain.

If you just want a bit of fun then fun you will have. If you want to improve your game, Orlando is home to six golf instruction academies including the renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy where he personally teaches. Tuition courses vary from three hours to three days.

Mystic Dunes Golf Club is an 18 hole championship course offering an unprecedented golf experience, a dunes-style western nine similar to a British links course and an eastern nine of low American classic wandering through wetlands and oak forests. This course was rated 4 star and ranked number 2 in “Orlando’s Top 5 Golf Courses”.

Champions Gate International and National 18 hole courses were both designed by Greg Norman. The International provides a British links-style experience and the national is traditional American style. It’s next to here you will also find the David Leadbetter Golf Celebration Golf Club is rated 4.5 stars and in the top 3 in central Florida for service and in the top two for course conditions in Golf Digests “Best Places to Play”. This championship-calibre course invited competition for many skills level and golfers of all ages and abilities can improve in an environment especially designed to facilitate learning.

Possibly Kissimmee Golf Club offers the best value for money for the not so serious golfers. This course has long been a favourite of locals and visitors alike and prices are wallet friendly.         
 
  Golf Club                         Location                   Telephone  
         
  Bobby Nichols’ Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-933-4055  
  Buena Ventura Lakes Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-348-4915   
  Celebration Golf Club  -  Celebration  -  407-566-4653  
  Championsgate Golf Resort  -  ChampionsGate  -  407 566 GOLF  
  Conway Golf & Recreation Centre  -  Orlando  -  407-859-8565  
  Crystal Brook Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-847-8721  
  Cypress Creek Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-351-2187  
  DeBary Golf & Country Club  -  DeBary  -  407-668-2061  
  Diamondback Golf Club  -  Haines City  -  800-222-5629  
  Diamond Players Club  -  Clermont  -  407 862 5116  
  Eagle Pines Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653   
  Eastwood Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-281-4653  
  Falcon’s Fire Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-239-5445  
  Faldo Golf Institute  -  Orlando  -  407-238-7677  
  Forest Lake Golf Club  -  Ocoee  -  407-654-4653  
  Grand Cypress Resort  -  Orlando  -  407-239-4700  
  Golden Bear Club  -  Windermere  -  407-876-5775   
  Greens Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-351-5121  
  Greenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort  -  Haines City  -  800-237-9549   
  Hawks Landing Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-238-8660  
  Hunter’s Creek Golf Course  -  Orlando  -  407-240-4653  
  International Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-239-6909   
  Kissimmee Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-847-2816  
  Kissimmee Bay Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-348-4653  
  Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-933-4055  
  Lake Buena Vista Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653  
  Magnolia Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort   -  407-939-4653   
  Meadow Woods Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-850-5600   
  Metrowest Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-299-1099  
  Mystic Dunes Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-787-5678  
  Oak Trail Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653  
  Orange Lake Country Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-239-1050  
  Orange County Golf Centre  -  Winter Garden  -  407-656-2626  
  Orange Tree Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-351-2521   
  Osprey Ridge Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653  
  Palm Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653   
  Poinciana Golf & Racquet Resort  -  Kissimmee  -  407-933-5300   
  Remington Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-344-4004  
  Rock Springs Ridge Golf Club  -  Apopka  -  407-814-7474  
  Rosemont Golf & Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-298-1230  
  Southern Dunes  -  Haines City  -  407-422-0070  
  Stoneybrook Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-384-6888   
  Ventura Country Club Community  -  Orlando  -  407-277-2640   
  Wedgefield Golf & Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-568-2116  
  Walt Disney World Resort Golf  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-1600  
  West Orange Country Club  -  Winter Garden  -  407-656-4882   
  Windermere Country Club  -  Windermere  -  407-876-4410  
  Windermere Golf Centre  -  Windermere  -  407-654-0200  
  Winter Pines Golf Club  -  Winter Park  -  407-671-3172  
  Zellwood Station & Country Club  -  Zellwood  -  407-886-3303

EAST COAST

DAYTONA
Daytona is one of the USA’s most famous beaches with 23 miles of wide sandy beach. The tide goes out a long way making it great for kids to play. The beach has seen many land speed attempts, including Sir Malcolm Cambell reaching 276mph with Bluebird in 1935. You can drive along and park on the beach and there are sunbeds and various equipment available for hire. Daytona is home to ‘Race Week’ and the Daytona 500 in February and ‘Bike Week’ in March so can get very busy.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH
Just a little further south from Daytona, New Smyrna Beach is a popular local hang out. The south end of the beach has no car zone and is a conservation area and Smyrna Dunes Park at the north end is great for surfing. Smyrna Dunes Park also has three miles of elevated boardwalks winding along a coastal nature preserve. There have been minor shark attacks here but the waters are patrolled and considered to be safe.

CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE
Located in between Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach, this is one of Florida’s most undeveloped beach fronts. It extends for around 25 miles and has dunes, lagoons, salt marshes and flatlands with very few crowds. Three government agencies collaborate to ensure an equal balance between the technical space programme, wildlife management and public recreation. The only amenities along this stretch are located at Appolo and Playalinda Beaches. Take snacks and drink as there are no facilities at all.

COCOA BEACH
Cocoa beach is one of the many islands that straggle the east coast and is a laid back beach with lovely soft sand. The Cocoa Beach Pier juts out over 800 feet over the ocean and has a few restaurants, small rides and souvenir shops. Ron Jons Surf Shop is located here.
Cocoa village is on the mainland about ten minutes drive from the beaches. It is a lovely quaint and picturesque village with a selection of shops, boutiques and restaurants. This is a lovely location to waste a couple of hours.

SATELLITE BEACH
The largest beachside community in South Brevard, Satellite Beach lines the low rise condo’s along the beach front and the Pelican Beach area attracts sun worshipers. The shallow waters are ideal for children and there is also a playground and Samson’s Island Nature Park.

PALM BEACH
One of America’s most elite and fashionable resorts popular with the rich and famous. The lovely beaches and coastal waters are ideal for swimming, surfing and sailing.
WEST COAST
CLEARWATER
Clearwater beach is a narrow island separating Clearwater Harbour from the Gulf of Mexico and is reached via a long intercoastal highway bridge. Serious sunbathing and water sports in abundance are here as are dolphins which can often be seen playing in the sea. The landmark Pier 60 is the centre point of beach activities and is great for sunsets. There are also plenty of seafront restaurants. It is also a favourite of the yachting community cruising along the coast.

ST PETERSBURG
Just a short drive south from Clearwater St Pete’s boasts four miles of glorious white sandy beach. Snorkelling, wind surfing and other water sports are plentiful here too. Many of the restaurants serve locally caught fresh seafood and there is ample shopping in the town centre.

SARASOTA
Known as the Queen of the Gulf Coast, Sarasota is consistently voted as one of the top places to live in America. There are museums and numerous gardens that flourish in this sub tropical climate. For plentiful shopping, dining and entertainment head for the elegant St Armands Circle.

This is what happened to me.

It’s all a bit overpowering the first time, especially with kids who are tired after the long flight, but take it slowly (everybody else does), look at the direction signs and you’ll be fine.

After you touch down at Orlando and get off the plane you are in a satellite terminal to one of the two main terminals (A or B).

You pick up your baggage at the carousel in the satellite terminal. There is a display board over the carousel showing the flight number.

You then have to pass through immigration where you hand over the documents you were given to complete on the plane.

After you pass through immigration you give back your baggage (not the hand baggage and they will ask you for it anyway) and then proceed to customs. When you give back your bags they will tell the number of the next baggage reclaim carousel.

You then have to go to the centre of the satellite terminal and take the shuttle train to the main terminal.

After customs you go downstairs to the main baggage reclaim (it’s a big place) and find the carousel number you were given earlier.

If you are renting a car you then you have to go down one more level where all the car rental desks are situated. (Tip - it is easier if you have change in US currency for freeway tolls, maybe three dollars in quarters to start with.)

Once you have completed the hire documents, you turn around and go out of the glass doors to the big car park opposite.

The cars are parked in bays by size (i.e. sub-compact, compact, etc.) And you just walk up to any car in the right bay, get in and drive away (the keys are normally in the door).

If, as sometimes happens, there are no cars in the right bay, you will normally be allowed to take a car from the next size up.

You should check that you have a full tank of fuel and you will find some documents inside the car which you need to give to the person in the kiosk at the garage exit.

Now all you have to do is find where you are staying!

Florida Mall – located at the intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road
Department stores such as JC Penny, Sears, Saks, Dillards and many smaller shops together with a Food Hall giving you a bewildering choice to eat. An all day experience

Lake Buena Vista Factory Shops – located on 535, south of 535/536 intersection. One of the smaller outlets but nevertheless well worth a visit. Call at the Swim Mart to collect a voucher booklet.

Orlando Premium Outlets – located on Vineland Avenue, exit 68 off the I 4 . Well contained and easy to find your way round with a the help of their map. There are many sports wear shops, and other shops include Oilily, Burbery, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Versace, French Connection, Georigo Armani, Hugo Boss and many others.

Belz Factory Outlets – located on Kirkham Road and I 4 junction. This is a large widespread area and is sometimes difficult to find specific shops but well worth a visit. Has over 170 outlet stores including, Footlocker, Gap, Adidas, Levi, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Liz Claibourne and Reebock.

The Loop – located at the junction of the John Young Parkway and Osceola Parkway. One of the newer malls, with a Kohls, Sports Authority, Beds, Bath and Beyond, Old Navy and many other others

Eagle Ridge – Located on Highway 27, south of Haines City. JC Penny, Sears and many others including a food court and a 12 screen cinema complex.

West Oaks Mall – situated on Highway 50. Again has the department stores of JC Penny, Sears, Dillards and many other smaller shops and a large food court.

The Mall at Millenia – Just off the I 4. Well worth a visit if only for window shopping. Department stores include Macy and Bloomingdales. Other up market shops include Gucci, Tiffany and Cartier. Wonderful eateries including a Cheesecake Factory which has cheesecake to die for as desserts, but do not forget to leave room for it after the starter and main course.

Old Town Kissimmee – situated on the 192 just past I 4 going eastwards. Many small speciality shops. Worth visiting in the evening.

You sit in a courtyard and get that outdoor feeling. The food is wonderful – you name it and they seem to have it. Everything from bread to fruit and all the bits in between, beef, salmon, sushi, and all kinds of seafood. There is also a silver platter “buffet” which has a wonderful array of vegetables, pastas, meats and fish served in wonderful sauces. I could go on and on.

There is the most wonderful melt in mouth dessert bar with pies, gateaux, ice creams and biscuits.

All this is served with fresh orange juice and endless ‘champagne’ and to finish it all off coffee and cream. While eating you are serenaded by a trio making it a memorable experience.

It is not cheap at about $32 for adults, cheaper for older children and there is a special menu for smaller ones. At holiday times flowers are complimentary and there are treats for the children.