Useful information and articles for anyone visiting Florida & the Disney Theme Parks
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  • In Florida……

    Posted on March 20th, 2011 admin No comments

    Written by: Marie Bowen
    Authors Website

    Read more Articles by Marie Bowen

    In Florida we have a villa that is extremely nice to rent. It is located in Windward Cay, which is just off the 192 at Marker 14 – it is very close to the Walmart, sometimes we walk to the Wal-Mart.

    Florida lets a dream is a villa that can hold up to 8 people. It has a child’s bedroom which has 3 beds, 1 single and one bunk bed. It is extremely comfortable and has a TV and on the wall and a wardrobe in the corner. It is a very spacious closet that comes with coat-hangers. The room has plenty of space for children to play and drawers to store your cloths.

    There are two other bedrooms and one of those is the master bedroom that also has a walk in bathroom which contains

    A shower/bath, a toilet and another walk in closet. The bedroom, by the pool, has a large set of drawers with a mirror on top is next to the huge TV on the wall. The bed is very comfy and has a bath towel on ready for your visit. There is also a cupboard which is a bit bigger than the others.

    The dining room is a lovely relaxing area and has a lot of beautiful flowers whilst eating a delicious American dinner. The kitchen is right next to the dining area. The kitchen contains a cooker, an oven, a microwave and a dishwasher. There is obviously the things a kitchen would normally have. The fridge has a water machine so you can get a delicious drink in the hot weather.

    The living room is very luxurious as the settees are so relaxing and there is a massive TV for your family to watch. There are broachers that we have left for you to read there and coupons which you can use to get cheaper meals.

    In the garage there is a pool table for you to enjoy and a football table for the little ones to play. There are also 3 closets. One holds the important things like the brush and vacuum cleaner. The one in the middle is the owner’s cupboard which we forbid you to touch as it as our private things in. and the last one just contains the boiler and the stuff for the beach which you may use.

    And finally the pool which is the biggest part of the house as it is not just a pool it is also a pool area which is a place for the whole family to sit and talk. So your kids could be in the pool and you could be relaxing but watching at the same time. You must supervise your children whilst in the pool as if any thing was too happen it would be your fault. And you have a view of fields that go far back.

  • Some very important questions to ask when renting a Florida private rental villa

    Posted on May 29th, 2009 admin No comments

    Written by: Philip Cornish
    Authors Website

    The following questions may help you in deciding which Florida private rental villa to book.

    Make sure that the cost you are being quoted is the all inclusive price.  This may seem like an obvious question, but you would be very surprised how many people do not ask this question.  They are then left with a very sour taste in their mouths when they are suddenly confronted with additional costs.  Some people still do not read the small print and go ahead and sign almost anything.  All good tour operators and private homeowners will make the total cost very clear, but if you are unsure, it is always best to ask.  Honest homeowners will not mind you asking at all.  Ensure that VAT/ USA Tax included.

    Are all sheets and towels provided or do we need to bring our own ?  It is always best to check, as some rentals expect you to bring these items. The majority of Disney World rental homes do include bed linen and towels but there may be the odd one or two that do not include these items.  It is also worth checking on hairdryers etc. as well.

    How do I get to the villa or condo ?  If you’re visiting Florida for the very first time and you are not used to driving on the right hand side of the road, having to find your way to your Disney rental house can be very stressful.  It is therefore vital that the home owner provides you will very accurate instructions in finding the villa.  This is especially true if you are travelling at night.  There is nothing worse than getting lost after a long flight.  If you do have any questions, always contact the owner.  They will always be please to help.

    How do we collect the keys?  This is a very important question.  Having just travelled across the Atlantic, the last thing you may want is to travel to a rental company location to collect the keys.  Sometimes the office may be closed and you will need to make phone calls.  Or, the collection point could be a long way from your villa which will involve another long drive.  This is very tiring after a long flight.  The easiest way is to have a Disney World rental home with a lock box at the house with a keycode.  Really easy, turn up at the villa and let your self in.

    What time is Check-in and Check-out?  Most Florida private rental villas adhere to hotel rules, which is normally check out at 11am, with check in at 2pm.  This gives the home owners Management Company time to clean the villa.  However, if nobody is following you into the villa, most owners will let you check out late to help you with late take-off flights.

    Can I bring my pet ?  This is almost always clear from the start, but if you don’t see any specific preferences, you should always ask.

    Do you allow smoking in the villa ?  Once again, this is almost always clear from the start, but always ask.  Most owners do not allow smoking inside the villa but most allow it outside in the pool area.

    How close are you to Disney World and the other attractions ?  This may once again seem like a logical question but some Florida private rental homes are located a long way from the parks.  Most are usually within 15 to 20 minutes drive and that is fine.  However, some may be well over 40 minutes drive which may not be to your liking.

    Will the home that I book be the actual home that I will stay in?  You should always check this with the people you are considering renting from.  Many commercial sites show pictures of beautiful Disney World villas but actually allocate your actual home on arrival in Florida.  In effect this means that you do not know where you are staying until you arrive.  

    What happens if something goes wrong while I’m at the villa? – Do not panic!  Before you leave home, make sure that the home owner provides you with a local phone number(s) that you can contact if there should be any problems.  Ask them if there is a call out charge for unsociable hours.  Some Management Companies can charge up to $100 for a call out in the late evening.