Reasons why you should think about booking a private florida villa

[Steve]

If you are considering travelling to Florida and staying in a hotel, here are some things to get you thinking about your options a little more.

If you are travelling in a larger family or group, take the whole cost of your hotel rooms into consideration. Also remember it is no fun for teenagers, or the parents for that matter to share a room and even if the kids are small, you have to keep the TV volume low and creep around the hotel room so as to not wake the kids. So the cost consideration is one thing but wait there is much more!

Continuing the privacy element. It is much better to be able to put small kids to bed after a tiring day and to be able to carry on having some fun yourself like maybe taking a swim in your illuminated pool or having a beer outside in the warm, balmy evenings and afterwards catch up with your favourite TV show. This gives the mums and dads a break and helps to make it a much more stress free vacation.

If you are one of those that like to prepare some good old home cooking while you are away then that's not a problem. All vacation homes come equipped with everything you could need to prepare the most complex of meals should you wish. Cooking ranges, microwave ovens, fridges, freezers, ice makers, toasters, blenders, dish washers, plates and silverware all come as standard. So even if you just want to cook breakfast and buy all your other meals outside, you can, the choice is yours. All villa communities are within a short distance to many supermarkets so it is easy to get stocked up on supplies. Many villa owners can provide welcome baskets which contain the basics till you can get to the shops yourself.

It's fun too! Having all of your family or group in the same place makes it much more fun. Much better than running up and down hotel corridors to see your fellow travellers. If you did want a bit of space then many homes have a second lounge or loft where you can escape for some peace and quiet and maybe read a book if you wish. Many of the homes also have TV's in all or most of the bedrooms too.

Many of the guests that have stayed in our villas very rarely go back to hotel rooms and return year after year, forming friendships with the villa owners.

So how easy is it to book everything yourself?
Very simple, and again you can save some money this way too. You can book your flights first if you wish so you have your confirmed dates of travel. You can book your car hire and get an all inclusive rate that means there is nothing else to pay when you arrive. Here is a good place to try Orlando Car Hire. Then you can visit a villa rental website like Orlando Villas or Florida Villas Elite and browse or search the site to find your ideal vacation home. Then once you have submitted your enquiry you will hear from the owner or owners if you enquired to multiple owners, quoting their rate for your stay. You will have the option of booking pool heat if required, only really necessary from November to March. If you want to know anything you can ask the owner, many have been travelling to Florida for many years and can offer you the benefit of their experience. So give it a try, you may be surprised. Feel free to ask any question on these forums.

[disneymanor]

Totaly agree with all of above, we have been going out to Florida for over 15 years and at first we used to rent a friends townhouse in Lindfields until he unfortunatley passed away, after which we rented villa through a couple of different sites before we bought our own home 3 years ago on Tivoli MANOR.
Once we had to go to a hotel after a slight mistake in our booking and I would not wish that on our worst friends . We booked into what we thought was a good hotel as it was over $120 pn but it was still way below par to what we are used to in this country.

[pbensur]

Even if you have no interest in cooking at all during your vacation, just having the facilities to eat in for at least breakfast and maybe lunch can not only be a big money saver, but healthier too. There's plenty to buy at the supermarkets that will require little or no preparation. And I always find I feel better if I can make healthier choices throughout the day. Staying in a villa makes that possible.

[jo-anne]

Choose a villa which specialises in little touches of luxury too. Daily cleaning, fluffy bathrobes, champagne on arrival and even a chef to come and cook your dinner can all be arranged!
But fundamentally, it's all about quality family time, with room to spread out and be yourselves. You work hard all year to spend a fantastic vacation together, What better place to do it. We would never go back to sitting on beds, with the whole family squashed together in one room -nightmare!

[ellie]

You are SO right, Joanne. I remember in the 'days before villa' the problems we had with two children of different sexes, as most hotels only supply a double bed or a very uncomfortable 'roll away!' Nobody wanted to spend even one night on that! Then there was the queue for the basin or bath, and the arguments over what to watch on the single TV - and once the kids were in bed then it was either join them or sit in the dark! Thank goodness for our villa!

[ncmurray]

I agree with all of the above. The space and freedom that you get when you rent a villa is fantastic. Our children are getting older now, at 17, 14 and 10, and there is absolutely NO WAY that I could stay in a hotel room with the three of them and keep my sanity at the same time!

Another thing that I find fantastic in Florida, is having a BBQ! I can't believe that I have said that, because I hate, with a passion, BBQ's in the UK. Everything is so civilised about a BBQ in Florida. No flies in your food, or wasps in your drink! And when you eat at home, there are no worries about having a glass of wine (or a Marguerita) and then having to drive home. Heaven!

[ellie]

Not forgetting having your own pool, too! There is nothing like it - no vying for the sunbeds, or having to find an inch of space if you actually want to swim rather than do belly flops.

I still get a real buzz from swimming in our pool at night and looking up at the stars - magic!