Florida Villa Help

Im currently planning next years summer family vacation to Florida and thinking of hiring a 5-bed villa in the Disney area.

Before giving a total stranger a 20% or so deposit I was wondering if there are any scams or gotchas to be aware of.

Are there any specific questions I should be asking the owner first before booking?

Are there any locations that anyone would recommend or to avoid?

Thanking you in advance.

gnjb.

quote:Originally posted by gnjb
Im currently planning next years summer family vacation to Florida and thinking of hiring a 5-bed villa in the Disney area.

Before giving a total stranger a 20% or so deposit I was wondering if there are any scams or gotchas to be aware of.

Are there any specific questions I should be asking the owner first before booking?

Are there any locations that anyone would recommend or to avoid?

Thanking you in advance.

gnjb.



Hi gnjb

Haven't rented villas myself but have been across a few times this year and met up with friends who have, the latest being only last week.

Most of the popular villas seem to be just of the 192 around mile marker 4 and 5. (on our last trip our friends where staying at Emerald Isle Resort just along from Formosa Gardens.)

As such, can't really answer your questions, but just wanted to say, don't make any quick decisions on location. Its most definately a renters market - there are literally tens of thousands of options. As I said, last week our friends where staying at Emerald Isle Resort - this is a realistic 10 to 15 min to the downtown disney area, so is pretty much as close as you will get.

It was a gated community which has its good and bad points - although it is gated, there is a pedestrian entrance next to the gate which anyone can walk through and it causes a little agrivation for anyone visiting you. It does however provide a little sense of security to everyone.

Take your time and watch out for the little extras like pool heating that can mount up over a fortnight.

Enjoy your hunt, and let us know how you get on [y]

David

I have rented in the Kissimmee area on 10 or 12 occasions and have had no trouble at all. As David says, there is an enormous choice of properties to rent, some of which are displayed on this site; indeed there are many owners amongst the v-flyer community.
Sub-division choice is a totally personal affair, but me and the present Mrs Treelo have been more than happy with our choices over the years. We tend to rent along the 192 and this year are returning to a property in Liberty Village (about 3-5 mins drive from the forementioned 192). There is a vast choice of restaurants, shops and things to do in the area and you really need to do some research before choosing. If I can help, drop me a PM. [:D]

I would suggest you book through an agent who can offer you a vast choice and give you financial security. Given the amount of re-pose around in Florida at the moment I would say it was the worst time ever to 'book direct'...

quote:Originally posted by barnstaple
I would suggest you book through an agent who can offer you a vast choice and give you financial security. Given the amount of re-pose around in Florida at the moment I would say it was the worst time ever to 'book direct'...


As an ex-owner of a place in Florida (Windsor Palms) I would suggest that this is not the best way to go - certainly not the cheapest.

Tour rates are notoriously high for the renter and the opposite for the owner - therefore, you find the houses rented out by the tour operators are the ones which get kicked around a lot as the owner possibly doesn't have the means or wherewithal to keep their place up to standard.

I am typing this whilst in a 5 bed place in Windsor Hills on holiday, which is one of the newest communities off the 192. Although I sold, we still come back 3 times a year.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I am sure there are many owners on this forum.

You can pm me if you want as I still know quite a few owners myself. I can also show you how to look up if they are genuine owners etc (even if they are delinquent in their taxes and how much of a mortgage they took out !).

One thing I would say - you often get what you pay for. Low rates usually mean low quality (as the owner will not be able to refurbish etc).

[Neil]

I tend to agree with Spiceke, and would certainly not rule booked direct with a private villa owner.

Like you, last year we were looking for a Villa and just starting searching the net, found some we liked and then did lots of research, talked to owners, read area reviews, just basically found out as much as we possibly could. We eventually booked one and whilst not the cheapest, it certainly was worth every penny and we are going back for the 3rd time in a few days time. The owners are fantastic (even given us a discount for regular bookings) and it just proves there are no reasons not to book direct.

It is not easy, but a bit of hard work now, will pay off big style when you get to Florida, please don't just go with the easy option just because it seems the most simplest thing to do.

I could give you the name/link to the villa we stay at, but it is only a 4 bed (sleeps 8) so might not be much use for you.

Neil

Hi, We always book direct with the villa owners, i always speak to them on the phone several times beforehand, asking as many Q's as possible..

WE prefer Windsor Palms area too, just off the 192 so close to all the shops ect and a very short drive too all the attractions.

When booking your own villa, you can choose what specifics you want.. We like the pool area to be backed onto a lake not other villa's and have as much sun as possible late afternoon as thats when we spend lots of time around our pools. A jacuzzi is also a must for us..as is a covered lanai to get some shade too.

We have stayed in Villas in

Eagle Piont : OK getting old now and quite a way down the 192 near Walmart at Oren Brown Drive.
Indian Ridge Oaks and Indian Ridge: Quite an older community now.. Good location Old Lake Wilson Road
Orange Tree: Clermont. Off the HY27 IN4; For us a lovely community just a little far out
Sanctuary West Haven: Davenport: Lovely community: We liked the area in Championship Gate: very plush
Sunset Lakes: Fantastic location
Windsor Palms: Super Location: New community: Excellent Villas and one of the best locations
Formosa Gardens: Similar area to Windsor Palms: Excellent area and nice villas..
Terra Verde: Nice Villas: location a little too far down the 192...

You will have a huge choice: So be choosy, very choosy. Always ask are the pictures you see on the web, their villa.. Last year whilst i was booking, i noticed the pool area looked different on the pics, when Q, the guy said oh yes its not our pool, however ours is similar.. Alarm bells and i didnt book that one..

Having your own villa is fantastic, your own space and peace its lovely. We wouldnt do it any other way.. We always eat at the Disney hotels. ie: Yachtsman Steakhouse, Citrico's, Cali Grill, Narcoo's and although we love dining there, the overwhelming Disney theme is far too much for us, for us to stay onsite..

Hope you find the perfect Villa.. If you need anymore advice, drop me a PM..

PS: may see you there, we are off to Florida August too..

Hi

I own a villa on the Glenbrook Resort, but it is a four bedroom, sleeps 8/10. I know a lot of owners who own 5 bed homes on Glenbrook and their homes and the resort are extremely well maintained. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

Karen

Perhaps you have had a bad experience with an agent booking but I can only speak based on the contracts I hold for villas of a superlative quality whilst also offering the financial protection of ABTA/ATOL etc on what we sell at what I have always found to be the best possible prices and have never had a client tell me otherwise...


quote:Originally posted by spiceke
quote:Originally posted by barnstaple
I would suggest you book through an agent who can offer you a vast choice and give you financial security. Given the amount of re-pose around in Florida at the moment I would say it was the worst time ever to 'book direct'...


As an ex-owner of a place in Florida (Windsor Palms) I would suggest that this is not the best way to go - certainly not the cheapest.

Tour rates are notoriously high for the renter and the opposite for the owner - therefore, you find the houses rented out by the tour operators are the ones which get kicked around a lot as the owner possibly doesn't have the means or wherewithal to keep their place up to standard.

I am typing this whilst in a 5 bed place in Windsor Hills on holiday, which is one of the newest communities off the 192. Although I sold, we still come back 3 times a year.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I am sure there are many owners on this forum.

You can pm me if you want as I still know quite a few owners myself. I can also show you how to look up if they are genuine owners etc (even if they are delinquent in their taxes and how much of a mortgage they took out !).

One thing I would say - you often get what you pay for. Low rates usually mean low quality (as the owner will not be able to refurbish etc).

I don't recall having a bad experience with these bookings because I always rejected them as the rates were pitiful that were being offered.

By the time the agent has taken their slice (I don't know of any agent who has links directly with owners), the main tour oerator has taken theirs, then the owners Management Comapny has taken their slice, there isn't much left for the owner. It is then a vicious circle of more people in the house, but no money for upkeep / upgrades.

Also, through an agent you may have a choice of what community you go to (or may not), but in the main you will not know which individual house you will be at.

For instance, you may want a south facing pool / games room / jaccuzzi / not overlooked / big screen tv / community with central facilities like a club house with cinema etc etc. If you are particular, then booking direct is the only way I know of getting this. The more I come over here the more particular I get - most of the things I want now I didn't have in my own villa!

As has been said, you can book with an Agent and this will give you protection, but by booking with a credit card with the owner you will have the same protection. You should also build up a rapport with the owner.

I suppose people will divide into 2 camps - those that book their holidays independantly and are happy to book each element separately and those that want a 'one stop shop'.

Each to their own.

I have booked a villa holiday in Orlando only 3 times.

First time was a villa that was receommended from a colleague so booked direct - it was far from ideal - for one the pool was green with algea when we arrived, it backed onto a buys/noisey road and it looked rather tired.

Fueled by that dissapointment the second time did a load more research and booked one, asking all the relevant questions poised above, via a very well known UK Disney fan site . Villa was all we expected until day three when we returned to find the electricity had been disconnected - after failing to contact the owners or their local rep we were left to our own devices and had to move into a hotel until we could find another villa locally. A lenghthy legal battle when we returned home, meaning we had to bankrupt the owners, resulted in our money back but no compensation.

Third time was via an agent, i.e. Virgin holidays. Picked out villa location, stated our requirments like south facing pool, jaccuzzi, ;ale views, pool heated prior to our arrival and all the other requests/demands. ALL were met - best ever villa, yeah may have cost a bit more but the reasuurance of a management company/rep on hand made a holiday into a restful vacation.

I have NO DOUBT that in future I will use a rep like Barnstaple to book all our future Villas - not worth the worry to do anything else for us.

HG

I'm sure the owners that advertise on V-flyer wouldn't agree that Travel agents always get the best deals and homes. Most owners that have dropped their standards to take Travel agent rates are normally the ones who are quite desperate and willing to take anything. Their homes are the ones that are not updated and reburbished to a good standard. (Might be a few who can afford to) We were at our house in August and bought new beds, a new slate pool table, dartboard, updated all the towels throughout the home, just to mention a few things. I wouldn't be able to do this if I accepted Travel Agent rates.

I know at least three people who had horrible experiences after booking with Virgin Holidays and another agent, the villas they were allocated were in a bad way and other owners on Glenbrook were asked by Virgin for availability, Virgin paid the top rates to have their guests moved. Private owners normally have their Management companies involved from start to finish of the booking and they are available should any problems arise. It just shows that problems can arise whatever way you go.[:0]

We've taken the plunge and booked directly with an owner of a villa in Cape Coral. As has already been stated, there are pro's and cons for both methods. By using a credit card as payment it does offer that bit of security just in case thing turn sour but from personal experience of booking 'direct' we have had no problems whatsoever. Thats not to say we never will!
We have also in the past booked through agents with no problem but I do agree with some that you are often paying a slightly higher fee to cover their costs.

NOC[:)]