OWNER'S RECOMMENDATIONS

If you are planning a holiday to Florida and have little or no previous experience of the sunshine state, I hope that you find these recommendations useful. The information supplied is from our own personal family experience and although I endeavour to always keep it up to date I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.

The first thing to think about is how you want to book your dream holiday - D.I.Y. or a tour operator/travel agent package.. 

Flights, accommodation, car hire(or transportation) and travel insurance will all have to be considered.

They can all be booked as a package through a tour operator (which may appear to be the easiest, but can also work out to be the most expensive option) or they can be sourced online and booked seperately.

Tour operator/travel agent.
If you choose to go this route, make sure that you know exactly what you are getting for your money!
Does the rental car have all the necessary insurances or will you be liable for additional charges on collection?
Can you choose specific accommodation or is it allocated on arrival?
How much is the travel insurance costing in comparison to buying it independently?
Will there be additional costs added to the flight price - i.e. meals, luggage, drinks, entertainment system?

Before committing to a tour operator package, why not check out the cost of booking everything yourself?
Work out the cost of compiling your own perfect holiday package by using the internet!

Maybe you think that you have more protection with the tour operator package if things go wrong because the tour operator has a representative to take care of you!
Most villa owners also have a representative on hand to help with any problems. Like me, they have a local management company who looks after their home and the guests who stay in it. In the unlikely event that there are any problems, or even just for giving some advice, they can be easily contacted.
The owner will also know the area where you will be staying and will hopefully be keen to share their knowledge with you. To point you to the best restaurants and places to visit!

Maybe you are concerned that when booking a villa directly, the owner that you are dealing with does not actually own the home that they are advertising!
Simple solution! Ask them to provide some proof of ownership.
ALL owners of short term rental (holiday) homes are legally obliged to be licenced by both the county and state and should be able to access a copy of their licence or alternatively a utility bill.
An honest owner should be happy to reassure you if you are worried or have doubts. If not, then maybe you should reconsider!

If I can be of any help with your planning, please don't hesitate to contact me. My help/advice/suggestions are given freely without obligation. We love our visits over to our Florida home and I want you to have a wonderful time on your Florida holiday - wherever you decide to stay!

When is the best time to visit?

Our preferred months are September through to end of May. Temperatures are not as high, flights are cheaper and the parks are not as busy (except at Easter and Christmas when they are heaving!). Easter is always the first peak period to get booked up, so if this is your preferred time and you want a good choice of accommodation - book early!

In June, July and August both the temperature and humidity are high, but if you are a U.K. visitor with school age children this is probably the time that you will be considering visiting, especially if you plan a trip of longer than two weeks and don't want to take the children out of school. If you are planning days at the park make sure that you take sun screen, maybe wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. The parks are also busy during this period as U.S. schools have their holidays then and many American families also choose the Orlando area for their vacation, although they only tend to go for about a week. Expect to queue for the rides.

U.K. vistors who are flying to Florida will find that the prices vary hugely depending on when they travel. Peak prices are Easter, Christmas, July, August. February and October can also be higher as these are the months when most schools have half term holidays, but the parks are quieter, the temperatures are lower and the weather is drier (June, July and August are rainy season!).

If you are not travelling with school age children and enjoy basking in the sun then the best months are September, October, November, March, April (avoiding Easter) and May.

If you want to escape harsher winter climates then November through to end of February are ideal.

If you are a keen golfer and are planning on playing a few rounds the expensive months are November through to end of March.

Flights

Scheduled or charter?

Scheduled flights (possible advantages).

Flights do not have to be in multiples of 7 days as they do with charter flights.
Flights can be booked for departure/return on any day of the week. This can be an advantage if you can travel mid-week (Mon to Thurs) as flights are cheaper than at weekends.
The luggage allowance is often more generous and may include sports equipment.
You are less likely to suffer delays on a scheduled flight than on a charter flight.
You can sometimes allocate your own seats when you book, which some airlines offer as a free service (I know that Virgin currently do!).
Check-in online 24 hours before departure and printing of boarding pass.
More choice of arrival/departure airports - Orlando International (MCO), Tampa (TPA) or Miami (MIA).

Charter flights

Often appear cheaper than scheduled flights, but you need to be careful to check all the possible additions to the base price which are probably included in the scheduled airline price!
Flights are normally only available in multiples of 7 days.

Direct or Indirect flights?

Indirect flights can sometimes work out to be cheaper than direct flight.
The direct flight time from London to Orlando is about 9 hours (less on the return from Orlando to London!), but is obviously considerably longer if you fly indirect with 1 or 2 stops.
Slight risk of missing your connecting flight if your departure from the U.K. is delayed.

Immigration (visitors from visa waiver countries)

Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your date of departure from the U.S.

You can use the visa waiver programme for visits of up to 90 days. Longer visits require a visa from the U.S. embassy.

The U.S. Immigration Authorities have implemented a process whereby you have to register online AT LEAST three days before your date of travel.

Visit the web site below to register and obtain your ESTA number

You can register at any time and the registration will last for two years or the life of your current passport, whichever is the shorter.

A charge of $14 for each application was introduced on 8th September 2010.

Web site to register https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Accommodation - Hotel or villa?

As a villa owner I am obviously biased towards villa rental as, in my opinion it offers a number of advantages over staying in a hotel/motel. These are benefits we discovered long before buying our own Florida home.

Food/meals - again you can make a considerable saving by keeping soft drinks, ice creams, ice lollies, fruit and snacks in your home. Make tea, coffee, meals/snacks whenever you choose.
Some homes provide the use of a BBQ for al fresco dining!
Most U.S. hotels are booked on a room only basis.

Baby equipment. Many homes provide baby equipment (cot, high chair, buggy, monitor) free of charge to guests.

Laundry facilities - wash/dry your clothes as often as you like during your holiday and therefore pack less to take out, leaving more room in your suitcase to bring home the many bargains that you will find in the Florida stores.
Take all your clothes home already washed and avoid having to spend the first couple of days back faced with a pile of dirty laundry.

Quiet - no problem with noisy hotel guests shouting or banging doors and disturbing your sleep.

Sunbeds - you get your own and don't have to rush out with your towels early in the morning to reserve them!

Pool - your own private pool to enjoy whenever you want - luxury!

Perfect entertainment for the whole family

Entertainment - many villas have games rooms, more than one TV, DVD players and films, family board games... all to keep you entertained at no extra cost!

Extras included in the rental cost (this is a sample of what our home offers, but will vary with individual villas).

Bedding, towels (including pool/beach towels), hair driers, safe, PC, wifi connection, baby equipment, phone calls (including international),cable 46" HD TV with hundreds of channels to choose from, Blu-ray player, cooking utensils/equipment, BBQ, hot tub, private swimming pool, pool toys, toys for young children, DVDs, books, board games, pool table, air hockey, foosball table.

If you book a privately owned villa you will be able to contact the owner and discuss any concerns you may have or simply get some advice on places to visit or restaurants in the area. You can reassure yourself that the villa has the facilities which are important to you and your family.

I have found the following companies to offer excellent service and good value for money. These are the companies that our family have used for several years and I do not earn commission from these recommendations.

Car hire

Option for young drivers aged 21 to 24

Car rental (Dollar/Alamo/National) Click on link for rental rates

No nasty surprises with this company!

With both Alamo and National the Silver rate includes 2 drivers but with Dollar only one driver is included. The Gold inclusive option allows 4 drivers and includes a full tank of fuel. This applies to all the suppliers offered.

When booking through this company you can be confident that the rates include all necessary tax and fully comprehensive insurance (CDW, SLI, UMP).

When you go to the relevant desk to collect your vehicle and sign the paperwork, please be sure to read through the contract and to make sure that you are not initialling to agree to any additional charges. It is NOT necessary.

Roadside assistance

The standard roadside assistance which is offered by the car rental companies does not generally include - the towing charge after an accident, window or windscreen repair or replacement, flat tyres or punctures, a flat battery, lost keys or keys accidentally locked in the car (this has happened to us and cost nearly $100 for a locksmith!). For peace of mind it may be worth considering an enhanced roadside assistance package which is offered when you book your car with this company for an additional $2.50 per day (payable on your credit/debit card in US$).

If there are young drivers aged 21 to 24 in your party who plan to drive in Florida then you will need to take book with either Alamo or National who have a specific option for young drivers.

Dollar, Alamo,Budget and National are all located on airport at Orlando International but at Sanford, Budget is off airport. This is something worth considering when you choose your car rental company.
From past experience, there is nothing worse than arriving at the airport after a long trip and then having to wait for a shuttle bus to take you to the car rental depot!

Attraction tickets

If you want to buy tickets in advance so that you can budget accordingly then I recommend www.park-tickets.com.

Please note that the U.K. price includes sales tax, but the US$ price is not inclusive of tax. The gate prices shown on the relevant attraction websites i.e. Disneyworld/Universal/Seaworld.....will not include tax. This would be added at check out.

Tickets can be collected from a conveniently located office in Celebration or, for orders of over $500 a complimentary local delivery service is available. Local ticket collections and deliveries are also rewarded with a free $25 gift bag.

The cost of delivery to locations in the U.K. is currently $10.
Delivery to locations within Canada and also some European countries is also available.

Many supermarkets/restaurants sell attraction tickets, but I would advise extreme caution when considering buying tickets in this way. "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is...!"

I was told by a guest that they had purchased park tickets in our local Florida supermarket ( a very well known store) and one of the tickets was invalid and could not be used.

What to pack

Clothes

The dress code in Florida is casual and shorts/skirts/trousers and tee shirts are acceptable almost everywhere.
If you are planning a round or two of golf you will need a polo shirt or short-sleeved shirt as tee shirts are not accepted on some courses.
Comfortable shoes are essential if you are planning on visiting the parks during your holiday as they all involve a lot of walking. Trainers and socks or comfortable sandals are ideal!
If you are renting a villa then you will only need sufficient clothes to last a few days as you will be able to wash/dry them as required. This means that you can pack less and buy more!
The weather in December/January can be quite cool in the evenings so it is a good idea to take a cardigan/light jacket/fleece top if you are holidaying at this time of year.

The amount and size of cabin baggage that you are allowed can vary between airlines so it is best to check this before travelling to the airport. Restrictions on items that are allowed in the cabin can also change at very short notice, so again I would advise checking a day or so before your flights.

Florida has a humid subtropical climate so there are many types of insects around. Some of them bite! If, like me, you react to insect bites it might be a good idea to use an insect repellent spray. These can be easily found at any pharmacy.
I sometimes react badly to mosquito bites - the area around the bite becomes swollen and inflamed (quite hot to the touch). I make sure that I keep some antihistamine cream with me so that I can apply it as soon as I realise that I have been bitten.
Mosquitos are most prevalent during the warmer months, around water and in the evenings. That is why most villas have screening over the pool area. It might be an idea to take some light long sleeved tops and thin trousers if you plan to sit outside in the evening where there is no screening.
Love bug season is late April into May and late August into September. Love bugs are small black flies with a red thorax and they generally travel around in pairs (hence the name). Although they are plentiful and can be a bit of a nuisance, they are harmless.
Be cautious with spiders and ants as some can give a nasty nip! It is not advisable to walk barefoot on grassy areas as fire ants bite - it hurts!!
It is also most inadvisable to poke around in the undergrowth (even if you have just lost your 10th golf ball!) as snakes do exist in Florida and some are poisonous.

Take simple, common sense precautions.

Places to visit

Parks

The Disney parks are, of course, familiar to everyone, but our personal favourite is Busch Gardens at Tampa - well worth a visit!

The new Legoland park opened in the autumn of 2011. It is the world's largest Legoland and is situated on the site of the former Cypress Gardens at Winter Haven. The gardens have been retained and a new water park is due to open in May 2012.

If you want to see the manatee in their natural surroundings and are visiting Florida in the winter months (mid November to March) then a visit to Blue Springs Park is well worth adding to your agenda. We really enjoyed the boat trip along the river.

Lowry Park Zoo

Lowry Park Zoo at Tampa is a great place to visit for a family day out that shouldn't break the bank! Not only are there some amazing animals to see, but also a play area and some water fountains for the children to play in if it's a hot day. Our grandchildren got absolutely soaked, but loved every minute. I have never been up so close to a giraffe - you can buy crackers to feed them! You can also feed the lorakeets and stroke the sting rays. There are some rides, but the cost is not included in the entry price.

Jungle Adventures.

Jungle Adventures at Christmas (That is the name of the town not the time of year!), doesn't look much from the outside, but we found it well worth the trip. Safari Todd stunned us by getting in the swamp with the alligators, with just a stick for protection. Admittedly it was November, so they may have been feeling a bit sluggish, but it was an amazing thing to see! They even appeared to answer to their names. The "hands on" experience was fascinating and we all learnt a few new facts. We handled an alligator, snakes, a tarantula and a scorpion

Boggy Creek Airboat Ride. When we bought the tickets, I thought this was quite expensive for the length of time it took, but having done it - worth every cent!

Lake Eva State Park A new venue, only opened in 2010. Ideal place to spend some time if you have younger children and want an inexpensive few hours. There is a small water park, tennis courts, swings, BBQ facilities.

If you are members of the AA (AAA in the U.S.), take your membership card with you, as some parks will give you a discount.

Dining

Eating out is a real pleasure in Florida too! There are so many restaurants to try.

In the U.S.A. it is usual to have salad as a course before your entree (main course). The main course will then often be meat/fish and one side dish i.e. potatoes or vegetables not both as in the U.K. and Europe. The food can also be a bit more salty than European food. Be aware that if you choose mashed potato it will often be served with gravy unless you specify otherwise. Baked potatoes are usually served with sour cream and butter (you will probably be asked if this is the way you want it). It is not unusual for American diners to be very specific about their meals i.e. to omit ingredients that they do not want included or to ask to substitute certain items within a dish.

Portions are often large and if you are unable to finish the meal you will be asked if you want a box. This is normal practice and can save a lot of money. If, for example you have steak/pork chops/salmon you can take what you cannot manage home and make a sandwich with it the following day! It has taken me years to get used to this, but I have now mastered it!!

Popular family restaurants include Denny’s, Perkins, Shoney’s, Outback, Red Lobster, Carrabas, Longhorn (and lots more), but our family favourite is Manny’s Chop House (conveniently located near to our home!). 

The clubhouse at Southern Dunes also has an excellent restaurant for breakfast, lunch and early evening meals.If you appreciate a good steak ,then you should try Charley's Steakhouse. Maybe best kept for a special occasion as it is comparatively expensive!

Tipping is expected in the U.S. A rate of 15% to 20% is normal. Check that the bill does not include the tip (gratuity) as it is sometimes included, especially for large groups of diners.

Shopping

Please be aware that the ticket price is not the price at the till. Sales tax (currently 6% will be added). Food is exempt but restaurant meals are not.

There are lots of bargains to be bought – trainers, clothing, cosmetics, PC software… are all considerably cheaper in the U.S. than they are in the U.K.  We are very lucky to have a 24 hour WalMart superstore just outside the gates of our community.  Popular shopping malls worth a visit are – The Florida Mall (large and busy - good range of stores), The Mall at Millenia (very up-market, but with a great gadget store!), Posner Park (a shopping complex with a number of large stores including JC Penney, Target, Best Buy - conveniently located just south of I4), Eagle Ridge Mall (a smaller, less busy mall, but still has good stores including Sears, JC Penney and Dillards).  Eagle Ridge also have a cinema, bowling alley and a carousel for the little ones!

Macy's offer international visitors a discount of 10% on all purchases for 30 days.  Just go to the gift wrap counter with your passport and collect an International Savings Card.  The offer applies to all goods, even those in a sale!!

Driving

If there are young children in your party, I strongly advise taking their own car seats with you.  The rental cost from the car hire companies is quite high and the seats provided are not always as clean as you might like!  The rental company will provide you with an instruction sheet on fitting the seat, but will not assist in any way should you have a problem with the fitting.  Some airlines will provide a bag for your car seat(s). I would advise you to check with the airline.

Again, for your convenience, I have compiled some useful information about driving in Florida in a pdf.file.  I recommend that you take a few minutes to read it, or preferably print it out and take it with you.  If you are concerned about finding your way around, why not consider hiring a satellite navigation system  It will be delivered to your U.K. home before your departure and comes pre-programmed with your accommodation address and all the main Florida attractions.

If there is anything I have not covered which you would like advice on, please don’t hesitate to get in touch either by Email or phone 01903 240892.

©florida-villatorent 2010