The following ten questions will help you in deciding which Florida villa to book.
1. Make sue 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. A recent survey showed that over 50% of people still do not read the small print and go ahead and sign for 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.
2. 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 rentals will be villa or condos and clean bed linens and towels are usually included. However, there may be the odd one or two that do not include these items. It is also worth checking on hairdryers etc. as well.
3. 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 rental home 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.
4. 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. This is very tiring after a long trip. The easiest way is to have a Disney villa with a lock box at the house with a keycode. Really easy, turn up at the villa and let your self in.
5. What time is Check-in and Check-out? Most Florida villas and condos adhere to hotel rules, which is normally check out at 11am, with check in at 2pm. This give the home owners Management Company time to clean the villa. However, if nobody is following you in to the villa, most owners will let you check out late to help you with late take-off flights.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. How close are you to Disney and the other attractions. This may once again seem like a logical question but some Florida villas are located a long way fro m 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.
9. Will the home I book be the actual home I stay in? You should always check this with the people you are discussing the villa with. Many sites show pictures of villas but many allocate your actual home on arrival. In effect this means that you do not know where you are staying until you actually arrive. Make sure the homes advertised are privately owned and will be the actual home you will stay in.
10. What happens if something goes wrong while I'm at the villa? Do not panic! Before you leave, 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 $70 for a call out in the late evening.
Please visit our web-site at http://www.floridasuntime.com where all our villa owners will be able to answer all the above questions openly and honestly.
Phil Cornish - married with 4 children and 3 grandchldren.
Enjoys writing about Florida and writing web-sites.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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