Villa in Florida

[BertieWooster]

I'm looking at going to Florida in Jan/Feb 2014 with my wife and some of her family (about 7 of us in total). The plan is to rent a villa in the Orlando area for 7-10 ten days.

I've done some initial research at the options available. One would be to rent direct from the owner, for example through the website ownersdirect.com. This appears to offer good value for money; however I am aware that there are risks with this approach, including being open to scams. Another option would be to rent a villa through a travel agents or with BA / Virgin as I can get a combined villa and flight package. This would have the security of being ATOL protected but obviously would cost more than booking directly with the owner. I've also looked at the James Villa Holidays website which seems to have a good selection of properties.

Can anybody here offer any advice on the best approach?

Bertie W

[Matt Harper]

www.orlandovillas.com

All privately owned - all seemingly legit.

[getitupya]

What sort of prices are you been quoted?

As an owner, I know how little I get from travel agent bookings, so guess you pay a lot for the comfort of booking with a know name (but don't forget they can go bust too)over taking a chance going the direct route. I don't even get $10 a day per person from travel agents.

I think going direct to the owner is the fine if you know them, or have a common connection or recommendations, then you can be sure that your money is safe. Most of our direct bookings come through recommendations and work colleagues. That said, I have always avoided travel agents for my own holidays since the first days of internet bookings being available, and have never been ripped off yet! I suppose a lot depends on how happy you are without a safety net of a travel agent being available?

[danzltiu]

Would recommend you look at highgatepark.com it a site that villa owners of Highgate Park community use to advertise their properties. There are plenty to choose from 3-5 bed etc so you are likely to find something that suits. They are all controlled by the homeowners association so no chance of a scam. I have a property there my self and recommend it. Would try to let you mine but it is already booked for 11th Jan-11th April next year.
regards
Kevin

[BertieWooster]

getitupya said:

What sort of prices are you been quoted?

As an owner, I know how little I get from travel agent bookings, so guess you pay a lot for the comfort of booking with a know name (but don't forget they can go bust too)over taking a chance going the direct route. I don't even get $10 a day per person from travel agents.

I think going direct to the owner is the fine if you know them, or have a common connection or recommendations, then you can be sure that your money is safe. Most of our direct bookings come through recommendations and work colleagues. That said, I have always avoided travel agents for my own holidays since the first days of internet bookings being available, and have never been ripped off yet! I suppose a lot depends on how happy you are without a safety net of a travel agent being available?

I've been quoted anything from £600 with Owners Direct to £1200+ with travel agents like Trailfinders and Virgin Holidays. James Villas have come back with figures from £700-1300. I would be more than happy dealing straight with an owner if I knew them. I guess I'm just wary of making a booking with someone unknown and having little protection if something goes wrong.

The travel agents must be making a pretty huge mark up if you are getting less than $10 per person as an owner. I know they will have overheads, etc but they must still be raking it in.

Bertie W

[BertieWooster]

danzltiu said:

Would recommend you look at highgatepark.com it a site that villa owners of Highgate Park community use to advertise their properties. There are plenty to choose from 3-5 bed etc so you are likely to find something that suits. They are all controlled by the homeowners association so no chance of a scam. I have a property there my self and recommend it. Would try to let you mine but it is already booked for 11th Jan-11th April next year.
regards
Kevin

Kevin,

Thanks for that. I'll have a look at the website and see what kind of prices they are offering.

Bertie W

[danzltiu]

if you have any questions re site or area feel free to ask.

[V8LM]

There are also some villas at Highgate Park, specifically Legacy Park, here: http://www.alphafloridavacations.com/

This area is convenient for the parks, close to Kissimmee (if you like flying), not too far from Orlando airport, and closer to Tampa than being Orlando city side.

Edited by V8LM on Tuesday 9th April 09:26

[98elise]

Matt Harper said:

www.orlandovillas.com

All privately owned - all seemingly legit.

This, I've booked through them many times. The villa you see is the villa you get. You deal direct with the owners. The site owners check every villa owner out before they can advertise. The site also has an active forum which is nice.

We got a great deal last summer, we sent a blanket late booking enquiry for two weeks in August. One owner came back with a 6 bed place (there were 4 of us), with pool, hot tub and games room. They only changed 3 bedroom rates as it was so late

[Countdown]

Also you might want to have a look at the Dibb website - it's very informative (well, it was for a newbie like me ) and there are lots of villas on there, plus lots of helpful advice.

We've booked a 5 bedroom villa for 2 weeks for £1200. Wasn't a massive bargain in money terms but, because of the choice available, we managed to get EXACTLY what we needed.

[getitupya]

BertieWooster said:

getitupya said:

What sort of prices are you been quoted?

As an owner, I know how little I get from travel agent bookings, so guess you pay a lot for the comfort of booking with a know name (but don't forget they can go bust too)over taking a chance going the direct route. I don't even get $10 a day per person from travel agents.

I think going direct to the owner is the fine if you know them, or have a common connection or recommendations, then you can be sure that your money is safe. Most of our direct bookings come through recommendations and work colleagues. That said, I have always avoided travel agents for my own holidays since the first days of internet bookings being available, and have never been ripped off yet! I suppose a lot depends on how happy you are without a safety net of a travel agent being available?

I've been quoted anything from £600 with Owners Direct to £1200+ with travel agents like Trailfinders and Virgin Holidays. James Villas have come back with figures from £700-1300. I would be more than happy dealing straight with an owner if I knew them. I guess I'm just wary of making a booking with someone unknown and having little protection if something goes wrong.

The travel agents must be making a pretty huge mark up if you are getting less than $10 per person as an owner. I know they will have overheads, etc but they must still be raking it in.

Bertie W

There is just so much competition, they know owners would rather have $65 a night than nothing. My managment company will also be taking a slice too. Guess if I am lazy enough to leave it up to them, I shouldn't complain!

They are an English couple, I have no problems with them. Try thetraveldirectory.com mine is busy, but they have plenty on their books.

[LHRFlightman]

Countdown said:

Also you might want to have a look at the Dibb website - it's very informative (well, it was for a newbie like me ) and there are lots of villas on there, plus lots of helpful advice.

We've booked a 5 bedroom villa for 2 weeks for £1200. Wasn't a massive bargain in money terms but, because of the choice available, we managed to get EXACTLY what we needed.

This. Had 3 from this site, all lovely. Just find one that the owners uses themselves and you can't go wrong in my experience.

[mattman]

Just got back yesterday from Florida - had a 5 bed townhouse in Paradise Palms along the 192 - probably one of the closet villa communities to the disney parks. Its a fairly new community and villa was nice with its own plunge pool but also a large resort style communal pool.
We booked through Villarenters.com, the price was good, no problems with the booking and they offer the guarantees you don't get booking direct with owners.

Just make sure you research the area of the villa, some are quite a distance from the parks/restuarant areas. we've stayed off the 27 and in champions gate previously and although nice, they can be up to 20-30mins away, the I4 seems to be getting busier and busier. If you stay on the 27 end of the 192, you can cut through to Disney via Sherbeth road, cuts out a chunk of time and is also useful to cut through disney to international drive etc.

We also stayed in a nice community called highgrove at the end of the 192 where it meets the 27 - large 5bed villa with large pool etc - you can get some great deals booking early.

[Countdown]

mattman said:

We also stayed in a nice community called highgrove at the end of the 192 where it meets the 27 - large 5bed villa with large pool etc

That's where we'll be staying - Caribbean Breeze Way

Can't wait

[mattman]

Countdown said:

mattman said:

We also stayed in a nice community called highgrove at the end of the 192 where it meets the 27 - large 5bed villa with large pool etc

That's where we'll be staying - Caribbean Breeze Way

Can't wait

Just remember to turn right after the "pink building" - or strip joint as it actually is!

[Mr Roper]

Shameless plug...

This is my parents villa in Windsor hills...it's about 15 min from all the parks. Just been completely repainted throughout...I should know as I did it.

http://www.frostfloridavillas.com/

[Countdown]

mattman said:

Countdown said:

mattman said:

We also stayed in a nice community called highgrove at the end of the 192 where it meets the 27 - large 5bed villa with large pool etc

That's where we'll be staying - Caribbean Breeze Way

Can't wait

Just remember to turn right after the "pink building" - or strip joint as it actually is!

How do you actually get into Highgrove? On google maps the 192 turns North and it looks like you have to turn left and then left before you turn right IYSWIM ?

Also how long did it take you to get to Disney?

[mattman]

Take the 192 (west) to where it meets the 27, take the north exit and literally as soon as you get off the ramp head straight across to the left lane and do a U turn at the earliest point. Then turn right after the pink building (that was the instruction we were given) into the high grove community.
If you use the sherberth road short cut it takes about 10minutes from high grove to get to animal kingdom and onto Disney property

[Countdown]

mattman said:

Take the 192 (west) to where it meets the 27, take the north exit and literally as soon as you get off the ramp head straight across to the left lane and do a U turn at the earliest point. Then turn right after the pink building (that was the instruction we were given) into the high grove community.
If you use the sherberth road short cut it takes about 10minutes from high grove to get to animal kingdom and onto Disney property

Cheers

ETA so you do a U turn at the McDonalds turning? No issues with doing U-y's on what looks like a DC if not a motorway?

Edited by Countdown on Wednesday 10th April 20:45

[rix]

would also recommend going direct to the owners. thedibb is good, and you can scope owners out and effectively see their reputaion/contribution on the forum. Doesn't make a scam impossible but you can certainly be more cautious. Had 3 via thedibb now and all have been brilliant and very cheap, like circa £400/week out of season. We are off next week and originally booked via a 'dibb' owner. Unfortunately for them they had some serious structural problems with the villa, and rather than blag it and hope it would be fixed before we turned up, they refunded everything without prompt. It seems very typical of the average owner's integrity IME. Anyway we've rebooked via perfectfloridavillas.com which is another owner/booking agent site. Got another cracking deal so hope its all good!