I've owned a villa near disney for many years and having rented it form time to time, we came to realize from chatting with our guests that one of their biggest challenges is how to choose the vacation rental villa that is right for them in the first place! This article reflects their experience and hopefully sharing it with you will make your choice easier...
Is a vacation rental villa right for me??
Whether you are seeking a magical disney world vacation or an active family holiday, a florida vacation rental villa is one of the most flexible options available to you. Many visitors decide on a hotel or motel room. This can appear to be the cheapest option but has several disadvantages. As I'm sure you know if you wanted a suit of rooms in a hotel that offered all the facilities of a vacation rental villas, you would spend many hundreds of dollars per night! Limited space, limited bathrooms, neighbor noise etc - we've all been there! The convenience and space of a vacation rental villa not only make for a much more enjoyable vacation for everyone but when things go wrong these were an important factor for one of our guests when 3 of her 4 children became ill shortly after arriving. She was so pleased to have chosen a luxury vacation rental villa with the space and convenience of 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms as it meant that the whole family was not wakened when one member had to get up frequently during the night!
Convenience:
Probably the biggest advantage of your vacation rental - you can come and go as you please and do what you like, when you like. You might feel like a day by the pool on your own when the rest of the family go out, and that's exactly what you can have - moreover, its you by the pool and no one else to share it with - bliss!
Location:
This is the another important one factor in choosing your vacation rental! Its important to choose a luxury vacation rental villa that is close to the attractions that you will be visiting frequently. First time visitors have little idea of the scale of the Orlando area and the whole thing can be more than a little daunting. Its made even more confusing by the vast choice of vacation rental villas available and the lack of clear details on their location. We know that this has resulted in some families traveling long distances to get from their chosen location - not ideal. That's why we have clear links to maps from our vacation rental villa details pages. We want you to be able to plan your vacation and spend as little time as possible in the car!
Quality
We spent some time recently viewing and inspecting florida vacation rental villas. The pictures on their web sites presented the villa very well in most cases but it soon became clear that they had been taken a very long time ago. Many of the villas were very tired, showed heavy wear and little attention to maintaining a comfortable environment for their guests. They were certainly far form the luxury vacation rental villas they were being marketed as! These problems showed up much more in the properties where the owners had clearly taken little interest and were managed by property management agencies (Large or small, and who, in turn rent them to the large holiday companies). This is one reason why we update the pictures of our properties each year (several times a year in fact!). This gives our guests the confidence to know that what they see is what they will get. Whilst booking direct with the owner does not guarantee quality, it does give you the opportunity to ask if the photos on the site truly represent the condition of a particular vacation rental villa today.
Check in/out
This is often overlooked as one of these things that has to be done but be careful. Check in and out is not usually at the villa! Its normally at the management company office where you have to wait in line with everyone else that booked through the same company. This means that you have to drive to and find the office from the airport. We know of offices that are over 15 miles from the vacation rental. Check the driving distances and times from airport to office and from office to your villa. (Be aware that if the office is in Kissimmee, it can be very busy and take a long time especially in the early evening). Note: We have an electronic access system so our guests can drive direct to their chosen luxury villa and let themselves in. The benefit of this system is clear - and you have no keys to lose or hand back.
Locality
What we mean here is the area surrounding the villa. Careful examination of the photos of some villas will show where they have been doctored to hide undesirable features. One of the favorites is to block out the lower areas of screened pool enclosures to hide the fact that there are many others very close to the villa. We do not enhance our photos. Check carefully or ask if the pool area is overlooked.
Games rooms
Some vacation rental villas advertise a games room with all kinds of entertainments. If this is something that you want to have in your villa, be sure to inquire whether it is properly air conditioned. The reason for this is that some owners have simply locked the garage door and installed a carpet and a pool table or foosball table and called it a games room. Its fine in December but impossible to use comfortably for much of the year.
Equipment
Check whether the equipment you need is 'included' or 'available' and know the difference between these terms. Included usually means that the item is included in the rent for the villa. Its important to know that 'available' usually means that the item is available but you will be expected to pay an extra charge for it. For example, a gas barbecue will cost you between $35 and $50 per week to hire (+ sales tax). A cot, baby seat or stroller can be the same each! That can make a significant unexpected dent in your pocket - check unless the information is explicit!
Summary
We hope that this guide helps you make your choice of vacation rental villa much easier. We think that vacation rental villas are exceptional value for money but there are some traps which we have highlighted. Whilst we realize that checking all these details might be a pain, we hope that it will help you have a much better vacation!
For good quality vacation rentals and florida Villas close to disney, take a look at our select collection at http://www.myorlandovilla.biz - and have a great disney vacation!
John and Julie Macrae have been involved in real estate investment in the UK and the USA for many years. Julie owns a chain of Estate Agents and property management agencies in the UK, John is involved in property management and overseas real estate sales.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
How To Choose A Florida Vacation Rental
Hello From Orlando - Central Florida's Parks And Gardens Offer An Abundance Of Colours, Shapes, And Textures
Florida has a great amount of biodiversity and nature lovers will enjoy the great variety of plants found in the Sunshine State. On our recent trip to Orlando we had a chance to visit several locations with a beautiful parks and gardens, such as the Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Historical Bok Sanctuary. Even my excursion on the Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park brought me up close to some of the fascinating flowers and plants found in the Orlando area.
Florida has a mix of subtropical and tropical climates and the area around Orlando are more subtropical. Central Florida has a hot, but often stormy climate and experiences many thunderstorms with a frequent risk of hurricanes.
Geographically, the Central Florida area encompasses Orange, Osceola, Seminole, lake, Brevard, and Volusia counties, and some consider Polk and Sumter counties also to be part of Central Florida. This low-lying area is dominated by hundreds of lakes surrounded by marshland. Historically predominant industries include cotton, citrus and cattle-raising. The climate favours a great deal of plant and animal species.
Nature lovers will revel in Central Florida's abundant gardens and parks which give them a perfect opportunity to enjoy nature up close. Here is a collection of parks and gardens that will give you great exposure to Central Florida's natural beauty:
Archbold Biological Station P. O. Box 2057, (Old State Road 8), lake Placid, FL 33862 Phone: (941) 465-2571. "The Station fosters long-term ecological research on native plants and animals of central Florida and also provides environmental education for K-12 children."
Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Boulevard, lake Wales, FL 33853-3412; Phone: (941) 676-1408. "Historic Bok Sanctuary offers visitors Florida's most abundant opportunities for aesthetic, cultural and personal enrichment. The lush landscapes of the Olmsted gardens, the majesty and music of the carillon tower and the splendor of Pinewood Estate create an experience that inspires all who visit."
Cypress Gardens 2641 South lake Summit Road, Cypress Gardens, FL 33884; Phone: (800) 282-2123. "Standing sentinel in the historic gardens is the giant Banyan tree, which was planted in 1939 from a seedling during the parks early years. Topiary Trail features a collection of colorful topiaries, including a variety of animals such as a rabbit, swan and serpent. The crowning gem in this trail of jewels is the waterfall, a sparkling cascade accented by brilliant floral blossoms. The Plantation Gardens grace the manicured landscape of Snively Mansion and include the aromatic herb garden, a glorious rose garden and the butterfly garden adjoining Wings of Wonder."
Disney wilderness Preserve 6075 Scrub Jay Trail Kissimmee, FL 34759; Phone: (407) 935-0002. "Fifteen miles south of walt Disney World, in the heart of Central Florida, lies the Disney wilderness Preserve. The site, originally the Walker Ranch, is now owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, a private, non-profit conservation organization that is responsible for the largest network of private conservation lands in the world."
Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens 1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803-1537; Phone: (407) 246-2620. "Miles of paved scenic walkways that take you through garden settings, including: America's largest Camellia collection outside California and the largest formal rose garden in Florida, a house museum dating from the 1880's, a palm garden and bamboo garden. New gardens include the Tropical Stream Garden and the new Kitchen Garden with herbs, vegetables and a butterfly garden!"
Highlands Hammock State Park 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring, FL 33872; Phone: (941) 386-6094. "The contrast of the dark swamp waters against the bright trunks of the bare trees is reminiscent of more northerly forests. White-tailed deer munch their way through the campsites, enjoying the scattering of acorns around the base of many oaks. Bobcat tracks are found each morning in the damp sands along the roadways, and the Barred owls call as soon as the sun goes down. Visitors are enjoying viewing alligators as they soak up the warm sun that follows the cool nighttime temperatures."
lake Kissimmee State Park 14248 Camp Mack Road, lake Wales, FL 33853; Phone: (941) 696-1112. "Florida's cowboy heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida "cow hunters" in an 1876-era cow camp, open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends and holidays. White-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bobcats have been seen in the park, located on the shores of lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing, and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe and study the abundant plant and animal life. Six miles of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has full-facility campsites, as well as a primitive camping facility. The youth camping area can accommodate up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a popular nighttime activity for campers."
Ocala National Forest USDA Forest Service, 17147 E. Hwy 40, Silver springs, FL 34488 Phone: (352) 625-7470. "The Forest offers 383,573 acres of unique ecological sites, trails, natural springs. There are hundreds of camping sites throughout the forest offering everything from full-service campgrounds to more rustic sites. The National Forest also has designated trails for horseback riding. Hunting is permitted in designated areas where the enforcement of state regulations is strict. Recreation areas include Alexander springs, Fore lake Recreational Area, Juniper springs, lake Eaton Loop Trail, lake Eaton Sink Hole, Mill Dam Recreation Area, Salt springs and Salt springs Trail. Specially marked walking/hiking trails are located throughout this wonderful resource. lake Eaton Sinkhole and the lake Eaton Loop are only two of the trails that allow the visitor to explore the area on easily traveled interpretive trails."
Silver River State Park 7165 N. E. 7th Street, Ocala, FL 34470; Phone: (352) 236-1827. "This park has more than 14 distinct natural communities, dozens of springs, and miles of beautiful trails. The adjoining Silver springs attraction houses the headwaters of the Silver River, which flows through the park into the Ocklawaha River. The park is home to a pioneer cracker village and the Silver River Museum and Environmental education Center. The center is operated by the Marion County School District in cooperation with the park and is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00. p.m. Admission to the Museum is $2.00 per person.Children 6 and under are free."
Silver springs P. O. Box 370, (5656 E. SR-40), Silver springs, FL 34489; Phone: (800) 234-7458. "Silver springs is a 350 acre nature theme park surrounds the headwaters of the beautiful Silver River, the largest artesian spring formation in the world. Located 90 miles north of Orlando, just east of Ocala, Florida. Here you can view the underground springs from our famous glass-bottom boats, where youll see fish, shellfish, turtles and alligators in water thats up to 80 feet deep and 99.8% pure. Walk the beautiful grounds and experience the natural habitats of Floridas largest alligators, endangered bears and panthers, Kritter Korral petting zoo, plus an entertaining variety of wildlife shows from Birds of Prey to snakes and reptiles. There are rides and exhibits for all ages in a natural setting of stunning beauty. "
University of Central Florida Arboretum 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816-2368 Phone: (407) 823-2141. "The Arboretum of The University of Central Florida was founded in 1983. From the original 12-acre "quick view" garden with a mix of ornamental and native plants in the pond pine community adjacent the Stockard Conservatory Greenhouse, The Arboretum has grown to nearly 80 acres. North of the 9 acre man-made lake and the Engineering E-2 parking lot, trails take visitors through a 5-7 acre cypress dome and a picturesque 2-3 acre oak hammock. North of the oak hammock the trail crosses an open area with wild rosemary and sand pine, and oak scrub, returning to the cypress dome. An unmarked trail circles the cypress dome on the north, club mosses and carnivorous sundews lining the sides, before rejoining the main trail on the southwest side of the dome. Follow the broad white sand trail west through a 'mature' [last burned in the 1950's] sand pine and wild rosemary community for a quick exit to the University Field House road, or return on Arboretum trails."
Winter Park Kraft Azalea Gardens, Winter Park, Phone 407-599-3334: Located on Alabama Drive off Palmer Avenue. Thousands of azaleas, tropical shrubs and trees grow luxuriantly along the shores of lake Maitland where cool breezes and breathtaking sunsets can be found. Azaleas bloom January through March.
Although the Orlando area is mostly known for its big-thrill attractions and theme parks, nature lovers will find plenty of parks, gardens and wilderness areas to enjoy. For more information about the Orlando area contact the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This entire article including photos is located at http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/orlando_florida_plantlife.htm
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com, a web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our brand new http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html FREE ebooks about travel.
Self Help Anger Management
Anger management arises for a number of reasons for many people at some time in their lives. It is sometimes as a result of stress that occurs due to a family or professional situation that can pass quickly. Some people however are more inclined to have more serious anger management problems.
There are various self help anger management techniques available to help combat this problem, for example by having some counseling sessions with a therapist. There are many books available on this subject and maybe this will be enough for many people to be able to control their anger.
Some people resort to anger management courses that offer more in depth help by an expert in this field, where sufferers can share their experiences with others and learn how they have overcome their problems and learn new techniques to control their anger.
It is important to remember that support and understanding is needed for helping suffers with anger management issues. Many families pass through this situation at some point in their lives due to various situations that arise. If no support is offered then very often the situation becomes worse because sometimes it is difficult for family members to understand why someone suddenly has this problem whether it is as a result of any number of reasons.
It is important to remember that anyone can suffer from anger management problems including children. Sometimes a well-behaved child suddenly shows signs of anger that were never displayed before. It is essential for parents to talk to their children and find out the reasons for this sudden change of behavior.
There can sometimes be a minor problem that the child has experienced that has led to this sudden case of anger that will pass very quickly, but sometimes a more serious event has occurred such as bullying or even a sexual assault.
These situations must be handled very carefully and may require counseling as very often children do not want to discuss what has happened to their parents and the use of a professional counselor is needed to reveal what has occurred and to offer advice to the child.
Suffers find help through a number of resources, some by using yoga and meditation, others by reading books or audio books. There are many alternatives available and it is important to seek out this help as soon as possible. Anger management self help is found in many ways and it varies from person to person as to their needs.
To find out more about the best options available for self help anger management visit Self Help Anger Management
How To Use Ayoga BallAhimsa - First Yama, First Limb
According to Patanjali, the Yamas are the first limb of Yoga. Ahimsa is often referred to as the first Yama. Ahimsa is to restrain from violence, but we live in a violent world. Just open any newspaper, or watch the news, and you will be overwhelmed with negative feelings, when you consider the innocent victims of all this violence.
So, how do we live a non-violent life in a world filled with random violence? According to Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, but I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Life was not easy for any of those who lived under the rule of the Roman Empire, but Jesus advises us to forgive our enemies and our suppressors. As he was being crucified, Jesus also stated, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. His ability to forgive was super natural.
Mahatma Gandhi said, "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent." Many people will state that they cannot live up to the standards of Jesus or Mahatma Gandhi for non-violence. This is understandable, but do most of us really try?
every person on the planet should make a conscious effort to try to be as forgiving as Jesus Christ or Mahatma Gandhi. To help those who have, or would do you harm, is not an easy task.
This should be a matter of putting thoughts, words, and actions, to good use. It is easier said than done, but to do this, we have to be tolerant of everyone. It requires us to make decisions and actions without prejudice - at all times.
However, if you are being physically attacked, and your survival, or the survival of friends, or family, is at stake, non-violence may not be a viable option. In history, there have been conquerors who massacred millions of peaceful people like sheep.
Unfortunately, history has documented far too many holocausts for us to ignore the right to defend oneself. To be humble on the outside, but bold within, is a much safer course when you plan your day. When you put your best foot forward, most people will respect you for it, but beware of those who see your good manners as a sign of weakness.
Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of yoga teacher training at: aura wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free yoga e-Book: "yoga in practice," and a Free yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
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