An Orlando Vacation Package And Your Orlando Vacation Rental
When you're putting together your Orlando vacation package, there are many
benefits in deciding to go for a vacation home rental instead of a motel or
hotel room - they include better value for money, more space and greater
flexibility. You should think about the following before deciding which home
to choose, though:
1. How will you pay the bill? Some of the nicest homes are owned by families with no credit card facilities,
so they can only accept payment by cash, check or bank transfer. However,
using a credit card gives you some protection in case of problems. It's the
option I would choose, even if it limits your choice of homes.
2. Are you sure you know what you're getting? Some rental companies will only allocate your home as you arrive. I recommend
renting from a company that specifies your home and provides you with online
photos of it at the time of booking so that you avoid any last-minutes
unpleasant surprises.
3. How big a party size can the home accommodate? Florida State limits Orlando vacation home rentals via a license. The maximum
party size per property is controlled (for example, most 3 bed properties are
allowed to sleep up to 8, most 4 bed 10, etc.). It is important to match your
party to the right home size very carefully.
4. What type of community do you want to be in? There are simple residential communities that have few additional facilities
and there are "resort" communities. Resort communities frequently have
additional facilities e.g. club house, gym, community pool. If you don't'
need those, consider one of the smaller, quieter residential-style communities
5. What type of property do you want? Both types of property, single family homes and condos, have pros and cons.
Single family homes are great but may be too large for a couple or a small
family. Condos can be less expensive than a single family home, but sound
insulation can be poor - as you may find out when people in the condo next to
you are partying at 3 in the morning!
6. How will you get the key? Some companies or owners send you directions that enable you to go straight
to the home you're staying in to gain access (for example, a lot of vacation
home owners fit coded lock boxes to the property and provide lock box access
instructions once you've paid). Other companies insist that you visit a
central check-in office. After a long flight, driving all over town to get
the key from the landlord's office may not be a great start to the vacation!
7. How far from the theme parks is ok? Most people like to be within ten or fifteen minutes of the theme parks to
minimize travel times (assuming your visit will include the parks!). But be
skeptical of all claims about travel times: 5 minutes to Disney from our
home" may be true at 3 a.m., but it could be 30 minutes at Easter when the
roads are full!
8. How much parking space do you need? Most Orlando vacation home rental properties have very short driveways. If
you will have more than one vehicle, check out parking arrangements before
booking!
9. How important to you is getting the absolutely lowest price? We all love a bargain, but beware of going too far. Competition has led some
Orlando vacation home rental companies/owners to offer uneconomic, tempting
low prices. Eventually they go out of business. Every year, some families
arrive for their dream holiday only to find the home unavailable. So balance
the natural desire for low price with some caution.
Sue lives near Orlando where she used to run a property management company. She contributes to Orlando vacation package tips and Lake Buena Vista vacation planning blogs.
Comment on "An Orlando Vacation Package And Your Orlando Vacation Rental"