Lindfield Reserve Villas general query

[Jackie Smith]

Hiya everyone, I'm a regular visitor to Orlando but have now decided to rent a villa this year and wondered if anyone had rented anything on the Lindfields community. I believe there are about 16 villas and I don;t know which one we will be getting, that's up to Virgin Holidays to decide. Has anyone stayed in these villas before or perhaps owns one.

They do appear to be excellent from the pics I have seen on the net but wondered if villas in general have safes installed if not where do you store valuables? In hotels they always seem to have a safe in the rooms these days.

Many Thanks

Jackie

[ellie]

Why don't you rent one direct from an owner on one of these sites? Then you will be able to choose the villa you will get rather than having it allocated. You will get a far better villa and you will be in the driving seat, not waiting for Virgin to find a villa owner who is desperate enough to rent them their villa.

I am afraid that I would avoid any villa which was rented to Virgin as they pay owners peanuts, don't pay their owners until long after the guest has departed, and cancel without redress, and all that has an impact on the sort of condition the villa is likely to be in.

If you rent direct from an owner on one of the above sites you can ask all the questions before you book, and choose a villa that suits your needs. You can see lots of photos of the home, there will probably be a website, and you will know exactly what you are getting.

Virgin may not even know which villa you will be getting until quite near the date, so you could be very disappointed.

You will also have a lovely time looking at all the wonderful villas on offer, and you will find that the owners are very happy to help you with all your questions, making the whole experience trouble free.

[domster]

Ellie is right, there are some great villas on that community. Why not book with the owner direct. We have always done this ever since we started visiting Orlando many years ago.

Tour operators tend to not give you named accommodation so you might not know what facilities the villa has. Every villa will have different facilities.

[carolmc]

Hi Jackie,
Lindfields is a settled, safe community - right in the heart of the tourist area, with all the restaurants etc. you could ever need and easy access to all the attractions.
There are some beautiful villas on there - you could do a search on this site and see for yourself, and then book directly with the Owner.

[steph_goodrum]

Jackie
Although not on Lindfields my neighbour rents his home through Virgin and does not have to have a safe, he likes it as he keeps his home basic with one tv in lounge and no frills and that suits him.

I think you'll find therefore that it is going to be hit and miss what facilities you will have, I know Lindfields is supposed to have some really nice houses there so dont think you'll be disappointed at the standard and will have a great holiday.

I have to say though that after an hotel even the most basic villa is going to be an added bonus to your holiday after hotels, we've all been there in the past whether Florida or anywhere else, 4 people in one room and children trying to sleep whilst you try and watch TV or talk quietly or read by a table lamp so you dont disturb them. It will be heaven for you to put them to bed maybe take a swim etc or relax.

You could email Virgin and ask about the safe but I dont think they will be able to give you a definitive answer as they tend to be allocated on arrival.

[andrewandcarole]

I couldn't agree more with the above!

Good friends of ours stayed in a 'Virgin' villa and as we were staying in our home at the same time I invited them round for a BBQ.

Guess where they are staying for their next trip ............ours!
The 'Virgin' one was tired and didn't have any of the extras.

When we first owned our villa we accepted some tour operator bookings - but not any more! We couldn't afford to keep our home up to the standard we ourselves expect on the rental income we recieved after the tour operator had their cut!

Carole

[SunLover]

Jackie

As a Lindfields owner I am of course biased towards the community, but please don't make the mistake that a lot of holiday makers make which is somehow believing that all villas are the same standard.

Just because Virgin show you a picture of a stunning villa doesn't mean that with allocation upon arrival you will get anything like the picture you saw.

Take my advice and that of the others who have already replied, who like myself, wouldn't touch a travel agent booking with a barge pole, and do a search via the links at the top of this page to find a villa that you and your family can chose now in the knowledge that it will be the villa that you get when you arrive in Orlando.

[8D]

[Jackie Smith]

Thank to you those of you with positive comments about Lindfields Reserve. I'm sure however we get there we will have a lovely time. There is only myself and my husband and my 81 year old Dad who has never been to Florida before. I'm sure with the freedom any villa has we will not be disappointed. Safety is the main issue for us and whichever villa we choose (direct or Virgin) the safety of the complex will apply however we book.

Thanks again to you if you made a positive comment.

Regards

Jackie

[orchidvilla]

Hi...as a villa owner i looked into renting with Virgin, James Villas & TCD. When i worked out what a guest would pay to what the owner gets i could not believe it, i didnt spend a fortune to subsidise my villa to these bandits. I can understand if an owner as posted above rents his villa to these agencies but keeps the villa basic as i know through an owners website i run that owners who had rented through these agencies were fed up of their villas being trashed and will now only rent direct and keep their homes looking good.
The downside also is that through these agencies its allocation on arrival and if you are the person who likes to be organised and plan things it can often restrict you and running round after a flight with kids etc to pick up keys is not something i ever relished. I rented villas direct from owners for years before i bought mine and never had a problem.
At least if you rent with an owner direct you get all the info you need well before your stay and you dont leave anything to chance, and you get to see where you are staying and what you are paying for.

Malcolm

[Appledore]

Hi Jackie, Years ago I rented through Virgin a villa at Lindfields. The community is central and the villa we have was basic but still clean and very nice. Perhaps next time you could look at some of our villas. By then you'll know more what you are looking for.

Have a wonderful time!
Elaine