Where do i start??

[Molly33]

Planning a trip to Orlando in Feb '05. Need advice on everything!! Do i book flights and cars first or do i find a villa first??
We are a party of 4 adults, 5 kids and 1 baby.
Never done this before and any advice would be fab!

[LiesaAnna]

look through the link above for villas first...........take it from there, i wish i did, would have saved money going with these guys.........for my car rental, one step at a time.......

[Kissyme]

I always book my flights first this is mainly because I can`t be flexible on the dates and I`m picky who I fly with but I think that if you plan it all early enough then either way round should work out. Having said that we could`nt get our first choice of villa once but it was high season as Liesa said all the links above are very good so give them a try.

[eagleydo]

There is no right or wrong way. I personally book villa first and then flights and car. I also have a tendancy to fly out on a Thursday this meaning I arrive home on a Friday morning after a Thursday evening flight. This works for us two fold. If you have a weekend in front of you just after you arrive it makes you subconciously feel you have been there longer, flights tend to be cheaper during the week and also arriving home Friday morning means you have a weekend in front of you to adjust to the time change.
If you have never been before you are about to have a new wonderful experience. We like many others on this forum went on a once in a lifetime holiday only to find we keep returning over and over again. As soon as we get back to the UK we are planning the next trip.

[ravtino]

Do flight first, to see what you can get - try link above - try not to go in school hols, I have to and cos of time in summer prices are high, car hire from link above when you have got everything else sorted.
It's fun planning!!! Read as much as you can on here you'll get grear advice.[msnsmile2]

[Champagne]

Find villa you really like and friendly owner from this site first - then book flights. Articles on this site also great to help you plan your holiday. Don't try and do everything and cram in every theme park on your first trip - leave time for relaxing by your villa's pool and savouring the experience.

Have a great time - we loved our first Florida trip so much that we bought our house on the second trip!

[Nostromo]

The only RIGHT way is to book you flights, villa, park tickets and car hire through THIS site . I think you need to start quickly on the flights & villa, followed soon after by the park tickets & car hire. Once these are set in motion, you can ask the other members for more specific advice (if you want to, that is) about park visits, dining etc.

[huckleberry house]

If your dates are already tied then I would suggest you look for flights and a villa at the same time, if you have some flexibility in your dates then I would definitely recommend choosing the right home first. There are plenty of flight choices but maybe only one or two homes that you will fall in love with and I know from experience how frustrating it can be for a guest to book a flight and then find the availability of the home of their choice is out by a few days.


Good luck, Lesley

[Liam_Sandie]

Hi Molly

I would definately book flights first, if your dates are fixed..then villa, park tickets, car hire etc.

Good luck, have fun!![8D][msncool]

[gromit]

Hi Molly,

There is no right or wrong way, it is down to personal preference. However, I would book flights first as the prices fluctuate whereas villas have set prices for rental, and if dates are fixed for you then you would be better to make sure you can get suitable flights. As already said flights at weekends can be more expensive with some airlines. You can request special meals with some airlines so in your case childrens meals for the 5 children and a bassinet position for the baby.

Once you have your flights booked you then have firm dates to look for a villa (use this site or one of the 2 sister sites). As you have a baby check what baby facilities are available and if they are included in the price, cot, bath, stair gate, high chair, monitor, stroller etc. One you have your villa sorted out, you can then book car hire and park tickets through this site at good rates!!!

Lastly, sit back, relax and countdown to your holiday!