Renting Villa -vs- Motel/Hotel

[Twiglet]

As you know, I am looking into renting two houses for a family reunion in 2008.

A question my sisters are asking, is why rent houses as we will be out at the theme parks and sightseeing most days, do we really need a house/pool. They said its not like Spain where you sit by the pool each day. They are thinking of costs, and wondering if it would be cheaper to stay in a hotel?

I think it would be like visiting Gold Coast in Australia, when you spend a day at the theme parks, you are so exhausted you probably need a day 'off' in between to recover, and its nice to have a house, rather than a room to hang out in.

I wanted to ask other Villa Renters why they went for a villa, over a room, had they had motels/hotels before, and did they find the villa easier?

My family we would still stay in a villa, as we would need three rooms anyway for my family, and that's our preference, but I would like to find out pros/cons for my sisters (who I have suggested join here anyway!).

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Twiglet
As you know, I am looking into renting two houses for a family reunion in 2008.

A question my sisters are asking, is why rent houses as we will be out at the theme parks and sightseeing most days, do we really need a house/pool. They said its not like Spain where you sit by the pool each day. They are thinking of costs, and wondering if it would be cheaper to stay in a hotel?

I think it would be like visiting Gold Coast in Australia, when you spend a day at the theme parks, you are so exhausted you probably need a day 'off' in between to recover, and its nice to have a house, rather than a room to hang out in.

I wanted to ask other Villa Renters why they went for a villa, over a room, had they had motels/hotels before, and did they find the villa easier?

My family we would still stay in a villa, as we would need three rooms anyway for my family, and that's our preference, but I would like to find out pros/cons for my sisters (who I have suggested join here anyway!).


[/quote]

I've always been very happy with my hotel holidays in Orlando.....I like room service....no cooking.....having the room cleaned.....not having to drive out for dinner.....

We get up and go out every day......and come back late....
We've done a holiday without a car a few times......

In a villa ..... well its self catering....its cheaper if a few of you rent together........
I've not rented a home for years....not after finding out about room service.......[msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

From what I've been reading about your trip....a villa would be the best thing......that is if you all get on OK......[msnsmile2]

[dcnurse]

You are 100% correct when you say after a long day at the park you need a day to recover!

This is how we plan our holiday, one day out, one day in. On an "in" day we perhaps dont stay at the house all day but find something to do locally. (Shopping![clap])Perhaps spend part of the exploring the local area and part of the day relaxing by the pool getting ready for another full day at the parks.

If you tried to spend all day every day at the parks you would need a holiday when you got home to recover[msneek].

A villa is by the far the better way to holiday in Florida, you do what you want, when you want[msnsmile2]

[mm69340]

The reason we started renting houses is because Dan and I wanted to enjoy our vacation and not have to go to sleep when the children did in the hotel. This way all the children could sleep in their own bed with their own doors and Dan and I could then swim, watch a movie and relax.

After a day at the parks, you and your sister can chat and relax poolside while the children all get a good night sleep. You won't have to worry if your rooms aren't next to each other and with 2 houses, you can all have enough room and not be climbing over each other to get ready to go out.

[dolphinv]

We stayed in Aparthotels like the Enclave suites 2-3 years running, then we had enough to make a villa rental viable and would neve go back to a hotel with a group of more than 4. You can relax at the house do your own thing pop out to the pool with a coffee or a glass of wine. In the hotels the maid is knocking on the door from god knows what hour wanting to make the beds etc.You are in a closed space all atop of one another etc...In a home you nearly treat it as your own and feel at home even if your away..
We loved villas so much we bought our own

[fiona]

There is absolutely no comparison! We came on holiday to Florida for our first visit 10 years ago after many years of staying in hotels, camping and self-catering accommodation in Europe.

I cannot describe the feeling of awe as we walked through the villa, the space, all the facilities, our own master suite, a room each for the girls, everything looking immaculate, air-con, and a beautiful pool of our own. We used to do 2 days at the parks, and 1 day at the villa for the 2 weeks, and then went down to the Gulf Coast to stay in a condo in Sanibel for a chill out. The next time we came we did the same thing, except we loved the villas in the Orlando area so much, we opted for a villa in Naples. Again and again the wow!! as you first enter. A few years ago (after owning our own villa for a few years) we flew in to Miami and decided to stay in a hotel. What a mistake, cost a fortune, air-con was so noisy we couldn't sleep, and of course it didn't work properly. The king sofa bed was no such thing, and barely larger than a single. Luckily my brother had come with us, so my husband had to bunk up with him while us 3 girl shared this supposed luxurious suite. Manky carpets. The food in the restaurant at the hotel was a joke. And oh the bliss of arriving at our villa, choosing to swim when we wished, eat & drink when we wanted to, and oh of course, the space.

To get anything similar you need to say at a 5* hotel and even then you never have the freedom you have in a villa. If you want to eat out or have a takeaway every meal you can. But if you want to just chill out by a pool, sitting there as the sunsets with your cocktail in hand takes alot of beating. Or as you limp back exhausted and boiling after a hard day in the parks, you throw yourself into the pool and it's amazing how quickly it revives you!

[ctgirlscout]

Generally, a villa is much more economical than a hotel room. You get lots more space, more privacy, and it's just more like home. You don't have to eat out for every meal (with little kids, McDonald's gets a bit tiring!) There are also a lot of nice amenities that come with a villa that you won't usually find in a hotel. You certainly won't have a private pool, and little things like DVD players and refrigerators can be hard to come by. In a villa, you get a washer and dryer, not so in a hotel. In a villa, you have multiple bathrooms, in a hotel--just one. I could go on and on, but you get the point. When I travel with my family (4 kids), we have to have a minimum of two adjoining hotel rooms if not a suite. This almost always costs me close to $200 per night for just two rooms with two bathrooms! If I'm lucky, I can sometimes find a suite for about $150. As you can see, to rent a large home like you are looking for, it will be much more economical than going with multiple hotel rooms.

[Twiglet]

I definately want a villa for myself, and I think my sisters will too when they weigh up the pros and cons. Its great to get some feedback. It helps me with my short lists later!

Thanks guys!

[Ruth]

We stayed in The Grand Floridian for one night last year when our villa was booked. Even though we were at the parks all day I hated all 5 of us in one hotel room. We were so short of space, one bedroom, one bathroom, one TV and no internet access. I vowed never again as it was very expensive and we all much preferred a villa.

I am not a villa owner so I am not bias but I have to say, having stayed in hotels aound the world with my job and on holiday, a villa is Florida is like a true holiday, why stay in 1 room in a hotel when for the same price or less you can stay in a home with many bedrooms, your own pool, TV's, playstations this list goes on, plus with children I would not ever consider a hotel again, there is just no logic to it, no choice in my view, a luxury villa every time[msnwink]

Just a point about being at the parks ever day, in reality you won't be because its too tiring you will need rest days in between and a villa is just perfect[msnsmile2]

P.S With a villa you also have washer and dryer so don't need as many clothes and go gome with a case full of clean clothes too.

As for prices comparisons in my view a villa works out cheaper[msnwink]