Renting Villa -vs- Motel/Hotel

[Cruella DeVilla]

A villa is so much more relaxing than a hotel! I hate the inconsideration of other people in hotels, shouting and doors banging at all hours. Having to find a seat/lounger by the pool etc etc. There is no comparision between a villa and hotel room, especially on your rest days you can chill out by the pool, grab a sandwich when you want, you don't have to cook, take-aways are always and a lot of places deliver to the villas and ost of al privacy if you want to chill out away from the rest of the family for a wee while!

[heathercobbett]

All I can say is that I have not met ANYBODY that has stayed in a house and gone back to a hotel.I think that says it all

On the odd occasion when we have stayed the odd night in a hotel,I am always disappointed.When I speak to people on the plane over,even couples are renting a small house.The last flight we took,everybody we spoke to was in a house or apartment

[LiesaAnna]

just the thought of staying in a hotel puts me off!
i am a big girl therefore not keen on showing myself off in the pool so the thing we looked at and loved was our "own" heated pool!! its gorgeous lying there looking up at the stars around 10.30pm, (cant do that in a hotel pool) and it was December our last 2 visits, my kids are aslo fussy where foods concerned and last time we bought them pizzas (about all they eat) and fries from walmart and they have them when they want to! they also choose to snack out with us, i cant think of one good reason as to why i would even consider a hotel and i am still relatively new to this villa hoilday style thing in florida, make yourselves a list and tick off all the yes's and all the no's as to why you should stay in a hotel or why you should stay in a villa i guarentee the list for a villa stay would far outway the hotels (yes's)
i feel so excited for you Theresa all this big planning i can see why you so want to get it right!!

all of us will help you in anyway we can!! [clap][clap][clap]

[Sally D]

I am not a villa owner but we stay in a villa every time.

With 3 children it is the space, not all on top of each other. After a long day at the parks everyone is very tired and thats when the bickering between my girls would start, but when we get back to the villa they all disappear into their own rooms. No fights over the TV either.

Having more than one bathroom is another thing.

Although we eat out most of the time, the option is there if we won't to eat in. Also I always fill the freezer/fridge with ice cream, drinks etc. Much cheaper than having to buy them all the time from a bar while by the pool.

Having a washer and dryer is great, no need to take loads of clothes to last the time, leaves more room for all that shopping. We never come home with piles of washing either.

There is nothing like getting up in the morning and sitting by your own pool without having to search for a sunbed.

Yes a villa everytime for us[msnsmile2]

[heathercobbett]

Another thing is how nice it is for the children to have their own pool.Small children can feel a bit intimidated in a hotel pool with all the splashing and bombing and villa pools are warmer
I have had countless guests tell me that their little on has learned to swim in our pool.(and as Liesa says,some of the bigger people feel less self conscious too)

[steph_goodrum]

It's not just the little ones. I have a guest who was really proud of managing to swim a width in oour pool, something she had never done before and she was 67.

Coming from Australia, the jet lag is probably going to affect you all for a while I would think as well so you may find a few days are needed before the children fully adjust to the time zone and just think what it's going to be like if they need an afternoon sleep so you either all have to go back to the hotel and sit and whisper in one room or someone goes off to babysit them and misses out on the fun.

You'll often find the villas have community facilities such as tennis , basketball etc which are more fun for the older children and are usually so close to most of the villas that you have no worries about them going off in a group to use them.

At the end of the day though if saving a few dollars is more important to your sisters then there are plenty of hotels near the villa communities where they can choose to stay nearby you. Let them make their own decision.
Although the last itme we stayed in an hotel in New York it certainly wasn't any cheaper especially with things like internet access at $7 an hour and Playstation at $10 an hour if we'd used them it would have cost us a fortune.
I wouldnt compromise on your own holiday though, as you;ll almost certainly spend the whole time wishing you hadn't.

I bet if they do it that way though the first time they come to see your villa they would instantly regret their choice.

[janny]

The space and freedom a home gives you over a hotel room is paramount to me -we stayed in a hotel last year in Miami for 5 days after we had visited the Keys and it was cramped -with no storage space- not enough linens and we had to keep asking for more- a real pain.The other guests never seem to be as considerate as they should be so sleep is hard and I hate the thought that when I am having a lie-in in the mornings the maid will be knocking on the door wanting to come in as I've fogotten to put the DND notice up.

Relaxing by your own pool just outside your back door instead of having to trek to get to it and then not finding a sunbed -is unbeatable

[LiesaAnna]

ohhhhh am getting so excited when reading all this!!!! am imaging myself lying by the pool, shopping ooooooooooooooooooooooo roll on september!!!!

[Twiglet]

Steph that's a great point about them maybe having a hotel near our villa. That would work for both of them.

I am sure once they come to the forums and read thru they will be convinced a villa is a great choice for our type of get together!

[blott]

I bet if they do have a hotel near your villa Twiglet, you'll never get rid of them and they'll be around your place all the time!