Where to stay

[Pluto]

Hi all

Not been on this forum for sometime now.

Having spent a fantastic two weeks in Florida this year, we have now decided to go again next year.

However, there will only be two of us travelling so we only need somewhere small to stay. We are meeting friends over there but they have already booked their hotel accommodation so sharing a villa is not an option.

Now I know you are all in favour of staying in a villa over a hotel (and so am I), but I am not sure that a 3 bedroom villa would be too big for us.

Has anyone else travelled as a couple and where did you stay - any recommendations (obviously I don't mean specific villas - don't want to upset anyone)
Many thanks

Karen

[Lynnes]

We have travelled as a couple for many years now and have always stayed in villas even before we bought our own. We love the extra space and freedome it gives you.

[Aiminghigh]

Would still go for a villa-no question!

[rosie]

Karen, even before buying our house we used to book a villa just for the 2 of us. I have never enjoyed staying in a hotel. I hate being confined to one room. We get up different times in the morning and as I'm the early bird I either have to creep round the room till Al wakes up or get myself ready and go out... neither of which I want to do first thing in the morning [msnsmile]

I also like being able to go for a dip in the pool when it suits me rather than the restricted times of a hotel.

Yes, I am obviously biased but then again I wouldn't have bought a house if I preferred to stay in a hotel [msnsmile2]

[blott]

We've had loads of couples only stay at our home as well as booking a larger home ourselves before we purchased our home so being 'too big' doesn't seem to come into the equation.

Like Rosie, I hate being cramped in anywhere, a vast walk to the pool down lifts and corridors and unsociable hours for this, one bathroom, having to leave the room at a particular time for it to get cleaned, etc, etc so I'd choose the freedom of a home any time over a hotel.

[KevinT]

Hi Karen,

You could always try a townhouse ? - pretty much all the comforts of a villa, except perhaps for the games room (some have their own small pools and spas now or are very close to the resort pool) at a good economical price. [msnsmile2]
Having stayed in the past at various types of accommodation in Florida, there really is no substitute for having your own "space" and catering and laundry facilities ! [msnwink]

[marion]

I would recommend staying in a villa any time for the same reasons that Rosie gave.

As for size of the villa do not restrict your self, have a good look at all size villas
It is not unusual for two people to stay in a larger home,

Before we brought our villa just the two of us stayed in five bedroom villa and we really enjoyed it.

[Newhomebuyer]

Hi Pluto,
I think it depends on how important having private outdoor space as well as indoor space is to you as a couple. I used to think a townhome or condo was fine for my husband and I before we bought the villa because we didn't Bar B Q or use the pool then my hubby started to complain because he wanted to be able to have a swim and didn't want to walk to a clubhouse first thing in the morning or when we got home from an outing.
Do you want to be near to the hotel your friends have booked? or
Do you want to be able to invite them back to 'your own place' for a few drinks by the pool and a Bar B Q?
There's what you 'need' and theres what you 'want' When we are on holiday we like to have as close to what we 'want' as we can afford.
Holidays are wish fulfillment times ......
Go on ..what do you want to do?

[rosie]

Kevin we stayed in a townhouse a few years ago and it was lovely, all the comforts of home, and way better than any hotel [msnsmile]

[heathercobbett]

We often need to book other accommodation when our house is not available and even when there are only 2 of us,we still book a house.On the odd occasion when we have had to stay in a hotel it has always been a massive disppointment and indeed we stayed in a famous chain hotel last time that was threadbare,noisy and smelled of the adjoining bedrooms cigarettes.We could not wait to check into our previously booked house which was ready for us the following day

Since you have already had a wonderful holidayin a house it will be a real comedown to stay iin one hotel room. You will save the little extra it costs you extra by having the occasional meal in and your friends will be so envious!