*Picture courtesy of Global Resort Homes
Are you ready to plan that next vacation? Of course, you are. The dreaming, the planning the countdown! That’s just part of the fun. As March Break approaches one question I often get is; “How and where do you rent a house in Florida?” I love this question! If you are planning a trip to Disney World, Universal Studios or just want to escape the cold and head to Orlando for a week or two, here are my tried and true steps to successfully find and rent a beautiful vacation rental in the sunshine.
*picture via Homeaway.com
Congratulations, you’ve made the decision to head to Orlando Florida. So now what? It’s time to book your vacation rental of course. So where to start. My recommendation? Start by searching some of my favourite rental sites and companies for a vacation house in Kissimmee. Yes, you read that right, you don’t actually want to stay in Orlando, you want to stay in Kissimmee, this area is closer to the attractions and is smack dab in the middle of fabulous shopping and a plethora of restaurants.
Step 1: Decide how many bedrooms you will need. Are you a family of four? Then a 2 bedroom condo or a 3 – 4 bedroom house with its own pool with do just fine. Will you be sharing the house with another family or friends? Good for you! This is an amazing way to cut costs and have the vacation of a lifetime. Then maybe you need a 6 bedroom 5 bath, or 9 bedroom monster house. The world is your oyster there are plenty of homes to choose from.
Step 2: Get your browsing fingers ready. Here’s a list of some of my favourite rental sites:
www.vrbo.com
www.homeaway.com
www.ownerdirect.com
www.windsorhillsrent.com
www.globalresorthomes.com
Step 3: Once you are on one of these fab rental sites you will need to narrow your search down. (otherwise, you will be overwhelmed by the possibilities) We all know I am a travel snob, so here are my favourite communities to check first:
- Windsor Hills (I’ve rented in this community many times and it remains my favourite)
- Reunion (a close second)
- Windsor Palms
- Formosa Gardens (BIG houses)
- Emerald Island- A bit older but you can find some great deals.
All of these areas with the exception of Formosa Gardens, have large community pools. Each area boasts children’s park areas, are a short distance to restaurants, grocery stores, Universal and Disney, and are safe and well maintained.
Then you can narrow your search further by adding in your particular needs;
- Do you want a private pool. ( Why not? You’re on vacation.)
- A hot tub? (I prefer to have one that is attached to the pool)
- Do you care which way the pool faces? ( I like south or west for afternoon sun – see I told you I was particular)
- Is there a BBQ or will they bring one in for you? Most owners or rental companies will rent one for you at an additional charge. If you plan on doing a lot of cooking at home this is a great bonus.
- If needed, is there baby equipment. (safety gates, highchair, stroller)
- Does the vacation house have a management company?
- What times are check-in and check-out?
Step 4: Think you found one you like? Scrutinize the pictures and the reviews. Are the pictures recent or have they been updated? What do past guests have to say? Is it mostly positive?
Step 5: Once you think you have a winner, send off an inquiry asking about the homes best price including any taxes, pool heat and BBQ if desired. Then wait. What kind of answer do you get? Is the owner polite, accommodating, friendly? I’ve walked away from a potential vacation rental because of a bad “vibe”. If the owner can’t be bothered to reply and answer a couple of questions, move on.
Bonus Step: If you are dealing with the owner this is your chance to negotiate that rate. If you are going at peak times, March Break, Christmas or the busiest weeks in Summer, there may not be wiggle room, but if you are headed down at the start of September or their calendar doesn’t seem particularly full, negotiate! Ask if they will throw the pool heat in for free, include a BBQ rental in for the week, or simply knock $200 off the price. Owners would often rather have their homes rented then sitiing empty. Good luck!
Still trying to decide if renting a vacation home is the right move for your family? Here are my Top 5 Reasons To Rent A Vacation Home near Disney.
Now all you have to do is pack your bags. Happy Travels!
Debbie White Beattie says
I think this is a great way to take a vacation
Cheryl Grandy says
I didn’t realize there were so many options for renting a vacation house in Florida! Sounds exciting!
June M says
I’ve been thinking about a rental but wasn’t sure which websites to go on as I was nervous about getting sucked into a scam. Thanks for these websites!
Janet Meisner says
There are so many things to consider when renting. Thank you for tips.
Wanda Tracey says
Yes renting a vacation home sounds really nice. Thanks so much for the great tips.
jan says
Wow. Some of those home truly are ‘monster’! Great to bring down friends.
Kristi Friesen says
I’ve heard good things about VRBO, I think it’ll be the next one I’ll be checking out when travelling. I like to rent a place instead of stay in a hotel.
Judy Cowan says
Thanks for all the information, will be looking at doing this in 2019.
Cheryl k says
Thank you for all of these tips. We go to Florida regularity so this will be great. I love the idea of staying in Kissimmee. I never would have known. Happy Family Day!
Sherry says
I’ve always wondered about renting a house but honestly had no idea where to start. Do you think it’s too late for this March Break?
Debbie White Beattie says
This sounds like a great way to get the most out of a vacation especially if you’re going with a bunch of people.
Julie says
Thanks for all the great tips. We’ve stayed at Reunion and it was amazing!
LisaM says
We love renting a place rather than a hotel – it seems so much more cozy. And I’m never the cook so that part is okay too!
Lushka Smith says
Wonderful tips!
nicky says
Thanks for your tips! I will definitely seek out this type of arrangement if I ever get the chance to go to WDW/Florida.