| When you tire of the standard hotel or motel room | | | | coffee maker, blender and enough pots, pans and |
| on your Florida vacation, have you ever considered | | | | cutlery for the number of guests the house caters |
| the alternative of Central Florida short term rentals | | | | for. Some homes have a separate laundry room but |
| for your family? Why is it that more and more | | | | most provide a washing machine, tumble dryer, |
| tourists are opting for this way of arranging their | | | | ironing board and iron to cover all your laundry needs. |
| holiday accommodation? | | | | Home entertainment is another area that has seen |
| Probably the main reason is that Central Florida offers | | | | much development in short term rental homes in |
| the highest quality and choice of short term rentals in | | | | recent years. Owners have added DVD players and |
| the USA. This came about firstly because of the | | | | VCRs (as well as big screen televisions in a lot of |
| demand for accommodation fueled by the hot | | | | cases) and not just in living areas - look for some |
| climate and secondly because of Disney World. | | | | homes to have a television in every bedroom! |
| Even before Disney came along, Florida was regarded | | | | Single family vacation homes in Central Florida usually |
| as a winter getaway for people escaping from the | | | | have their own swimming pool and many of them |
| cold winter in Northern states (hence the term | | | | have a hot tub as well. To attract and retain the high |
| "snowbirds"). Cities experienced an annual influx of | | | | proportion of tourists who make repeated visits to |
| tourists looking for homes to rent as a better and | | | | Disney's attractions year after year, more and more |
| more economic alternative to hotel or motel living. | | | | homes are adding a games room with a pool table, |
| With the development of the Disney empire and | | | | dart board, foosball and ping pong so guests of all |
| other Central Florida theme parks, Florida tourism | | | | ages need never be bored. If you are staying in a |
| enjoyed a vast increase. | | | | condo the complex will usually have one or two |
| The State enjoyed increased tax revenues from this | | | | communal swimming pools, some have a children's |
| tourism. So when property owners embraced the | | | | playground and some have a fitness room available |
| concept of buying a vacation home and covering | | | | to guests. |
| some of the costs by renting out their homes to | | | | In my experience, this high standard of |
| snowbirds and theme park enthusiasts, Florida | | | | accommodation and breadth of choice is unique to |
| sanctioned a unique licensing system whereby single | | | | the Disney area so that the reasons for short term |
| family homes and condos could be officially monitored | | | | rental homes being so popular in Central Florida are |
| and approved, in return for which the homes could | | | | many: |
| be rented out on a per-night basis, just like a hotel or | | | | * The wide choice of properties close to the theme |
| motel. This created an ideal set of conditions that in | | | | parks means that you can find a place to rent that |
| turn produced top quality single family homes and | | | | enables everyone to have their own space - almost |
| condos operated on a hotel/motel style approach, | | | | no matter what your party size is. This makes such a |
| unmatched in the rest of the USA. | | | | difference to family relationships and is so much more |
| Speaking from personal experience, I know that | | | | relaxing, espcially after long and tiring days at the |
| when the entire family is spending a week or two | | | | theme parks. |
| sleeping in the same hotel room, a restful time is | | | | * The children have their own room - no more |
| difficult to achieve. However well organized you are, | | | | sharing with parents. |
| inevitably there are times when more than one | | | | * Competition in the Disney area has kept prices low, |
| person insists on being the next one in line for the | | | | so it can work out cheaper than hotel or motel |
| bathroom. And privacy is at a premium! | | | | rooms - especially for larger family groups. Value for |
| I also remember that the first time I rented a | | | | money is uniquely high |
| vacation home for a Magic Kingdom visit because it | | | | * You can decide for yourself whether to eat out or |
| changed my perspective forever - it was such an | | | | eat in - the kitchen gives you the choice if you don't |
| improvement that I decided never to use a hotel or | | | | want to use any of the hundreds of restaurants |
| motel for a Disney vacation in future. | | | | along Highway 192 south of Disney World or at Lake |
| That was in 1990 and things have improved | | | | Buena Vista. |
| enormously even since then. Typically now, Central | | | | * Everything you could possibly want is provided - it's |
| Florida short tem rental homes range in size from | | | | like being at home but with the excellent Florida |
| two bedrooms to six or more bedrooms and most | | | | climate instead. |
| have two or more bathrooms. Most have a least one | | | | * If the weather is not so good (doesn't happen |
| master bedroom and in the bigger homes there may | | | | often in Central Florida) you can stay in and watch a |
| be as many as three master suites. Unlike some | | | | movie or TV in comfort. |
| holiday homes, especially in the UK, all the bed linens | | | | So next time you are booking your dream vacation |
| and towels are included so there will be more space | | | | and planning that perfect trip to explore the delights |
| in your luggage for your clothes. | | | | of Disney, Universal and Sea World, think about |
| Homes have a fully fitted kitchen with a stove, | | | | making it even more magical by considering the |
| microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, toaster, | | | | benefits of Central Florida short term rentals. |