Coolayla

An Orlando vacation is the dream getaway for most families. Every year about fifty million people make the journey to Florida to enjoy the pleasures that Disney, Sea World and Universal provide. It’s a truly magical place for the whole family.

One key part of the package is accommodation. The traditional approach is to rent one or more hotel or motel rooms, depending on the family or party size, and that approach works fine for many groups. But over the last twenty years an alternative has emerged that lots of families increasingly prefer.

The area just to the south of Disney World now contains many thousands (yes, thousands!) of condos and single-family homes that are owned by investors and absentee owners and that are available to rent out on a short term basis, just like a hotel or motel. They offer all the home comforts such as kitchens and multiple bathrooms, plus they generally have far more living space than hotel rooms can offer.

Most of the properties are situated within just a few minutes’ drive of the Disney theme parks. There is an enormous variety of property styles and sizes, ranging from two bedroom condos to six bedroom single family homes or even larger. Some communities include additional facilities such as a movie theater, a club house and a gym for those moments when Mickey isn’t capturing your attention.

So it’s true that there are many advantages to considering this option instead of just the standard hotel room – but their are some pitfalls to beware of.

Many owners and rental companies have made the booking process easy by presenting well-designed websites with lots of photos and information. But not all give you the whole story and there are often some hidden terms and conditions that you need to be aware of before reaching a decision. Apart from the obvious questions, be sure to ask:

* What is the minimum number of nights I can book?

* How much deposit do I have to pay to secure a booking?

* When is the balance of payment due?

* What is your refund policy if I cancel?

* Can you confirm the total amount including tax and other charges that you will require?

* Will we actually be staying in the home that you’ve shown me pictures of or do you allocate homes only on arrival?

* How soon can I get into the home on the day I arrive?

* What’s the latest I can check out on the day of departure?

* Do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones?

* When and how do I pay any security deposit to cover any damages?

The key point to make in all of this is to treat an Orlando vacation rental just like any other major purchase: be sure you know what you’re contracted to pay for before signing up.