Superior Florida Villas for Sale & Rent in Orlando

Travel Guide / Weather
Your guide to Florida

Some frequently asked questions that may help you prepare for your Florida villa vacation

Before leaving home:
Booking with Florida Independent Villas
Confirming your arrival times and flight details
Do I need a visa for Florida?
Currency matters! Should I buy money before I leave home?
What kind of insurance do I need?
Some suggestions on what to take (and what not to take!)

Arriving in Florida:
Weather & Climate
Good guide books – our view!
Orlando Area airports:
Orlando International (MCO)
Sanford International (SFN)
Locations of airports and relative distances to your holiday home

Driving in Florida

My Villa in Florida
Sensible pointers to help you enjoy your holiday home
Your welcome pack
Disabled people and Florida
Electricity & my mobile phone
Leaving your villa
Medical issues

Before leaving Home

Booking with Florida Independent Villas

Congratulations! You have chosen to book your family holiday with a company that prides itself on customer service. We will strive to do our utmost to ensure that you have a family holiday to remember – for all the right reasons!

Whether you have completed your booking online or by email through contacting us directly, we will be contacting you to confirm all the details. To confirm your booking you will be asked to make a payment of 10% of the total cost of the villa for your stay and full payment is due to Florida Independent Villas three weeks before your holiday. But don’t worry we will provide you with clear instructions on what to do and when. We pride ourselves on treating all of our guests as individuals and we are happy to tailor our homes and rates to your specific needs. So all you need to do to find the best villas at the best rates in fabulous central Florida is contact us or browse the website.

Oh and by the way – if you would like any information on the Theme Parks and Attractions of central Florida please ask us, or take a look through the rest of our Frequently Asked Questions and the information page and get ready to turn your imagination into the family holiday of a lifetime.

If you want to contact us before sending the Booking Request Form please do so. Our contact details are here

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Confirming your arrival times and flight details

In order to ensure that your arrival is as smooth as possible, and your holiday begins in the most relaxed way, we would ask that you tell us about your flight details. You can do this simply by sending us an email or by completing the simple flight Arrival and Departure Information form

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Do I need a visa for Florida?

A great question and one that has a complicated answer!

As a general rule UK (EU) Passport holders visiting Florida for a vacation of less than 90 days and who have a return airplane ticket, do not need a US Visa. They can travel under the "Visa Waiver Program". You should ensure that your Passport has the BARCODE passport information at the bottom of the Information page. (This is the page with your picture on it!) If it does not, or if in any doubt about your situation, you should check with the travel agent or airline on which you will travel to the US - and please do so before the day of travel! Or you could contact your nearest American Embassy for specific information. You can find information on the web too - we use the information at US Embassy London - Consular Section.

On the airplane you will need to complete forms for US immigration and Customs. The Immigration forms that must be completed (regardless of whether you have a visa or not) are per person travelling. So you, your husband or wife, and all the kiddies need to have a completed form. If you make a mistake while completing the form DO NOT cross it out and write over it. Ask for a new form. If you do cross out the mistake on arriving in the USA the Immigration Officer can send you to the back of the queue to complete a new form - not a good start! You will also need to complete a Customs Declaration form. This can be done as a family - in other words only one per family is required!

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Currency matters! Should I buy money before I leave home?

The US Dollar is the currency of the USA. I am sure you knew that! One thing you may not know if you haven’t been to the US before is that ALL US Dollar notes are the same size and colour - so speaking as someone who has given a taxi driver a $100 note tip after a particularly good night out - be careful with the notes!

Common note values are: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100.

Coins come in 1 cent (a penny), 5 cent (a nickel), 10 cent (a dime) and 25 cent (a quarter). You may see a $1 coin (a buck) but these are not as frequently used as the note. There are of course 100 cents to one dollar. By the way, one thing for the kiddies - Quarters (25 cent coins) are issued with state identification on them (as well as more common Federal coins). Take a look at your change after a few days - you will see Quarters from many States. Its fun to try to collect different ones - but beware of Mum and Dad who will probably be looking to use them in toll booths!

Changing your home currency to US Dollars can be done at the airport on departure or again on arrival in the USA. You can also do this at most banks in the USA. You will need your passport and possibly another form of ID with your signature on it - like a credit card. Many people buy their currency at home and take it with them - just one point to remember - you cannot take more than $10,000 into or out of the USA without reporting it to US Customs!

You will see, as you travel around Florida, Bank ATM’s (Automated Teller Machines). Most will allow you to withdraw money from your home account, if the card you use has a Plus or Cirrus sign on it. You must also of course have a PIN number for the card, so if using your VISA or MASTERCARD ensure you get a PIN number from your issuer before you leave home.

Credit cards are accepted everywhere and ease the worry of carrying too much cash. Most cards, including American Express and Diners are accepted in many shops and the theme parks. You will need a credit card to rent a car too!

Another way of carrying money is to use US Dollar denominated travellers cheques, which are available from most UK banks and the Post Office. Travellers cheques (if used properly) can be a safe way to carry money, because if they are lost or stolen they can be replaced - remember to keep the serial number certificates away from the cheques themselves and in a safe place! As well as exchanging these cheques at banks for US Currency, you can actually use them in a wide variety of stores, shops (like supermarkets) and even in the theme parks. You will get any change in US currency. Remember to carry a form of signature ID with you, and always check to make sure the shop will accept them - turning up at the supermarket till with a weeks worth of grocery only to find out travellers cheques won’t do nicely could cause acute embarrassment!

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What kind of insurance do I need?

It is essential for your peace of mind that you take out comprehensive travel insurance for your trip. The policy should cover yourself and your family travelling with you and must last for the duration of your stay in Florida. A good policy will of course cover medical expenses (ensure this is generous as US medical costs are expensive) but it should also cover Personal Accident, loss of personal belongings and possibly cancellation, curtailment or even make provision for costs caused by a delayed departure. Again for more information speak to your travel agent or you can try looking at the policy alternatives offered by British Airways

When you arrive in Florida and rent a car you should always ensure that you are properly covered by insurance. This absolutely must include CDW (collision damage waiver) sometimes known as LDW (Loss damage waiver). This will cover you if in the unfortunate event you have an accident that either damages your rental car or someone else’s car or property! To make sure you are covered in the event you cause injury to someone else ensure that you have sufficient public liability insurance (PLI). Many car firms offer this, but if you have this with your travel policy (and it is at least $1million) you don’t HAVE to take the rental car firms policy.

Remember, insurance of all kinds is there to protect you and give yourself peace of mind. So if you have questions speak to the experts - such as your own insurance company or your travel agent - or do some research on the Internet.

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Some suggestions on what to take (and what not to take!)

Florida is a tropical climate (for the most part!) with a very relaxed dress policy! The need to wear formal attire would be unusual so ensure you pack relaxed, casual clothing (unless, of course, you are attending a wedding!) Most restaurants are very relaxed and a simple shirt and jeans for men or women would be absolutely fine!

Don’t forget your swimming costume though!

Ensure that you take any prescription medicines with you (and enough for the duration of your holiday).

For those with bottle-fed babies it is worth taking your usual powdered formula. Formula milk is available in the US but the brands are different from those that are on sale elsewhere. It is worth noting that you are not allowed to import the majority of food stuffs into the USA. So for baby formula please ensure that you tell the Customs people in the USA that you are carrying some.

Sunglasses, sun cream, casual shoes and many other vital holiday accessories are available in the USA and often at significantly cheaper prices, so don’t worry if you forget something or you need to remove something because the case won’t close!

And one tip - some of the supermarkets in the Kissimmee/Theme Park area have international food sections, so those of us who hanker after some HP Brown sauce or Cadbury’s chocolate - take a look. But beware, they are expensive items!

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Arriving in Florida

Weather & Climate

Florida has a tropical climate and therefore for the most part shorts, swim suits and sun cream are the order of the day! However, if you visit during the winter months it can be much cooler than the summer peak. Also in the evenings during spring and autumn (or fall!) expect to need a light jumper! Being a hot tropical climate with high humidity, heavy downpours, often accompanied by some thunder, can occur. This is mostly true during the summer and occurs most often in the afternoon or early evening, but these storms are often short, but our advice is "be prepared"

As always in a hot and sunny place you must ensure you are protected with sun cream and one with a high factor is recommended. As children are often in and out of the pool while at the Villa please ensure you choose a sun cream that is water resistant. When out visiting the parks make sure you also use sun cream and a baseball hat is a good idea to as the sun is VERY strong. (A baseball cap with something slightly ridiculous on it is perfect!)

If you are caught out by one of the passing storms, say for example in one of the theme parks, seek some shelter, like a restaurant or shop or even in a ride queue (as most are under cover). Do not stand under a tree or run around with an umbrella up. Golfers should immediately stop thrashing around the course and retire to the 19th Hole!

As we have already stated, Florida has a tropical climate and the time of year when many of us consider visiting are the summer months - June, July and August. As you will see from the chart below, these also have the highest rainfall. But don’t let this put you off. Rain usually falls in a short period in the afternoon and can be quite isolated to your local area - so please don’t let the chart put you off, because if you also look at it you will see the average number of hours sunshine in a day is also at it’s highest during this time of the year - about 9 hours per day - and if you need more encouragement the highest temperatures also occur during the summer months. So pack your swimming costume!

Good guide books – our view!

There are literally dozens of guide books on the Orlando area and the Theme Parks of Central Florida. If you look for general Florida guidebooks we are probably dealing with several hundred current ones. So the following list is purely personal and is based on our usage of guide books in the past.

Eyewitness travel Guide Florida:
Published by Dorling Kindersley
ISBN: 0 7513 4831 7

The Unofficial Guide® series:

The Unofficial Guide® to Walt Disney World®
Published by John Wiley & Son
ISBN: 0 7645 2361

The Unofficial Guide® to Beyond Disney®
Published by John Wiley & Son
ISBN: 0 7645 2633 2

Visit Amazon.co.uk for the best possible selection and prices on these books and many others on the Orlando area, its attractions and Florida in general.

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Orlando Area airports:

There are two international Airports serving the metropolitan Orlando area. You may choose to find a flight that takes you into Tampa International and drive to the Orlando area or even to Miami (although this is over 200 miles away! But this section concentrates on the two most used airports for visitors arriving for the Orlando area attractions.

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Orlando International (MCO)

Orlando International lies approx 18 miles from Disney on the South East side of Downtown Orlando. This is the airport used by the major national carriers (like Delta, American Airlines and Continental) and international carriers (like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways).

The Airport itself is very modern with vast corridors and plenty of space and moving walkways to aid your transit. There are two terminal buildings. Most International flights arrive and depart at the satellite terminal and you will travel to and from the main airport building via a monorail. (When you get on that monorail you feel your holiday has truly begun!)

Security at all Airports is very strict and very tight and Orlando is no exception. On arriving at the airport you will pass though immigration, collect your luggage and pass through customs. You will then put your bags onto another belt for their journey to the main building while you take the monorail. As you hand in your bags you will be told on what belt number to collect them from in the main terminal building. For those of you who hate waiting for your bags and wonder why yours are always the last to appear - this bit will frustrate you! But relax - you are on holiday!

Once you arrive at the main terminal building and have passed through security make your way downstairs, following the signs to your location number to collect your bags! If you have selected a "Meet and Greet" from Florida Independent Villas your representative will be waiting near the bag belt.

The car rental desks can now be found one floor down from the baggage belts. There are stairs, escalators and lifts. Once on the concourse for the exit - you will see the various car rental desks.

If you booked your car through Florida Independent Villas we will of course provide you with full instructions on what to do to get your car on arrival.

Congratulations you have survived your arrival at Orlando International and your holiday has begun.

If you have any problems you will have a number at which you will be able to reach us in Florida and there are also several help and information desks.

When the sad day comes for your return home, make sure you arrive at the airport in good time. Orlando International is not one (even if travelling business or first class) where you can turn up an hour before departure. Security is tight; you will have to return your rental car, so to avoid mayhem among the family give yourself time. Once through the check-in process and security and immigration there are lots of bars and shops to spend time in before your departure.

One tip from us: If you are travelling with a family it maybe worth going to the departures drop off for your airline, unloading the luggage leaving the family and one adult returning the rental car. However many of the car rental agencies have their drop off points now in the multi story car park opposite the main international departure terminals.

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Sanford International (SFN)

Sanford was until a few years ago a provincial regional airport. It lies to the north of the downtown Orlando city centre and is approx 50 miles from Disney (nothing by American standards of distance!)

By the by, it is close to where the USA’s only AUTO TRAIN arrives and departs for Washington DC each day!

In recent years the airport has undergone major refurbishment and is used by many of the charter airlines including Britannia, Air2000 and Monarch.

Facilities for arrivals are limited but the airport is modern and clean and there are plenty of car rental desks which are often less crowded than those at Orlando International.

If you have requested a Florida Independent Villas "Meet and Greet" then our representative will be located by the Arrival’s Information desk.

On departure there are a number of restaurants and shops, and, just like Orlando International, please give yourself and your family plenty of time to complete car rental return, check in and security procedures.

On leaving the Airport you can either travel to the Disney area (where your Florida Independent Villa is likely to be) via Interstate 4 (I4) or via the newly built Florida Greeneway (Route 417) which is always free of traffic, but it is a toll road costing a few dollars.

Florida Independent Villas offers a Meet and Greet service to ensure your holiday gets off to an untroubled start! Arriving at a strange airport for the first time can often seem daunting. A friendly face who is there to help you can be a great help. If you select this additional service, one of our representatives will meet your flight at the airport, ensure you have your keys to your holiday home as well as directions. We will also be able to help answer any of your questions and give advice. It will truly ensure a perfect start to your dream holiday.

Congratulations on arriving and negotiating the reclaim of baggage and car rental - your holiday has now begun!

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Locations of airports and relative distances to your holiday home

As well as looking at the maps we have on the website you may find this link useful too.

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Driving in Florida

Simply put, it’s very easy to drive in Florida. The majority of main routes are in good condition and well signposted. But you should have a good map to help you get your bearings. Road distances are in miles and in the USA you will drive on the RIGHT.

Some of the major routes are designated as Freeways or Interstates and are multi lane. Drivers in Florida, like elsewhere in the USA, change lanes frequently and will overtake on the "wrong side" or slow lane, as we would refer to it in the UK. Some roads are toll roads and you will pay a toll based on the distance travelled, which is not usually much. You can often utilise the automated tolls if you have the correct change, or hand your toll money to an attendant in a booth. Take care when approaching junctions, give yourself plenty of time to exit, and for toll booths.

Speed limits are set by the state and can often vary over stretches of the same road, so pay close attention to the signs you will see by the side of the road. Speeding in Florida is not a good idea and speed limits on freeways and the Turnpike are strictly enforced by the State Police and the Florida Highway patrol. Fines can be significant.

Drink driving, like anywhere else in the world is an absolute no no.

Please don’t do it - not even one beer!

On most metropolitan roads you can turn right into adjoining roads even if the traffic lights are set to red. But you must stop first (and that means stop) and then proceed if clear - it is not your right of way! Sometimes you will see a sign saying NO TURN ON RED. This means just that. You cannot turn right when the traffic signal is set to red.

One last thing - school buses. They are big and yellow and full of kiddies, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble spotting them! If they stop to let children on or off the bus, so must you.

That is a law which is particularly rigorously enforced and anti-social to break! If the road you are on is a "divided highway" then you are OK to continue if the bus is coming in the opposite direction.

In order to rent a car in Florida you will need to be over 21 years of age, hold a full UK driving licence and have a credit card. If you have the new UK credit card style of licence you WILL need to take the accompanying paper or companion part of your licence. So look it out of that drawer and put it with your passport now!

Car rental is cheap in Florida as is petrol or "gas" and filling up your car is easy at any petrol station, often part of a convenience store, as well as the more common sites of Esso (Exxon) and Texaco. Nearly all cars have automatic gearboxes so that’s easy for you and of course have air conditioning, power steering and other creature comforts. You must always wear your seatbelt when in the car, even in the back, and children under three have to be in a car seat.

Why not let Florida Independent Villas get you a great rate on car hire.

Speak to us today.

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My Villa in Florida

Welcome to your home from home!

Florida Independent Villas is pleased that you have selected us to help you have the holiday of a lifetime. We know you are going to enjoy your vacation here in Central Florida. All of our villas are very well equipped and we are here to help you should you have any problems or questions.

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Sensible pointers to help you enjoy your holiday home

Before your arrival at your holiday home, the team at Florida Independent Villas have prepared your villa to the highest standard, ensuring everything is clean, tidy and ready just for you.

Living in Florida is of course similar in many ways to living anywhere else however there are one or two things which you might like to know about and that may help you:

Stocking up on the way: On the way from the airport to your home, particularly if you go along the US 192 or US27, you will see a number of supermarkets. Although everyone wants to get to the villa, to jump into the pool and claim the best bedroom, one idea might be to stop and buy a few essentials. Maybe some bread, eggs, orange juice, crisps (chips if your American!) and some drink. That way when you get to your home you can decide if you really want to go out again. Remember if you have come from the UK you will be tiered. It’s a long way and to be at the airport on time you were probably up before dawn UK time! So please, if you do decide to go out again on your first night be very very careful of the roads.

Locking your villa: Always ensure that all doors, garage doors and French windows are closed and locked when leaving your villa. It is all too easy to go out leaving a pool side door open - so please, for your security, double check the doors. As you exit your villa please do so through the front door, locking that as you leave. This will help prevent accidentally locking yourself out of the villa which will not only be inconvenient for you but can also be expensive as there will be a locksmith call-out charge!

Air-conditioning: It might sound silly but air-con works most efficiently if the doors and windows of the house remain closed, yes even the patio door to the pool! Just slide it shut while you are outside. Trying to air-con the whole of central Florida is not only expensive but could also result in damage to the air-con unit due to its "overwork"!
Additionally turning the thermostat all the way to the bottom will also damge the Air Con unit, causing it to freeze. This damage along with the excessive electricity bill may well have to come from your security deposit. So please leave the Air Con thermostat alone and follow our simple tips above about closing doors. That way you will find your home is a cool peaceful haven after a long day in the sun!

Pools: As all of our villas have private pools please ensure that you follow the safety information prominently displayed at all homes.

These simple rules include:

No diving - most pools are a maximum of between 6 and 8 feet (2 metres) deep.

Please use plastic cups and plates on the pool deck.

Always watch out for younger children.

Oh, and one last pointer - before getting into the lovely crystal-clear water - watch out for Alligators!! (not really!) (webmaster note - I take no responsibility for the writer's sense of humour!).

WC’s: Toilets - it’s no joke! Toilets get blocked very easily, so please do not flush anything other than small amounts of toilet paper. Blockages are costly to fix.

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Your welcome pack

As we realize that many of our quests have travelled a long way, you will be welcomed into your home with a gift pack containing the essentials of arriving at your home in Florida - some tea, coffee, snacks, and in the fridge, milk and fantastic Florida Orange juice. While you may still want to go out on your first night in Florida we hope that the gift pack will at least provide you with some welcome energy and a nice cup of tea or coffee! A gift to you from the team at Florida Independent Villas

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Disabled people and Florida

Most of our single storey villas can easily accommodate disabled people. Please let us know when you complete your Booking Request Form if your have an special needs for access, etc and we will do our utmost to accommodate all requests.

In general, Florida (and this is true for the whole USA) is very good at meeting the needs of disabled people. Some car rental companies even offer specially adapted vehicles. The theme parks in particular offer great support and access to disabled people and we would recommend checking on their specific websites for information.

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Electricity & my mobile phone

The electrical current in Florida is 120 volt. This is of course different from the UK voltage of 220 volts. This means that your hairdrier, curling tongs, straightening tongs and other associated electrical devices will not work. So tell mum to unpack the kettle! All our houses have kettle, hairdriers and TV's so taking your own is not necessary anyway. If you are a member of the gadget set and you take your apple IPOD, your Sony walkman etc, you will be able to use the electrical mains adapter as these work at voltages between 110 and 220 volts. You will however need a UK plug to US plug adaptor. Many electrical retailers in the UK sell these (and you can get them at the airport too!) but please ensure you get the adaptor for the US not the European (or continental) adaptor.

If in doubt look on your devices plug and if it says 110 - 220 volt you will be ok. If in further doubt ask in an electrical retailers shop before you leave for Florida!

One other question often asked. Mobile Phones will they work in the US. The simple answer is, if you have a "Tri Band" phone and it is on a "contract" with your mobile provider it should indeed work in Florida. If however, you have a regular GSM phone you will not be able to use your phone. Also most pay as you go services do not work. Again if you are unsure visit your nearest friendly mobile phone store and ask!

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Leaving your villa

On the sad day when it is time to leave your villa and begin your journey home, we hope that you have some wonderful memories of your vacation in Orlando and in your villa from Florida Independent Villas.

We would ask that you vacate your home by noon on the day of departure.

Please put all of your rubbish and "trash" into a black sack and put the sack in the rubbish bin usually found in the garage. Please leave your bed linen in place as we will take care of changing that and cleaning the house for the next guest.

Please ensure that all lights, taps and the oven are off and lock the door as you leave.

Take care on your journey back to the airport.

In case you have a late afternoon flight and you wanted a recommendation from us as to what to do for an hour or two before arriving at the airport - we would recommend heading to Downtown Disney®. You can have a wander about the shops, have something to eat, maybe in the Rainforest Café, and attempt to convince yourself that you really do have room in your suitcase for that last stuffed toy! It’s a great place to just hang out for an hour or two before you head off to the airport.

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Medical issues

It is certain that you have heard worrying stories about the cost of medical care in the USA. It is true that medical care does cost significant amounts of money and it is therefore vital to have medical insurance cover appropriate to you and to the USA.

However, medical care is readily available should it be required. Local medical walk-in clinics exist in many of the shopping malls located along the US Route 192. If you are concerned about anything from ear-ache to a bad cough simply walk in and you will be seen by a doctor quite quickly. They may provide you with a prescription, which you will take to the pharmacy, which again are located in most of the shopping malls and even inside some of the supermarkets.
You will need to pay for the treatment and the prescription. You can do this with cash, traveller cheque or credit card. Make sure you get a receipt as you should be able to claim back most of the cost against your travel insurance policy in accordance with the terms.

If you require more significant care, if possible contact your insurance company on the telephone number they will have given you. Get their advice before proceeding with seeking care. However if this is not possible as the situation is an emergency, simply seek help and call the insurance company when you can. All this will be explained in the medical insurance policy guide you will get with your insurance cover.

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