Grandads Florida Experience

Often the case is that different groups of people have a different perspective on an experience and so here is a post from the kids Grandad who came on our last Florida trip. This was his second trip to Florida but this was the first one being there with the Grandchildren.

Disney Tickets

Plan your week(s) carefully so that you don’t buy too many tickets. You and the kids will need rest days as these sites are very large and need a lot of walking. Then, of course, there’s the heat and humidity to cope with. You can always buy extra tickets from the roadside booths (who sell left over tickets from other tourists who over-bought) at very advantageous prices.
Watch out also for tour-operators “special events” which are either great value or even free. We even got free tickets for “The Arabian Nights”(horse riding-show with free meal and drinks)for sitting through a time-share presentation!

Villas

These are invariably very clean, spacious, fully furnished, with Continue reading “Grandads Florida Experience” »

Suggested Itinerary For a 14 Day Holiday

Having done a good number of holidays to Florida we realise that having a rough idea of what you want to do on each day is a good way of making sure you get time to do all the amazing things you want to do. I am not saying it is something that needs to be stuck to regardless but having a rough idea we find makes things easier.

The below is a possible Itinerary for a 14 day holiday:

Day 1: Arrival. Other than arriving, finding your car hire then finding your villa, that will be pretty much it for that day. If you do get the time then take a trip to your local supermarket to get some supplies so that you can start tomorrow feeling fairly organised.

Day 2: Orientation/Recharge. Quite often tour reps organise orientation meetings on your first day in Florida. We haven’t actually attended one of these meetings but I think Continue reading “Suggested Itinerary For a 14 Day Holiday” »

Take Away and Delivered Meals

Staying in a Florida Villa gives you great control over your holiday as it offers you the flexibility and control to decide what you want to do with your time.

Some see the food part of a holiday in a villa a plus or minus. On the plus side when you want a snack you go to the cupboard or fridge and get one, then go and sit by the pool! Also there is no worry over dietary complications and you can eat as much or little whenever you like with similar style and a bit cheaper than home. However on the down side you have to go shopping, someone has to make the meals and also clean them up again afterwards
Now all villas I have been too have offered a full kitchen Continue reading “Take Away and Delivered Meals” »

Florida Holiday Guide

A holiday vacation to Florida promises sunny weather, glorious beaches, cultural activities, opportunities to explore nature and more. Florida is a popular destination spot for people who enjoy a moderate climate and an abundant array of activities to explore with loved ones.

One of the first places people wish to visit while in Florida is the beach. Some of the most popular beaches in the state of Florida are Cocoa Beach, Clearwater Beach, Fort Lauderdale Family Beach and Panama City Beach. Typical activities at a Florida beach include swimming, surfing, fishing, sunbathing, boating and other water-related activities.

Theme parks are other popular places in Florida. Disney World, Universal Orlando Resorts and Busch Gardens top the list of theme parks in the area. Disney World is comprised of four amusement parks and two water parks. Guests ride thrilling rides, take in theatrical spectacles, watch parades and have the opportunity to get their pictures taken with the iconic Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters. Universal Orlando Resorts is two theme parks, Universal Studios and Universal`s Islands of Adventures. These theme parks Continue reading “Florida Holiday Guide” »

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The Movies Come to Life

This is a fantastic park and particularly for those that love movies! It is Florida’s little bit of Hollywood. There is a great mix of rides and shows. We have been there without kids and with our son and it is an amazing place for both types of trip.

The main rides for the adrenaline junkies would have to be ‘The Twighlight Zone Tower of Terror’. The name of the ride is very apt!! I have been on this ride a number of times but the time that sticks in my mind the most is the Continue reading “Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The Movies Come to Life” »

Great Days out In Florida

There are so many interesting and fun things that can be done in Florida. This state has so many attractions to offer tourists and residents alike. Florida is blessed with many sunny days that make it easy to enjoy one of the pristine beaches. Daytona Beach is probably the most famous of the Florida beach communities. This area has a white sandy beach that seems to go on forever. Many students flock here during Spring Break to enjoy the sunshine and have fun with their friends. While in this area, a visit to the Daytona International Speedway is worthwhile. Great racing action takes place here and racing fans will not want to miss this attraction while visiting in the area.

For space buffs, there is Cape Canaveral, which is located near Orlando. This is where all the space shuttles have taken off and landed. Many people have been lucky enough to be there for a shuttle take off. There is a visitor centre located out of the boundaries of the NASA facility Continue reading “Great Days out In Florida” »

Florida Memories – Priceless

As I am sure it is clear we here at Florida Premier Villas are complete Florida nuts and every now and again I try and reign myself in about the fact that many people have not been as lucky as us and have not had the opportunity to go. I think the thing for us is that we have been to Florida as young people wanting a blast as well as a family experience but the nice thing is that this all works really well.

The memories that I have of Florida, people will always say are “through rose tinted glasses” and there will be an element of this, BUT looking back over the times I have been to Florida I still cannot think of something there that I did not like or that wound me up. The things I remember most are often not even in a specific park or doing one of the things that people concentrate on when going to Disney but many are the small things. For example I still have a great memory of a family breakfast we had at Continue reading “Florida Memories – Priceless” »

The I-95. The Florida Strip.

The I-95 (or Interstate 95) is a road that runs through Kissimmee and to the Disney area that is lined with restaurants, fast food outlets, shops and the best gift shops for buying the best tacky gifts you could ever want to find. One of the great things about Florida is the cheap and cheerful restaurants that you can get nice Continue reading “The I-95. The Florida Strip.” »

We took friends on our honeymoon

Being true Florida lovers, having had our first holiday in Florida and engaged in Florida when we got married and the idea of a honeymoon came around the location was not a tough one. Having been to the Maldives before we thought that was an option and it would be the idyllic honeymoon location as the brochures will show, but then we thought if we were going to spend some money on a holiday it should be to the place that we love the most. There could only be one answer to that one! Florida.
However as we thought about it and how Florida holidays are, we thought it would be good with the 2 of us but it would be more fun with some friends and so we decided to make the most of the different areas of the state.
So we knew the people that we wanted to ask, having been with them before and knowing they are just as childish as we are. Fortunately they were keen to come to and so the plans were drawn up. As this was a honeymoon we started hunting for a 5 bed luxury villa even though we only needed 2 rooms so that we can slob in the space and benefit from a larger pool.
This worked really well as we were with good friends and in the best place in the world. We all flew out together, picked up matching convertibles (different colours so we did not get confused) and spent

Continue reading “We took friends on our honeymoon” »

Cape Canaveral – Nasa Does It Best

This attraction is worth the drive, even if you only have a passing interest in space travel. NASA have put together a truly amazing collection of space vehicles which you can get inside, touch and wonder at the magnitude of the human achievement that put together these gigantic rockets. You can see the early Mercury craft, the later Gemini rockets and the immensely successful Apollo moon-rockets. There are the actual lunar exploration vehicles, tractors and that little tinfoil jigger that dropped the first astronauts onto the moon’s surface and returned them safely to the orbiting craft.

If you wish, you can take a bus to see the building where the Apollo craft were loaded on trailers to be taken to the launch-pads. Even as you look at it, you cannot really take in Continue reading “Cape Canaveral – Nasa Does It Best” »