Florida villa rental Orlando Tips
Orlando is popular year round. January is the coldest month, with an average low of 50°F (10°C) and average high around 70°F (22°C). July and August are very hot and humid, with average highs around 90°F (33°C), 95% humidity and frequent downpours. This is also when kids are out of school for summer vacation, which leads to long, sweaty queues at the theme parks. Weather-wise, early autumn is best. At the theme parks, weekends tend to be less crowded than the beginning of the week. As far as accommodation, the cheapest time to visit is from early November to April except for the most expensive period during the Christmas and Easter holiday periods.
There is a new library only half a mile away. It is open 7 days a week (except public holidays) and has free internet access facilities. Just walk in and pick up and send your emails or surf the web. It also has videos and DVDs to rent out as well as normal book and magazine facilities.
We have booked with
several car rental companies over the years. Alamo for
instance are off airport and you will get bussed a mile
or so. Be prepared to be told you need extra insurance
and they don't have the car you thought you had pre-booked
when you get there! We now try to always use www.dollar.com
- It always pays to
compare lots of prices before hand. Try Expedia Flight deals
- Local calls are free but this covers a limited area. You will need a calling card to make non-local calls and to call home. Cards can be purchased from just about every retail outlet in Florida but the amount of time/cost varies considerably. We recommend that you consider applying for a ZapTel calling card. Calls to the United Kingdom from the US are 5p/8c a minute. Details at Zap Tel. For calls to the United States from the UK we recommend One Tel. Calls to the United States from the UK are 3p/5c a minute. Only Tri-band UK mobiles will work in the US. You will be charged to both make and receive calls and all calls made on non-US mobiles will be routed via the UK of the country the phone is registered in. We do offer an inexpensive US mobile phone hire service - please enquire if interested.
- prices in the US will come as a pleasant surprise to UK visitors. Even converting prices at USD1.00 = GBP1.00 prices will seem cheap. The best bargains are clothes (with the exception of swimwear) and we recommend taking empty suitcases!
- Always carry your driving licence and rental agreement with you. - You may turn right on a red traffic light after coming to a stop, unless signs indicate otherwise. - Should it rain you must switch on your lights and windscreen wipers. - Seat belts must be worn at all times. - Keep loose change in the car for tolls (usually 25 or 50 cents). - Speed limits vary without warning and with no reminder. Pay careful attention to signs. - All accidents must be reported to the police and your car hire firm. - Filling stations are numerous, fuel is cheap (about $1.37 a US gallon = 94p UK gallon or 21p a litre compared to 72p/litre in the UK at the time of writing - 11 July 2003). - When filling up with fuel most pumps accept credit cards as in the UK. After removing the fuel nozzle flip down a bar on the pump or you may be unable to fill up! - Signs - Junctions are not signed in advance with count down markers as in the UK. - Finally following Independence, America decided to change from driving on the left to driving on right to please the French . A fuller discussion on US driving can be found here
- Florida is very hot during the summer. Never go out without high factor sun cream and drink large volumes of liquid.
- Take only small amounts of cash. Travellers Cheques (US - Travelers Checks) are accepted like cash at most retail outlets and change is given. The credit card is king! Even most McDonalds accept credit cards. Consider taking more than one Visa card so that you have a spare in the event of loss and increase the limit before you go. Nationwide Visa does not charge an exchange conversion fee but most other banks charge 2.75%. UNITED STATES COINS
We suggest you wear light clothing due to the heat and humidity along with hat and sunglasses. Topless female sunbathing is not permitted in public places including beaches. SIZE CHART
Most establishments do not add a service charge in the bill. So it is acceptable to ask if it is or is not included. Waiters/Waitresses 10-15% of the bill.
- Eating out is so inexpensive many people eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For Breakfasts try SHONEYS and GOLDEN CORRAL All-U-Can-Eat Self-Service Breakfast Buffet, they are both really good value.Or a bit further along the 192 are DENNYS and PERKINS they serve a first class breakfast, these are set meals, but still good value. Both of these are waitress service. The GOLDEN CORRAL have a really good "all-you-can-eat" self-service Carvery Buffet in the evenings, something for everyone and the dessert is included. If you like Chinese food, GOLDEN CHINA offer a good Chinese Buffet and also provide a good take-away service. If you like Pizza try PIZZA HUT (on the 192 near Publix). They also offer a delivery service so if you want a night in give them a ring. Don't forget to use the 10% money off coupons in the FREE BOOKLETS and mention this when you make your order. If you want a sandwich then just behind the Citgo filling station is a SUBWAY. From the house turn right onto Highway 27 the station will be found on the right. - There's also McDonalds! For your groceries Publix is recommended. It is situated on the 192 just as you come off Highway 27 onto the 192 and on the left. A further Publix can be found 1/2 mile South on Highway 27. GOODINGS is a 24hr supermarket but maybe a bit expensive. WINN DIXIE is north on Highway 27 about a mile past the 192 turn. It is a good idea to stop and collect your essential groceries on your way to the house. - Collect the 10% discount vouchers in the leaflets and booklets about the local attractions.
- Don't even think about going to America without adequate insurance. Home | View Villa | Locality | Booking | T&Cs | About Florida | About Orlando | Tips |