English blog » FAQ

How far is to far to stay from Disney?

nancy — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:49:24 +0000

This is a very common questions from our potential guests. Most people are coming to Central Florida is experience the Disney Theme Parks. It is so much more cost effective to rent a villa and drive to Disney than it is to stay on property. BUT how long will it take you to get there?

The distance to Disney, Universal and the other parks is important, but don’t overestimate it. If a vacation villa is 5 minutes further away but has everything you want, take it. The thing is, you will probably lose (or find) those additional 5 minutes waiting for the bus to get you to the park from the parking lot, or waiting on a line for some ride. You will be so much happier in the villa you wanted as opposed to the villa that is 2 miles closer to Disney World. All communities are between 5 and 30 minutes from Disney, depends also on the park you want to visit and the exit on I4 you need to take. As you can see, this is a science of its own:)

Everything you wanted to know about pool heat in your villa!

nancy — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:54:27 +0000

We often receive questions about pool and spa heat in the villas. Below are some of the most common questions we receive.

What types of pool heat are there??

There are two main ways to heat a pool and spa – gas and electric pumps. In both heating a pool and spa, gas heat pumps are more efficient. In general, a villa in Florida that has a gas heat pump will heat to temperature (75-85 degrees Fahrenheit) within 1 day but can vary depending on the outside temperature. Typically, a spa takes about 15-20 mins to heat. However, gas heat is more costly and that cost is transferred to you as the guest, therefore you can expect to pay more for gas heat than for electric heat. The cost also depends on the size of the pool. This is why you will see different rates for pool heat on different villas.

By comparison, an electric pump will heat to a temperature of 75-84 degrees Fahrenheit in 24-48 hours, but again, is dependent on the outside temperature. Additionally, it is important to know that if the temperature is lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, the pool heater will not operate and heat the pool. If the overnight temperature drops below 50, it may take longer for the pool to get back up to normal temperature (75-84 degrees Fahrenheit) the next day and it may take an additional day. If it is less than 50 degrees during the day, the pool heaters are much less effective and the pool may not reach normal temperature.

A common misunderstanding is the temperature of a spa pool. Please keep in mind that spa pools with electric heat pumps are not hot tubs. Sometimes, it is not possible to heat the spa pool to a higher temperature than the pool if they share a pump.

Safety Laws in Florida

Important safety information – For many years the Florida legislation has addressed the safety issue of private pools. Florida laws statue 515.29 states that the pool fencing safety area can not be removed at any time. Also according to State of Florida Laws if it is removed the security deposit will be revoke due to Fines be the state. All pool homes have Pool Door Alarms and/or Child Safety Fences. According to Chapter 515.33 of the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act: Anyone tampering with or disconnecting pool alarms commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable by a $5000 fine or one (1) year in jail.

Why is heating a pool so expensive??

Heating a pool is like another utility at the house and it is costly! Please do not tamper with or adjust the pool heat settings. The pool heat has been set to a temperature and if there are any issues, please contact the house manager. They will be able to assist with any issues that you may have. Tampering with the temperature can result in forfeiture of your security deposit. Typically, the pool and spa are heated from the same pump and therefore, you cannot choose to heat them separately. With an average pool being about 8,000 – 10,000 gallon pool, it can cost between $80 and $110 per day until it the pool is up to temperature and it will cost between $15 and $40 to maintain (all depending on the outside temperature situations, the size of the pool and whether it is a gas heater or electric). Therefore, it is not cost effective to heat the pool for one day or alternating days.

There it is – all you need to know!

What do I do when I get to Florida?

nancy — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:40:33 +0000

So you have booked your Florida vacation with FloridaBestVillas and you are all packed and ready to go! What can you expect when you arrive?

About 1 week before arrival, we email you the keycodes for the key lock box at the villa and any further information. The keys are held in this box so access is easy! Over 90% of the villas have a keybox at the entrance, so you can arrive at any time after the standard arrival time (4 pm).

Although each home is a little different, they each have a booklet containing all the information about the villa, the pool, the A/C and other useful things like the phone number for pizza delivery. There are also all emergency phone numbers and addresses, including the phone numbers of the management company in charge of the villa. Should there be a problem, this is who you call. We strongly recommend to check the villa upon arrival and inform the management immediately about any breakage.

The process is fast and easy and then all you have to do is relax and enjoy your stay.

Can I check in early and check out late from my villa?

nancy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:10:45 +0000

This is another common question we get at FloridaBestVillas. Typically, check-in time is 4:00 pm and check-out time is 10:00 am. If you arrive before check in time, we always recommend going to the grocery store to stock up for the vacation or grab lunch. Many of the resort communities will also allow you to use the clubhouse area and amenities prior to check-in time. This is a great way to start your Florida vacation – relaxing by the pool!
However, it may be beneficial to try and check into your villa early. This all depends on if the villa was rented to another guest prior to your arrival. The cleaning staff must be allowed adequate time to service the villa before your arrival. So if the villa is not rented out, there is an opportunity to check in early. The same applies for late check out. If the villa is rented right after your departure, it may not be possible for a late check out. Again, the cleaning staff need access to the villa.

The best bet – check with the House Management a couple of days before your arrival or departure to arrange a late check out or early check in. Last minute bookings are common so we are not able to pre-arrange this for you.

What does the rental agreement mean – no trucks or vans in the resort community?

nancy — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:51:43 +0000

This is a very common question we receive since many people are traveling in large groups and plan on renting a car to transport everyone.
Each community resort has different rules but in general guests can have any cars, pickups, and vans as long as they fit on the drive way to each garage. Cars are not supposed to be parked on the street and, in fact, there are several communities in which you are fined if a car is left on the street overnight.
The big no no’s are – NO RVs and NO boats. Motorcycles are case by case basis.

We often suggest with large groups that you rent two cars as opposed to one large vehicle. This allows for the group to do two activities at the same time as we all know it can be a challenge for a large group to all agree on what to do next.

How will I get my keys?

mac — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:00:56 +0000

One of the most frequent questions is: How will I get the keys for my villa?
What will happen, if I arrive at 2am? Will an FBV-employee still be awake?

The answer is easy: Don’t worry, the keys are always available to you at anytime. The magical thing is called a “key safe”. We will email you the code to open the safe a few days before your arrival. So you just enter these numbers into the key safe to open, take the key to access the villa and enjoy your stay.

Easy, isn’t it?

What’s with the damage-deposit?

mac — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:46:49 +0000

One of the most frequently questions is: What’s with the damage-deposit payment?
Why should i pay this? Why can’t it be paid in the booking process? Will it be charged on my credit-card?

The answer is pretty easy: You WON’T PAY ANYTHING!

The damage-deposit is kind of an “insurance” for us and the homeowner in case you break anything in the villa. But we will just “reserve” it on your credit card. Reservations are only possible for a limited time. So (if you don’t break something) your credit card will NOT BE CHARGED in any way.

It’s more or less the same procedure, if you rent a car. When you leave the villa, and everything is still fine, we will just cancel the “payment reservation” on your card. That’s just the most convinient (and fair) way for both sides. And, because reservations are set with a time-limit, we’ll need the damage deposit short before your arrival.

Lets set it straight: You won’t have to pay a single dollar, if everything is fine. We also won’t charge you with a single dollar. It’s just a kind of insurance for us, in case you mess up something during your stay.