Orlando Vacation Home

Vacation homes are a great alternative to hotels when vacationing.  I like to tell people the best way to decide between a hotel and vacation home is; do you want the freedom / cost savings of a home at your disposal for making your own meals, doing your own laundry, etc., or

do you want someone else to make the bed and eat out for all your meals?

Depending upon your lifestyle and what you are trying to do will dictate which of the above will appeal to you most.  For myself, a mother of a young child, the vacation home is much more appealing, with the ample space and ability to save money by fixing our own meals, etc.

Once you’ve decided that a vacation home is right for you, the next step is finding a great one.  There are several ways, first is by going through major booking engines.  The one I recommend is Reserve Orlando.

Another way is by looking at the local associations.  The Central Florida Vacation Rental Management Association is an association dedicated to the vacation home industry.  The association also has a website that is for booking vacation homes, Vacation with Confidence.  When a vacation home joins an association, it usually means they are more involved in their properties.  The downside is that most associations don’t manage their members, so just because someone is a member doesn’t guarantee they are reputable.  However, it is a good sign versus a company who doesn’t bother to participate in the local associations.

The above are good ways, but ultimately the best way to find a great vacation home is by word of mouth or customer testimonials.  One online company that is dedicated to customer testimonials on vacation homes is FlipKey.  The really exciting feature about them is the testimonials are verified as real testimonials and not just company made up ones!  A great concept and a great tool for vacationers.

Lastly, here are my personal recommendations.  I have worked with these vacation home companies in the last 2 years and they have consistently shown excellent customer service and dedication to their guests:

All Star Vacation Homes

Global Resort Homes