Florida Villas and Vacation Rentals
10 Money Saving Tips for Families Visiting Florida!
A trip of a lifetime can be made so much more enjoyable by remembering a few tips .
1. Dining Out
Having 3 meals a day inside the theme parks can get quite expensive.
Renting a villa can save tons of cash as you can enjoy a meal or two at home.
Many villa management companies can provide BBQ grills which makes for quick and easy dinner clean up.
2. Grocery Shopping
When grocery shopping after arrival remember to pick up some small juice boxes or water bottles.
We freeze them and use them instead of an ice pack. This saves room in the carry bag.
Many of our food wholesale clubs will offer a free pass for a day so if you are staying for a week or more this is well worth the trip.
Wholesale clubs like BJ’s make it much less expensive when purchasing soda, liquor, meats, fruit, or breads for the week.
You may also run into the “sample time” while shopping and get to taste the freshly cooked items they are offering!
3. Afternoon Showers
Please don’t bother with cumbersome umbrellas or expensive character style rain gear.
The local Walmart or Dollar Tree stores sell lightweight hooded ponchos for no more than $1.00 each and are much cooler to sport in the summer months when getting caught in an afternoon shower.
4. Outlet Shoppers Beware
Many of the designer outlets carry out of date or discontinued items.
Yes, you may find some bargains but we have so many malls that have on going sales that you will get more for your dollar by visiting the Florida or Millennia Mall.
Always pick up a copy of the most recent Sunday Orlando sentinel newspaper as this is filled with coupons and current specials for clothing and or food items.
Well worth the $2.00 cost of the paper.
5. Chain Restaurant Dining.
When planning on an Olive Garden, Red Lobster or Steakhouse dinner out, always check on line for coupons that provide money off your bill.
Sometimes you will be able to print a buy one meal get second 50% off coupon.
6. The Real Florida
Theme Parks are great but how about visiting some local attractions?
Florida has so much to offer its visitors. There are free nature trails available. Local libraries offer free children’s activities ,movie showings even free movie rentals.
Local performing art centers offer student discounts for some amazing plays or musicals.
7. Touring the Disney Area in Style
Disney’s hotels offer free shuttles to and from the parks to their resorts and shopping areas.
We like to walk around the Boardwalk hotel and take the free boat shuttle around the resorts and theme parks during the time of the nightly fireworks.
What an amazing view and a great way to cool off sailing on the water.
8. Famous Florida Beach Trips
When you plan a day at one of the many beaches, some less than 90 minutes away ,be sure to pick up your bucket, shovel or beach towels at the dollar stores.
Chances are you won’t want to pack these for your trip home and will throw away. The price difference is amazing.
Wal-Mart and Target are also great for sun screens as their store brands work just as well as the name brands.
Try visiting Melbourne Beach where you will not have to pay to park and can access public bathrooms and showers.
9. Sporting Events
Central Florida has 2 Major League Baseball Teams .
The Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves host their spring training games here.
Compare to a $60 game day ticket to $15 when they play here in March.
Kissimmee also has a Roller Rink, Ice Skating Rink, and Bowling Alley for a rainy day or nighttime activity.
10. Private Vacation Villa Versus a Crowded Hotel .
The difference in renting an entire home instead of one or two hotel rooms for you vacation is eye opening.
The monetary savings alone in renting a private pool home is one advantage . This far outweighs any special hotel offer a travel agent may present.
There is no comparison in having the privacy to enjoy a swim without the crowd in your own pool or sunbathe on your own pool deck .
If you’re traveling with teenagers they typically get their own TV in their bedroom for their game systems in a villa while the little ones watch their own favorite shows in their bedroom.
Immaculate kitchens and baths, comfortable beds, spacious living rooms and screen porches to enjoy the evenings after a long day at the parks are a pleasant way to vacation.
Be sure and ask the villa’s manager for a possible complimentary late checkout on your departure day to get one last swim in before heading home!
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