Am I missing something??

[clarabelle]

Hello,
I am looking into staying offsite for the first time. We have stayed onsite at deluxe or mods in years past. Our girls (9 and 12) are getting bigger and it is tougher to share one room.
Anyway I have been looking at Windsor Hills condos through Florida Sun Vacation rentals.
I am so surprised at how cheap they are. We are looking at a 3 bedroom for 99 a night in April? Plus a 70 cleaning fee.
Am I reading this right? Are there some hidden fees that I don't know about?
How clean do you have to leave the condo?
Thanks so much for your input.

 

[Keacc]

We to were in your situation many years ago. Hotel rooms were more of a punishment than a vacation. We started renting condos and pool homes about 8 years ago and have had a much more enjoyable vacation. The extra room to spread out and the extra bathrooms and privacy is wonderful. We have never had a problem with any hidden fees. Most places do not charge a cleaning fee unless you stay is under 6 nights. Look around, there are a lot of great deals to be had.

 

[clarabelle]

Wow thanks!

 

[Brian Noble]

Welcome to the wonderful world of off-site condos! Isn't it fun to take the red pill?

More seriously, there can be some additional expenses. If you don't normally have a car when you stay onsite, you will definitely need one offsite. If you don't have an AP, you will also have to pay for daily parking (presently $11 per day).

Also, because these are privately owned, each owner prices things a bit differently. Some have cleaning fees, others for only short stays, still others don't at all. Some have "damage waivers" instead of taking deposits. For those homes with pools, most charge separately for pool heat. Some owners (particularly those in the UK) quote prices inclusive of tax, others do not.

 

[A&CsMom]

There is also likely tax of about 12 or 13%, unless the $99/night says it includes tax.

As for how clean, there will be instructions, but basically you have to have all the dishes done and put away, the fridge emptied, and some want you to strip the beds, others don't, usually also put the towels in the washing machine and start the wash. We put place settings from the table and other knick knacks away, so we put those back out. You will also have to empty the garbages.

That's about it as far as I can remember.

We love it offsite for the space and value for money.

 

[clarabelle]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[stepnut]

We're staying there this coming week, and we also rented through Florida Sun. As far as I can see, there were no "hidden" fees, as long as you realize that there's a tax attached to the listed cost. There is also a security deposit ($300) that is charged to your card 7 days prior to your arrival, but is refunded 7 days after your departure.

There's a cancellation fee, but I don't remember the policy...it's on the agreement.

You also will have the option of arranging for either late departure or earlier checkin, each at a cost of $50 if you pre-arrange it. If you don't pre-arrange the late departure (normal departure time is 10am), and stay later, there's a fee of the $50 PLUS a half day's rate. Checkin time is 4pm. The condo we are getting has a keyless entry, so we are able to bypass a visit to the Florida Sun office to get a key. All the necessary paperwork was done via fax.

There is also a charge if you don't put the trash outside when you leave, I think.

As for how clean you leave the place, I would leave it at least as tidy as I found it, without doing any scrubbing or spraying. I would strip the beds, load all the linens and towels in one spot, maybe even start a load of wash, clear up any dishes, and have the dishwasher either emptied or running it's last load. I'd clean out the fridge, straighten anything I moved, and replace anything I took out of the kid's way. I wouldn't scrub toilets, clean showers or mop floors. I would wipe a messy counter and table, and any other obvious gross mess (like the gobs of toothpaste my kids ALWAYS leave in the sink.) Just being considerate.

I don't know how much of that is required (I don't remember from the rental agreement...but I'll dig it out before we get there.) But those are the same things I'd do if I was visiting someone's home.

 

[clarabelle]

Thanks -this is really helpful

 

[HeatherC]

Also agree....it is just so cheap to stay offsite. Now with all the money you are saving, think of how many more trips you can take!!!!

Heather

 

[clarabelle]

I had no idea it would be so much cheaper!!
We are excited

 

[davinakb]

Also agree....it is just so cheap to stay offsite. Now with all the money you are saving, think of how many more trips you can take!!!! Heather

That has been our motto for years, money saved=more Disney! We have been enjoying affordable hotel-style timeshare rentals, and just tried our first vacation house in Windsor Palms during Christmas. Next trip we've booked a place in Emerald Island, looking forward to it.

 

[FoggyToad]

Hello,
I am looking into staying offsite for the first time. We have stayed onsite at deluxe or mods in years past. Our girls (9 and 12) are getting bigger and it is tougher to share one room.
Anyway I have been looking at Windsor Hills condos through Florida Sun Vacation rentals.
I am so surprised at how cheap they are. We are looking at a 3 bedroom for 99 a night in April? Plus a 70 cleaning fee.
Am I reading this right? Are there some hidden fees that I don't know about?
How clean do you have to leave the condo?
Thanks so much for your input.

www/vrbo.com is another great site for rental homes that we love to use

 

[clarabelle]

Thanks again

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hello,
I am looking into staying offsite for the first time. We have stayed onsite at deluxe or mods in years past. Our girls (9 and 12) are getting bigger and it is tougher to share one room.
Anyway I have been looking at Windsor Hills condos through Florida Sun Vacation rentals.
I am so surprised at how cheap they are. We are looking at a 3 bedroom for 99 a night in April? Plus a 70 cleaning fee.
Am I reading this right? Are there some hidden fees that I don't know about?
How clean do you have to leave the condo?
Thanks so much for your input.

And wait until you get used to all that extra space, privacy, multiple tvs and bathrooms and you will never want to cram all 4 of you into 1 room again!

 

[snowbunny]

You're not missing anything. There is a huge glut of rental properties in the Orlando area.

I'm in the minority here on this - I did not enjoy Windsor Hills enough to stay offsite again if I can help it.

The space was great, the value was great, we had a good trip, no question. Windsor Hills is a very lovely (if very large) development. I just missed the ambiance and landscaping onsite. More than I thought possible. This year we're staying DVC at the Animal Kingdom. It will be a lot smaller and more expensive. But I think I'm going to be happier.