Fantastic map site

[matty624]

We've been trying to find a villa we like the look of (for absolutely ages!).
During my research I found this site.
www.mapquest.com/maps/
Not only can you pinpoint to amazing accuracy where you want to look at, you can even view aeriel shots, and zoom in and out, just like the maps. We've seen the exact villa we're renting this August, both in map form and the real thing.
Hope this helps anyone looking around at properties.
Ian

 

[neo's white rabbit]

I can't quite see how you can see the 'real' thing but it's certainly useful for planning driving directions from your base to wherever. We've been using Yahoo Maps which has the same facility.

 

[matty624]

Perhaps the expression 'real thing' wasn't quite right, but we 've identified, from a very zoomed in shot, the exact villa we've booked this year. Perhaps I'm a little sad, but its cheered me up!
Ian

 

[kazzie]

Matt,

That site is great,thanks I for one appreciate your enthusiam

Where are you staying in August?

 

[matty624]

Thanks Kazzie,
When I say we've booked, I may be a little premature. We're still waiting for a confirmation e-mail from the owners (British) who flew out there on Wednesday for a weeks stay. Since I only e-mailed them yesterday I'm waiting on tenter hooks to see whether we've secured it. It's a 3 bed this year, at Eagle Point, backing on to woodland etc ('conservation land' in villa rental company speak).
Because I managed to pursuade my wife to go for 4 weeks this year (the longest we've ever been, I thought 3 weeks was a bit extravagant!), they are only charging us £375/week (all taxes inc) which I thought wasn't bad bearing in mind the time of year. we have no choice when we go because we're teachers.
We chose Eagle Point because it seems to be a really good location, near 192 and 5 minutes (I think) to Walmart (which is both a good thing and bad, depending on the health of our credit card balance!) In previous years when we've booked with people like Travel City Direct, we've ended up in what seems like the middle of nowhere, Davenport! Although one year we were lucky and got Bass Road (again very near 192's Walmart)
Can't wait!!!
Ian

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Four weeks - don't tempt me! That sounds a very good price for the height of the school summer hols.

Another good villa site, which also has late deals and so on, is www.villas2000.com who we've used for our May trip. Again, you communicate with the villa owners direct. If you scroll down the home page to the Orlando Community Map you can search by location, very handy.

 

[kazzie]

Matt,

That sounds lovely,four weeks....I hate you But seeing as you're both teachers I think you deserve it!!

The reasons you mentioned are the reasons why I've always booked our villa from the owner as I've wanted to book an exact villa and not worry for months (as I surely would!) about where the villa is what it's like etc.So many of the villas are very close to each other so I looked for one that had a very private pool.The villa last year was so perfect,we've booked the same villa for this year

 

[bengunn]

I used Mapquest last year and Matt is right, with the aerial photo option you can see your actual villa.

It is also quite interesting to find the theme parks on the map and then switch to aerial photo mode and zoom in on them. I really should get a life shouldn't I?

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Someone send me the idiots guide to switching to aerial photo mode - I couldn't see it!

 

[bengunn]

Just above the map, you will see two tabs, one is labelled Street Map, the other Aerial Photo. If you get where you want to view on the map and switch to aerial photo, you get a photo of that place which you can zoom in and out of.

 

[matty624]

Kazzie,
We too wanted a very private pool, some how it's just not relaxing listening to and seeing someone elses children screaming and shouting just across the way (I have an extremely low pain threshold for other peoples children, at least when there're out of school, perhaps it's because I have to be so patient, tolerent, caring etc day in day out!!!).
We've still not heard about the villa, but I think the owners are due back on Thursday. Fingers crossed.
And funnily enough I agree, we do deserve it as teachers! In fact if it wasn't for the holiday, I'd probably have a nervous break down!
Ian

By the way, I too must have a very sad life, I spent more time, the other day, than I wish to admit looking at the aerial views over Disney. What strikes me is just how much land adjacent to MK they have to play with, especially to the East and North.
I really do have to get a life...

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

The aerial views of WDW are brilliant though - hours of endless fun picking out all the attractions.


Cath