Suggestion for staying off site - vacation homes?

[LovesTimone]

DH and I have kicked around the idea of taking our 2 DD and their families to Orlando or Clearwater Beach. My parents and possibly my Brother and his family might join us. My DBI and nephew also. Everyone will be coming and going, not staying the whole week. Depending on where we choose to stay,we are thinking about doing Universal and Sea World, heading to the beach for a day and outlet shopping. This time we are not going to head to Disney, we are planning this after our oldest DD get married
( march 2013) possibly christmas 2013. This trip would be more about spending time together and relaxing. We will be doing some wedding stuff as well.

Our must have's at least 4 or 5 adult rooms, lots of bathrooms - and 2 rooms with twin or bunk beds, a possibly a pull out couch. Pool, grill and out door seating for BBQ. Game room would be nice... leaning toward a pool table.

DH and I will be paying for the vacation home, so I need to be mindful of the budject for this. We also thought about this type of rental when DD get married, instead of the family staying in hotel or resort where they are getting married.

Suggestion please, Reviews as well. Thanks

 

[dgr1973]

I dont have a review of any specific homes since we have never rented one but we will be this trip. Look at vrbo.com they have tons of homes for rent by owner in some really nice resort settings. Good luck!!

 

[dougsmom98]

We like to stay in the Davenport area to save ourselves some money. Since you are not going to Disney and plan on relaxing on this trip, I highly recommend this for your group. We have stayed in this house for the past two trips and will again in February. It has super easy access to I-4 so going towards Tampa or towards Sea World/Universal is a breeze.
http://www.greatvillarental.com/home
Since our last trip in February 2011, the house has been sold to a new owner. The owner has been very nice to work. The new owner has done some upgrades (pool table, new paint, new sofa in the den, new bed in one of the themed rooms. We enjoy this house because it has 3 adult bedrooms - two with king beds and ensuite bathrooms and one with a queen bed and it's own bath across the hall. It's tucked away so it is very private. The pool area has plenty of space. We are a family of 6, my parents stay with us and my in-laws. My brother also comes and he stays in the den.
You mentioned that you considered going to Clearwater Beach. I have family that lives over that way and we have tried to find a rental home in that area but have not been able to find anything that is in our price range or that has the amenities that we are looking for. I think you will have more options in the Orlando area.

 

[mrsklamc]

Romancing the mouse had great houses. Only one has a pool table though.

 

[sympatico]

DH and I have kicked around the idea of taking our 2 DD and their families to Orlando or Clearwater Beach. My parents and possibly my Brother and his family might join us. My DBI and nephew also. Everyone will be coming and going, not staying the whole week. Depending on where we choose to stay,we are thinking about doing Universal and Sea World, heading to the beach for a day and outlet shopping. This time we are not going to head to Disney, we are planning this after our oldest DD get married
( march 2013) possibly christmas 2013. This trip would be more about spending time together and relaxing. We will be doing some wedding stuff as well.

Our must have's at least 4 or 5 adult rooms, lots of bathrooms - and 2 rooms with twin or bunk beds, a possibly a pull out couch. Pool, grill and out door seating for BBQ. Game room would be nice... leaning toward a pool table.

DH and I will be paying for the vacation home, so I need to be mindful of the budject for this. We also thought about this type of rental when DD get married, instead of the family staying in hotel or resort where they are getting married.

Suggestion please, Reviews as well. Thanks

This is the house we stayed in in 2010. Meets all of your criteria: There's 7 bedrooms 5.5 bathrooms. 5 of the bedrooms are king/queen. One of the other bedrooms has 2 twin beds and the other has bunk beds and there's a pull out sofa bed. There's a big bbq which they got after we stayed there, a games room, flat screen tvs etc. Very nicely decorated.
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p253707

 

[Darcy03231]

We stayed here:

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/32411.html?promoType=deal

I would rent this property again. It was close to shopping (Super Walmart less than a mile away and a Winn Dixie at the exit of the development) and restaurants, easy access to 192 and I4 and it was very quiet as it sat at the back of the subdivision.

I found it took us about 1/2 an hour to get to US/IOA, about 20 minutes to Seaworld and about an hour to Busch Gardens.

We also visited my uncle in Clearwater and as I recall that took us about an hour as well.

The house was clean, comfortable and well stocked with plenty of towels and linens. Having a washer and dryer was great and the kids loved the game area.

There were 9 of us (4 adults, 3 teens, 1 tween and a toddler) and I thought there was plenty of room for all of us to spread out. We also really liked having our own private pool.