Virgin - villa off site

[tttessa]

Hi,

we booked with virgin to stay in a villa (off site -unspecified resort-cheap though hopefully not nasty....) and was wondering if anyone else has experience of this?

Can you still book ADRs? A friend who went to stay at a private villa with family said you just "say you've booked your hols through a travel agent" - but that sounds like it is not allowed if you know what I mean??

Are the villas really just 30 min from Disney parks??
I know they will tell us this but I prefer to be forewarned...How do you go about getting the key?? Is there a centre for this? whereabouts???

Is there a handy Walmart or Target about??
Loads of queries - sorry, but less than 6 months now!!!!!1 Wheeeeee!!
Thanks for any help folks
Cheers,
Tessa

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi,

Have not stayed in a Virgin villa but have booked our own independantly many times.

Most villas are located within 15-30 minutes of Disney, with restuarants and supermarkets usually closeby too.
I think I have read that many of the Virgin villas are located on the US27.

You can book ADRs up to 180 days in advance irrespective of where you are staying.
They may ask if you are staying on-site, however you can definitely book even if you are staying in a villa.

It is common for keys of villas, whether booked through Virgin or like us just booking our own, to have to collect from a Management Company or equivalent, it all depends really.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

I booked a virgin villa a good few years ago, stayed at Westridge on the US27.
The villa was OK but seating around the pool was a bit of a pain.

I'd simply not go through any company now for the price and the knowledge of what you're getting.

Everyone I know who has rented from virgin (about 6) has ended up on the US27.
Using some of the shortcuts it's a good bit less than 30 mins to Disney, probably still a good 30 mins to Universal.

There is a Publix at Berry Town Centre just south of the 192 junction or use the one at Championsgate if you're coming back down the I4.
There is a Walmart at Cagan's Crossing just north of the 192.

You normally collect the keys from a management place on the US27 I believe.

 

[mungo]

Virgin have their own offices for collection of keys on the US27 it is near davenport lakes.

As already stated you should be less than 30 minutes to disney from most places on the 27 with all the shortcuts available.

we always book independentley, and have the benefit of all the info from the owners, directions, shortcuts, places to eat etc etc and of course knowing exactly where you are staying, and what facilties you will have.

I am sure your villa will be great, you will just have to wait until you get there, to find out where you are staying.

 

[tttessa]

Many thanks all - really pleased it is not likely to be too far away, great on the ADRs too - I get to hit the phones tomorrow!!!!!!! Found the answer here and when "surfing" - anyone can book ADRs BUT if you are on site, you can book them all at once (180 days in advance of the FIRST day of the holiday) - off site you have to ring 180 days before EACH one....

- next time we might be a bit braver and book independently, but this time went for the "cheap" but someone-else-sorts-it-all-out option - It has to be a villa though 'cos no matter what anyone says, I CANNOT share a hotel bedroom with our 2 kids and still call it a holiday!!!

Many thanks.
Tessa

 

[Goofysmate]

The first time we went we had a virgin villa at Davenport lakes and it was lovely and could'nt fault it.
The last two times have been with a private owner at Clermont & that was lovely also.
Next year we will be staying in a virgin villa again at regal palms and can't wait.

 

[budicesi]

Hi Tessa

Ive always stayed in a Villa but never booked Virgin I have always done it independantly, when you say the 'cheap' option just how cheap was it, it if you don't mind me asking?

Cheers

 

[heatherbelle]

I've stayed at Regal Palms and it is very nice, they are town houses though and you don't have your own pool. They are cheaper than the villa's.

The resort area is lovely. Lots of benefits of a hotel, but your own house. Have a look at the reviews on trip advisor.

 

[Denisebrum]

We are looking at booking a villa, but I'm a bit worried about a private booking. What if it's a con and there is no villa when you get there? Anyone could post some nice pictures on a web site!

Denise

 

[budicesi]

Hi Denise I could give you a couple of recomendations where and who i have stayed with, but am I allowed???????

Can anyone let me know before i post please!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Denise I could give you a couple of recomendations where and who i have stayed with, but am I allowed???????

Can anyone let me know before i post please!!!

If you have stayed at a home and can recommend it there is nothing wrong with saying that - there is a restriction on advertising your own home for example, but if you are merely helping someone with a recommendation that is fine.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We are looking at booking a villa, but I'm a bit worried about a private booking. What if it's a con and there is no villa when you get there? Anyone could post some nice pictures on a web site!

Denise

If you go through a registered and well known website you won't have any problems.
In some cases they are copied on any communications you make to the owners, and also some enquiries actually go through the website and they contact the owners on your behalf.

The details and ownerships have to be kept up to date.

For example.
www.villas2000.com
www.holiday-rentals.com
www.vr360homes.co.uk

 

[Denisebrum]

Thanks for that guys, and sorry for hijacking your thread ttttessa!
The villas all look gorgeous!

Denise

 

[Jakey Rowling]

I agree that the prospect of a private booking is big step for the first, even 2nd time you do it.
That's no reason not to consider it given the number of people who do.

As JS2 says, go through a reputable website, ideally get a recommendation.
There is a website that you can check that the person actually owns it, I have it book-marked at work but I'm not back in until Friday, maybe someone else can post the details.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,

no probs with the hijack Denise!! It's given us some leads for NEXT time.....

As to the "how cheap" query with our Virgin trip...- I think the villa only portion of the trip is the cheapest bit - £850ish for 10 nights for a 3 bed villa (unspecified resort) in the school holidays in April.

The flights of course are VERY pricey due to the school holidays, but we choose to travel then , so I guess we have to put up with it!

Cheers,
Tessa

 

[budicesi]

Hi Tessa

£850 isn't the worst pirce ive heard especcially for school holiday times.

you can certainly get cheaper but I fully underdstand the trust element over the internet etc. As I said I have always done the private villa option, thanks in the beginning to trust of someone we knew who had been and gave us the number of that person.

I did book over the internet the last time and it is wierd and does come down to trust. Everything was fine with no problems but it can be testing.

 

[budicesi]

On advice from my earlier post I would just like to give a good recomendation to you guys of a nice place to stay.

I booked this Villa privatley and all I can say is it was a lovely home in a wonderful location. The website of the owners is: http://www.centralfloridadisneyvilla.com

The people were really nice and helpful and there home was immaculate. All I can say is that at the end of a long day the luxury of being able to climb into your own pool is amazing!!!!

 

[Denisebrum]

We decided to takew the lazy option and book through an agent. We're going Virgin Villas in October '08. Haven't booked Attraction Tickets yet, as our agent seemed expensive compaired to web prices, so got to look for the deals now!

Denise

 

[tttessa]

Hiya again all - thanks for all the info.

And an update - we booked our ADRs - no problems, got what we wanted, when we wanted so we are VERY happy!!!! Couldn't do them all at once since we are staying off site, but no problems ringing each day - and all the bookers seem just lovely, so helpful too.

Cheers,
Tessa

 

[disneydopey]

We've done a Virgin villa twice and both were on Highway 27. One was Davenport Lakes and the other at Calabay Parc. It will take about half an hour to get to Disney and a bit longer to Universal. If the I4 is busy probably take you longer.

The second time we went we wanted to know where the Villa was and sent Virgin an e-mail a few weeks before going. They replied stating the address of the villa they'd allocated to us so we went straight on Google Earth. Made it lots easier to see the way to get to the villa.

There are a couple of grest Publix supermarkets you will pass on the way to the villa if you are on the 27.