Windsor Palms and All Star Vacation Homes

[Daisy57b]

Hi!

It seems there are a few of us on the boards who are interested in staying at Windsor Palms. There is a managment company called All Star Vacation Homes that manages some of them. My question is, is it more "safe" to use this management company than individuals? When I called they told me that I would make ther reservations, payments, etc. thru them, not the owners of the homes. They require a $200 non refundable deposit and payment in full 30 in advance (is this normal - paying for the entire amount 30 days before?).

Thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[FLeisure]

Forgive me whilst I go nuts here !! Daisy, I'm not picking on you but it is now getting to the point where we get the same topics coming up on vacation homes week after week !

All Star is a good company and run by some very nice people. They aren't members of CFPMA as yet but I'm working on them !

There is nothing unusual about what they are asking. They are a management company who look after approximately 70 homes for the owners. They are responsible for the maintenance, guest problems and for taking some bookings to help the owners cover their costs.

In this area of Florida there are close on 650 such companies offering rental homes and villas. The trick is knowing who is good and who is bad.

As always, use your common sense and follow these rules and you won't go far wrong :

1. Check the credentials of the company or indiviudal you want to book with. You can check with the Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Orlando / Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kiss - St Cloud Visitors Bureau and Central Florida Property Managers Association.

2. Ensure that once you have paid your deposit that you are given the actual address of the home you are staying in rather than finding out when you arrive.

3. If possible, and it should be, look at pictures and video of the home you want to book on the company's or individual's web site.

4. How long has the company been in business?

5. Check whether the company actually manages the home or is just a booking agent.

6. If booking directly with the owner, check there is a local agent or management company. Absolutely essential if a problem develops.

7. Check the terms of business, what happens with security deposit, when is the balance due, etc?

8. Check the location of the home...is it where you want to be?

9. Check the home is licensed.

10. Check the home is equipped as you would like it.

 

[Big V]

I found this website on Windsor Palms:
www.condos-orlando.com/index.htm
It sounds like a pretty good deal? For $59.00 a night for a two bedroom condo. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Beejayjay]

Daisy,

My lady and I have booked a 3 bed condo at Windsor Palms for our upcoming trip on boxing day.

We booked after seeing some very good reports on the property on these boards, and are really looking forward to getting there.

I booked direct with the owner of the condo - it just so happens she is also a Brit so I called her for info. We got a very good rate quote from her and I was happy with the information she provided to us about her place and how she handles bookings, so we went ahead and booked. I found her details on the resorts website :

Windsor Palms Resort

Click on the links at the top of the page for the various property types, and you'll find a list of the properties available, owners details, etc. Some owners, like ours, have links to their own websites which give you a better look at the property in question.

The owner required a £100 ($160 non-refundable deposit, with the balance due 6 weeeks before travelling. The property is overseen by a professional management company.

Even if you don't feel comfortable with booking direct with the owner, this site will give you a good overview of the resort and its facilities.

Hope this is helpful for you !

 

[Robinrs]

FLeisure:

The nature of these boards, especially since search is disabled most of the day, is for people to ask questions. It doesn't matter if it's been asked once or a thousand times, they can ASK. I've been moderating these boards for almost 4 years now and I've seen the same questions more times than you can imagine. Someone new registers or checks out a new board everyday. They have the right to ask and they don't need to be rebuked, directly or indirectly by anyone.

That's something to take into consideration if you really want to do this.

 

[Beejayjay]

Well said Robin, I was wondering who had made FL sole aribtor of whats annoying or not !

 

[FLeisure]

Robinrs,
Ok, .....but I don't understand why the Board can't be set up in such a way that there is a central place to go for information on vacation homes. Week after week we see the same questions and surely it makes more sense to have one thread devoted to the subject that everyone can add to rather than repeat the same stuff week in, week out?

Beejayjay....I have never claimed to be the sole arbitrator of anything. Personally I'd be very glad to see more people from the STR industry (ie., homeowners and management companies) take part in the DIS Boards but until that happens I remain pretty much the sole MC offering advice....and you can take or leave it. The choice is yours....and if enough people ask me not to post anymore then I'll disappear. At present I get a lot of people thanking me and that's reward enough.

Daisy, if I offended you , I'm sorry...my show of frustration was not meant in the way some folks are taking it. Seems folks want to pick up on my opening line rather than the content therein and that's a shame.

 

[Daisy57b]

Thanks for all the helpful information.

Big V - I looked at that website. Why would they have such lower costs? I like their reservation policy too - you don't have to pay the entire amount up front. You pay when you are there - at least you can see it for yourself before paying.

Does anyone have experience using this website? I can't find a phone number for them.

Thanks again!

 

[FLeisure]

Daisy,
The big problem with the web site Big V recommends is that the company involved effectively operates the same way as a hotel or an airline does....essentially they oversell the property as they know some folks will be no shows.

The problem occurs when everyone does turn up and then you find you have no accommodation....so what do they do then, direct you to another of their companies offering homes at higher prices in a different location.....i.e., upselling.

If you book with companies like this, you are taking a chance. Yes, it can work out well but what happens when it doesn't.

 

[Daisy57b]

Thanks - it looks funny because there is no phone number on the website. I don't even know if that's the offical name of the company (orlando condos at windsor palms).

So why are they so much cheaper than something like All Star Vacation homes? Is it a scam? You give them your credit card, but you have to do everything thru email? Wish there was someone on the boards that has rented from them before.

Thanks!!

 

[FLeisure]

Daisy,
I know who this company is and IMO it is another one of their web sites (they have close on 30) that is designed to attract custom with a view to selling up.

As I said, follow the rules in my earlier post and you'll have no problem.

 

[Big V]

I got an E-mail from them that my dates are open and the cost will be $826. plus tax for 14 nights. That's a pretty good deal in my opinion. It said in my E-mail their name is "Florida Value Inc." But I do trust you Fleisure, so I don't know if I'll reserve or not. I already have a reservation thru HotelKingdom for Mainstay Inn and Suites at a pretty good price. What to do - What to do!???

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by Daisy57b
Thanks - it looks funny because there is no phone number on the website. I don't even know if that's the offical name of the company (orlando condos at windsor palms).

So why are they so much cheaper than something like All Star Vacation homes? Is it a scam? You give them your credit card, but you have to do everything thru email? Wish there was someone on the boards that has rented from them before.

Thanks!!

It's been my experience that MOST MGs are less expensive than All Star Vacation Homes. I find them nice, friendly but overpriced.

BTW, the company I believe FL refers to is a company I've done business with twice with no problems whatsover. It is not a scam, just the way they do business.

 

[FLeisure]

Thanks for that, it would appear that who I thought this was is indeed not but a search under the Div. of Corporations reveals the directors of FLORIDA VALUE INC as

WILSON, MARY E
10849 FOREST RUN DRIVE

BRADENTON FL 34211 P
WILLIAMS, JANE E
10849 FOREST RUN DRIVE

BRADENTON FL 34211 VP

Date Filed
04/16/2003


The whois search on the domain name revelas Tucow,Inc as the registered agent.

 

[FLeisure]

Actually Robin, I didn't think it was who you thought I was referring to !! I actually thought it was part of the infamous company who recently got booted from the Better Business Bureau and who left 25 families without accommodation in the Summer.

The last name Williams may be a clue .....and I'm not suggesting that Jane E Williams in the above post on Florida Value Inc is in anyway related.

 

[Big V]

So what does that mean Fleisure? I have been in contact with Jane Williams.

 

[FLeisure]

It means that this company is a new company. It was registered in April.

It may be that the people who run this corporation are new to the business and that this is a web site promoting their own condo's...nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I'd check them out more and ask all of the questions I outlined earlier. Also, specifically ask them if they have any connections to any other home / condo rental company and find out who is the property manager.

I'd be interested to know more about them once you have it.

 

[Big V]

I'll see what I can do!

 

[Daisy57b]

Ok, so let me get this straight:

The site that Big V is using that has Orlando Condos at Windsor Palms is really Florida Value.....

Robinrs - you've done business with them before? You did this thru email like Big V is doing? And you think it's ok and that it's just that All Star Vacation Homes is over priced?


Big V - I sent in a reservation question thru the site and I will see what happens!

So sorry for all the questions! You all have given GREAT info!!
Thanks!

 

[Beejayjay]

FLeisure,

"...I remain pretty much the sole MC offering advice..."

You weren't offering advice with your opening statement, that was a criticism. You seem to assume that everyone who visits DIS is a regular, and will know how things work. Wrong...

See Daisy's post count ? That tends to suggest she is pretty new here, and may not know how often repetitive threads are posted. I'd also guess she's never had any need to ask about/look at posts about the Windsor if she'd never considered staying there before now.

I'm sure at times most of us who post regularly feel some irritation at seeing the same subjects come up time and again, but no-one else seems to feel the need to sound off at the posters.

And you may not think you are setting yourself up as an arbitor of anything, but of all the posts here you were the only one who felt the need to comment on how annoying such posts are....

If we want this site to thrive, newcomers need to feel welcome and free to ask any question, not as if they are trespassing on some private club where everyone knows everything about everything and doesnt care to share that knowledge with others!

Maybe the site could be set up differently, but until it is, we who choose to use it must live with it's minor faults, and make using it a good experience for newcomersand regulars alike.

Oh, and that's some good advice on how to check into your accomodations owner - thanks.

By the way, STR ? MC ? what do those mean ?

See, I'm a regular and dont know those acronyms....