Tips and Information on Golfing in the Sunshine State of Florida

Posted Sunday 14th March 2010

With more golf courses than any other state in the USA (1,250 courses and counting) it would not be an exaggeration to call Florida a golfers paradise. The main tourist destination of Orlando has around 180 golf courses and 20 golf academies making it the ideal place for the keen golfer to combine the magic of Disney with a golfing vacation on some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.

Florida's long warm summers and mild winters allow you to play golf at any time of the year. During the summer months the locals tend to play in the mornings to avoid the hot afternoon sun (it's not called the Sunshine State for nothing!) and this allows visitors to benefit from special low cost deals during the afternoon and evening where a round of golf can cost around US$ 48.00 including cart after 2.30 pm and US$ 25.00 after 5pm including cart (remember your sun tan lotion and a cap). During the winter months the courses can be busy throughout the day due to a combination of the milder temperatures and the snowbirds arriving for their annual 3-month relocation to the sun.

It is unusual to find anyone walking round a golf course in Florida with electric carts being the norm. The carts hold two golfers together with their clubs and have the dual benefit of speeding up the round and protecting you from the Florida sun. Several courses have installed satellite navigation in their carts, which provide you with a bird's eye view of each hole and show the distance between you and the flag.

Having completed your round the European visitor will find some excellent bargains in the numerous golf stores and outlets that are either attached to the courses themselves or are within easy driving distance. Be sure to check the baggage allowance for your airline and be wary of the customs allowance for your home country if you are tempted to buy a new set of clubs while in the Orlando area.

An excellent source for discounted rates for a number of Florida golf courses is available at www.golfnow.com/orlando where you can view the available deals on offer during your stay in Orlando and even book your tee times.

Enjoy your vacation! View all our holiday villas to rent in Kissimmee, Florida

Why not add a cruise to your vacation in Florida?

Posted Monday 18th January 2010

Cruising from Port Canaveral, Port Lauderdale or Miami on the East coast of Florida presents a wonderful opportunity to visit either the Bahamas or the Carribean during your vacation. Several cruise lines operate out of these ports including the Disney Cruise Line and Royal Carribean.

A 3 or 4 day cruise will enable you to reach the Bahamas with a longer 5 or 7 day cruise reaching the Carribean. During your time at sea you will find exceptional levels of service and a high standard of cuisine with all meals and drinks (with the exception of alcohol) being included.

For a family with young children the Disney Cruise line is highly recommended as the children will be able to interact with all their favourite characters during the cruise and the entire family will be able to enjoy the Disney orientated evening shows in the onboard theatres.

Aside from several bars and nightclubs the Disney ships (currently the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder) also have adult only areas where you can enjoy a quiet coffee and there is even an adult only swimming pool where you can relax with a cool drink while topping up your suntan.

For families vacationing in the Orlando area your nearest port is Port Canaveral which is approximately a 1 hour drive from the Orlando area.

Although there is plenty of car parking at the port it is more cost effective to return your rental car to one of the car hire depots in the Port Canaveral area and then collect another on your return. The rental companies are based a couple of miles from the Port and operate a courtesy bus service between the depot and Port Canaveral on both departure and arrival days (a small tip to the driver is all that is required).

For more information, please visit the Disney Cruise Line and Royal Carribean web sites.

Enjoy your vacation! View all our holiday villas to rent in Kissimmee, Florida

Florida Weather: Information on Summer and Winter Weather in Florida

Posted Saturday 12th December 2009

Florida is known as the Sunshine State with summers being warm (around 90 degrees) and fairly humid with winters being mild (around 75 degrees).

Florida has a tropical climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the year and a rainy season during the period from June to September. The good news is that the rain in Florida does not fall for days on end (as it does in Europe) and normally occurs mid afternoon for around an hour before the blue skies and sunshine return.

During the summer lightweight clothing is recommended with only a light jumper or jacket being required during the winter months. The occasional cold front can occur during the winter producing a slight frost in the late evenings and early mornings but this soon melts away when the sun rises.

If you are renting a villa then it is likely you will have the benefit of your own private pool and will be offered the chance to pay an additional amount for pool heating (typically around (GBP) 75 a week). To get the full benefit from the pool (particularly where young children are involved) we strongly recommend you request pool heating during the months November to March inclusive. The majority of owners will also have a pool blanket available for your use and this should be placed over the surface of the water to ensure the maximum amount of heat is retained overnight.

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from August through October and Florida has experienced several well documented hurricanes in the past. Due to its location in the centre of Florida it is much more likely that a hurricane will affect Southern Florida or the Coastal areas rather than the Orlando area. While the path of a hurricane can take it across Central Florida the good news is that hurricanes generally weaken when travelling over land becoming a tropical storm by the time they reach the Orlando area.

Should there be any potential weather related issues while you are in the area the television coverage is excellent and this together with your locally based management company will keep you fully apprised of the situation.

Please remember the suntan lotion and enjoy your vacation! View all our holiday villas to rent in Kissimmee, Florida

UK Guide to Driving in America - Useful Tips and Advice

Posted Sunday 6th December 2009

Be prepared for an automatic gearbox in your hired car - they are standard issue.

Be alert if you are driving in the slow lane on the Interstate (Motorway) you may need to move into the next lane to avoid being forced to exit. Although more often than not the slow lane continues, it sometimes becomes the exit lane.

Unless there is a sign to the contrary you can usually turn right at red traffic lights as long as you have stopped to make sure that there is no oncoming traffic or pedestrians.

When filling with petrol (gas) it is very cheap when compared to the UK but in most garages you have to pre-pay at the pump with a credit card or by cash to the attendant in the kiosk.

Keep lots of spare change in the car for the tolls (many toll booths will not take anything larger than a US$20 bill).

Overtaking on the inside is allowed in the US.

Finally, remember they drive on the right in the US! View all our holiday villas to rent in Davenport, Florida

New Feature: Availability Calendar

Posted Sunday 29th November 2009

Following a number of requests from both members of Summeraway as well as visitors enquiring through our website, we have introduced an availability calendar that villa owners can update to show potential guests when their villa is free.



We expect a very high level of activity on Summeraway over the next few months once the festive season is over and thoughts turn to organizing the 2010 family holiday in Florida. If you are thinking of advertising your holiday villa for 2010, now is the time to do so.

Advertise your holiday villa on Summeraway. View all our holiday villas to rent in Kissimmee, Florida