General
comments.
We bought our villa in December 2002 & started renting it during 2003. The first year was
a bit of a disaster (to put it mildly), very few lets as we had very little
advertizing exposure and didn't have a website.
After a steep learning curve,
we started this website in
2004, but didn't add this page 'till early 2005 !!
2005.... A new garage door & pool
screening have been fitted. New sleeper & matching sofa in lounge. The pool has been re-finished with
a beautiful Diamond Brite finish with blue sparkles. All the window blinds have been
replaced, all internal paintwork recoated, we've added a motion detector which lights the front door for late
arrivals - the key lockbox was difficult to see in the dark ! We've added a
Pioneer multi-region DVD player
to the video & an automatic ice-maker to the 'fridge.
Glassware,
crockery, linen & towels have been replaced !
Whole roof has been replaced after a long wait for shingles! Upgrades include a stainless
steel gas barbeque, pool blanket
& roller to keep the pool warmer in the winter months, new video in the
family room (old one was mono & is now in the master bedroom), new
lampshades in the family room, a couple of nightlights for kids and a computer +
desk in the lounge. We had
intended to offer internet access, but haven't managed a reliable internet
connection yet....
We've been visiting Florida regularly for the last ten years & try to do something different each visit. This holiday, we visited Discovery Cove for the first time; a beautiful, exceptionally well-managed park which provided us with a memorable day out which we hope to repeat !! Dolphin experience, other pools, aviary & food all first class.
2006.... Finally managed to get broadband connected through Embarq! So now have internet-connected PC with wireless access.
Have left
network cables + a USB wireless dongle so any laptop should be able to connect
to the system...
New Philips 42" plasma TV and matching hi-def. multi-region DVD player in
lounge, lots of films on DVD...
Moved 27" TV to new armoire in master
bedroom with Pioneer DVD player.
New pale cream suite in master bedroom + all pillows & comforters replaced.
Have fitted digital safe in master closet.
2007....Started New Year with a BANG: pool heater gave up
the ghost Christmas Eve, so complete new hi-powered heater fitted (109,000BTU).
June/July:
Fitted remote-control ceiling fan + light outdoors under the lanai, new fan +
light in lounge & light fitting to fan in family room. Added automatic
kettle + coffee grinder to kitchen. Fitted CD writer and printer to PC -
now able to archive digital 'photos to CD & print airline boarding
passes. For infants / youngsters, now have stroller, high chair
& cot + blue LED nightlights.
2008.... (Spring) New complete hi-efficiency air-con system
installed with 'intelligent' digital thermostat. All the rooms were
"Florida White" - cool but boring ! We've re-decorated the 2nd &
3rd bedrooms. One pale blue & the other a cream color. Added a second
table lamp to the blue bedroom + all bedrooms have new bed sets in better colors.
New Maytag dishwasher in kitchen. Added loads of new DVD titles to collection.
New white Corelle crockery, new pool blanket.
(Autumn)..... Supposed to be a relaxing
holiday - no work !!! Re-painted hallway & front outside. New PC
- Compaq Evo with CD/DVD writer running XP - much faster. Found wireless
modem had failed - (probably lightning) - replaced. Put a touch control standard lamp in
lounge to match ceiling fan. New flatscreen 21" TV + Pioneer DVD player in
2nd bedroom. Replaced towels throughout....
2009.... Fitted Panasonic over-range microwave oven to replace tiny counter-top one, new Hotpoint dryer,
privacy net curtain to side panel of front door, colour-changeing lamp in pool (just for fun!).
Painted R/H side & rear outside. Sue has made some sconces for the bedrooms.
21" TV failed & couldn't find receipt, so replaced with
Coby hi-def. 19" LCD + Philips DVD player...
Replaced the cream tables in the family room with a set of oak drop-leaf tables with inset glass - '60s
vintage - much more our style... New Sansui flat screen 27" TV in master bedroom, old
TV wouldn't receive digital cable signal so replaced .
After some
thought, have fitted a full burglar alarm system + added security - some of our guests had
commented on the lack of same, we don't mind criticism, value repeat
guests & aim to respond to their concerns...
2010.... Replaced suite in
family room with new beige leather - very comfortable ! Needed much more
storage for DVDs, so put TV in new hutch & old TV table made into a bookcase. We
now have over 150 DVDs in our little library!! Small stereo radio / cd player / Ipod dock in family
room. New sconce over patio doors in lounge. Lots of painting (as usual...) We value any comments made (good or bad) & hope to be
able to enhance your holiday by providing the small touches that make all the
difference! Please email us if you wish to comment on this site or our villa.
The following all from previous guests :- Now on to our stay in your villa. I speak for all of us
when I say we had a fantastic time in your home. The extended pool area was
brilliant and we enjoyed many an afternoon having a BBQ and relaxing. Everything
we needed was in your home and there is nothing that I can think of that we
could fault with your home. The internet connection is another great idea as it
meant we could keep in touch with people back home as well as the safe. -----~~~~~----- Hi Martin -----~~~~~-----
Dear Martin & Sue, -----~~~~~----- Hi Martin & Sue, -----~~~~~----- I want to thank you for the wonderful time we had at your
vacation home. The weather was great, the pool was great and we just thoroughly
relaxed. -----~~~~~-----
Dear Martin,
If you've visited Florida before, you may be saddened to hear that Cypress Gardens
closed it's gates for the last time on April 13th 2003 due to falling visitor
numbers. It was arguably the prettiest & most 'natural' of all the parks.
Well just a quick note to Thank you for the use of your brilliant villa. We had
a fantastic time and really enjoyed your home. The way you were able to get the
pool heating fixed so quick really made our second week as even the two wimps in
the family were able to enjoy it :-) The worst bit is now the traveling home as
we have to fly to Manchester then a 4 hour wait till our flight to Dublin and
then a 2 hour car journey :-( I should have booked another day in your villa so
we could have relaxed before our flights, we will know the next time.
Again many thanks to you and your family and hope to stay in your home again
some day soon.
Sorry about the delay in mailing you, we have had hectic time since we got back
from America, and hence the delay in contacting you. We all had a great time,
and would like to thank you for the use of your villa which we liked very much,
had everything we could have wished for, and surpassed our expectations. Thank
you also for returning the deposit to us so promptly. If, or should I say when,
we go back to Orlando we will most definitely be in touch with you again.
The instructions to the villa were first class, especially useful as our flight
was delayed.
The other information was also very helpful.
Just a quick email to let you know how much we enjoyed your home. It was
wonderful & we didn't want to leave. We usually visit Florida every other
year and will certainly try to book with you again. We even have had a few
people we know inquiring about how to rent your home. Thank you very much for
the opportunity to rent such a great house!
All of your short cuts and driving tips were very helpful. Thank you for taking
so much time with those. We have been telling everyone in Michigan (lots of
snow, single digits temperatures) how great your house is, too.
You have a wonderful, comfortable home and we truly enjoyed ourselves. I hope we
will be able to come back sometime soon.
Hi Martin
& Sue.
Many thanks
for letting us stay in your Villa, it was fantastic, the changes you made for
this year only made our stay even better. We will be coming back next August,
when I have sorted out dates with my Daughter I will be in contact with you to
hire your villa. Once again thanks
I want to thank you for the wonderful time we spent in your house, that is
beautiful. I hope to have the chance to do it
again I will recommend your house to every friend I have as I found it perfect
to spend the time in family without the problems you could have in a hotel or
resort. We going to spend one more week in a resort and my kids already miss
your house.
HOWEVER, "Cypress Gardens Adventure Park" HAS OPENED !!! (2004)
YAY !!!...and closed again (2009) BOO !!!!
HOWEVER, (2010) the
site has been bought by Merlin Entertainment and should open in 2011 as LEGOLAND
FLORIDA !!!!!
http://www.legolandfloridaresort.com/
So yet another attraction's on it's way !!!
New U.S. visa rules from October 2003.
There are new rules concerning the visa waiver program that may affect you if your passport was issued before 1992 or is due for renewal after September this year !
Please read the following page from the U.S. Embassy website:
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