Vacation Rentals by Owner

Without hesitation we would like to return

Guest: Paul (UK)
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 09/13/11

Hi Amanda Sorry I intended to get in touch to say what a lovely time we had at The Palm. We managed to play golf at Southern Dunes 4 times which was great fun. We also got the 14 day pass for the Disney Parks which the Kids just loved. With regard to the villa we were very comfortable and without hesitation would like to return at some time in the future.

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Lovely villa

Guest: Elly (UK)
Date of Stay: 07/19/11 Review Submitted: 08/25/11

Had a fantastic time in Florida and yes we did enjoy the Palm. All good nothing bad lovely Villa we would certainly go back.

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We once again enjoyed our stay very much

Guest: Karen (UK)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 08/21/11

Dear Amanda, Many thanks for your email. We once again enjoyed our stay at the palm very much. The new management company were much better, as when we arrived there had been a massive storm and this had effected the electrics. Unfortunately the air conditioning was not working and the villa was extremely warm. I contacted Debbie and left a message and they got back to us that evening to rectify this. We then noticed that there was a problem with Spa and once again this was sorted the next day. Much better service than last year and Debbie was very pleasant. One disappointment was the damage to the grill on the BBQ not sure if you are aware of this to allow you to have it in hand for repair. Liked the tiles in bedroom and other decorative changes.

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Would most definitely come back again.

Guest: Mick & Karen Hall
Date of Stay: 04/06/11 Review Submitted: 06/06/11

Hi Amanda, Can I just say what a lovely time we had staying at The Palm, it was so relaxing after being in the parks all day and then coming home to a nice peaceful home. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would most definitely come back again and recommend The Palm to all friends and family. Thank you again for allowing us to stay in your stunning home and hopefully we can come back and stay real soon.

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Guest: Mick & Karen, UK
Date of Stay: 04/06/11 Review Submitted: 06/06/11

Hi Amanda, Can I just say what a lovely time we had staying at The Palm, it was so relaxing after being in the parks all day and then coming home to a nice peaceful home. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would most definitely come back again and recommend The Palm to all friends and family. Thank you again for allowing us to stay in your stunning home and hopefully we can come back and stay real soon.

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Guest: Jim and Ann
Date of Stay: 07/23/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

We had a superb holiday in your lovely villa, been to a few villas in Orlando over the years and placed your one at the top. Happy to recommend to others.

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Guest: Karen & Billy (Falkirk, Scotland)
Date of Stay: 05/13/10 Review Submitted: 05/13/10

We had a fabulous holiday in The Palm last year in July, we particularly enjoyed the outside area for dining. We enjoyed the space the villa gave us and it was always a delight to go back after a long day out. We enjoyed staying in The Palm so much that we have booked again this year in July 2010.

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A Pleasurable Getaway

Guest: JerryKaren (Yorkville, IL)
Date of Stay: 03/31/10 Review Submitted: 04/14/10

The house was exactly how it was described in the listing. It was extremely private and very comfortable. I would definitely recommend this rental property to friends. The property was very well maintained and definitely a great getaway for us.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Incredible property

Guest: Steve (Lowville, NY)
Date of Stay: 01/09/10 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

Wy wife and I spent a wonderful two weeks alone at this beautiful home. The home was exactly as advertised. The photos don't do this property justice. You need to see it to appreciate it. It couldn't have been better. We really enjoyed the privacy. The taste in furnishings were wonderful!. The home was well maintained and was very clean. We had a very minor problem with the pool which was taken care of immediately by the friendly property manager who is just a phone call away. I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking to pamper themselves. The owners are wonderful people who personally contacted my to ensure that we enjoyed our stay. We definately will be returning to this property!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Carol & Bill Tarbotton
Date of Stay: 09/04/09 Review Submitted: 09/03/09

Hello Iain and Amanda My family and I would like to say thanks for letting us stay in The Palm, it is such a lovely house and it made our stay in Florida very special, I love the bed in the master suite. Once again many thanks, The Tarbottons

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/16/09

We really enjoyed the space that The Palm offers. We (6) never felt on top of each other. The master bedroom and bathroom are both very spacious. We also enjoyed the very private pool and spa. The teenagers loved the billiards table. Southern Dunes is still my favourite resort as it is so peaceful.

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Guest: Swanson
Date of Stay: 01/11/08 Review Submitted: 01/10/08

Hi Iain and Amanda Just wanted to thank you for letting us stay at The Palm for the holidays. We really love the house and the Billiard table was a big hit with my husband. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. We enjoyed just being able to take two weeks to relax and enjoy the good weather. We will definitely stay there again. Thank You ever so much. I will contact you when we plan our next trip to Florida! Thank You Richard and Tammy Swanson

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Guest: Joseph Sheilds
Date of Stay: 07/07/07 Review Submitted: 07/06/07

Dear Iain and Amanda Burrup, I wanted to take the time to thank you for the use of your wonderful home "The Palm" for my May 14-May 26 vacation. I assure you my early departure was for personal reasons and was no reflection on your great villa. First, I wanted to say that your house is absolutely magnificent and I have already highly recommended it to family and friends who frequent the Disney area. I was so happy with the house and that beautiful pool and courtyard, I spent most of my vacation reading next to the pool. I really can't say enough about how clean and comfortable the house was, I must admit I have already visited your web site to check the availabilitycalendar. I can't wait to come back! Thanks again! Sincerely yours, Joseph Sheilds

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Steve Bramfoot (Barnsley South Yorkshire)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/17/07

Thank you for providing the background to a wonderful family holiday in May/June 2007, i.e. the hire of your villa. Absolutely magnificent is our only comment. We all felt totally at home throughout the holiday which I think is testament to what a wonderful villa with its quality fittings etc you have created. It feels so much like a family home. The website pictures do not fully convey what quality Iain & Amanda have created in this Florida haven. The villa was a fantastic place to return to every day following our long stays in the Disney Parks. We felt totally at home there and very secure, it was a pity we did not have more time to spend in the pool and in the house generally. Location is brilliant for both parks and generally for other travel being so close to the 27 we did around 1000 miles and found the villa easy to find from all directions. Thank you once again for allowing us to rent such a fantastic property, we all felt very sad to leave it behind. We have stayed in some wonderful property all over the world but this takes some beating. All our dealings with Iain and Amanda were really friendly and we even had the pleasure of meeting Iain at the villa during our holiday (he even lent us some jump leads - lomg story. We hope to revisit Florida in 2009 and will try to rent 'The Palm' again if this date becomes firm. Would recommend to anyone but unfortunately that may mean dates may be unavailable because of the take up there may be. The Bramfoot and Brooks Families

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Val & Dave Cooper (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/02/07

Our only regret was that we only booked for a 5 day break. This was our 3rd visit to Florida and agree that this villa was the best we'd rented by far! Beautifully kept and the best part was relaxing in the wonderful spa at the end of a long hard day at the parks. Will definitely use the Burrups properties in the future. Thanks again.

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Guest: Dave & Heather Hughes (Oxford)
Date of Stay: 09/21/06 Review Submitted: 09/21/06

If you have read the various words in praise of what people found, you will understand our response when we arrived. WOW! Amazing!! Sumptuously appointed, thoughtfully furnished, with all modern facilities to hand, the home also allowed us the complete privacy we wished for. Thank you Iain and Mandy for allowing us to use your Florida home. Too short a stay perhaps – but there’s always next time.Others have more than adequately described the WOW! factor but we would like to expand a little on the location of the house. It is quietly positioned, yet the Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club includes a golf course, gym, restaurant, its own swimming pool and other facilities, should you require to use them. Immediately outside the Country Club are all the outlets necessary to sustain your stay with larger malls not too far away.Southern Dunes is also located adjacent to Route 27 and although we did not at first realise the significance of this, we soon found that it allowed ready access to all parts of Florida, both to north-south and to east-west highways. Kennedy Space Centre is just over an hour away as is Tampa and St Petersburg. If like us you aren’t necessarily inclined towards Disneyland and the hurly-burly of theme parks, there are so many more attractions within the immediate area that are perhaps quieter but equally enjoyable, that are beautiful and yet entertain. There are museums, gardens, wildlife parks, lakes in abundance, skydiving and scuba-diving centres, and many, many more. There is also natural wildlife in abundance. All these are supported by a wide choice of eateries, from fast-food to attractive lakeside restaurants.It’s all there for you – and staying at Iain and Mandy’s home makes it all possible.

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Guest: Susan & Stephen Dow
Date of Stay: 09/19/06 Review Submitted: 09/18/06

... But the best part of our vacation was the villa. We were totally amazed when we first entered the house. The beautiful pool, bedrooms (especially the master bedroom), games room, outside patio area, along with the living areas, was unbelievable. The first thing we did was jump in the pool! It was a great stay. The house was beautifully decorated, clean, and well-equipped. It was also very spacious, cool, and airy. We also loved the fact that the pool area was private, and we felt totally secure. The convenience of having Wal-mart, Blockbuster, Dairy Queen and a liquor and drug store nearby made our stay at "The Palm" a good destination.....we would very much like to come back and were wondering if you are booking for 2008?

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Dave & Heather Hughes (Oxford)
Date of Stay: 09/01/06 Review Submitted: 09/20/06

If you have read the various words in praise of what people found, you will understand our response when we arrived. WOW! Amazing!! Sumptuously appointed, thoughtfully furnished, with all modern facilities to hand, the home also allowed us the complete privacy we wished for. Thank you Iain and Mandy for allowing us to use your Florida home. Too short a stay perhaps – but there’s always next time. Others have more than adequately described the WOW! factor but we would like to expand a little on the location of the house. It is quietly positioned, yet the Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club includes a golf course, gym, restaurant, its own swimming pool and other facilities, should you require to use them. Immediately outside the Country Club are all the outlets necessary to sustain your stay with larger malls not too far away. Southern Dunes is also located adjacent to Route 27 and although we did not at first realise the significance of this, we soon found that it allowed ready access to all parts of Florida, both to north-south and to east-west highways. Kennedy Space Centre is just over an hour away as is Tampa and St Petersburg. If like us you aren’t necessarily inclined towards Disneyland and the hurly-burly of theme parks, there are so many more attractions within the immediate area that are perhaps quieter but equally enjoyable, that are beautiful and yet entertain. There are museums, gardens, wildlife parks, lakes in abundance, skydiving and scuba-diving centres, and many, many more. There is also natural wildlife in abundance. All these are supported by a wide choice of eateries, from fast-food to attractive lakeside restaurants. It’s all there for you – and staying at Iain and Mandy’s home makes it all possible.

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Guest: Graeme & Michelle Ross
Date of Stay: 07/18/06 Review Submitted: 07/17/06

Hi Ian and Amanda Just returned from a fantastic holiday in Florida which was made very comfortable by the excellent villa we stayed in. It was everthing we expected and more and is of the highest standard and when we return in 2008 will be booking again and would have no hesitation in recommending to others. We have missed the KING SIZE bed which was the most comfortable we have ever slept in and are now off to buy a bigger bed !!! The kids had a great time and loved being able to go in and out of the pool when they wanted. To top it all off we had a fantastic wedding day. Thanks again and we can't wait until our next holiday to Florida. Best Wishes Graeme & Michelle Ross

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Des Deans (Birmingham UK)
Date of Stay: 06/01/06 Review Submitted: 06/07/06

Excellent would sum "The Palm" up in a word. the photo's on the web site are impressive but the property itself is even more so. We had a wonderful 2 week break in this sumptuous well appointed house. We were a party of 6 and for us the deciding factor on choosing this house was the private pool area, and it did not disappoint. The only negative for us was having to leave such a wonderful home to return to the UK. Anyone looking for a holiday rental, look no further, I assure you , you will not be disappointed. Thank you Amanda and Ian, you have made your home a comfortable and welcoming place to be. The next time we're in Orlando I know where we will be staying. The Hobson and The Deans Families.

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Guest: The Mason + Rochester families (Cornwall, Hampshire + Wiltshire)
Date of Stay: 05/01/06 Review Submitted: 05/16/06

Anyone pondering whether to book The Palm for their Florida holiday need be in no doubt as to the excellence of the property. It is superb! 4 adults + 4 children made up our group when we visited (2-16 April 2006). It was wonderfully spacious so we never felt in each other's way. We never even used one of the lounges! It was a true luxury to be able to take 3 footsteps from the master bedroom to the pool, and the bathroom alone could've housed a small family! Very peaceful estate, beautifully clean home and extremely well appointed. It's a real treat when a holiday property surpasses your expectations. Thank you very much Amanda and Iain.

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Guest: Ray White
Date of Stay: 03/22/06 Review Submitted: 03/21/06

Amanda. We had a great holiday over the last 24-days at the Palm, your property is a superb place to spend time it is very relaxing and peacful just what we needed. Thanks a lot for everything and we will be in touch again in the future.

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Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 02/13/06 Review Submitted: 02/12/06

We enjoyed our visit to Florida very much. Your house is so lovely! We spent more time "at home" than we had planned becouse the house was so comfortable. Thanks a lot, regards, Erna and family, Rejkavik

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Ladd & Pam (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/27/06

"Perfect is good enough" is the best way we can describe our recent stay at the Palm. Amanda & Iain have thought of everything, furnished and maintained the house to a very high standard which all results in the highest compliment one can make.....truly feels like "home". The Palm is everything it appears to be on the website - and MORE! The owners a delight to deal with. We couldn't possibly have enjoyed our recent (albeit too short) stay, more. Thanks again and we'll be seeing you again for sure. Ladd & Pam

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Guest: Tony Broderick
Date of Stay: 10/17/05 Review Submitted: 10/16/05

Dear Amanda & Iain, we would like to thank you for allowing us to rent "The Palm" at Southern Dunes recently. We had a great holiday and enjoyed our stay at your villa. The accommodation was perfect and the facilities available outstanding. I would definitely recommend your accommodation for future rentals.

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Guest: David & Kathy Whitby (Sittingbourne Kent England)
Date of Stay: 09/01/05 Review Submitted: 09/06/05

Our fourth visit to Florida, and this is by far the best accommodation we have stayed in. The house is beautifully appointed and furnished, and is very well looked after. My family and I had a wonderful holiday and will certainly try to book this house when we next return to the Orlando area. My son in law is a keen golfer and was very impressed with Southern Dunes' course. We also lunched at the clubhouse which was very nice. I am so pleased we found this house.

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Guest: John & Margie Anderson (Bartow, Florida)
Date of Stay: 07/01/05 Review Submitted: 07/15/05

A perfect, beautiful, and immaculately clean property! Spacious, very comfortable, and better than anyplace we've ever stayed when traveling describes this vacation property! The pool area being so private is a big plus and every necessity is availed. I can't imagine anyone coming to central Florida and not finding this home to be the perfect vacation accommodation whether for a couple or a family - the Palm is our favorite. We definitely intend to return. Thanks to Amanda & Ian for providing EVERYthing!

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Guest: Norma Colford (Kinross, Scotland)
Date of Stay: 07/01/05 Review Submitted: 07/03/05

My family and I have just returned home from a wonderful holiday. The villa is just amazing,the rooms are a great size and easily accommodated our extra guests who came out in the second week. The pool was superb especially the spa. The golf facilities were excellant as was the club house, we lunched there a few times. It's the first time that we all didn't want to come home! Hopefully I will persuade my husband to come back next year, even our eldest daughter who will be 21 wants to come back with us! I would recommend anyone to come and stay at the Palm. Thank you for making our holiday one of the best ever!

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Guest: Don & Lin Avery
Date of Stay: 05/29/05 Review Submitted: 05/28/05

The house was all, and more, than we hoped for; beautifully decorated and furnished and exceptionally well equipped. The many personal touches in the villa marked it as a much loved family home rather than a "standard vacation rental". The totally private courtyard and pool area was excellent for relaxed holiday living. Whilst I did not take advantage of the Southern Dunes golf facility the course looked excellent and so conveniently located - literally on the doorstep. Your information folder was very useful and comprehensive and was obviously compiled after a lot of thought and consideration. Thanks again for sharing "The Palm" with us.

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Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 05/16/05 Review Submitted: 05/15/05

Just wanted to say thank you, Your Florida Vacation house was "as advertised". Clean, upgraded furnishings, and a great floorplan. Will not hesitate to recommend to family and friends. You definitely do have it right! Best Regards, Danny, Wendy, and Kelly Stephenson

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Guest: Rob Davidson (North Yorkshire)
Date of Stay: 05/01/05 Review Submitted: 05/11/05

Although "The Palm's" website provides comprehensive information on the property, the reality is that it doesn't do it justice. The house provides a luxurious and relaxing space, augmented by the completely private pool area. After a hard day at the theme parks/shopping/golf it was a pleasure to come back to. Thoroughly recommend.

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Guest: Phil
Date of Stay: 04/13/05 Review Submitted: 04/12/05

I thought I'd let you what a fabulous time we had in Florida. The house was absolutely fantastic. We all loved it and were impressed by a great many aspects. It is very unusual to have your expectations exceeded so significantly. Well done on buying a great property and on making it so liveable!......Many thanks again. I'm not sure when I last said that when paying for something!

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Guest: COLLEEN_HAC26923 (WINDSOR)
Date of Stay: 04/01/05 Review Submitted: 04/06/05

We had a wonderful time in this beautiful home. We were only their for a short time but we would highly recommend staying here. From the back yard you can see a great view of the golf course. It is a nice home and we would definately stay their again for a longer period of time. You will not be disappointed if you stay here.

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Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 01/09/05 Review Submitted: 01/08/05

We really enjoyed your house - I can't think of anything that could have made it better! We couldn't have asked for better accommodations!

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Guest: Bach Family (Grayslake, IL 60030)
Date of Stay: 01/01/05 Review Submitted: 01/28/05

The home is beautiful with all things needed available. We came, three families from Illinois, Washington DC, and Zurich, Switzerland. We had a wonderful time, visited many attractions during the day then home (and we felt at home here)to a wonderful evening playing in the pool talking and laughing. We all hope to return again and bring the missing family members. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home. Fred,Cathy & Stella--Bill,Kristina & Max--Bill & Evelyn

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Guest: Kevin Read (Portsmouth. UK)
Date of Stay: 12/01/04 Review Submitted: 12/07/04

What a dilemma, do I say how wonderful our stay was and then everybody fills the booking dates, so that it makes it difficult to return to enjoy a future holiday in luxury. Or, do I struggle to find a few poor adjectives that might put people off so that I can enjoy this lovely home for myself. We had a lovely family reunion in the villa over thanksgiving with relatives travelling from the UK, Los Angeles and Oregon. It was so nice to be able to do all the parks and then escape behind the green doors at the end of a busy day. Definitely will be booking a return trip.

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Guest: Bill & Nicola
Date of Stay: 11/19/04 Review Submitted: 11/18/04

We have been to many different styles of hotel/apartment/villa etc (we own some timeshare) but we have never seen anything that comes close to yours. The space was exceptional and the standard of fittings and fixtures was unbelievable....I could go on but you should be so proud of your investment.........we will be recommending your villa to ANYONE who mentions going to Florida to us.

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Guest: Rochelle
Date of Stay: 11/13/04 Review Submitted: 11/12/04

We had a most wonderful time in Orlando. The villa far exceeded our expectations (and I had seen pics!). Your tastes are so close to our own that we felt very much at home. The layout of the house is terrific..........

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Guest: Cathy
Date of Stay: 10/13/04 Review Submitted: 10/12/04

We had an excellent time staying in your home. It was the perfect situation for us because we had two families traveling together and the floor plan allowed for everyone's privacy. The house itself was well equipped, in great condition, and there were several things that we really enjoyed like - the quality of the furnishings and TV's, the patio, the Boccerball game, the internet access, and although we didn't get to use it the pool was very nice. I have traveled to the Orlando area several times and this is the most comfortable lodging experience we have had. I will consider staying in your home again on our next visit and will highly recommend it to my friends who are traveling to the area. I think that your home is an excellent value and that you have gone the extra steps to make your house stand out from the crowd.

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