Florida Holiday 2011

Guest: Colin (Halifax)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/11/11

When we first arrived, we found the home spacious, clean, neat and tidy. It was well aired, though the aircon hadn't quite reached cool upstairs. We had asked for a cot for our little one, but it wasn't working, so we rang the number provided. Alyson arrived, sorted out the aicon and provided a new cot very quickly, so we were very impressed! The pool was very clean and was cleaned each week, and the gardens maintained every other day. Poolside area was clean and well presented. All the essentials were provided in the kitchen, the games room was perfect for our family and the bedrooms were well aired, cleaned, comfortable and well presented. Every time we arrived back, it felt like a home from home, and was a joy to stay in. Within easy reach of all the local supermarkets and attractions, it was secure and welcoming. There were a couple of minor issues, but safe to say, that these were purely mechanical with the pool filtering system and were fixed within the day. Overall, we've rated this as excellent because it was. Everything worked, it was clean, comfortable, well maintained and very easy to live in. Plenty of room for everyone and because of the number of bedrooms, if one family wanted to take themselves off for a rest at anytime, they could. Lee and Alyson were lovely to meet (they made the effort to come and see us at the home) and we could see that they took pride in their homes. We have already recommended to friends and when we go back to Florida, we will be looking to book the same villa again. I don't think you can have a better testament to this property, other than a repeat booking. One thing, if you love really good food at good value, try Cracker Barrel - good Southern style cooking and family orientated. Alternatively, for a more adult menu, then the Australian Outback was superb, excellent food and unsurpassed service (ask for Daryl)...It's on the 192...

Owner response:Hi Colin and Amy, Thanks for your wonderful comments, it was a pleasure to have met you and all your family who stayed at the villa. We are so pleased you had a great vacation and you will be very welcome to use the villa for your next holiday. Thanks for the recommendations as well. I look forward to speaking with you again and accommodating you in the very near future. Take Care and have a great day, Lee and Alyson

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Excellent Vacation with Family!

Guest: Happy Grandparents! (Fortson, Ga.)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

After reading the review before mine I was really scared of what I might find when I arrived. When I opened the door I breathe a sigh of relief! This home was not flithy and even though it is a vacation home used by hundreds a year it is still in very good condition. There was 15 of us, and we had plenty of room for the week. The house was clean on arrival and the pool was well kept. There is 5 1/2 baths on the property instead of 6 full baths but each bedroom except the children's room has it own bathroom which was plenty even for 15 people. We did find that the charcoal grill was not on the property but no big deal we just changed our menu for the night we were going to cook out. Things wear out and it takes time to replace them. Our grandchildren and adults enjoyed the pool every day. The men in the group enjoyed the pool table. We checked out the club house but only used the playground with the children. We found that even with 15 people in the house you could still find a quiet spot. The house is in a very good location, close to Disney and grocery stores. We would leave the parks in the heat of the day and return in the evening and since the location of the house was so close it allowed us to do so. We did not have to address any issues while we were there with the house managers or the owners since everything was in order. I will be recommending this property to others searching for great big vacation house near Disney. Thanks again for the use of home. I guess it goes to show, Don't believe everything you read (referring to the last review posted) sometimes you can't please everyone. But it certainly pleased us for the week!

Owner response:Hi Cathy, Thanks for the review and feedback which is really important to us. I am so pleased you all had a wonderful vacation and you will be very welcome to use this or any of my other properties in the future. We do try our best to make our homes as nice as possible because we know how important your family vacation is. God Bless and have a great day. Lee and Alyson

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Filthy and Not Maintained!

Guest: No Magical Memories Here Guest (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

We arrived to find this home absolutely filthy and disgusting! Especially the carpet which is stained and spotted throughout the entire home and is duct taped at the thresholds. The bathroom shower liners were moldy as well as the caulk within the showers and the outer curtains dirty. Bathroom rugs were not washed…we knew this because of the nail clippings on them. We found un-swept dirt and hair in corners of the bathrooms and masking tape holding linoleum down by the tub. Every piece of furniture in the home is scratched, has water stains or is falling apart to some degree. The front door is black with dirt and grime around the handle and lock, along with hand prints on staircase railing to the extent that they are sticky. All the register vents and return air vents are dusty and dirty. The walls are scuffed, scratched and have paint chipped corners . Linens are all well worn and comforters on the beds are ripped. The bed mattresses are not comfortable. Some deck furniture was broken and cushions were old and sun rotted. The pool deck is black with dirt in areas and needs a power cleaning. These are just the “major” issues! Overall the entire home is neglected. It is in need of a major deep cleaning, new carpet and needs replacement furniture and upgrades. I have contacted the owner and property manager multiple times during our stay and after. Initially, the mgr. brought over new shower liners and bathroom rugs but no effort was made to clean the carpets, which is what we asked for. We eventually asked for a partial refund based on the condition of the home & our disappointment. The owner countered with a “free” week stay for the future, but has NOT acknowledged any of my emails nor attempted to call me back. Basically, my vacation was ruined by staying here...it is NOT the "magnificent 5 star", "the complete ultimate in executive accommodation", "furnished to an exceptional standard", "an executive house more like your own home" as quoted from the description! Just the opposite! It is my advice that you should seek lodging elsewhere. I wish someone had warned me!

Recommended for:

January 2011

Guest: Billy (Chicago, Illinios, Usa)
Date of Stay: 01/19/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

The accomadation in Orlando (Solano Villa) was excellent, the house was very nice, spacious and very well maintained, the pool was great and all the family utilised it everyday, the pool and spa were warm and clean. The location was perfect for all attractions and we would defaintly utilise the Villa again, we have already recommended the same to our friends and family. A great holiday was had by all.

Owner response:Hi Billy, Many Thanks for your kind words. I am so pleased you had a great vacation and that you and your family enjoyed the villa. We do try and make our houses as nice as possible for our guests and it is so important to us that you have a great time. You will be very welcome to use the villa again, as will your friends and anybody else you recommend. Lee and Alyson.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Recent holiday

Guest: stevea (hampshire)
Date of Stay: 10/23/10 Review Submitted: 11/25/10

Excellent location, very nice house. On the down side we found: Linen in the washing machine on arrival. Batteries were removed from the fire alarm (we knew because the flap was open) The dish washer smelt The BBQ was filthy, we cleaned that up and enjoyed some nice pool side meals Some deck furniture was broken and caused an injury to one of our party. The child pool barrier was a hazard (broken) The TV and fridge both had dual pesonalities (In the main My Hyde) Pool maintenance was poor, with water hygene questionable for the first week Like I say good location for Disney and restaurants however it needs a bit of TLC (for bit read a lot)

Owner response:Hi Steve, Thanks for the feedback in relation to the villa and I am glad that you had a great vacation. In relation to the comments raised, I do wish you had contacted my house managers whilst you were in the villa so we could of attended and sorted out any issues you had. My house managers were not aware of your issues and we do state in our terms and conditions which you sign and agree to that all issues are reported to management prior to leaving the villa. The pool is always cleaned once a week and the levels of chemicals are regulary checked and maintained. The fridge has been checked and is in full working order and we have purchased a new 42" LCD TV. Many Thanks again and you will always be welcome to use any of our properties in the future. Lee and Alyson

Recommended for:

Perfect Vacation

Guest: Atty (Chicago, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/01/10

My family and I stayed in this property from July 10th thru 17th, 2010. The house was perfect for us all. It is the first time we have rented a vacation home and we will all certainly be back to use this fantastic house again. It was clean and well maintained and it was better than we could of ever imagined. There was so much space and the photo's that are on this webpage and what the owner sent me are a real good reflection of the villa but they do not show how spacious the property is. My kids loved the pool and gamesroom and we all relaxed by the pool in the beautiful Florida sun. There is everything you would ever need in the villa and all the mastersuites are just great when you have 4 families all staying in the same house. Disney is only 15 minutes away if you go down the US192. All in all the house was perfect, the resort was great and we had a fantastic time. I certainly would recommend this house to my friends.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Best holiday ever

Guest: Ianzoe (Stockport, UK)
Date of Stay: 04/17/10 Review Submitted: 05/12/10

To Lee and Alyson, We just wanted to say a big thank you for letting us use your wonderful villa. It was our first ever visit to Florida and your house was just perfect. We loved it and didn't want to come home. The villa was big, spacious and was beautifully furnished. On our arrival the house was very clean. It really did feel like a home and you can certainly tell you and your staff take a great deal of time and care with the house, it is very well maintained. There was everything within the house we could of hoped for. There was enough bedding, towels, crockery and the kitchen was fully equipped with everything you needed. The kids loved the gamesroom and the pool. The decking area was fantastic because of the size which my wife loved because she could sunbathe whilst the children played in the pool. We also enjoyed relaxing and using the pool after returning home from spending all day in Disney and the other parks. The house was so comfortable. The resort facilities were fantastic which again the children enjoyes and with it being close to the villa they were able to walk there on there own. There is also a Publix and Walmart close by which was great. We met Steve and Dee your house managers who were lovely as they called to see if everything was fine which we thought was a wonderful touch. Overall we had a the best holiday ever, we will certainly recommend you to any of our friends and we will certainly be back in the future. Thanks again for the memories. Ian, Zoe and family.

Owner response:Hi Ian and Zoe, Thanks for the review, We are so pleased you all had a wonderful vacation. You will always be welcome to use the villa again. Lee and Alyson

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.