1) What is in the house/what will we need to bring?

All of our homes come fully equipped with all you could need, you will find a dishwasher, range, refrigerator, microwave, washer & dryer, iron and board. All linens and towels are supplied with one change of bed linen. The kitchen comes fully equipped with all utensils and crockery. The house is self-catering so the bathroom is stocked with paper and soap for your arrival, but thereafter you will need to replenish. Baby items, BBQ’s, toys, videos, etc are not standard in the homes but most items are available for rental. There will be a telephone at the property for local calls only.

2) Will I need the pool to be heated?

To have the pool heated is an optional extra charged at $25p/n. This allows you to have the pool and spa (if there is one) heated to a warmer temperature. The Florida sunshine heats the pool to a comfortable level during the summer months and you should not need additional pool heat between June – September but you may like it anyway if you prefer the water very warm, or if you intend to use the spa/Jacuzzi at a hot temperature. You will need heat in late fall, winter and early spring as the water can get quite chilly. In most homes the pool & spa are integrated so when you pay for pool heat your spa will also be heated. If pool heat is not requested in advance and paid for, it will not be activated. Any tampering with the heat unit can damage it, and should there be any evidence of this there will be a penalty charged to your damage deposit, which will be at the management company’s discretion.

3) Will the property be cleaned?

The property will be clean and ready for your arrival, after that there will be no additional cleaning until you depart. If you require a mid-stay clean please call the homes management company and they will arrange for their housekeeping staff to visit.

4) What is the Security/Damage Bond?

The Security Bond is usually required from all guests and is a deposit to protect against damage to the property or loss of it’s inventory. The bond, its amount and the terms are between you and the management of the home, they will come by to collect it on your arrival, is typically an amount between $200 and $300. The bond will be held until after the property is vacated and checked, and then it will be returned to you. You can usually pay by credit card/check or cash. If you have any questions or concerns about the bond please contact the management on your arrival, their details will be prominently displayed at the property. This section is purely for advice, The Villa Directory.Com is a booking service, we do not have any connection with the management company or their practices or requirements, and cannot answer any questions on their behalf.

5) How do I book?

Please visit our section ‘Booking Information’ located in the left hand menu. The house is not reserved until we have received a deposit and confirmed the booking. Your full and final payment is due at least 45 days prior to your arrival date but you can pay the amount all at once or at any time thereafter. Once we receive your full payment, the property address, entry codes, directions and information will be sent to you.

6) Internet Booking Safety

The majority of the properties listed on our website belong to registered, incorporated and licensed companies, who are also members of the BBB – Better Business Bureau. The others belong to private owners and have been checked and verified and in most cases visited by our staff. Only properties that meet our high standards are listed on our website. If you are at all uncomfortable we will willingly supply references, and proof of our management companies BBB membership. You do not book the homes online and we do not ask that you leave credit card details via an online booking service. Once your reservation has been accepted we will email you our booking forms and a credit card authorisation form which we prefer you fax back to a private fax number where only one trusted member of staff will view it. You may also contact us by telephone to leave your credit card details.

7) How do I enter the home?

In most cases the homes will have a key box by the front door, in your final confirmation letter you will be given the codes to enter to release the key from the box and enter the home, some homes will have an electronic lock which requires a code to be entered and automatically opens the door, you will be given simple instructions on how to operate this to lock and unlock the door. In other cases it may be necessary to check in with the management company to collect the keys at their office or at the property, in all cases full information will be given following full payment. If you are staying in a development that has security gates you will also be given the code to enter the neighbourhood.

8) How do I know which homes are available for my dates?

Once you have found the home you wish to book, fill in the reservation form and we will get back to you to confirm availability. Because your first choice may not be available we urge you to enter 2 further preferences so that we can provide other options should your first choice already be taken.

9) Are your rates fixed?

The rates you see on the page are the rates we charge, however you will see that the standard of properties offered varies slightly, depending on various factors such as the owners wishes and the time of year, some property rates may be flexible. Our higher standard properties rates are fixed, but if you are looking for budget/lower rate accommodation or a longer term stay please contact us and we will work with you to find a property and rate that suits your needs.

10) Can I rent your homes by the month?

We are a short-term booking service and our market is weekly/biweekly vacation rentals. However we will gladly accommodate longer-term bookings from a month to several months. Please bear in mind that the owners of the homes purchase for the purpose of renting the property by the week because it is of more benefit to them. The rate will be discounted to the lowest level for you on a longer-term booking, but it will still be charged by the night/week, the rate will be typically be between $75 - $120 per night + tax, depending on many factors.

11) What If I need to cancel my reservation?

Please see our cancellation policy and booking policies on our booking information page. There are penalties for cancellations but at our discretion we may be able to exchange your booking for alternative dates dependent on availability. Your booking must qualify for an exchange, for further information follow the booking information link above.

12) Who do I contact if I have a problem at the property?

All homes will have a management company, their details will be displayed prominently in the house, usually on the wall together with the homes licenses, and/or in an information folder, which will also contain emergency contact numbers, and procedures to follow should there be an emergency. If you have any questions about the home itself; if you experience any problems please call the property management company directly. We welcome your feedback, if the property was not to your satisfaction for any reason please email us your comments, we will investigate and try to remedy with the property owner, if this fails on 2 occasions and we receive 3 or more dissatisfied feedbacks on any one property we will de-list the property from our portfolio.

13) Who do I contact with questions prior to my arrival?

If you have any questions about your reservation prior to your arrival please contact us and we will do our best to answer all of your questions. You will receive payment reminders when a payment is overdue and you will be kept informed as to the status of your reservation. Contact us with questions at info@TheVillaDirectory.com

14) Can I check in early?

Check in must be after 4:00pm so that previous guests can vacate and the property cleaned for your arrival. Early check in will likely result in the key code not yet being implemented for entry to the property. Please be advised that early check in without permission will result in a charge by the management company.

Early check-in can sometimes be accommodated with a fee of $50.00. Contact us if you need to arrive early.

Similarly check-out must be by 10:00am, as above, please be aware that other paying guests will be arriving and the property must be cleaned and prepared for them as it was for you. If anyone is found to be occupying the home for longer than the stated time a full days rental rate will be charged.