Counting down the days...

I love to travel. I am a homebody, in many ways, but I love to escape for 4 or 5 days, when the kids have a break. We started a tradition back when my kids were smaller of going to Disney World every fall. It is still hot in down there, however, it is less crowded. It is a trip that we enjoy and has become even more wonderful since my parents, several years back, began going with us. We have an absolute BLAST!!! I think one of the best thinks I ever discovered on the internet was vrbo.com, that is, vacation rentals by owner. Kenny has always said that I am a travel snob...meaning, when I travel I want to stay in very nice accommodations. And I do BUT being a snob means you want to stay in the very best no matter what the cost and that is definitely NOT me. I am pretty darn good at finding excellent deals at incredible places. My case in point, the first time Kenny and I went to Hawaii, we stayed on Oahu for a few days before heading to the Big Island and I found a deal for $67.00 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village!! (normally, a $265 per night room) There have been MANY other great hotel deals but through vrbo we no longer stay in hotels, if possible. We rent houses. We are a family of six and hotels just don't cut it. Take Disney World for example, to stay inside the park it will cost approx. 200-350 a night easy, (although one year I found a deal at the Wyndham Palace over looking Epcot's fireworks for $73.00 a night!) and in a hotel we are CRAMPED or have to get two rooms which is even more $. We now rent beautiful houses for not even a close to that cost. Last year, we stayed in a 7 bedroom 6 bath house for $90.00 a night!!! These houses are VERY NICE. This year, we are staying in a 5 bedroom, 4 bath house and it is just as nice, just smaller.(2700 sq. ft.) Keep in mind, it is just my kids and my parents. We are staying in a subdivision called Emerald Island and it is so nice. On the vrbo website, you can find rentals anywhere in the world, pretty much.




This is part of subdivision entry.




Here are some of the pics of the house...(tip when booking online:always see the inside before you book!)Click on the pic to enlarge image.







This is one of the two master suites. There is one on the main floor and one upstairs.















All the houses have pools and spas which have huge screen enclosures to keep the mosquito's out. Each one of the bedrooms have a TV with DVD/VCR combo and the family room tv has a PS2 with games. The house also has a washer and dryer where I can keep up with my laundry and not come home with 20 loads of dirty clothes! The neighborhood has a big club house, playground, walking trails, fitness center, and volleyball court. It is a gated community about 3 miles from Disney World. I can't wait. The absolute best part is coming back home from the parks and cooking out or ordering in, and just sitting around playing cards or just talking. It is what I love the most about our trip there. The kids are ready for a break. I can't believe they have been in school for six weeks. I know my seminary students are looking forward to sleeping in and so am I!