beachfront villas, private homes with pools on exclusive estates, townhouses that feature separate, well serviced units, and the more familiar apartments.
Funway Holidays says it has doubled its choice of villas and apartments both in Orlando and on the coast following a 40% increase in private home sales, year on year.
Managing director Stephen Hughes said: “More families now want to combine similar accommodation facilities in both these areas.
“The main attraction for big families is they can stay in a private home for not much more than a hotel room. Another significant factor is we don’t charge for children – only the air fare.”
Funway is offering private homes with pools in Orlando from £336 per rental per week, sleeping up to eight. More stylish villas, such as those at Visitana Resort at Lake Buena Vista or Villas of Somerset in Kissimmee cost from around £525.
Funway has also added a new selection of secluded apartments at Anna Maria Island, Sanibel, Naples and St Pete’s on the Gulf Coast, sleeping up to six, from £511 for one week.
Specialist Meon Villas says accommodation-only packages introduced to Florida last year are currently 69.5% up on the same period last year.
Marketing director Susan Williams said: “The move was an experiment and has certainly paid off. Accommodation-only packages may mean lower-value bookings but it helps to generate business that might otherwise go direct.”
She added that price-conscious customers also want to combine Florida ground arrangements with the ready availability of cheap flight-only deals.
“We think agents should view it in this light and look to sell extras like car hire that will increase their commission.”
Meon’s main operating areas are Kissimmee/Orlando, Cape Coral, Longboat Key along the Gulf Coast and Marco Island, west of Miami.
Florida villa specialist Style Holidays, now part of JMC, has added more properties both in Orlando and along the Gulf Coast.
Marketing manager John Hayes said: “The brochure has only a cross-section of what we feature – we have a vast selection of homes and villas.
“People crave the amount of space these give you compared to a hotel room.
“You have your own pool and car, which gives more flexibility.”
Villas sales from the programme, which also features flydrives, multi-centres and hotels, now represent 85% of Style’s business compared to 60% a year ago.
Hayes said: “An increasing portion is accommodation only, which I don’t think agents are aware of.
“Although we prefer to sell the product on an inclusive basis, there is not a limitless amount of air seats available.”
Disney on-site hotel accommodation and villas with pools are setting the sales trend for Cosmos this summer.
Senior product manager, long haul, David Binns said: “Private villas are popular with large family parties or groups of friends travelling together. In response to this, we have increased our range of accommodation on the Gulf Coast.”
THE popularity of private homes with pools in Mediterranean sun spots has led to a big increase in a similar market in Florida.
Although some operators have widened their hotel choice in Orlando and the Gulf Coast, a far greater number have included more self-catering options.
These range from luxury beachfront villas, private homes with pools on exclusive estates, townhouses that feature separate, well serviced units, and the more familiar apartments.
Funway Holidays says it has doubled its choice of villas and apartments both in Orlando and on the coast following a 40% increase in private home sales, year on year.
Managing director Stephen Hughes said: “More families now want to combine similar accommodation facilities in both these areas.
“The main attraction for big families is they can stay in a private home for not much more than a hotel room. Another significant factor is we don’t charge for children – only the air fare.”
Funway is offering private homes with pools in Orlando from £336 per rental per week, sleeping up to eight. More stylish villas, such as those at Visitana Resort at Lake Buena Vista or Villas of Somerset in Kissimmee cost from around £525.
Funway has also added a new selection of secluded apartments at Anna Maria Island, Sanibel, Naples and St Pete’s on the Gulf Coast, sleeping up to six, from £511 for one week.
Specialist Meon Villas says accommodation-only packages introduced to Florida last year are currently 69.5% up on the same period last year.
Marketing director Susan Williams said: “The move was an experiment and has certainly paid off. Accommodation-only packages may mean lower-value bookings but it helps to generate business that might otherwise go direct.”
She added that price-conscious customers also want to combine Florida ground arrangements with the ready availability of cheap flight-only deals.
“We think agents should view it in this light and look to sell extras like car hire that will increase their commission.”
Meon’s main operating areas are Kissimmee/Orlando, Cape Coral, Longboat Key along the Gulf Coast and Marco Island, west of Miami.
Florida villa specialist Style Holidays, now part of JMC, has added more properties both in Orlando and along the Gulf Coast.
Marketing manager John Hayes said: “The brochure has only a cross-section of what we feature – we have a vast selection of homes and villas.
“People crave the amount of space these give you compared to a hotel room.
“You have your own pool and car, which gives more flexibility.”
Villas sales from the programme, which also features flydrives, multi-centres and hotels, now represent 85% of Style’s business compared to 60% a year ago.
Hayes said: “An increasing portion is accommodation only, which I don’t think agents are aware of.
“Although we prefer to sell the product on an inclusive basis, there is not a limitless amount of air seats available.”
Disney on-site hotel accommodation and villas with pools are setting the sales trend for Cosmos this summer.
Senior product manager, long haul, David Binns said: “Private villas are popular with large family parties or groups of friends travelling together. In response to this, we have increased our range of accommodation on the Gulf Coast.”
Florida
Style Holidays: from £359 per person based on eight sharing a three-bedroom townhouse in the Orlando/Kissimmee area for two weeks, including flights and car hire.
Cosmos: two-centre holiday including Kissimmee/Orlando and at New Port Richey/Hudson on the Gulf Coast in villa accommodation with pools from £619 based on six sharing and including flights. Children reductions apply.
Florida Vacations: three-bedroom private home with screened pool and 150ft frontage onto the waterway at Sleepy Lagoon on Fort Myers Beach, from £845 per week.
Meon Villas: five-star Lyons Home on exclusive Long Boat Key facing the Gulf of Mexico with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and private pool. From £929 per person for one week in May, including car and flights.
Travel 4: townhomes within 30mins drive of Walt Disney World Resort, from £343 for a two-bedroom unit sleeping up to four and from £399 for three-bedroom homes for up to eight people. Prices are per home per week.