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Although we have not yet had our 2013 summer holiday there have been some serious discussions at Fatbasher towers WRT going to Florida next summer.

It has been a long while since my wife and I went (2000) and this years offering to France is for my eldest sons sake as he's studying french @ Reading. We therefore are giving serious consideration to taking our young lad there before he becomes an ungreatful teenager!

Does anyone have or know of anyone local who has accomodation to let in August 2014 preferably in the kissimee area of Orlando though not exclusively if within an hours drive maximum. Also if you could point me in the direction of a reputable outfit to book flights where the cost will not include shares in the aircraft  :(

I'm taking the view that planning now will be less stressful than leaving it to Feb/Mar next year when we ususally start the thinking process.

TIA

I know a guy that can sort everything for you if that helps?

 :hmmm: Sounds interesting, tell me more kind sir.

He's an independent travel agent. Can create any itinerary to suit your needs.

My daughter's in-laws own a large villa out there, do you want a link?

Yes please

I asked first!

Maybe a bit much for just three of us but yes that would be good thanks.

Try Charter Travel.  We booked through them this year for October and seemed reasonable for Flight and Villa package.  Much cheaper than the high street travel agents or Virgin Holidays.  Flying with Virgin Atlantic and would have been £800 per person for two week if we went for economy (12 people, 2 x Villa's).  As it is we upgraded everyone to Premium Economy both ways, and then I upgraded myself, my brother and my Dad to Upper Class on the way out :-) Leaving the kids with my wife and mother and the rest.

Amazingly, I have not been divorced yet.

If you're planning this far ahead, can't you row there? Take about 6 - 8 weeks, meaning you'll have a long break.

I think it is at least six bedrooms, so poss a bit big for you!

You're right way to big. Thanks anyway.

Didn't take long did it?

Yeah, 6-8 weeks is pretty good going.  :)

Hi Fats,my daughter has just emigrated with her son to Orange County...me and my wife are going out next year to see her and we have never been to the USA before,so hopefully this will be a good thread for me also!
The flights look incredibly expensive and i have been given advice to book now while others say wait nearer the time,there are lots of smaller airports in the USA...my daughter flew straight to Sandford which saved her a little money.
All the best and dont forget as time goes on let us(me)know how you have gone about things.

My youngest lad's football team are sponsored by a really nice couple who own a lovely villa in Florida. It's quite big but it's still pretty cheap, it's done out amazingly and it's a Hewlett free kick away from Disneyland

www.dadsvilla.com

Please mention Robins FC U9s if you book with them!

Nice but way beyond what three ppl require, thanks anyway.

Leefer, Sanford is served by the Charter companies, so the travel companies own brands.  They will be slightly cheaper and it is about a 45 min drive past Orlando down to Kissimmee/Lake Buena Vista area, so worth a shout if you want to keep costs down.  The cheapest routes into MCO are utilising flights that stop in Washington or other such places.  It will then take a good 20 hours total travel time.

Blimey, that's a pretty nice pad for the money. You can pay something around that for somewhere much smaller and in Cornwall for a similar amount.

Cheers Robert,no doubt i will be hunting for flights soon.

Just digesting a quote from Graham @ Charter Travel. First read through and first impressions are good, not cheap but there is a lot of detail to absorb, will need to speak to him tomorrow to clarify the finer stuff.

Only just found out about them when booking this time around, they got pretty good reviews and beat the high street providers by a clear margin.  You can go cheaper but involves less comfortable flights or longer ones including a stop usually and I've become far too much of a travel snob now to be dabbling with the common people on the Thomas Cook flights!

I wonder if I can extrapolate any upgrades or further discounts from them as 4.75k for the three of us does seem steep now I have digested the quote fully. I have some questions that I need to ask, nothing out of the ordinary, clarification and some things he mentioned in our phone converstion are not in the quote. Again nothing major but otherwise I think I'm happy. 

Leefer, i've had a quote back from the agents that RobertT suggested. They were very helpful and specialise in Florida in all aspects. I have had subsequent conversations with them and have a breakdown of the costs. I can tell you that flying direct from gatportairwick with goatee airlines works out @ £800 return each for me and Mrs Fatbasher and a mere £700 for master Fatbasher. That is peak summer mind! You will get cheaper flights if you fly into another US airport and transfer, however I'm not sure the saving is that great but the flight time can increase from 9-10 hours going to 20 +. That is for plebs class and if you're feeling minted you might want to upgrade to nobs class but at a cost running into multiple 100's extra.

Just booked next years.

Right then folks. Thanks for the help when I originally asked for help. I have booked via charter travel in Newbury who were miles ahead of the high st price wise.

Now, the Disney passes are included in the deal we have (itemised for clarity), however we will need to get sea world, universal etc sorted. I have done some web searches and fuck me are they expensive! I don't want two week passes for them as we are finalising what we do where we go and when so we free days but two week passes will be a waste of time and cash. So,can anyone help with reasonable prices for orlando passes that they have used recently?

Regards