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Floridays luxury 4 Bed/3 Bath Pool Home - A to Z |
Air conditioning
Our villa has central air conditioning. Please don't set the temp below 72 degrees as it can cause the air conditioning unit to freeze, meaning that you'll be without aircon while the maintenance man fixes it. In addition there are ceiling fans in the Great Room and all bedrooms.
Alarm
A monitored alarm & fire detection system has been installed for your safety and piece of mind. Codes and operating instructions are provided once the rental has been paid in full.
Alarm Clocks
Each bedroom has it's own alarm clock/radio.
Bathrooms
Our home has 3 bathrooms, 2 of which are ensuite for bedrooms 1 and 2, the other is shared between bedrooms 3 and 4. Take a look at the floorplan.
Bedrooms
We have 4 bedrooms. Two double with ensuite, and two twins sharing a bathroom. All bedrooms have ample wardrobes, drawers, TV, Alarm clock/radio, and ceiling fan.
Books
If you enjoy reading there is a book collection in the Great room. Should you be half way through a book when it's time to go home you can take it with you, but please leave another book in it's place.
Cable TV
Cable TV is available in the Great room and all Bedrooms.
Check in/out
Check in time is 4:00 pm. Check out time is 10:00 am.
Cleaning
The house is thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom after the departure of each guest by our management company. All linen and towels are laundered and fresh bedding put on the beds.
Clubhouse
As a guest staying in our home you will have use of the clubhouse. It contains a selection of fitness equipment and changing rooms. The door key card is available from our management company. Due to the high cost of replacing lost key cards a refundable deposit will be required.
Documentation
On receipt of the balance of the rental we will provide you with a whole bunch of documentation. This includes, address and alarm codes, directions, restaurant guide, driving tips, maps, guide to local shops, and so on.
Disney
Tuscan Ridge isn't the closets community to the Disney parks, but it does mean that you have a choice of routes, often avoiding the worst of the traffic. It typically takes 10-15 minutes to get to Disney World.
DVD Player/VCR
Available for your use in the Great room. DVD's are available to rent locally.
Electricity
USA voltage is 110 V / 60 hz. Please take this into consideration if travelling from outside the US. Also they have a two pin plug which means that you will need an adaptor for any UK electrical gadgets you take with you.
Emergency services
Information on how to contact the emergency services can be found in the folder in the villa. There are also buttons on the alarm panel that can call directly to fire, medical, or police.
Fans
Ceiling fans are fitted in the Great room, all bedrooms and also outside in the Lanai.
Fire extinguisher
The house is equipped with a certified, and regularly checked fire extinguisher.
Floor plan
There is a floorplan of our home here
Fridge & Freezer
The is a large fridge and a large freezer with icemaker.
Fruit trees
We have planted banana, lime, lemon, grapefruit and orange trees in the garden. If there is fruit on the trees feel free to pick and eat it.
Games
There is a collection of board games and playing cards in the Great Room
Garden
Tuscan Ridge homes have the benefit of larger than normal plots. This gives us plenty of space for planting in the garden. You'll find a privacy hedge around the border, various fruit trees, and exotic plants. Every visit we make we add more plants, just can't resist it. If any fruit is ripe feel free to pick and eat it. If you have a digital camera we are always grateful to receive photos of our garden as we like to keep up with how it is maturing.
Garbage
Garbage is collected twice a week. Place the garbage bin at the end of the driveway near the road. Please put it back into the garage once emptied as it keeps the community looking neat.
Golf
I'm not a golfer myself but there are a huge number of courses in the area. Some of these are championship courses designed by world class golfers. Click here for a list and location map.
Gym
If you need to work off the food and beer a small selection of gym equipment will be found in the clubhouse including treadmill, cross trainer and cycle.
Hairdryers
Three hairdryers are provided, one in each bathroom.
Heating
For the winter months our home has central warm air heating.
HiFi
There is a Stereo in the Great Room for listening to the radio or playing CDs. You'll also find a portable in the cupboard if you want to listen to CDs elsewhere.
Hurricanes
Florida does have a tropical climate and with a tropical climate can come hurricanes. In 2004 we had 3, one while we were in our home. These villas a very well built and we suffered no damage what so ever. You just have to put all the pool furniture into the garage and sit tight until it passes. Keep the TV on, channel 9 is good for weather updates. If you want to see what it's like during a hurricane there is a set of short video files in avi format that I took throughout hurricane Frances here
Ice maker
Built into the freezer, it automatically replenishes when you use ice. You should have a constant supply to hand.
Internet connection
We have wireless, and Ethernet broadband connection in our home. You can connect your own PC, PDA or WiFi enabled device and surf away to your hearts content. Connection details will be provided in the documentation pack. This is of course free and unlimited.
Iron and Ironing board
Located in the laundry room and available to use during your stay.
Kitchen Appliances
The kitchen is equipped with oven/hob, fridge/freezer, ice maker, microwave and dishwasher.
Kitchen Gadgets
The electric gadget collection includes, kettle, toaster, Foreman grill, blender, coffee percolator, can opener, juicer, popcorn maker, rice cooker, food mixer.
Kitchen Other
There should be more than enough cutlery, crockery, mugs, glasses, utensils etc. While drinking in the pool area please use the plastic "glasses". Accidents do occur and if broken glass gets into the pool it will have to be drained, cleaned out and refilled making it unavailable for your use for at least a couple of days.
Lanai
The covered part of the pool decking is equipped with a ceiling fans. The perfect place for alfresco dining, to relax in the evenings, or just a welcome shade from the heat of the sun.
Laundry Room
In the separate laundry room you will find a washer and a dryer together with an iron and iron board.
Letters/Postcards
You can send letters and postcards by placing them in our mailbox and raising the red flag. If it's back to the UK ensure that you put "United Kingdom" at the end of the address.
Linens and towels
All linen and towels are changed and cleaned after the departure of each guest. The linen cupboards are literally bursting with towels and bedding so there should be more than enough for your stay. The white towels are for inside use, and the blue ones for outside, well that's the plan.
Maps
There are "traditional" maps of Orlando area, and Florida state here. You can also download a PocketStreets map of the area between Tuscan Ridge and Orlando. You'll need a PDA with Pocketstreets installed to use this street level map.
Management Company
Our home is managed by a local company English Rose Homes. They are responsible for maintaining our home in pristine condition and ensuring that it is ready for your arrival. They also provide your local point of contact if you have any questions or additional requirements. In the unlikely event that you have any problems please report them to our MC immediately.
Medical
Hopefully not needed, but there is a hospital and medical center on the H27 a couple of miles south of Tuscan Ridge.
Microwave oven
The kitchen is equipped with a microwave oven.
Oven and Hob
The villa contains a full size electric oven and hob should you wish to cook.
Parking
There is ample space for two cars on the driveway and of course there is the double garage.
Pets
No animals of any kind are allowed in our home.
Pharmacy
A few minutes south of Tuscan Ridge you will find Walgreens pharmacy at Ridgeway Plaza. There's also a Chinese there that's handy for lunch, and a Bar.
Phone
Through our subscription to a pre-paid calling service we provide International and Long distance call free to you. naturally you can also make local call also free of charge.
Pictures of our home
Hopefully the pictures on the website should give you a pretty good flavour of our home, it's size and it's contemporary furnishing style. If you need more you can download a zip file that contains 70 odd photos taken during our most recent trip. You will need a copy of winzip to unpack the archive.
Pool
The villa has a fully screened 15 x 28 ft private pool with entrance steps. The shallow end is 3ft and it gently slopes to 5ft deep. It also has sprinklers fitted which are great fun for kids to play in, or to provide a pleasant running water background sound.
Pool Alarms
All door that allow access to the pool area are fitted with alarms to prevent young children from from gaining access to the pool without your knowledge.
Pool Cleaning
The pool is cleaned, the chemical balance and the water levels checked weekly. Should you get grass, or the occasional bug in the pool there is a net and brush hanging on the pool cage. The water level should be around half way up the skimmer. If it drops below this through evaporation or more likely lots of splashing then it can be topped up with the hose located at the back of our home.
Pool Furniture
There are cushioned loungers, reclining chairs, chairs and tables in the pool area. Additional loungers and chairs can be found in the garage if needed.
Pool Heating
In the cooler months the pool can be heated for an additional charge. This can be booked and paid for with the rental, or arranged locally with our MC on arrival.
Pool Toys
You may well find a bunch of inflatables in the garage. If not they can be bought cheaply from Publix or Walmarts. You should find both 12 volt and hand powered inflators in the kitchen.
Pool Towels
A set of blue towels are provided for using around the pool area for drying off before entering the villa.
Restaurants
There are more eating places in the area than you could ever hope to visit in a year, let alone in your vacation. ranging from your standard fast food joints to truly gourmet experiences. We have compiled a list of those places that we have tried to give you somewhere to start, click here. We are always grateful for your restaurant recommendations to add to the list.
Supermarkets
Within a few minutes drive you'll find Publix and Walgreens. Slightly further away is Walmarts.
Smoking
Our home is strictly NO SMOKING. For those of you who do partake, including me who enjoys the occasional fat cigar while relaxing on holiday smoking is allowed outside in the Lanai. Please note that if it is apparent that guests have been smoking inside our home then the cost of fumigation will be deducted from your security deposit.
Telephone
Through our subscription to a pre-paid calling service we provide International and Long distance call free to you our guest. Naturally you can also make local call and take incoming calls also free of charge.
Terms & Conditions
You'll find our rental Ts&Cs here
Thunderstorms
Florida has a tropical climate and there are thunderstorms in the summer months. Just sit out in the lanai with a beer and watch the rain and lightning, it is spectacular. Generally they last for 10-20 minutes and the sun comes out again.
TV's
Televisions are provided in the Great room and all 4 bedrooms.
Towels and linens
You will be provided with a sufficient amount of linens and towels on arrival. They are changed after the departure of each guest. Should You wish to have towels and linens changed during your stay this can be arranged with the management company for an additional charge, please see Rates and Availability.
Tuscan Ridge
Tuscan Ridge itself is an "upscale" or "executive" community. This means that the homes are built and furnished to a higher than normal standard. They are also more spacious and sit on larger than normal lots.
Tuscan Ridge Location
Tuscan Ridge is situated a couple of miles north of the I4/Highway 27 junction. You have a choice of routes to Disney/Universal and the I4 provides fast access to both the east and west coasts. There's a map of the area here
Vacuum cleaner
The villa is thoroughly cleaned before your arrival, however should the need arise you will find an upright and small cylinder cleaner in the broom cupboard.
Weather
The summer months can be very hot and humid. Make sure that you drink plenty. If you are planning to go out put a couple of half full bottle of water in the freezer the night before. Top it up with water before you head out and you'll have cold drinks for most of the morning.
Welcome Pack
You can if you wish pre-book a welcome pack for your arrival. This contains the basic items like tea, coffee, milk, bread etc. Normally on arrival we dump our suitcases indoors and go out for our traditional first night Outback steak. Next to Outback is Wynn Dixie where we collect the basics ourselves. There is also a Publix supermarket a couple of miles north on H27
Any other questions which are not covered here just ask