Florida Villas Direct Return Visit

I travelled to the USA for a Florida holiday in June 2008 determined this time not to visit the theme parks or go to any restaurant on US192 or International Drive. I booked my accommodation through Just Florida Direct and stayed in a Florida villa in the Manor at West Haven in Davenport close to Championsgate. The location was excellent with a Publix supermarket about a mile away from the villa and a number of restaurants if I wanted to eat locally. I made a point of eating at restaurants I had not been to before and particularly enjoyed Smoky Bones and the Red Lobster on Highway 50, the more up-market Moonfish, Samba Room, and Timpano on Sand Lake Road (County Road), and Manuel’s on the 29th in the Bank of America building in downtown Orlando. Manuel’s was absolutely terrific and costly, but the service, the food, and particularly the view from my table overlooking Orlando and with the police helicopters flying beneath me, made it all worthwhile.

Like all visitors, I made a number of purchases at the outlet malls and probably saved between 30% to 50% against prices of the items in the United Kingdom.

The Americans were all complaining about the price of gas (petrol) which was around the $4 per gallon – when I told numerous people what we were paying in the United Kingdom, they just could not believe it and asked why we accepted it without nationwide protests and a change of government. One American told me he had bought a Mini-Cooper for local driving and to go to the supermarket and would only use his Sovereign Jaguar for long trips!!!!!