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Review submitted by mrs nikki from oxford (Submitted: 18 Jun 2012)
WOW!!! What an amazing place to stay, very peaceful and fantastic rooms. We were 7 people staying here and there was enough room for everyone to have their own space. The kids loved the pool [ so did the occasinal duck!] and the master bedroom and bathroom was out of this world!. Would reccomend this place to anyone that wants to be near tampa but not in the thick of it and if you enjoy peace and quiet and luxurious surroundings this place is for you. Thanks to the owners for letting us rent your fabulous home.
P.S the beds were really comfy and my husband and i lost each other in the master bed , it was huge!!
Review submitted by Sam from Swindon (Submitted: 1 Sep 2011)
From the moment we arrived I was really pleased that we had chosen this property over the others on our short-list. We were shown around by the neighbours over the road who were lovely and made sure we had everything we needed. The house is beautiful and very well equipped with everything you could want (the toaster is not the easiest to use so we ended up using the grill) and there is a Supermarket about 5 minutes up the road. The owner even sorted out a cot for us which was fantastic as we have an 8 month old baby and there was also a good selec tion of toys for her to play with. The grounds and the view over the lake are spectacular- it was a joy to wake up to every morning. The pool is perfect for the family clean, very warm and there are lots of inflatables to keep the children amused. The wildlife you will see is also fantastic- squirrels climb the lanai screens which we found very amusing, there are dragonflies, huge brightly coloured butterflies and so many different birds to watch. The only unwelcome inhabitants were the odd cockroach and the mosquitoes, but these are to be expected if you chose a villa near a lake. However, the owner kindly supplies insect repellent.
The only problem we had was the air-conditioning which I saw was also an issue for the guests that stayed there the previous week. We couldnt seem to cool the house down enough and the separate unit in the master en-suite was leaking when we got there to the point where the towels on the bath were soaked and the floor was wet. However, we just put a bin under it to collect the water and notified the neighbours. Unfortunately, it wasnt fixed whilst we were there which was a bit disappointing and is why I havent given an excellent rating.
I would certainly recommend this beautiful villa to anyone wanting a relaxing retreat away from it all and we will definitely use it the next time we stay in Florida.
Review submitted by Robert B from Scotch Plains, NJ (Submitted: 16 Aug 2011)
Within 12 hours of arrival, A/C died, we were there in August. The third day there the master bedroom flooded, ankle deep. Sent E-Mail to owner who quickly called back from Holland, advised us the serviceman would be there the following morning, no-one showed. Caretaker for the home was nice, felt bad he wanted to fix the problems, appear to have to check with homeowner every time, causing delays. Other than those problems, home was nice, clean, initially.
Review submitted by Pat from Solihull (Submitted: 12 Jul 2010)
What a truely wonderful villa, it has absolutely everything. We have stayed in several houses in Florida in the past, this was by far the best. We all had great fun with the canoe. The swimming pool was lovely especially as it was not encased by metal gause. Definately five star, I would certainly recommend it and we would very much like to stay there again.
Review submitted by ESTELLE from LEAMINGTON SPA (Submitted: 14 Jun 2010)
What a beautiful Villa, we all had a wonderful holiday and didnt really stray far from the house, the interior decor was like that in a 5 star hotel. It was such a tranquil rest after the madness of Orlando and Disney.
The Children loved the pool and the floats, I had more Kitchen equipment than at home. The computer was excellent for planning trips and checking in for our flight home.
The pictures dont show that it has an electric screen that comes down in the evening to keep the mozzies out of the outdoor seating area. I didnt want a property with a huge grill over the pool.. and was willing to rely on the spray so this was a great bonus
The lake is wonderful and we all had great fun out in the canoe and managed to catch lots of fish (we put them all back) We saw turtles in the lake and an armadillo in the garden.
Just a wonderful place and we were all sad to leave.
Review submitted by Ian from Caerphilly (Submitted: 7 Jun 2010)
If you want a relaxing holiday in a 5 star villa, set in stunning surroundings, then this is the villa for you. The photos really dont do it justice. The wildlife is spectacular,(tortoise living in front garden), turtles in the lake and the odd armadillo in the garden at night. My son and I took full advantage of the canoe and fishing rod and caught several good size fish on the lake. The covered patio area is perfect for sitting out at night with a drink and you dont get bothered with insects. the villa itself is simply stunning and I guarantee you wont want to leave. Trinette was very helpful and phoned a couple of times during our stay to check if all was well. I would have no problem in recommending this villa to anyone, we hope to be back soon
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 6 Jun 2010)
Ik ben voor het eerst naar Amerika geweest met vakantie en het is geweldig geweest. Het huis is in een woord geweldig en de omgeving is zo mooi in het gebied waar het staat met al zn pracht en praal en aan het lake! Binnen in het huis heb je alle comfort en er ontbreekt niets. In de lanai was het heerlijk om s-morgens te ontbijten, en met de airco in het huis is het heerlijk om te slapen. En wat dacht je van de TVs in het huis (is maar een bijzaak maar toch leuk), voor het slapen gaan even leuk om een woonprogramma te kijken. Al met al is het voor mij een super vakantie geweest, bedankt Auke en Trinette dit is voor een herhaling vatbaar.
Review submitted by david from 390 bury new road (Submitted: 23 Oct 2009)
villa was beautiful, furnishings etc, if therer was a complaint it would be the water which apparently comes from their well, the smell was awful when showering or general use, but otherwise very different from other villas we have stayed in, spacious antique furnishings were beautiful and the owner was contactable if you needed anything, she was very approachable.
Review submitted by Nicki from Oxford (Submitted: 15 Oct 2009)
WOW couldnt ask for anying more except maybe to have stayed longer. Fabulous house and pool. A real home from home, except my home is nothing like this one. Unlike other homes that we have stayed in in Florida this had little extras i.e cool boxes, games, salt, sugar and the like for our use (replaced if used up) this made all the difference. The computer was a real help to get directions to places of interest. All in all perfect. Thanks Trinette
Review submitted by mike from Chepstow (Submitted: 19 Sep 2009)
Beautifull Villa and surroundings. Secluded yet within easy reach of shops and freeway. I would have no hesitation in recommending to anyone.
Trinette went out of her way to ensure everything was in order and that we had everything we needed
Review submitted by Lisa from London (Submitted: 6 Aug 2009)
We loved the house-beautifully designed and furnished. The pool and garden are lovely but the best place is the lanai (porch). Perfect setting for meals and reading.
Review submitted by joanne from manchester (Submitted: 9 Jun 2009)
This villa is simply stunning, the photos do not do it justice. It is set in a peaceful, residential woodland area in easy reach of shops and restaurants and Busch gardens is only a 15 min drive away. It has every ammenity you can imagine, including 2 bikes, pc, fishing rod and canoe. The interior is beautiful with lovely travertine tiles throughtout. The gardens are huge and the enormous pool a welcome relief from the Florida heat. The outlook at the back of the villa is simply gorgeous with views over the lake and even its own decking/fishing area with direct lake access. We wouldnt hesitate to return and would definitely recommend to friends/family, you will not be disappointed. The owner was easily contactable and was very quick to deal with a very minor issue over the location of some keys. Book now!!!
Review submitted by John from Waterford, Ireland (Submitted: 6 Oct 2008)
A very clean, well looked after and homely property in a quiet rural location outside the main North Tampa conurbation. The property has neighbors so youre not isolated but has more than ample space to ensure privacy. The property is in a large plot which directly accesses a lake environment so care would need to be taken with young children. The property has a mixture of local shops and Publix supermarket only five minutes away in the car so its easy to stock up with food for your stay.
Lutz is well placed for Busch Gardens, being only 20 mins away and about 35 mins from Tampa International airport. Lutz is also within easy reach of both main interstates I275 (5 mins) and I75 (15mins) which run through Tampa . If youre after access to the main South Tampa beaches areas of Saratoga then its a good 1 hour 30 although clearwater would be only about 40 mins. Its also approx 1h.30 to get to the Disney /Universal resort areas south of Orlando.
We found the owner, Trinette very helpful with Pre-stay information and while there, Rob was extremely helpful as her representative. He met us at the house at 1 am to show us around.
It would be possible to write lots of goods things but it would be best to try it. My family had a great time and would recommend without hesitation.
Review submitted by Fiona from Norwich uk (Submitted: 22 Sep 2008)
We had an "almost" fabulous holiday at this extremely spacious and comfortable villa. All our needs were met and we didnt have to go food shopping for a couple of days courtesy of the owners who left a stocked fridge for us (much
appreciated)
However our holiday was interupted by the overflow of the toilets (the owners admitted there was a plumbing problem) and this was not sorted till well into the second week, we did our best to put a brave face on the situation but to be honest it did spoil our holiday somewhat but Rob did his best to try and sort it out, just a pity it took so long!!! having said all that, the villa is extremely well equipped and very clean, apart from the plumbing problem !!
couldnt use the jacuzzi bath either!!!
If you want to visit Disney regularly this isnt the place as its well over an hour drive but we loved the peace and tranquility of the place and thought it was worth it.
If the toilet problem had not happened it would have been 5 star for us !!
Review submitted by Anthony from Birmingham (Submitted: 9 Aug 2008)
The owners are very approachable and helpful. Myself and my family fell in love with this property straight away.
Review submitted by Dylan from Cheval , Lutz, Tampa,Florida (Submitted: 1 Nov 2006)
This property is a fantastic retreat from the busier parts of Tampa, and well worth the extra travelling time. We enjoyed the wildlife around the gated community and all the space inside the property, which is well equipped and very comfortable - we hope to visit again!
Review submitted by Barry from Leicester, UK (Submitted: 22 Oct 2006)
Lovely property in an ideal location. Cheval is in a nice peaceful location but perfectly situated for the golf addict - very close to Tampa TPC and the Cheval Golf and Country club which should not be missed. The property has everything you could want and Ray was very helpful and quickly sorted out any minor issues we had during our stay. The Racoons were great fun to watch when they visited us every day. A good choice of varied dining and shopping are in easy reach of the property. Thank you for a superb holiday.
Review submitted by Martin from London (Submitted: 2 Sep 2006)
A very sumptuos and secure location,everything you could want from a villa is here.
A little off the beaten track,
As mentioned this is a Luxury Villa and would definatly recomend to all my friends if they,wanted a change from Orlando.
Ray is only to pleased to sort out any issues you may have and looks after the property superbly.
A credit to the owners,already looking for 2007!
We will miss the Racoons who feed just outside the Lanai. A1 Recomended property.
Review submitted by beverley from Lutz Tamp (Submitted: 2 Jul 2006)
This property is fabulous and pure luxury, If we stay in Tampa again we will definately stay there and we have recommended it to many friends. Ray is wonderfull he showed us easy access to the main roads as we were a bit worried about driving and finding our way around. Owners are only on the other end of the phone if needed. No complaints whatsover. 5* accommodation. best holiday to date
Review submitted by Victoria from Round Lake, IL USA (Submitted: 5 Jan 2006)
One thing that we were not happy about is that we couldn't use the pool because it took to long to heat up. And it was very hard to reach Ray when we arrived. I'l recomand to people who is driving to Florida to keep their time of arrival.
Review submitted by Christine from England (Submitted: 25 Nov 2005)
The whole experience went smoothly and the people concerned (Trinette, Aukee and Ray) were a pleasure to deal with. This property has the feeling of a home, being very comfortable with all the amenities you could ever wish for. We would return with family as the property was very large for the two of us. Thank you for sharing your wonderful home with us.
Review submitted by Bea from Dorset, England (Submitted: 5 Oct 2005)
Absolutly fabulous property. Very well maintained and presented.
Racoons provided great entertainment!!
Need a car but all amenities and eating places are close by.
Well done, thank you.
Review submitted by Catherine from England (Submitted: 8 Sep 2005)
A beautiful house in a peaceful, quiet setting and excellent value for money . Near enough to all amenities, shops and restaurants etc, but far enough away to be totally peaceful. An ideal property for visiting the 'other' Florida. Ray couldn't have been more helpful if he'd tried. Thank you Trinette - we shall be booking with you again.
Review submitted by Thomas from UK (Submitted: 26 Aug 2005)
WOW! This was our best holiday ever. Everything about the property, location, security, value for money is 1st class. The owners care about you and that you enjoy their home - thank you. Help is always at hand, whether it is from Ray who looks after the house or the security guards who look after the estate. The location is excellent - 20 mins to the beach, 10 minutes from the airport and just over an hour from Orlando. You can relax in this house whilst sill being able to enjoy what Florida has to offer. I promise you will not regret booking this villa. Thank-you Trinette and Ray.
Review submitted by Fiona from UK (Submitted: 12 Aug 2005)
The property is superb, designed and furnished to the highest standards and a delight for any holiday makers. It is on a locally renowned development with the highest level of security. Superbly maintained and owners who are extremely courteous, thoughtful and with an admirable attention to every detail. It is also their holiday home with books, games and equipment available for use.
This is a fantastic place from which to launch an exploration of the Gulf Coast but be prepared to drive.
Review submitted by Ruth from Swansea (Submitted: 8 Jun 2005)
First class surroundings, leaving you with a great relaxed feeling at the end of your holiday.
Tahks for everything
Review submitted by pamela from N. Ireland (Submitted: 27 Apr 2005)
The property was of excellent standard and although not in the centre of things, 1.5 hours from Disney, it was perfect for us as we wanted to stay somewhere quiet. 30 mins from Busch Gardens and Island of Adventure (water Park). Looked after well by a caretaker employed by the owners.
Review submitted by pamela from N. Ireland (Submitted: 27 Apr 2005)
The property was of excellent standard and although not in the centre of things, 1.5 hours from Disney, it was perfect for us as we wanted to stay somewhere quiet. 30 mins from Busch Gardens and Island of Adventure (water Park). Looked after well by a caretaker employed by the owners.
Review submitted by Nicola from Isle of Man (Submitted: 10 Apr 2005)
What can I say, words will not do it justice!
The property is a wonderful villa with excellent facilities for either a family or group of friends. Its description did not come any where near the actual, it was so much better in reality!
We were met late in the evening (10 pm) by a smiling Ray, who gave us a guided tour before leaving us but was always on call should he be needed.
It will definitely be on my list of places to go back to and I have already passed the details on to a very envious friend!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 28 Mar 2005)
It is a wonderfull house.Everything you expect is is availabble and even more. The gated park is magnificent and the surroundings overwhelmng.
The nice pool asks for everyday us.
I will certainly recommend this villa to my friends! Trinette and Auke, we rally were speechless seeing your fantastic house!
Review submitted by Michel from Canada,Quebec (Submitted: 11 Mar 2005)
This villa is probably one of the best deal right now in florida no kidding !
extremely safe (garded gate at entrance) beautiful neighborhood just make shure to get a map of the region , a bit hard to find.
Review submitted by Anthony from England (Submitted: 3 Mar 2005)
1st class villa,1st class owners,
5* plus
Thank you Trinette
Tony & Anne Kelly
Review submitted by AJ from Ireland (Submitted: 22 Feb 2005)
A wonderful, luxury villa which exceeded all our expectations. Beautifully furnished, meticulously clean, in a quiet gated community, this villa offers exceptional value for money. The owners have obviously made every effort to provide the best facilities for their guests (eg use of internet access, new pool heating system etc) The pool is accessible (via glass sliding doors)from all the living areas and the master bedroom, which makes it easy to supervise the children. Although in a quiet area, lots of restaurants and shops are only a few minutes' drive away. Getting to Orlando is straightforward but time-consuming, especially if the traffic is heavy, so this isn't the place to stay if you want to spend more than one or two days at Disney. However, there is more than enough to do locally to keep everyone happy.
We all highly recommend this villa and will certainly be returning! A big thank you to our hosts.