LIfestyle Visit

[crazyeddie]

Well, just got back from a 6 night lifestyle visit and I now understand why so many folks buy homes in the Villages. We stayed in the homes behind the Sales Center in Lake Sumter Landing and according to our sales associate it was the very house that Arnold Palmer stayed in on his last visit. What a place, right on the lake, gas fire place, 1 1/2 car garage with complimentary new golf cart. They even filled the golf cart up with gas. The steak and lobster at the Cattlebarons was excellent and all of the complimentary meals included gratuity. I was overwhelmed by the lifestyle package. I didn't bring my sticks but the two free rounds of golf would have been great. Did get a discount at the Palmer Course pro shop. Their key lime pie was sinful!! I don't know if I will ever move to the Villages, given the current real estate and economic environment, however it wasn't because the Villages didn't present a first class operation. You residents are lucky to live in such a wonderful place to live--CE

[JohnN]

~wicked laughter~
you're hooked eddie, you'll be back!!!
glad you enjoyed it

[Russ_Boston]

Where there is a will - there is a way!!

[Sidney Lanier]

I will not be surprised if things (whatever they are...) don't change at some point and you're back! In any case, good luck!

[graciegirl]

You and Mrs. Eddie come on down and join up. Life is NOT a dress rehearsal.

[NJblue]

They included a golf cart? We are scheduled for a preview visit in July and they said that we had to rent one. Maybe it's like a casino where they give special treatment to the high rollers ... and we don't qualify??? :(

[crazyeddie]

They included a golf cart? We are scheduled for a preview visit in July and they said that we had to rent one. Maybe it's like a casino where they give special treatment to the high rollers ... and we don't qualify??? :(


I understand that this is a new policy and it certainly is a good one. We used ours a bunch, but some places that we wanted to go we used our Garmin in the car and most of the Villages roads are in there. Not sure how the cartpaths and the Garmin would get along.--ce

[Peggy D]

It must be a very new policy with the golf cart. We were just there this time last month and stayed in Liberty Park and didn't have a golf cart for our use.

Glad you had a good time.

TV is an awsome place.

[NJblue]

I just got off the phone with the person coordinating our visit. I asked him about the issue of having to rent a golf cart versus having one included. He said that the policy is that if you have never been to TV they put you up in the cottages and provide a golf cart. However, any subsequent visits would not include a golf cart (they will arrange for you to rent one, however.) He implied that second time visitors are also not put up in the cottages.

Since we stopped by TV for an afternoon last April, this counts as a "visit" and hence makes us ineligible for a free golf cart. Interesting.

[travelstiles]

When we visited last year as part of the lifestyle preview we stayed in the cottages, but no golf cart was included. That was an additional fee.

[NJblue]

Sounds like the policy changes on a regular basis.

[njgranny]

When I arranged our preview visit, the gentleman told me that, since it was summer, there would be plenty of golf carts to rent.

We were there for a couple of afternoons in the winter. Maybe that counted as visits.

[Niels]

I just got off the phone with the person coordinating our visit. I asked him about the issue of having to rent a golf cart versus having one included. He said that the policy is that if you have never been to TV they put you up in the cottages and provide a golf cart. However, any subsequent visits would not include a golf cart (they will arrange for you to rent one, however.) He implied that second time visitors are also not put up in the cottages.

Since we stopped by TV for an afternoon last April, this counts as a "visit" and hence makes us ineligible for a free golf cart. Interesting.


Thanks for posting this information. I was wondering why some people were being offered free golf carts. My wife and I are scheduled for a lifestyle preview visit the end of July. When I booked in early June, they offerred to arrange a golf cart for me but I would have to pay for it.

My wife and I had visited for an afternoon in January so I guess according to what you were told this counts as a visit and made us ineligible for the free golf cart.

[clekr]

When we did the "enticement tour" in April '07 we had to pay for a cart. Even so, I would definitively suggest you rent one. It will add measurably to the experience.

[Niels]

When we did the "enticement tour" in April '07 we had to pay for a cart. Even so, I would definitively suggest you rent one. It will add measurably to the experience.


I've heard different views on renting the golf cart. Some people said they hardly used it while others said it was great. My wife loved the idea of going around in the golf cart so I went ahead and reserved one for our visit.

[redwitch]

Neils, you might want to cancel the TV golf cart. They are incredibly slow. I forget the gentleman's name, but there is someone who rents decent golfcarts out. RCT is renting one from him now and I'm sure that when he gets online (next week) he could give you the information. Just send him a PM since he'll probably miss this thread.

[JohnN]

redwitch is right (as usual) , the guy that rents 'em is named Jim, I can't recall the thread either but you can do a search. TV golf rentals are gas and slow.

[Russ_Boston]

From a previous post on the topic:

For the rental or purchase of a used golf cart I would call Jim Followell at cell 317-258-1241 or home 352-259-7525. He rents carts that go faster than the ones The Villages rents and his all have side curtains also which The Villages carts don't have. He also has 4 seat carts. Good person to work with.

Hope this helps.

[collie1228]

Wow - We'll be there on the 26th for our first Lifestyle Preview visit, and we will be paying for our rental cart. I guess I'll have to check again - I think it's $18/day.

[tbsoccer]

We will be at TV during the second week of August and we will be staying a villa. Last year we came down in July and stayed in a ranch. We rented a cart for a half day and took it back early. I doubt if we bother renting one this year at all. It was just easier quicker to get around in the car (plus it has AC). There were no offers for us to use a cart last year or this.

[Indy-Guy]

From a previous post on the topic:

For the rental or purchase of a used golf cart I would call Jim Followell at cell 317-258-1241 or home 352-259-7525. He rents carts that go faster than the ones The Villages rents and his all have side curtains also which The Villages carts don't have. He also has 4 seat carts. Good person to work with.

Hope this helps.


Yes Jim is a good guy to work with and those side curtians are important for the daily showers that we have this time of the year.

[JohnN]

We just had a lifestyle preview (and bought a villa HURRAY!!!!) and we chose not to get a golf cart (it wasn't offered free). I'd asked about this on a prior thread and someone pointed out that if looking at property in all parts of TV, it's really easier by car - and it was.

I KNOW I'll have great fun when I do get a golf cart (Mrs JohnN has given me a budget but free rein to choose --- LOLOLOL) but for property and neighborhoods, I thought it was actually easier without it. Just another perspective. Best of luck