Visitor Question

[New Englander]

Hi All, this is my first post so I hope it's in the right section.
I plan on visiting TV in June for a week. I am going to stay at a Villa that includes a covered golf cart.
I would be flying into MCO and taking the Villagers shuttle to the property and just rely on the golf cart to get around for the week. In other words, avoid rent a car.
Would this be a smart or dumb way to visit??

[raynan]

smart....where in MA are you from? I grew up in Somerville, husband Quincy, 33 years Attleboro.

[jnieman]

Hi All, this is my first post so I hope it's in the right section.
I plan on visiting TV in June for a week. I am going to stay at a Villa that includes a covered golf cart.
I would be flying into MCO and taking the Villagers shuttle to the property and just rely on the golf cart to get around for the week. In other words, avoid rent a car.
Would this be a smart or dumb way to visit??

I personally would want a rental car also. The Villages is huge and there is so much to see. There is an Enterprise rental place in Sumter Landing. You could just rent for a couple of days if needed.

[Villager Joyce]

Smart. Very smart. The Villages covers a lot of property. If you let us know where you are staying, more specific and helpful information will be given. There likely are plenty of restaurants, grocery stores and things to do regardless of where.

[New Englander]

smart....where in MA are you from? I grew up in Somerville, husband Quincy, 33 years Attleboro.

I'm in Milford.

[New Englander]

I personally would want a rental car also. The Villages is huge and there is so much to see. There is an Enterprise rental place in Sumter Landing. You could just rent for a couple of days if needed.

Thanks, I didn't know you could rent a car on the property. I will do that if I need to or use Uber.

[New Englander]

Smart. Very smart. The Villages covers a lot of property. If you let us know where you are staying, more specific and helpful information will be given. There likely are plenty of restaurants, grocery stores and things to do regardless of where.

I haven't narrowed it down yet. It will be a Villa because they are large enough for one person.

[Arlington2]

You can get to all of The Villages amenities by cart and grocery stores are cart accessible. Cart paths can be confusing so it is essential for you to get the GPS for your smartphone. I have seen and stopped to help several folks lost and confused by the cart paths. There are two GPS versions; the free one is very functional but without verbal direction while the paid version has verbal direction. A Garmin is inadequate due to lack of cart path info and the new areas are too recent to be included in their maps. If you want to see all of The Village squares, it is over 10 miles from Spanish Springs to Brownwood. If you desire to visit the newest area (Fenney) you will need to contact a realtor. Best wishes on your visit. You should have a lot of fun inside the bubble.

[MikeV]

I would just rent a car as necessary. The Villages is huge and depending on where you are staying it could be quite a drive via golf cart to all areas. Also after dark the cart paths are a little intimidating. Enjoy your stay.

[Carl in Tampa]

I personally would want a rental car also. The Villages is huge and there is so much to see. There is an Enterprise rental place in Sumter Landing. You could just rent for a couple of days if needed.

In June it is likely to rain almost every day. The storms may be brief, but if you are caught away from home, it can be uncomfortable driving back in a cart, even with the side curtains down. It is also not the safest thing in the world since most carts do not have windshield wipers. Rain, while you are at home can also discourage you from going out to lunch or some event in a Recreation Center.

I have driven a cart from the north end of the park to Brownwood Town Square and back, and it can be quite tiring.

When first in the park I bought the Golf Cart Map from The Villages real estate office and found it very useful. Wouldn't travel without it.

And finally, there are many good restaurants and stores lining the northeast side of US 441, and you cannot get to them by golf cart.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your visit. :gc:

[Schaumburger]

Hi New Englander,

First of all, enjoy your visit to The Villages; it is a beautiful place. I have visited The Villages several times (fingers crossed I will be back in September). I have always had a rental car as I venture outside of The Villages at least once during my visits. Also, The Villages is quite spread out geographically, and a trip from Spanish Springs town square to Brownwood town square would be a longer golf cart ride than I would want to undertake (but that is just me).

Also, if you are returning to the rental villa after sunset, you will need to navigate the golf cart paths -- not impossible by any means, but I haven't driven the golf cart paths by myself after sunset except for short distances. Just my two cents.

During and after your visit, please post on TOTV your impressions of The Villages. Enjoy!

[Bay Kid]

In believe a golf cart is the BEST way to learn and feel The Villages. A gas cart is the best option. You can get to anywhere of importance by cart.

[JMEZARIC3]

Hi All, this is my first post so I hope it's in the right section.
I plan on visiting TV in June for a week. I am going to stay at a Villa that includes a covered golf cart.
I would be flying into MCO and taking the Villagers shuttle to the property and just rely on the golf cart to get around for the week. In other words, avoid rent a car.
Would this be a smart or dumb way to visit??

Did you book a Life Style Tour?If not go to The villages website and check it out.I think the price is $99 per night.We did the Life Style about 8 years ago and we were treated like a King and Queen.No pressure sales people.

[thelegges]

First you need to download The Villages App on your phone it's free. It will do turn by turn directions and gives you an option for a car and or a golf cart. Unless you plan to shop out of the bubble I would hold off on a car.

Your golf cart will get you anywhere. we spent the first four years here two months at a time without a car. Enterprise is easy to rent even on short notice so if you do need to leave the bubble it is available.

I did find that Uber in TV was more money than Chicago, 2 ubers came out to the same amount as renting a car for a day.

With that take your time and enjoy yourself after all you're here on vacation and to see everything and to see how wonderful everything works.

[New Englander]

What very nice and helpful folks you all are. So many good suggestions. Visiting The Villages in June was a very recent idea. Usually, I take a summer cruise but two days ago thought maybe finally visit The Villages and summertime the are so many **** rentals available.

Would a life style tour be better than a **** rental? Is a full week visit too long or would three or four days be enough? It's nice to know I can rent a car on the property if I want.

Three years ago I spent a week in June in FL (Punta Gorda) and thinking back, yes it did rain every day for a while so maybe a car rental would be nice LOL.

Thank you all.

[tejas]

Please consider a Lifestyle visit. It is the best introduction to The Villages. You will stay in a Villa near one of the Town Centers which will include a golf cart and bicycles. You will also receive a book of coupons for many amenities such as movie tickets, restaurants and country clubs, free round of golf, etc. In addition, a sales person will show you around including display homes. There is absolutely no pressure. You will receive maps and a guest guide to the various town squares. A lifestyle visit is the way to go. You will get much more bang for your buck with a Lifestyle visit.

[lanabanana73]

What very nice and helpful folks you all are. So many good suggestions. Visiting The Villages in June was a very recent idea. Usually, I take a summer cruise but two days ago thought maybe finally visit The Villages and summertime the are so many **** rentals available.

Would a life style tour be better than a **** rental? Is a full week visit too long or would three or four days be enough? It's nice to know I can rent a car on the property if I want.

Three years ago I spent a week in June in FL (Punta Gorda) and thinking back, yes it did rain every day for a while so maybe a car rental would be nice LOL.

Thank you all.

I would definitely recommend a lifestyle visit of one week if this is your first visit to The Villages. You can't understand how big this place is until you are actually here. There is plenty to keep you busy for a week!

[New Englander]

Well, alot has happened and I changed my plans a bit.

I booked a Lifestyle Preview and rental car for five days in early June. I am flying into MCO and picking up a car at the airport and driving to TV and returning the car at the airport. The woman at TV that did my arrangements said I would be staying in a cabana that is near Brownwood Town Square. A golf cart and a bicycle are provided.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

[2BNTV]

Well, alot has happened and I changed my plans a bit.

I booked a Lifestyle Preview and rental car for five days in early June. I am flying into MCO and picking up a car at the airport and driving to TV and returning the car at the airport. The woman at TV that did my arrangements said I would be staying in a cabana that is near Brownwood Town Square. A golf cart and a bicycle are provided.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

Glad to see you made a decision that is right for you.

TV is approximately 40 square miles. To see all of it and save some time, a car would be my preference, especially if you want to go to hwy 441.

Do yourself a favor and buy a map at the sales center. If you belong to AAA, you can get a map from them but it's not as good quality.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'm in Milford.

I grew up in Revere but spent much on my adult life on the South Shore, Brockton, Stoughton and Easton.

My preference would be to have both a car and a golf cart.

[manaboutown]

Well, alot has happened and I changed my plans a bit.

I booked a Lifestyle Preview and rental car for five days in early June. I am flying into MCO and picking up a car at the airport and driving to TV and returning the car at the airport. The woman at TV that did my arrangements said I would be staying in a cabana that is near Brownwood Town Square. A golf cart and a bicycle are provided.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

That is pretty much what I did on my first visit and I see it as the best way to go. The accommodations were near Sumter Landing back then (2009). The golf cart provided was a little slow...

On that and subsequent visits I rented from Enterprise because they have an office and cars in Sumter Landing. On one trip my rental car's engine would not turn off no matter what I did so I took it to the SL Enterprise facility where their employees all had a big laugh at my expense until they found they could not turn the engine off either. They provided me with a replacement vehicle but I stuck around and the last I saw was the car was being loaded onto a flatbed tow truck, engine still running...lol

[EPutnam1863]

If you decide to stick with the golf cart, make sure it has air-conditioning.

[pauld315]

If you decide to stick with the golf cart, make sure it has air-conditioning.

Haha they don't supply those with LSP's. As a matter of fact the golf carts they give you are so slow, they are a hazard on the MMP's. I did 3 LSP's when they were near LSL and only used the carts to go to the square because they were so slow.

[jojo]

If you decide to stick with the golf cart, make sure it has air-conditioning.

I've been here 8 summers and never have felt a need for AC in my golf cart. Always enough breeze, natural or from the movement of the cart.

[EPutnam1863]

That is pretty much what I did on my first visit and I see it as the best way to go. The accommodations were near Sumter Landing back then (2009). The golf cart provided was a little slow...

On that and subsequent visits I rented from Enterprise because they have an office and cars in Sumter Landing. On one trip my rental car's engine would not turn off no matter what I did so I took it to the SL Enterprise facility where their employees all had a big laugh at my expense until they found they could not turn the engine off either. They provided me with a replacement vehicle but I stuck around and the last I saw was the car was being loaded onto a flatbed tow truck, engine still running...lol

This reminds me of an incident in California. I rented a car, went to a motel, and the next morning, got back into the car, put it in reverse, and it would not reverse. So I had to call and have the car replaced. Consequently I was very late to a meeting where I was the featured speaker.