[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]

Originally Posted by 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??

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]

Originally Posted by raynan

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

I'm in Milford.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by jnieman

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by jnieman

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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??

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.