[LeeM]

I am planning to schedule a lifestyle visit in the fall for 5 nights.
I am wondering if it is best to come on the weekend?
Do I need to make golf and/or dinner reservations etc.? Any tips for a great visit?

Also after our visit to the Villages, we want to drive to another part of Florida for a few days. Any suggestions as to where to go?

[chachacha]

doesn't make a big difference here whether it's the weekend as we have fun every day and night...i would suggest if you will be here on a monday night to call Katie Belle's and reserve for the show and dinner...it is very good. 352-750-9411 between 11-4. another favorite of mine is Tierra del Sol on thursday nights for the duo Tommaura if you like to dance and see a crowd of fun loving folks...as for nearby trips afterwards, everyone loves St Augustine, the oldest city in the US,complete with old spanish fort, oldest house, oldest school etc...have a wonderful time!

[graciegirl]

Take the trolley ride. Eat at Glenview. Or Bonifay. Or Evans Prarie. Or Cane Garden. Or Mallory. Or Lighthouse

Visit the following Rec centers; Lake Miona Regional, SeaBreeze Regional. Colony Regional. and stop in at Bogart.

Drive your car from the bottom at 44A to the top at Orange Blossom Hills.

Talk to everyone at the squares. Just say ...I'm new here, do you live here? What do you think of this place?

If you want to see inside of someone's home, PM me. We live about in the center. Give me five minutes to pick up.

Welcome.

I don't work for the developer. I love it here. I am old. But not that old.
My grandchildren are amazing.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Take the trolley ride. Eat at Glenview. Or Bonifay. Or Evans Prarie. Or Cane Garden. Or Mallory.

Visit the following Rec centers; Lake Miona Regional, SeaBreeze Regional. Colony Regional. and stop in at Bogart.

Drive your car from the bottom at 44A to the top at Orange Blossom Hills.

Talk to everyone at the squares. Just say ...I'm new here, do you live here? What do you think of this place?

If you want to see inside of someone's home, PM me. We live about in the center. Give me five minutes to pick up.

Welcome.

I don't work for the developer. I love it here. I am old. But not that old.
My grandchildren are amazing.

Gracie is exaggerating as usual - it won't take her five minutes to pick up, maybe thirty seconds! Otherwise her advice is spot-on as expected. Cha x 3 makes another excellent suggestion. If I were going only one other place in Florida, it would definitely be St. Augustine - history, beauty, shopping, World Golf HOF, and nice beaches. I would also suggest you book more than five days for the LSP, you will wish you had more time if you don't.

[Duvalboomer]

I would add the following to whats already been said. If you are planning a LSV and haven't booked you might want to check with the sales office they book up quick and when you want to come might already be booked. I would also consider renting a golf cart from someone like Grandpa and Grandma Village Buggies and not using the cart provided during the LSV, the LSV carts are not high speed and all you do is hold up traffic. Instead of driving your car from 44A the length of TV I would drive a cart as long as you rent one that is fast, I think you see more of TV and get a better feel for what traveling in TV is like. Go to Cody's to eat

[LeeM]

Thank you all - this is fabulous info!

[Schaumburger]

Fitbabe, If you haven't already called the TV sales office to schedule your LSV for the fall, I would do so soon, because the sales office started taking reservations for October about 1 month ago; I know because I made my LSV reservation for mid-October about 1 month ago. The suggestions from the previous posters as far as what you should do during the LSV are great. Don't hesitate to ask questions of residents; most people are happy to answer questions about living in The Villages. And in October I will be driving the slow golf cart that comes with the LSV home because the Bank of Laura is about tapped out (I'm having a dental implant next week, and those are expensive )

[LeeM]

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

Fitbabe, If you haven't already called the TV sales office to schedule your LSV for the fall, I would do so soon, because the sales office started taking reservations for October about 1 month ago; I know because I made my LSV reservation for mid-October about 1 month ago. The suggestions from the previous posters as far as what you should do during the LSV are great. Don't hesitate to ask questions of residents; most people are happy to answer questions about living in The Villages. And in October I will be driving the slow golf cart that comes with the LSV home because the Bank of Laura is about tapped out (I'm having a dental implant next week, and those are expensive )

Ooh thanks for letting me know.

[LeeM]

So I am thinking we arrive at Orlando International Airport - is that the closest commercial airport? And spend 4 nights at the Villages and then spend 3 nights in Orlando at Disney.
Or should I do 5 and 2 - suggestions?

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by LeeM

So I am thinking we arrive at Orlando International Airport - is that the closest commercial airport? And spend 4 nights at the Villages and then spend 3 nights in Orlando at Disney.
Or should I do 5 and 2 - suggestions?

LeeM, I apologize for using the wrong avatar in my previous post -- I was having a pre-senior moment. Yes, the closest airport to The Villages is MCO - Orlando International Airport. There is an airport in Sanford, but I don't know which airlines serve the Sanford airport. It is approximately 69 miles from MCO to The Villages -- nice drive -- but there are some tolls, so be sure to stay to the right if you will be paying cash on Florida State Road 528 (aka Beachline Expressway) and the Florida Turnpike to get to The Villages.

I would spend 5 days in The Villages and 2 days in Disney World, but that is just me. I love WDW, but as a TV wannabee who can only come to The Villages a couple of times a year, I try to maximize my time in The Villages. You will have no problem finding things to occupy your time in The Villages, especially if you are a golfer. I am not a golfer, and my time in The Villages always flies by.

[LeeM]

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

LeeM, I apologize for using the wrong avatar in my previous post -- I was having a pre-senior moment. Yes, the closest airport to The Villages is MCO - Orlando International Airport. There is an airport in Sanford, but I don't know which airlines serve the Sanford airport. It is approximately 69 miles from MCO to The Villages -- nice drive -- but there are some tolls, so be sure to stay to the right if you will be paying cash on Florida State Road 528 (aka Beachline Expressway) and the Florida Turnpike to get to The Villages.

I would spend 5 days in The Villages and 2 days in Disney World, but that is just me. I love WDW, but as a TV wannabee who can only come to The Villages a couple of times a year, I try to maximize my time in The Villages. You will have no problem finding things to occupy your time in The Villages, especially if you are a golfer. I am not a golfer, and my time in The Villages always flies by.

I just sent you a PM.
Also I called and it looks like they have some flexibility so I will discuss with hubby and then book.

Just curious though, I thought only one LSV was an option? Sounds like you have been multiple times?

Do you recommend selecting a realtor in advance of going with what they line me up with? I doubt if we buy this trip.

[ssmith]

See the statues at Brownwood, Georgous.

See the inside of sales offices in Brownwood and LSL.

Eat outside at City Fire at Brownwood.

Walk the boardwalk at LSL.

Sit on the Porch at Panera and enjoy a drink or food.

Eat on the porch at the Lighthouse.

Get coffee at Starbucks at LSL and sit on the porch at the sales office there and read the paper.

Talk to anyone and everyone.

Take a class.

Watch and or participate with the dancers on the squares.

See Scooter the DJ (so funny) See Rocky and the Rollers.

Talk to people at the pool closest to you.

See the entrance to Glenbrook.

Take time to rest....you get worn out just going and going.

An absolute must is renting a golf cart...and seeing my husband smile and enjoy himself....all the stress of his everyday life melts away.

Well these are few of our favorite things. When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad....I simply remember....ok too corny hahahahha

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by LeeM

I just sent you a PM.
Also I called and it looks like they have some flexibility so I will discuss with hubby and then book.

Just curious though, I thought only one LSV was an option? Sounds like you have been multiple times?

Do you recommend selecting a realtor in advance of going with what they line me up with? I doubt if we buy this trip.

I answered your PM, but this wlll be my first LSV through The Villages sales office. When I have rented in the past, it has been through rentals I found on thevillages4rent.com and through a rental I found on TOTV.

I was assigned a very pleasant agent based on my first trip to The Villages in 2010 when I accompanied a friend who has since bought a home in The Villages. I don't know how much I will see this agent in October, but I have heard a few good comments about him from other people on TOTV.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by ssmith

See the statues at Brownwood, Georgous.

See the inside of sales offices in Brownwood and LSL.

Eat outside at City Fire at Brownwood.

Walk the boardwalk at LSL.

Sit on the Porch at Panera and enjoy a drink or food.

Eat on the porch at the Lighthouse.

Get coffee at Starbucks at LSL and sit on the porch at the sales office there and read the paper.

Talk to anyone and everyone.

Take a class.

Watch and or participate with the dancers on the squares.

See Scooter the DJ (so funny) See Rocky and the Rollers.

Talk to people at the pool closest to you.

See the entrance to Glenbrook.

Take time to rest....you get worn out just going and going.

An absolute must is renting a golf cart...and seeing my husband smile and enjoy himself....all the stress of his everyday life melts away.

Well these are few of our favorite things. When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad....I simply remember....ok too corny hahahahha

ssmith, Great post - excellent suggestions!

[Bizdoc]

Oh yeah... look at some houses. Unless you know exactly what you want, try to tell your sales rep what is important to you in a house. That way they can zoom in faster on what to show you.

If you look at some of the existing threads here, you will see reasons to be in an pre-owned vs new, villa vs cottage, cottage vs designer vs premier. When you first talk with your TV sales rep, turn off your conventional "dealing with a realtor" thinking. They will work cooperatively with you and the more you tell them about your situation, wants, needs, etc, the faster they can zero in on exactly what you want. And be honest about the price point you want. They won't try to convince you to spend more (they will show you homes in that range).

I was amazed at how fast our sales rep (after showing us several homes), figured out exactly what we wanted. The house we bought was 8th or 9th. He took us out to look at some others at around the same price point and features, but was quite happy when we stuck with our first impression of what is now our home.

Other than that, have fun. Jump in your cart and just drive around. Go to each Town Square (try to do at least one on its market night) and see what vendors are there.