Clermont is referred to as the “gem of the hills”.  It’s located in Lake County, a county known for having over 1,000 lakes and rivers.  Although, most of Central Florida is flat terrain, Clermont is known for it’s rolling hills, picturesque parks and neighborhoods surrounded by natural wonders.  Clermont is a thriving city and although it’s growing rapidly, Clermont still maintains the small town “Old Florida” culture.  In Downtown Clermont, you can shop at the farmers market every Sunday, where you can purchase fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, honey and herbs.  While taking a stroll downtown, you can always stop into Lyn’s Ice Cream and Deli Sandwich shoppe and enjoy a old-fashioned malt, banana split, or sundae made from hand-dipped ice cream.  Downtown Clermont is full of antique shops, dining, and entertainment, located on the shore of beautiful Lake Minneola.
 
 One of the most famous attractions in Clermont is the Citrus Tower.  It towers over 500 feet above sea level and is known as one of Florida’s first attractions.  From the glass enclosed observation deck you can see the panoramic view of Clermont’s rolling hills and orange groves.  Citrus Tower is also home to Lilly’s Citrus Tower gift shop, located on the first floor.  This gift shop sells a variety of home and garden products, Yankee candles, Florida made jams and jellies, Florida candies, unique baby gifts, and even carries Crabtree and Evelyn products, Webkinz and so much more.

The Glenbrook Resort is located in the beautiful city of Clermont.   Many of our guests enjoy staying in Glenbrook, because it’s not only close to all the major attractions, but also affords the opportunity to experience the charm, beauty, and lifestyle of Clermont. Next time you are vacationing in the Central Florida area, go west on Hwy 192, then North on Hwy 27 and take a venture into the city of Clermont, the  “Gem of the Hills”, where you will experience the charm of “Old Florida” culture and history.

We are proud to recommend Linda Page, a member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association) and owner of the chef service, “A Chef of Your Own”.  Linda graduated first in her culinary school and did a 3 year 6,000 hour apprenticeship with Westin Hotels and the American Culinary Federation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  She has served as an Assistant Pastry Chef, junior Sous Chef at a gourmet restaurant, and teaches a variety of cooking classes.

Just imagine coming back home from a busy day at the parks, opening the door and smelling the aroma of chicken marsala with rice pilaf, fresh baked rolls, and homemade lemon pie.  Linda’s menus are vast and can satisfy a variety of palates.  If you are more of connoisseur of gourmet foods, you might want to try her Greek chicken with raisins and feta, or maybe a specialty salad made of romaine lettuce, goat cheese, and toasted almonds. If you are in the mood for good old’ comfort food you might request a menu with broccoli cheddar soup, pigs in a blanket, barbecue pulled pork, homemade baked beans, and potato salad, then finish the meal with some of Linda’s homemade cookies.

So, next time you vacation with Global, treat yourself to “ A Chef of Your Own” Bon Appétit!!!  Visit http://www.mychefsite.com/achefofyourown .

In fact we’ve been hearing the word “change” a lot these last couple of months.  Truth be told, the word “change” can symbolize to some “the uncharted and unexplored possibilities” but to others it symbolizes “the uncomfortable or overwhelming possibilities.”  Since summer is quickly coming to an end, why not make a change in your vacation? 

Our guests have become familiar with the beautiful Orlando vacation homes Global offers close to all the Orlando attractions, but many of our guests might not be familiar with Global’s Ormondy Penthouse with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and inter-coastal waterway.  Most of our guests, when planning an Orlando vacation, might not be aware that they could enjoy a luxury condo steps away from the beach or that they could spend an afternoon salt-water fishing or parasailing in the Ponce inlet.  An Ormondy vacation could include enjoying a race at the Daytona Motor Speedway, or walking along the boardwalk, taking in an outdoor concert, and ending the day with an evening cruise.

Now that summer is ending and our schedules are changing, why not consider a change in your Orlando vacation plans?  Schedule a few days at Global’s Ormondy penthouse, for more info visit www.ormondy.com .

The ideal time to come and experience the parks is August 25 - December 15 (excluding Thanksgiving)  The weather is cooler than summer and you will experience very little traffic, no lines at restaurants and feel like you are royalty because everywhere you go there will be more staff than needed to serve you.

Another benefit of visiting Orlando during off-peak months is that Global Resort Homes offers incredible savings of up to 40% off our normal peak season rates.  Not only do we offer discounts for your stay but you will find that the parks also offer savings during that time - some even offer a second day free!

Privately owned vacation homes are one of the best ways to visit and experience Orlando.  Whether you are coming to golf, shop, visiting the parks or are planning a family reunion, you will be sure to find an Orlando vacation home to fit your needs.  Prices start at just $79 a night for a luxury 2-bedroom property. 

Come during the fall and experience Orlando in a whole new way! 

Makeup: Primarily from Midwest and Northeast U.S. and lots of Canadians!

A trend that has been building yearly over the past decade is Snow Birds heading down to Florida and renting Orlando vacation homes.  It is a great option for them to come and stay for a couple of months or even the entire winter.  This trend has been such a hit with snowbirds that most come back year after year and eventually invite their friends to rent a home down the street.  Not only do Orlando Snow Bird renters find the perfect home for their needs but they receive a substantial discount for their extended stay while they escape the cold.

Orlando is the perfect choice for a winter stay as there is so much to do and renting a home from Global Resort Homes provides even more entertainment as all of our resorts offer a wide variety of amenities. Orlando boasts great shopping and restaurants and is ideally located in central Florida offering close proximity to either coast.  Resorts amenities include homes with private pools, luxurious community pools, guard-gated entrances, movie theaters, sundry shops, shuttle services, tennis courts, fitness rooms and this is just to name a few. Snowbirds can choose from one of Global Resort Homes luxury resorts and find the perfect fit for their winter home needs.  Should they miss the kids or the grandkids during their stay, they can invite them down for spring break and let them enjoy not only the great weather but also Orlando’s world famous theme parks and top attractions. 

Why stay in the cold when you can enjoy the Sunshine State in the convenience and comfort of your own home. Call a Global Resort Home vacation home specialist today and start planning an exciting, warm winter this year. 

I headed to Planet Hollywood, which is only about 10 minutes from Cypress Pointe Resort , and was able to easily find a parking spot and was sitting down before I knew it.  When I first walked in I was overwhelmed by all the “decorations” hanging on the walls throughout the restaurant.  I grabbed a table in the bar and sat back, trying to take in my environment. 

My waitress came over quickly after I sat down, but I could barely hear her because the music was playing so loudly throughout the restaurant.  There were TVs everywhere showing clips of movies and other entertainment pieces, but again, I couldn’t focus on them due to the blarring music. 

I ordered a burger and a margarita and ate as quickly as I could.  Planet Hollywood, in my opinion, is a cool concept but just slightly missed the mark for me.  Now that being said, I am a fairly young girl, and enjoy high-energy places as much as any other 27 year old.  But, Planet Hollywood just didn’t do it for me.  There was WAY too much going on within the restaurant and the music was deafening.  I will say that the food was good and the service quick and friendly, but not a place I would choose to go back to. 

So, if you are looking to grab a quiet lunch with your family on your next Orlando vacation, Plane Hollywood is not the place to go!!!

Did you know at the Glenbrook Resort a 7 bedroom home with a pool, if three couples decided to vacation together, has an average nightly rate (before taxes) of just $65 per couple?  At Windsor Hills, that rate per couple would be about $86 a night. Also many of the homes have private pools and spas so you and your friends can enjoy countless hours of swimming without “pool hours” to adhere to.  If you chose a home with a private recreation room, you could enjoy a relaxing game of pool, hours of Poker, and if it gets late, you can send the children to bed and not even have to hire a babysitter!  Imagine watching the “Big Game” on a 50′ inch flat screen!  How about taking all the kids to the resort’s on-site movie theatre for a movie day?  Eating at home is not only a less expensive alternative, it can also be lots of fun - you could have a ” make your own pizza and tacos night” and if there was a night you just didn’t feel like cooking, you could contact a vacation chef to prepare an incredible meal, like shrimp and artichoke linguine, chicken curry, or a roasted vegetable meatloaf for less than $5.50 per person.

 Orlando has some of the best attractions in the world and I’m certainly not suggesting avoiding them all together, but instead of going to a different attraction every day, choose just one or two, and make them the highlight of the week.  If you have children, have your children contribute to the cost of their ticket before you go on vacation.  Mousavers.com gives some excellent suggestions on how children can help you save for a vacation. One suggestion was, all “found” money goes in a vacation fund which could be a glass jar on little Suzie’s dresser.  If an average attraction ticket is about $70, a child could purchase their own ticket by saving just $12 a month for six months.  How special would that trip to Disney feel for a child who knows the value of hard work and the reward of saving ?

In these hard economic times, yes we have to make changes to our lifestyles and to our way of thinking, but sacrificing a quality vacation isn’t the answer and it certainly won’t bring relief. So, ask yourself?  What is the true cost of a vacation?  It’s not just money, gas, food and tickets - the value isn’t monetary.  In fact, it will cost you not to take one.

Having become so used to having a Starbucks planted on every corner in my neighborhood, I have also become a Starbucks addict.  My morning ritual includes, and has included for years now, a daily stop at the nearest Starbucks to my apartment (which is literally a block away) where the friendly employees know my name and what I am drinking.  And if for some reason I am unable to grab a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, I make sure that I allot time during my day to make an emergency Starbucks run. 

Now, seeing as though I am on “vacation” and have been for a week or two, I have temporarily abandoned my morning ritual I cherish so much and have substituted my coffee addiction for a more convenient Diet Coke addiction.  That being said, I must admit that I could EASILY make coffee for myself at my Orlando vacation rental as (mentioned before) all of Global’s resort properties (including Cypress Point Resort) come with fully equipped kitchens, including a coffee maker.  But making coffee at home just isn’t the same as a grande dark roast (with room for cream) from Starbucks!

After spending several days enjoying the area attractions, theme parks, water parks, and shopping in Orlando, the time had finally come to get my Starbucks fix.  It suddenly dawned on me though, that with all the driving around and different areas of the city I had visited I had yet to see a Starbucks!!  Again – having a Starbucks on every corner at home it struck me as bizarre that I hadn’t noticed a single one since I have been here.  I just don’t believe that this observation could possibly be true and began wondering if I had simply just missed them caught up in the excitement of whatever activity I was off doing that particular day. 

So, I ask the people of Orlando – where are all the Starbucks???

Jordan

However, the reality is we can’t afford NOT to go. According to a report in the October/November issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, vacations are actually vital to our physical and mental health.  They protect our health by reducing stress. In fact, people tend to exercise and rest more while on vacations and they provide opportunities to interact with family and friends.

The Travel Industry Association of America has reported that the average American family of four plans on spending approximately $1000 dollars on their longest trip this summer, which is a 7% decrease from what they spent last year.  People are calling these vacations, stay-cations, and they are afraid to venture too far from home.  But, you don’t have to stay home this summer, it’s possible to still enjoy a wonderful vacation.

I can remember one of the best vacations my family and I ever enjoyed in Orlando was during a time we were on a limited budget, so we decided not to go to all the attractions that year and to stay on the resort property.  It was great!!!!  There was no rushing to get ready, no standing in line for hours with two tired toddlers, no spending $150 for hamburgers, cokes, and popcorn all in a day.  Instead, we slept in, my husband made his famous pancakes, and we ate our breakfast on our terrace.  We laughed, talked, and listened to one another.  We walked around the beautiful property, swam for hours in the pool, played family volleyball and challenged another family in an intense game of Ping-Pong.  We had friends over for dinner - everyone brought a dish, the kids watched movies, and the adults played cards. It was one of the best vacations and also one of the least expensive we’ve ever had.

Stay tuned for how Global Resort Homes can help you plan an affordable and memorable Orlando Vacation!

Dana

After a small amount of investigation on my part, I determined that there were 2 main sources of shopping in the Orlando Area – The Mall at Millenia and Prime Outlets International.  The Mall at Millenia appeared to be an extremely high-end mall, housing retailers such as Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, and Burberry just to name a few.  Knowing myself fairly well by this point, I thought I better NOT surround myself with the above mentioned stores as the temptation to buy will surely overpower my typically level-headed thinking and budget constraints.  SO, the decision was made – Prime Outlet International here I come!

After an incredibly painful shower and a massive amount of aloe applied, I drove up to the Outlet mall which was only minutes from my Orlando vacation home.  Prime Outlet International was huge and had a massive amount of stores – mainly name brand ranging from children’s apparel to luggage to home furnishings to health and beauty.  I stopped in at least 2 dozen stores before collapsing due to exhaustion.  I found a quaint-looking café and grabbed a seat and a snack – looking down I realized I had done a fair amount of damage and had bags from Banana Republic, COACH, Gap, and Nine West.  To be honest, I could have bought ALOT more and was pretty proud of myself for showing some self-restraint. 

The Prime Outlet Mall has a plethora of retailers all advertising and upholding their word of having unbelievable deals on name brand clothing and accessories.  I found some great deals and came away with a handful of items I couldn’t wait to sport.  Great day spent shopping in Orlando and best of all – I managed to keep myself out of the sun’s reach!!!

Jordan