Orlando Family Travel  

- One of the world’s best family vacation destinations is Orlando, Florida. There is so much to do there that everyone in the family should be easily taken care of.

Orlando is especially great for families with golfers or a group of golfers looking to get away. With housing construction booming in Orlando, it’s become much easier and less expensive to rent a home, condo or townhouse for the weekend or week. Instead of cramming everyone into your standard hotel room, you and your family can now spend your time in luxury and live in a place much like your own home.

Global Resort Homes (www.globalresorthomes.com, 888-426-0472) manages several luxury properties in the Orlando area. Travelers choose from a huge house to two or three-bedroom townhomes to a condominium at which to prop their feet while in town.

What makes this option so much better than the standard hotel is that you get all of the comforts of home without all the headaches of a hotel. Mom and Dad get their own bedroom as do the kids. There is usually a garage to park your car. With televisions in every room, it’s easy to get away from everyone else and relax. Then there’s the full kitchen, complete with refrigerator, stove, microwave and more. The money you save by not eating every meal out may pay for the townhome.

Accommodations are all located in communities featuring a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and more. It’s like living in your own neighborhood without the annoying neighbors.

With a large selection, Global Resort Homes allows you and your family to decide what location is closest to your planned destinations and just how much room you need. For golfers, it’s a god-send. With enough room to keep a foursome of golfers and their spouses happy, it allows groups or friends and family to split the bill and spend time relaxing in a homey atmosphere.

Now that you’ve gotten a special place to stay, you need a special place to play. The Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes (www.grandelakes.com, 407-206-2400) is just such a place.

Not every round of golf in Orlando has to be resort golf. At Grande Lakes you get all the pampered treatment you’d expect from the Ritz Carlton. The Greg Norman signature designed course is impeccably maintained allowing everyone the opportunity to play golf on tournament conditioned fairways and greens.

In keeping with the family theme, children and young adults 17 and under play for free with each paid adult round.

With five sets of tees and generous fairways and greens, golfers of any ability will be able to enjoy their round.

Another defining feature at Grande Lakes is the Caddie Concierge Program. The first of its kind in central Florida, the program extends the Ritz Carlton’s unparalleled tradition of service onto the golf course.

The Program pairs each group with a knowledgeable professional attendant, providing a distinguished level of service usually reserved for private clubs. Designed to enhance your Orlando golf vacation with a unique brand of personal attention, each Caddie Concierge offers a host of convenient services.

If you wish to play like a pro, you may even have your own personal caddie, walking the fairways side-by-side just like a touring pro.

Your next family trip should be a fun trip for the entire family. With a fantastic, comfortable place to stay and a special place to play, you should have no problems making it just that.