Florida villa holidays

Kayte Williams
(Holidays Expert)

James Villas - From inviting, tropical beaches on the Gulf Coast, to the buzz and excitement of Miami, our great selection of villas and hotels throughout the sunshine state will give you a taste of the 'real' Florida.

Cosmos - Cosmos offer a range of properties across the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. From the Balearic Islands to the Algarve and Cyprus, they include a variety of quality-checked properties from cosy rural hideaways to spacious family villas, all with pools, many of them private.  They also offer flights from most UK airports.

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Orlando villa holidays

Orlando is one of the USA's most popular holiday destinations, attracting tourists from all over the world.  The main draw of the area is that it's close to all the main tourist attractions - the obvious being Walt Disney World, Sea World, Epcot, Universal Studios and many more!  Every park is worth a visit, so plan your trip carefully before you go to ensure you get to see them all.

Other attractions close by include Busch Gardens, Daytona Beach and Gatorland.  For a break from the thrills and spills of the many theme parks why not take advantage of the dollar and spend some cash in one of Orlando's huge shopping malls in the area, or sample the exciting nightlife? There's also no shortage of places to eat here, although the portions are big so be prepared!

Orlando covers a huge area and there are many resorts within it including Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista which are both popular due to their close proximity to Walt Disney World and International Drive which is great if you're looking for a lively destination and want to be at the centre of the action. Orlando villas are typically well situated so holidaymakers can really take advantage of all the local amenities and many have access to private or shared pools.

Gulf Coast villa holidays

The Gulf Coast is famous for its crystal clear warm waters and white sandy beaches.  The area has an exceptional climate, plenty of water sports, huge shopping malls and excellent restaurants.  This is where the Americans love to spend their holidays - along with many other tourists from all over the world. 

The most popular resorts on the Gulf Coast are Clearwater, Fort Myers and Naples.

Clearwater is a family-friendly resort with palm-lined white sandy beaches.  The calm 'clear waters' of Clearwater makes this a popular destination to take children.  Take a boat trip from the coast where you may just spot some dolphins, or take a break from the afternoon heat in the Salvador Dali Museum. Fort Myers, again, is great if you're looking for a relaxing family holiday with its casual laid-back atmosphere.  It is often renowned for being 'traditional' Florida.

At the other end of the scale is Naples - a world class resort with vast white beaches, amazing restaurants, incredible shopping, luxurious villas and golf courses - and it's only a short journey away from the Everglades National Park!

East Coast Florida villa holidays

The most popular places to stay on the East Coast of Florida are Fort Lauderdale and Miami. 

Fort Lauderdale is known as the 'Venice of America' as it's built on a series of canals, bays and rivers.  With sun-kissed beaches and palm-lined beach fronts, sailing is one of the favourite pastimes around here along with roller-blading along the prom! With chic boutiques, art galleries and great restaurants, it's a great place to take a holiday.

Miami has a strong Cuban culture with many hispanic restaurants, particularly in areas such as Little Havana and Little Haiti. The city's world famous South Beach is the place where the 'in-crowd' hang out, is filled with bronzed bodies and is an great place if you fancy doing a bit of star-spotting. Miami is also filled with great shops, ideal for some designer shopping and with its amazing nightlife too, it's a great place for a villa holiday, a city and beach break all in one.

Florida Keys villa holidays

The Florida Keys has a laid back atmosphere and is well known for its great seafood restaurants, unique towns, and busy nightlife - making it a favourite villa holiday destination for both American and international tourists.  Water sports are extremely popular in the Keys, especially snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing. 

The Florida Keys are made up of three main islands - Key West, Key Largo and Duck Key.  Key Largo is dubbed the Dive Capital of the World.  From here, take a diving trip to the Coral Reef State Park - the USA's first underwater park. You can also take a swim with the dolphins.

Key West is famed for being the home of Ernest Hemingway's house, which is well worth a visit.  The island also has a brilliant aquarium along with some museums. But the chilled out environment of this island makes it a perfect place to relax. The quieter, tiny island of Duck Key is perfect for the romantics among you and is a great place to visit if you want to spot the sea lions and dolphins up close. 

Who do we recommend?

With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of options as well as some that are more specialist.  Browse our list below to find the right company for you, then click through to their web site for more information and how to book.  It couldn't be easier!

Further guides on villa holidays