A: A vacation rental home is a privately owned house, condo, or town home rented out to guests for short-term intervals -- anywhere from three days to a month or two. Generally, the homeowner does not live in the house, but instead owns it for investment purposes and occasional private use. In popular vacation destinations (like Orlando), homeowners often hire professional vacation home management companies (like Starmark Vacation Homes) to handle guest booking, scheduling, and property maintenance

A: No. Timeshares are properties with multiple owners, each of whom divide their equity/interest in the property based on how often they use it. A vacation home is owned like any other home; the owner pays against the property's full market value, and has rights to the property all the time. The owner then rents out the property, while maintaining exclusive ownership.

A: Cost is the most obvious reason (though certainly not the only one) to stay in a vacation home instead of a hotel. It's a real house (with several bedrooms, a complete kitchen, laundry room, living room, and a pool) not just a room / suite so you can keep multiple people under one roof, and only get one bill. Many of our houses offer up to seven bedrooms, which can save you thousands if you're traveling in a larger group. And, comparing bill to bill, most houses simply just cost less than a hotel room at a resort -- in other words, you're getting multiple bedrooms and a lot of amenities for the price of single hotel room. By staying in a house, you'll also have the opportunity to save on food and drinks by preparing your own meals and choosing from Orlando's wide selection of quality restaurants priced lower than those on-site at hotels and resorts. Basic necessities, like toiletries, laundry, and aspirin, are also very expensive at hotels.

In addition to saving money, many travelers enjoy the freedom and extra space they have in a vacation home, versus a hotel room. You can watch television/DVD's with your family, have quality meals together, play foosball and billiards in your private game room, and enjoy your very own pool. And you're always free to just relax, and take things at your own pace.

A: It varies, but, generally speaking, most are fifteen minutes or less from the Disney front gate. Some are a bit further, many are quite a bit closer. Proximity to the attractions is reflected in the rental price of the house. If you'd like to be closer or further away from the action, let us know. We'll gladly help you find a vacation home rental in the area you're looking for.

A: No. Starmark Vacation Homes prides itself in world-class guest service. After you've settled in, we'll personally greet you at your home, show you around, answer your questions, and offer some friendly theme park/sight-seeing advice. And we're always available if you need help, have questions, or something breaks -- we have a full-time staff a few minutes away, in Celebration, FL. We're also well connected throughout Central Florida, allowing us to provide you with discount tickets to many attractions and venues.

In a sense, staying in a vacation home is like living at home, but with an offsite concierge -- you stock your own fridge with what you want, buy your own drinks, do your own laundry -- but you have help when you need it. It's the best of both worlds.

A: You'll get top of the line, professional service, guaranteed. If you stay with us, you're not just a customer. You're our guest. And Starmark is a name you can trust. We're owned and operated by Starmark International, one of Florida's top advertising agencies, in business since 1978.

A: You can find our office at 715 Bloom Street, Suite 200 in downtown Celebration, Fl. Celebration is about ten minutes south of Disney, near the I-4 / Florida 417 junction. Our regular office hours are 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. But feel free to call us anytime, toll free, at 1-866-254-0088.

A: Our parent company, Starmark International, has been in business since 1978, running successful ad campaigns for some the biggest names in travel, leisure and hospitality. Starmark Vacation Homes has operated since 2005, though initially under a different name. The Starmark name brings a wealth innovation, professionalism, and marketing expertise to greater Orlando's vacation home rental industry.

A: You can make a reservation online, right now -- simply click Home Search' above, and browse our vacation home inventory right from your computer. When you find a home you're interested in, see if it's available during your desired travel dates using the check availability drop-down menu (you'll also see a color-coded calendar showing availability for the next few months). If the home is available for the dates you want, click book now. Check the price, put in your name, email, and billing info, and voila -- your reservation is booked. You'll receive an email confirmation shortly.

Or, if you'd prefer to book by phone, give us a call at 1-866-254-0088. We have a friendly, professional staff standing by. And feel free to ask us anything -- we'll help you find what you're looking for.

A: Yes. For reservations where 4 or more homes are booked, we offer competitive discount rates. If you're traveling in a large group, with several families or friends, this is a great way to save money. Please call us for specifics on availability and pricing. We also offer seasonal specials and last minute pricing deals -- see our website for current offerings.

A: Your home will be available for use starting at 4 PM on your arrival day. Checkout is generally 10 AM on the day of your departure. A fee of $50 extends this time until 2 PM, as long as there are no guests arriving that same day. If you need to make different arrangements, please give us a call and we'll see what we can do.

A: Just lock all the doors and be ready to leave by 10 AM -- unless we've worked out a later departure time. Our professional crew will come after you leave to prepare the home for the next guests. We hope you enjoyed all the amenities the Orlando area has to offer and will come back soon for another great Starmark Vacation Home visit soon.

A: If you leave anything in the house, let us know and we'll look for it. We'll arrange to have left-behind items shipped to you.

A: By Florida state law, the maximum vacation home occupancy rates are as follows:

If you need to accommodate more people, we can provide additional vacation homes near by and offer discounted rates for large groups requiring four or more vacation rentals.

A: Unfortunately, Starmark cannot permit pets in vacation homes.

A: Yes. All of our vacation home rentals are equipped with full climate control capabilities.

A: Very much so. Here is a list of everything you'll have in your kitchen:

A: Yes. Each bed in the home will actually have two sets of linens: one will be on the bed when you arrive, the other will be folded in the closet. Plenty of towels will be available for use during your stay.

A: We don't keep harmful chemicals in the house -- so no ammonia, comet/bleach, or any other questionable cleansers. But you will have a mop, broom, dustpan, paper towels, and of course a washer and dryer. You'll also have soap and shampoo in all the bathrooms, and dish washer detergent in the kitchen.

A: Though Florida is relatively warm all year, you may want to heat your pool during winter months. All pools offer heating, though at an extra cost. Please call us for pricing.

A: Yes. Local Orlando area calls are free, long-distance charges apply to out-of-the-area calls. We recommend purchasing a phone card to make long distance and international calls. We'll give you the phone number to your house when you check in.

A: Our Orlando area vacation rental homes master bedrooms have a king or a queen bed with full linens, a TV with cable or satellite service, nightstands, an armoire, and an adjoining, private bathroom.

A: Yes. The cleaning service comes before you arrive and after you depart. For an additional charge, we can arrange mid-stay cleaning for you.

A: Yes. Smoking is strictly prohibited in all our properties. Should you wish to smoke, please do so outside in designated areas.

A: Since these are privately owned vacation homes, purchased by individuals unaffiliated with Starmark Vacation Homes, we cannot guarantee handicapped access. Some homes do offer it, some do not. If you have specific needs for a handicapped individual, please contact us and will locate a suitable vacation rental property.

A: RV's and trailers are not permitted to park inside our vacation communities. Please call us to pre-arrange off-site parking for RV's and trailers during your Orlando area vacation stay.

A: Platinum vacation homes offer the most amenities and features, Silver homes offer the least. A Gold vacation home is in the middle. Below is a breakdown (Gold includes everything listed in Silver; Platinum includes everything listed in Silver and Gold):

Silver Vacation Homes & Villas In The Orlando Area

• Private, Screened-in Pool
• 27in TV with Cable and DVD Player
• King or Queen Bed in Master Suite + TV
• High Speed Internet
• Game Room or Two-Car Garage
• 15 Miles or More from Disney

Gold Vacation Homes & Villas In The Orlando Area

• Larger Living Area
• Formal Dining Area
• 32in TV with Cable and DVD Player
• Spa with Pool
• Game Room or Two-Car Garage
• Within 20 miles of Disney

Platinum Vacation Homes & Villas In The Orlando Area

• Upgraded Furniture, Décor, & Appliances
• Sleeper Sofa
• In Gated Communities
• Resort-Style Amenities, Including: Fitness Center, Business Center, & HD Movie Theatre
• BBQ Grill
• 15 Miles or less from Disney