We have included here a few links to companies which you may want to consider using when making plans for your vacation. We have used each company ourselves and have no hesitation in recommending their services.
Do you have a dog who needs looking after whilst you are away on your holiday? If you are reluctant to use the services of a traditional kennel, why not have a look at Barking Mad, the leading home from home pet care service.
Are you travelling from London Gatwick airport? We can thoroughly recommend the services of Help-Me-Park. They will meet you and your car at the entrance to the airport, drive the car to a secure parking site for the duration of your holiday and then be waiting for you right outside the exit when you return - no hanging around at cold bus stops waiting for a bus to take you to a car park where you then have to de-ice your car! They apparently have a link with a company offering an identical service at Heathrow - we haven't tried this but they can be contacted via the Gatwick provider.
Once in the States, you will be requiring a car and although the major rental companies are all adequate, we have found a company offering just that bit extra making the whole procedure much easier and user-friendly. Car on the Drive, a small independent car rental company headed by Peter Bowes, will meet you at the airport (by-passing that long wait at the rental desk) and whisk you to a waiting car to chaffeur you back to our condo. Your car will then be waiting on the drive for your use during your holiday. At the end of your holiday you will again be chaffeured to the airport by Car on the Drive, leaving your rental car at the condo - gone are the days of waiting in line at the rental desks, driving on unfamiliar roads trying to find your accommodation and worrying about whether your luggage will fit into the car which you have arranged to rent (and you can relax on the incoming flight with your favourite cocktail!). All we would say is, book early as Car on the Drive is a relatively small (although growing) business and they do get fully booked quite quickly. Please mention our name when speaking/e-mailing Peter.
If your vacation in Florida inspires you to purchase a property in the State, we would recommend the services of the real estate agency that we used, Dolby Properties, and in particular our realtor Dave Baker who has gone on to undertake the management of our condo. Having purchased without seeing our property, Dave's photos, videos and knowledge of the local area were absolutely crucial in our decision - and we think he made a grand choice!