According feedback from our guests, more and more of them bring their own music to enjoy their dream vacation in Cape Coral, Florida and most of them use the famous Apple players, especially iPhone and iPod. So we purchased not only new flat screens and new bluerayplayer for Villa “Bel Air”, but also new stereos for each bedroom with the possibility to use the own iPhone or iPod, to have the own music collection always at hand.

For the master suite, we bought a huge 40 inch screen! Especially for wearer of glasses a real benefit, because the specs are no longer necessary, when watching TV in bed. Of course, the whole change has not been really required. But when listen very carefully to the comments of our guests and whenever possible, we react as contemporary as possible.

Merry Christmas from Cape Coral, Florida

As always, we want to wish all our guests, friends and interested parties of Villa “Bel Air” merry Christmas and a happy new year 2012. Thank you very much for your confidence and for the positive feedback during the whole year.

Lots of things have positively changed in 2011. We have new room furniture in the master bedroom and the “pool bedroom”, new washer and dryer, new huge (even for the US) refrigerator in the kitchen, new 40`LED flatscreen in the master, 32`flat in the twin bedroom, several blueray player and a completely remodeled pool with a freshly painted pool area. But last not least, again a beautiful brand-new “Lady B.” – the amazing “Bel Air”-boat.

Everybody is sure, that we all will have a lot more happy and wonderful moments in beautiful Villa “Bel Air, our little, private paradise, here in Southwest Florida in 2012 and the following years. A warm welcome to old friends and guests and also a pretty warm welcome to our new guests and friends.

Petra and Jens Vortkort and the team of Villa “Bel Air”

Harley savings box of Bel Air again depleted

Every year, short before christmas, we are depleting the savings box, standing on the breakfastbar of Villa Bel Air`s kitchen. Many of our guests put their coined money into the box, when they are leaving. We round that off and subscribe the money to the Salvation Army of Cape Coral. They are taking care of children of poor families, giving them food and presents, like toys or clothes, for christmas. This year we have found 22,06 Dollar and rounded to 50 Dollars. We want to thank our guests for this donation.

“Matlacha” tiny, little island, pretty close to the city of Cape Coral

Matlacha pronounced: “mat-la-shay”

“Matlacha”, little island just in middle between Cape Coral and Pine Island , located in the Gulf of Mexico is really caribbean style with the small and beautiful colored houses on the main street. Here are several shops, restaurants and music bars, truly worth a visit. It is so fantastic to dine on the veranda of “Bert`s bar”, watch the sun setting down in the gulf of mexico and listen to the live music, inside the wooden house. A place like paradise, to enjoy the warm and silky air of southwest Florida during the blue hour.

Bert`s bar and grill

Wild child art gallery

Andy`s Island Sea Food

Dear guests and friends of lovely Villa “Bel Air”
This fee is now 14 US-Dollars (4 Dollars for ESTA and 10 Dollars of “tourist fee”, to promote the USA for tourists in future) and will be charged, when applying for permission on the ESTA website of the US Government. We recommend, for all our guests and friends, to fill out the application well in time and do not wait until the last moment. Normally, everything is working properly and you get the confirmation within minutes.

We also strongly recommend to use only the original domain of the US authorities. There are lots of internet domains, pretending to be the official site, looking pretty similar, but charge a lot of money to “help” you filling out the form. The ESTA form is easy to handle and presented in several languages.

Here the LINK to the official application form: ESTA application form

On September the 13th 2010, Air Berlin opens the summer flight time table for booking. Air Berlin is still the only airline with a nonstop flight from Europe to Ft Myers.According to our experience, the lowest rates for tickets are to be expected now, directly when opening the counter. So, for our guests planning to spend their dream vacation in sunny Florida at Villa “Bel Air” during summer season 2012, now is the best time to book! Air Berlin Flights DUS – RSW”

“Cayo Costa” – statepark and untouched dream island

Ever wonder, what it would be like to swash in emerald green waters or enjoy miles of white, unspoiled beach of a deserted island? If so, set course to “Cayo Costa”, located just 12 miles west of “Cape Coral” in the “Gulf of Mexico”, Florida. The island can only be accessed by a small ferry or private water craft. Guests of Villa “Bel Air” will go with “Lady B”, the “Bel Air” boat and have a lot of fun, also enjoying the ride to the island!

The island is kept, as the first european discoverer found it 500 years ago: No roads, no powerlines or shopping centers.

The normal park hours are from 8 a.m. to sundown year round. If you want to stay beyond, watching the sun sink into the Gulf of Mexico, you can arrange to stay for the night on this lovesome island. There are six rustic cabins, which can be booked by visitors. Remember to bring everything you will need, because the only thing provided is drinking water. But for one night, it is really worth to stay and a wonderful experience.

Here are some LINKS for more information:

Florida stateparks – Cayo Costa

Cayo Costa over night

Cayo Costa pictures

Polos and baseballcaps with “Bel Air” logo

Dear guests and friends of Villa “Bel Air”

Many of our guests asked, during their stay here in “little paradise – Villa “Bel Air” – for baseballcaps or shirts with the logo of “Bel Air”. Most liked especially the, in the meantime, so typical pelican, as synonym for relaxing and fascinating vacations in Cape Coral, Florida.

So, we checked what is possible and decided to start with a small edition. Our choice of color is now a “vanilla-white”, so typical for Villa “Bel Air”. The more difficult task was, to find someone, who is able to transfer the “Bel Air” logo into a sample, professional stitching machines can work with.

We find such a company in Cape Coral and they did really a marvelous job! To get the quality we asked for,the embroidery of the “Bel Air” logo is done with more than 12000 stitches during the whole process!

The first shirts and caps had already been send to those, who ordered without knowing the quality and the final price (thank you for that). If you are interested and want to order, we will be happy to send the cap for 20 Euros and the polo for 28 Euros (plus shipping). Just write an email.

Electrolux, the topbrand of the USA, now available in Villa “Bel Air”

Our regular guests are expecting always the best. Exploring the world of washing machines and dryers at many specialist stores, and talking to the specialist personnel, we decided to buy the cream of the crop for our guests.
Here it is, available from today on – the ultimate washing machine and dryer with a huge number of programs and features.

If you just want to wash your just purchased clothes, before wearing them or want to wash your kids clothes after playing in the streets ….. this equipment is simply fantastic and easy to use!

Welcome to “little” paradise, welcome to Villa “Bel Air” – have fun and enjoy…