Vacation Rentals by Owner

You've got to experience this cabin!

Guest: Gary L. (Martinez, California)
Date of Stay: 04/30/12 Review Submitted: 05/08/12

Hi John, First chance I had to contact you after staying at the cabin last week. Just wanted to tell you what a wonderful time we had. When I was growing up, our second home was log cabin in the Santa Cruz mountains on the San Lorenzo river. The family sold it just 10 years ago. I wanted my Filipino fiance to experience the warmth of that experience and your cabin was so warm and cozy that she truly did get the feel and warmth I had as a kid. It even rekindled my desire (very serious 25 years ago) to buy or build a true log cabin somewhere. Thanks again and hope to stay there in the future. Gary

Owner response:Gary, I love this cabin, and wanted to share it with a few other people who feel the same way I do about the true log cabin experience. Really glad to hear from you and know I am finding people who appreciate this bygone era. Sincerely, John

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Will definitely come back again!

Guest: Lorrie C.
Date of Stay: 02/10/12 Review Submitted: 02/13/12

My husband and I spent a weekend at this cabin to celebrate Valentines Day. We loved it! Even before we were able to get to the cabin Linda the property manager left a message on my cell phone that she had been in the cabin to leave a bouquet of roses, draw the curtains and turn the heater on so we would be warm when we got there! She didn't weant us freightened that someone had been in there. What service! That is also true for the owners of the cabin. They truely are concerned for their customers and want the customers experience in their cabin to be as good as it can be and try very hard to make sure it ends up that way. The cabin is very rustic, just what we were hoping for. We loved relaxing by the fireplace and spent 4 hours in the hot tub the first night we were there. The bed in the room downstairs was very comfortable and warm. Also we loved the robes and would like to know where we can purchase some. The cabin had all the amenities that you need. If there is any suggestions I would give is to give the cabin a good spring cleaning. A few cob webs don't bother me but there we more than a few. We didn't have anyone sleep upstairs but if we did we would definitely brush down the cob webs first. Also we were disappointed that the jets in the bath tub didn't work. We went up there planning on BBQing our dinner and were bummed to find out that the propane went out right when we were heating the grill so we broiled instead. We did let Linda know about the propane before we left and she was grateful because nobody had told her before. Our stay was wonderful and we are already planning our next trip there!

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would not recommend, very dissapointed!!!

Guest: enrique a.
Date of Stay: 09/06/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

i just want to clarify that im not trying to disrespect or interfere with owners property if its a means of income but this place was an embarrassment. now i am aware this cabin was built in the 1930's but at least put some pride into your property. well to keep it short and specific...spider webs through out the house in well arms reach (for cleaning people remove) grimmy faucets and dusty behind sink, all the bathroom essentials were out dated by a year or more, the plumbing was a headache. we literally had to flush toilet multiple times(at least 10 flushes) for waste to flush, water would back up in the bathroom sink after a few seconds of water running. also exposed flooring that could be fixed better then it has been. biggest complaint in kitchen was the 50's style refrigerator with a frost galore freezer with the biggest surprise yet...a frozen plastic container labeled "breast milk". obviously cleaning/management do not inspect thoroughly. look, myself and lots of other people that are on a budget spend good money on places like this and expect certain standards to be met. i just want the owner to be aware of this and also do not want other people dont waste their money. only positives: jacuzzi and washer and dryer unit.

Owner response:Kind reader, please read reviews from all other guests and decide for yourself what is going on here. This guest stopped the cleaning crew from doing their job by signing in 2 hours early with three dogs and thereby effectively KICKED OUT CLEANING CREW BEFORE THEY FINISHED THEIR JOB. In our welcome letter we invite all guests to call ahead to arrange for early or late check in or check out which we are happy to accommodate when we do not have back to back rentals. Our cabin is rather popular with numerous repeat customers as well as new customers and did have back to back reservations before and after this guests visit. We leave 12:00 to 4:00 to allow time for cleaning crew to do complete job for new guests. For best experience of course, it is best to respect cleaning crews set aside time and let them do their job for you. About the old fashioned fridge, yes it is a pain.....but I kind of like to keep the time travel experience by having authentic log furniture and even combo gas/wood burning style stove (we only use gas burners, but neat to see old style stove in place). We will defrost more often when we get a chance and break from non stop back to back reservations. In summary, may I quote or misquote or paraphrase Abe Lincoln.... "You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time; but not all of the people all of the time."

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Absolutely wonderful cabin!

Guest: Laura G.
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/12

My fiance and I stayed in this cabin last August, and are returning next weekend. This cabin has everything you could imagine. We cooked a number of lovely meals in the kitchen, enjoyed the hot tub, and made s'mores over the backyard fire pit. Within a short easy walk of the cabin are the lake beachfront, a huge grocery store, and even a bowling alley! The yard is large and fenced in, which is a plus if you bring your dog. The cabin is cozy and well-stocked with plenty of amenities such as towels, blankets, and kitchenware. We had absolutely no complaints, and have made this our go-to spot if we're traveling to Tahoe!

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Perfect family getaway

Guest: Rick L. (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11 Review Submitted: 06/29/11

The cabin is definately rustic. It was perfect for our family. Myself, my dad, my sister and my sisters two children. Just enough room and very comfy. We will definately be renting the cabin again. The hot tub is the icing on the cake. We ended every day in that hot tub.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Unique Cabin

Guest: Beth (Boulder CO)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

My friends and I rented this place for a weekend and LOVED it! It has a lot of character and charm. The beds were comfortable, it didn't feel too cramped for 5 (2 couples and a single) and the prices is great for what you get. Cabin was clean and cozy, private hot tub was fabulous, and owners were so helpful and kind (there were complimentary pancakes, ground coffee, wine -- it was very welcoming). It'd stay here again and recommend it to others.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming Cabin in Bijou!

Guest: Gary & Renee (Vallejo)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/28/11

My family and I recently stayed at this cabin. Everything about the cabin oozes rustic old fashion feelings. This is a very nice cozy old style cabin dating back to 1931. The owners have prided themselves with most of its originality. Once you step inside you see the wonderful open feeling this cabin encompasses. The bedrooms were what to be expected from a cabin with a nice place to rest your head. The kitchen area is well stocked with plenty of amenities. We used the grill in the spacious backyard, which was nice. There is an addition to the cabin which the bathroom, shower, and spa are located. The spa was the jewel of the cabin. We used it every night and it works great! The manager Linda lives next door. She’s a very nice lady. The owner John kept great communication and took care of our needs. Highly recommended. Will be back in the future, thanks!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Cozy, relaxing vacation spot

Guest: cosette (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/11

What a great escape from the city. We drove up from LA anticipating a relaxing stay in a rustic cabin and that is exactly what we got. The place is very charming, easy to get to, quiet, and in walking distance to the Lake. We most enjoyed cooking in the clean kitchen, dining by the fireplace, and soaking in the hot tub. The owner was very prompt about returning our phone call when we needed help turning on the spa. We are returning for a second visit this winter!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Unfortunate experience

Guest: Tim (Dana Point, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/03/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

We were late to our assigned time to take over the cabin by 2 days, but fortunately had no issue both in finding and getting into the cabin. We particularly liked the location as it is close to the lake and downtown. We were however disappointed in that the cabin did NOT have any screens on the windows or doors. Since the relative number of insects is high in the summer, this made for uncomfortable days in the cabin since we couldn't open any windows. Additionally, the cabin itself was disappointingly dirty. Tremendous amounts of gook on the windows and floors. Added to the situation was the fact that the water heater died 2 days after we arrived. The owner did get a plumber on-site once we notified him of the issue - but unfortunately the plumber did not get the issue fixed and we spent the last 3 days of our time in the cabin without hot water. The Recreational Center across the street has public showers available for $3.00. Be aware that this is a REAL 1930's log cabin. There are places in the cabin where you can see through the log chinks directly to the outside. There is no drywall or insulation to speak of and all of the rooms but the main room in the cabin are small. The floors are not level and the lighting/electrical is all a bit funky as it was put in as a DIY project many years after the cabin was completed. Also be aware that we were informed by the next door neighbor (the property manager) that it is not uncommon to have mice/rodents in the area and cabin. We (fortunately) didn't see any rodents, but then again, we didn't cook in the kitchen since we were unhappy with the cleanliness. We may have had just the perfect storm of issues during our trip. Hope your experience is better!

Owner response:This was an unusual experience for our guest that week. Others rave about their wonderful experiences at the cabin. It is a bit of time travel experience and apparently not for everyone who does not appreciate the authentic log cabin experience. The plumbing did get fixed but of course it took some time. We should have mentioned there is the original hole in the ground outhouse available in the back of the barn. Sorry. (Juast kidding. We did save original hand carved wodden out house seat, but we installed real toilet under old outhouse seat if you want to check it out in the barn.) We do have screens for the windows, and they do open....but with a bit of muscle on some. We do leave them off almost all the time because there are usually very few bugs due to the cooler nights in most of the summer. We can put them on for August next year.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

More Than We Expected

Guest: Young Gang Mom (Discovery Bay)
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/11/10

My family and I loved this cabin. The fact that it was a real 1930's cabin added to the charm and character of this lovely abode. There was more than enough space for our family of four and would love to come for a return stay. We had a great time exploring the area and we just a short drive to almost everything in the area. The cabin was well kept and the yard is enormous. This was a real charmer!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Great place.

Guest: CatLadee (Aromas, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/10 Review Submitted: 01/08/10

Very cute, charming and rustic. Has everything you need except clothes! Enough snow for the kids to play. Quiet neighborhood. Close to town, yet you feel like you're the only one around. Will definitely stay here again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect vacation spot

Guest: poolmom (Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 05/25/09 Review Submitted: 06/02/09

We just returned from a wonderful time in Lake Tahoe. We stayed 3 nights over Memorial day. The cabin is a great place to stay it is centerly located to everything. It has every thing you would ever need. It was great to come back after sight seeing all day and have a fire in the fire pit in the back yard. Then get in the hot tub. A great way to end a day. They are adding on and there is more room than even described. There is a computer and internet there . Makes it easy to plan things around town. The owners take good care of things. They have wine and flowers waiting on you. A very nice touch.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

What a great cabin!

Guest: J (Concord, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/23/08 Review Submitted: 11/24/10

We stayed at this cabin during a friends wedding and were the envy of our group. It felt like we stepped back in time place and really made our weekend special. Champagne and fresh roses upon arrival, great hotub, and a nice woodburning stove set the tone. We are looking forward to going back soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect weekend getaway spot!

Guest: peace love snow (Sacramento, California)
Date of Stay: 10/17/08 Review Submitted: 10/20/08

The cabin was a cozy old fashioned place in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. The property owner was very helpful and very kind. Had no problems with anything and all the instructions provided for the quirks of the cabin worked well. The cabin was clean upon arrival, with flowers and wine awaiting. The hot tub was functioning properly and the modern bathroom fixtures were very nice. I'd recommend this place for no more than 4 people as it's small.

Owner response:Glad you loved the cabin. Thanks for your review. I agree 2 to 4 is the perfect number of guests for our log cabin. But, this winter we are opening our new addition....the STAR & MOON room. Perfect for one extra person or couple.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Log Cabin Charm

Guest: Ranc (Longview, WA)
Date of Stay: 09/06/08 Review Submitted: 09/18/08

We rented the home for our honeymoon. It is very rustic and charming. The property has a nice yard front and back, with a BBQ and outdoor fireplace, lots of seating and a good supply of wood. The hot tub was perfect during the cool evenings. If you are looking for a log cabin experience this is a great place to stay. It's also close to everything in South Lake Tahoe but still a quiet neighborhood.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/18/08

I just wanted to say thank you again for letting us stay in your wonderful cabin. WOW! What can I say? It was awesome!! Even better than we had even hoped for. We felt so comfortable and welcome. Thank you! Everything was so beautiful that we want to come back in the winter to experience Lake Tahoe in the snow. If we do, we would LOVE to stay at your cabin again!

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Had a great time

Guest: Seedles (Fair Oaks, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/08/08 Review Submitted: 08/21/08

Me and my boyfriend decided to rent this cabin for the weekend of our 2 year anniversary. It was just what we needed. It felt like we were far away, but in reality close to everything. We loved the cabins old fashion feel , but appreciated the updated features. If your a laid back person and really want to just enjoy your time away with people your with this is the cabin. Im definitly going to rent it again and maybe invite a few other people to share the experience. The owners made everything easy so there wasnt any stress. The only thing I would have to say that wasnt perfect was if your over the height of 5'8" watch your head when walking through the doors, appearantly people were a lot shorter in the 1930's.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Rustic and Relaxing

Guest: jediwatson (Glendora, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/05/08

This rental is a real rustic experience, but with the modern amenities we all love (including wireless internet--a nice surprise for my iPod Touch!). My wife and I were able to relax in a cozy and rustic atmosphere... a great place just to get away and relax. The owners are also very helpful and easy to contact. If you're looking for an old-time Tahoe atmosphere without giving up on modern amenities, this is definitely a great place to stay.

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Charming & Authentic South Lake Tahoe Cabin

Guest: Hippach (California)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/28/07

This cabin is great for getting away to relax, and it's within a short walking distance to all the attractions that brought us to South Lake Tahoe. The cabin is surrounded by real peace and quiet in the Bijou Pines area, and it has the convenience and proximity to shops and restaurants without having to drive. The hot tub was especially enjoyable before cuddling up by the fireplace and a comfortable night sleep. We can't wait to return to "Cielito Lindo.

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Untitled

Guest: Kara (Bethel Island, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 04/29/07

Cozy, unique cabin. We spent a week at the cabin for our first wedding anniversary and loved it! Close to the Casinos, and walking distance to the grocery store. Really enjoyed the hot tub! We were sad to leave and plan to return again next year!

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