Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great Customer Service!

Guest: Tracey (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/09/12 Review Submitted: 05/09/12

I have not stayed at this home, however, I would in a heart beat. I got the information about this place from a girlfriend who stayed recently (Melanie). I called just to get more information about the area and check availability. I spoke with a Chris Nolen who was more than willing to help me find a place that worked for me and my needs. I could not rent his place b/c they were already booked or it would have been a no brainer. Chris exchanged emails and phone calls with me as well as followed up with me on my plans even though I was not renting his place nor does he get kick backs from the others. I know this b/c when I mentioned his name to the house I am renting she was surprised and unsure of who he was. For no other reason than Chris is a good guy, you should consider this place for your 'get away'.

Recommended for:Girls getaway

This place was amazing!!

Guest: Melanie (Corpus Christi, Tx)
Date of Stay: 04/27/12 Review Submitted: 05/03/12

They thought of everything and then some. A friend of mine set this weekend up for a girls weekend to celebrate my upcoming wedding. I couldn't have asked for a better place. Great view and great setup for a relaxing weekend!! I will be back for sure!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The house was beautiful and well organized and stocked with amazing attention to detail.

Guest: Christie (Katy, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/20/12 Review Submitted: 05/02/12

Had a great time and can't wait to go back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Super fantastic holiday.

Guest: jacqui t. (lakefield)
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 05/02/12

This house was clean, warm, inviting and had everything you would need. Chris was super helpful and we loved our stay so much that my friends will be renting again. We cannot thank you enough

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Can't say enough good things about our experience with this rental.

Guest: Ed Lalone (Lakeway TX)
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 04/16/12

We rented the house and the cabin for a 50th birthday celebration. The house is roomy and comfortable with little places for everyone..even beds in the closet if you like. The cupboard was stocked with all kinds of spices and every detail was looked after. Entertainment center, pool table, wood for fire pit, smoker, gas grill, river toys. Very roomy with an upstairs balcony and downstairs porch. The owner, Chris, was very hospitable and took time to explain the amenities and gave us advise about Gruene and even sent me an email to suggest buying tickets to a performance at Gruene Hall before they sold out..which they did. Thanks for your hospitality Chris, Ed Lalone

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

What a lucky find.

Guest: Karen C. (Humble, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/11/12 Review Submitted: 03/16/12

Needed a house for 21 people and this fell right in my lap. When he says it's provided, believe him. We packed way too much unnecessary things cause it was already there. The house and location is amazing. Definitely will be back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

What an amazing and beautiful place!

Guest: Cheryl (Abilene, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/09/12 Review Submitted: 03/12/12

The house was great...the river view breathtaking! We were very impressed with the stocked kitchen...full spice cabinent, 2 coffee pots in kitchen, coffee bean grinder etc.... along with really anything that was needed.... foil, ziplocks, papergoods etc. All was clean and very tidy. Coffee pots were placed in most bedrooms...which was great but not really necessary for us. Everything is amazingly organized. We loved playing ping pong....It rained all weekend so we weren't able to use kayaks or fish...we still had an incredible time celebrating my husbands 50th birthday along with three other couples. I'm looking at the calendar and planning on visiting again during the summer when we can enjoy the beautiful river.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Beautiful home & awesome view of River.

Guest: Erica B (Katy, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/02/12 Review Submitted: 03/22/12

Thanks so much for a great weekend for our Girls Trip!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

This place offers everything you want.

Guest: Neil (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 02/24/12 Review Submitted: 03/22/12

It's turnkey, tidy and spacious. It's also got class and charm and could easily accommodate more formal functions like an overnight planning retreat. We used it for a family reunion with kids 1 to 7 and several adults. This would have been a dream getaway for spring break in college. Yet, it's dignified enough so Gramma feels comfortable.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great house at a great location.

Guest: Mike Mercer (Victoria)
Date of Stay: 01/27/12 Review Submitted: 03/13/12

Great house at a great location. Awesome time!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

The house was beautiful and the amenities were outstanding.

Guest: Martha (Huntsville, TX)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 03/22/12

Our family of 13 adults, two teens, 5 small children, including 2 two year olds and an infant spent a week in this beautiful vacation home. The property grounds were also very nice and the children enjoyed playing outside as well as in the playroom. The house was beautiful and the amenities were outstanding. We have stayed in vacation homes as a group for several years and have had to bring lots of supplies which were readily available in this home. The weather was great and we even utilzed the kayaks, even though it was Christmas week. We also rented the guest house which worked great for my sister and her husband who have never had children and could get away from the noise. Everyone is looking forward to returning for another visit.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

What a great place!

Guest: Anonymous (McAllen, Texas)
Date of Stay: 11/20/11 Review Submitted: 12/15/11

What a great place! The house was amazingly well stocked with comfortable towels and pillows, and a kitchen better equipped than we have ever seen in vacation rental! Everything was organized, labeled, and easy to find. The home and the balcony had a stunning view of the river, highlighted with beautiful fall colored leaves (what a gorgeous time to visit). We had a blast with the kayaks..what a neat ammenity! This was a vacation enjoyed by all...Thanks!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We have never seen a more well appointed and beautifully kept home.

Guest: Brennan Mars (Boulder Colorado)
Date of Stay: 11/11/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

My husband and I are longtime VRBO renters. We have never seen a more well appointed and beautifully kept home. We came to enjoy the Wurstfest weekend with friends that we have known for 25 years. It has been a tradition to camp and attend the festivities at Wurstfest for the last 25 years. We loved the peaceful beauty of this home so much, we only made it to Wurstfest one night and spent the rest of the time hanging out on the deck or by the river. Thank you Chris for your wonderful southern hospitality. We particularly loved that you had a fire built in the fire pit for our arrival. Hanging around the camp fire has also been a tradition for 25 years. We will definitely be back. Many of us are already planning other excursions, family reunions etc. Thanks

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Our family had a wonderful 5 day reunion in the Gruene House and Cabin.

Guest: George Whaley (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 10/24/11 Review Submitted: 11/18/11

Our family had a wonderful 5 day reunion in the Gruene House and Cabin. A super house in a beautiful setting. Well stocked and well maintained. The manager obviously wants his visitors to have a good time. Several months before checkin I asked if the game room had croquet and bocce sets. Answer was yes on the croquet and no on the bocce. When we checked in there was a new bocce set waiting for us. We enjoyed it and every other aspect of our visit. We have reunions in different parts of the country every year and this was the best home by far.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

BEST house for BIG groups

Guest: Brian (Colorado Springs)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 12/15/11

We had about 20 adult males stay for four nights. Very comfortable. Everything was well stocked i.e. bathrooms, towels, soap, shampoo. Kitchen had everything you could possible need. Coffee pots in several rooms. Decks had lots of lawn funiture, ideal for sitting outside telling lies. Plenty of water toys to use in the river after a long day of riding. We stay in different VRBO's all around the country every year, and this was the best one yet. I can't think of anything that could be done to make it better. It was pretty much perfect.

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

Great place, lots of beds, huge yard, PRIME location!

Guest: Derek (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/23/11 Review Submitted: 12/08/11

Great place, lots of beds, huge yard, PRIME location!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Highly recommended!

Guest: Marcus (Waco, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/15/11

Highly recommended! An amazing home that sits on a beautiful stretch of the Guadalupe. The home owners have provided everything necessary to have a memorable vacation! Can't wait to come back!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent accommodations and customer service.

Guest: Beverly L. (Lindale, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/31/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

We stayed at the property on a three day "girl road trip". The house went far beyond our expectations and I agree with comments submitted by others, the photos do not do it justice. Everything was as neat as a pin and very clean and tidy! All of the details were very well thought out down to the spices left in the cabinets and the tubes and noodles left for the river frollicking! Excellent accommodations and customer service. Thanks to Chris as well as the cleaning crew for making our trip a huge success!! PS: The kitchen is outfitted extremely well....plan on cooking at least ONE meal!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

It is one of the best equiped and most organized rentals I have ever stayed in.

Guest: Dana (The Woodlands, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/24/11 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

Our group of 18 ladies had the best time in this lovely house. It is one of the best equiped and most organized rentals I have ever stayed in. But the best feature is the beautiful Guadalupe River right outside the back door.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Excellecent vacation. Would recommend house to others.

Guest: Kyle Smith (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 08/10/11

We were a group of 18. We stayed in both houses. They were very nice. Kitchen completely organized, has everything needed to cook. Huge balconies upstairs and downstairs. Huge waterfront property. Hung out in the water, listened to music. No one close enough to bother with large group. We found a tube rental company that came and picked us up at house, dropped us at river, picked us up at crossing right by house and took us home. Excellecent vacation. Would recommend house to others.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a fabulous home!

Guest: John (Spring, Texas)
Date of Stay: 05/22/11 Review Submitted: 06/12/11

What a fabulous home! All the amenities needed for a getaway!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

The pictures do not do this property justice, it is spectacular!

Guest: Great Escape Coordinator (San Angelo, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 05/27/11

On 5/20/11 We held our annuals guys trip at this property and it worked great for our needs. We sat in the river all day Friday and relaxed and floated the Guadalupe on Saturday. The house slept all of us very comfortably and was outfitted with everything to meet our BBQ needs as well. We all talked about coming back soon and bringing our families. The pictures do not do this property justice, it is spectacular!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Boys Weekend - Perfect in every way!

Guest: Ken Hart (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 05/19/11 Review Submitted: 01/27/12

We have stayed here with 20 guys two years in a row. The house has everything you could imagine and then some. The location is perfect - quiet spot on the river, large yard, huge fire pit, plenty of outdoor seating. As you might can imagine 20 rowdy guys around a fire pit late into the evenings... but we have never had a complaints from the neighbors or community. We are booking our 3rd year right now. If your looking for a place for your large party or group this house is it. I have looked at other places and none can compare. Chris is really helpful too.

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

I would do it again in a heart beat.

Guest: Antonio S. (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/23/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

Very nice house, Pics do not and I mean do not express how well this house is. We had a great easter weekend with the family and the river was perfect. Not too deep and not to strong of a current, so the kids could swim easily. The provided Kayaks were a blast and we had a great time going up and down the river. Kids had fun in the game room while the adults enjoy the flat layout of the living and kitchen areas. Bedrooms were huge and we loved the bath rooms. Could not ask for more for a party as large as ours. And will definitely keep this place in mind for next time around, I would do it again in a heart beat. It was just a shame it was a short weekend for us.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place!

Guest: Chase (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

Great place! Everything was nice, clean, and as advertised. Tons of space and convenient for everything. Highly recommended.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We had a wonderful time and I would definitely recommend this house.

Guest: Nellie Jo (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/04/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

I reserved this house for the annual trip of my female first cousins. We all loved the location on the river. I took a kayak up and down stream and it was wonderful. All the women loved Gruene and it was so close. We had smores at the firepit and fajitas on the grill. We had a wonderful time and I would definitely recommend this house. Jo

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

House was amazing!

Guest: Will (Mt. Vernon, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/24/11

House was amazing! Accommodated a huge group of guys very well. Facilities are outstanding. If you're looking for a place to stay with a big group, this is it. Quick drive to Gruene Hall or you can sit in the back yard and enjoy the view. I recommend this house.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

GREAT WEEKEND. NO COMPLAINTS!

Guest: Jesse H. (Beaumont, TX)
Date of Stay: 02/24/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

House was great. Most of the comments when walking through the front door were... "Wow... this is really nice." One of the only homes I could find with enough beds to accomodate that many people in the area. Had everything we needed for a "guys" weekend. Would be a great family getaway home also. It was right on the river. We put the kayaks in the water twice. We drove down to the 1st crossing and floated right up to the backyard. It was an awesome ride... not too far and we went through 5 or 6 good sets of rapids including Slumber Falls. House had everything we needed and more. GREAT WEEKEND. NO COMPLAINTS!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

I hope that we can visit again soon!

Guest: Jenny (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 01/12/11 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

This house far exceeded our expectations and made for the perfect place to hang out with friends and family. It's the ideal setup for housing lots of people under one roof. We were all comfortable and felt at home there. I hope that we can visit again soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a great house in a great location!

Guest: Brian (Hallettsville, TX)
Date of Stay: 12/10/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

We had a birthday/engagement party here the weekend of December 11 and could not have had a better weekend. Everything about this place impressed me; from the fire pit to the decorations to the incredible attention to details that Chris and his group presented. I can't remember ever being to a place that was so well furnished and set up for entertaining. Everyone there had a blasts. People played ping pong and kayaked, men drank beer down by the fire pit, and the women enjoyed a few cocktails on the balcony. This place may have the perfect setup... not to mention it's right next to Gruene. You will definitely not regret renting this place! Thank you Chris for a wonderful and memorable weekend. It was a pleasure doing business with you and I hope to return to this house sometime in the near future.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

This house is amazing. The pictures do not do it justice.

Guest: Steve and Kim (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 11/22/10

This house is amazing. The pictures do not do it justice. Our group of 20 were completely blown away at the beauty of the house and the grounds, not to mention all of the conveniences within the house and around the property. It was a little too chilly to go kayaking or tubing but we had a great time visiting on the deck and sitting around the fire ring. We were able to cook snacks and have coffee every morning and everyone slept comfortably every night. We are already planning our summer vacation. Chris was a total professional and was always a phone call or email away. Our only problem was that we had a little trouble getting our car up the steep driveway during wet weather.

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

This is the place to stay!

Guest: Keith (Denton, Texas)
Date of Stay: 11/04/10 Review Submitted: 11/24/10

This is the place to stay! Owners keep house clean and up to date: They keep house well furnished from firewood, propane, bath needs and kithen ware.This house is on the river and within 10 miles of: shopping, great restaurants, country western venues, waterpark, river rafting (a must), if you catch the right time of year you may enjoy Wurstfest, Winefest and a Artfest (within 10 miles). Other interests is excellent golf within 30 miles.This was our (14 adults) second year to rent this property and enjoyed so much we committed making this our annual guy trip staying at this same house instead of traveling different parts of the state.

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

This is one of the finest properties we have ever stayed in and we travel a lot.

Guest: Doctor D (Irving, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

We had a wonderful time staying at this property. The home is beautiful and captures all the charm of Central Texas and the Guadalupe River. The home is kept in spotless shape and it met all our expectations for my 60th birthday celebration on the river. The entertainment system has full satellite coverage on TV's throughout the house. Important, as we had to watch the Rangers beat the Yankess on 10/22. A perfect place to enjoy Gruene and the Guadalupe River!

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

Excellent accommodations for groups.

Guest: Mark (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

We rented both houses for my wife's 40th birthday party the weekend of October 15, 2010. We had 14 people and everyone loved the house and surrounding property. The house has a perfect setup for group gatherings. The water was a bit chilly but we were able to take advantage of the Kayaks supplied with the house. The TV's and sound system are great for slide shows and listening to music while sitting out on the upper deck. Perfect location. We were able to walk into town both days for shopping and lunch. Everyone kept telling me all weekend what a great job I did finding this house. Don't forget to enjoy the fire pit for late night stories with friends. One other note, the house has just about everything you would ever need for cooking. Two coffee pots, lots of kitchen space and plenty of hot water for showers. Excellent accommodations for groups. We plan on coming back next year for more group get togethers.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

EXACTLY AS ADVERTIZED

Guest: Anonymous (DENISON, TEXAS)
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

OUR GROUP HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE PROPERTY. WE RENTED BOTH THE HOUSE AND CABIN AND THEY WERE EXACTLY AS ADVERTIZED. THERE WERE 14 IN OUR GROUP AND WE ALL HAD PLENTY OF ROOM. THE BACK YARD IS A GREAT PLACE TO RELAX AROUND THE FIRE PIT AND ALSO TAKE A DIP IN THE RIVER. WE WILL RETURN NEXT YEAR.

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

Best Weekend Ever

Guest: TNS85 (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 07/21/10

This place is as good as advertised! The property manager was prompt with our requests and questions and was spot on with everything he described. Everything was clean, comfortable, and well laid out. The place slept 18 adults comfortably and could easily sleep the 26 as advertised. It's location on the river is out of this world and the convenience of not having to drive to the send off was godsend. We have already started planning out return trip and our only complaint was that we didn't stay longer. Couldn't have asked for a more fun weekend.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

great place for groups

Guest: coach k (houston, tx)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

I had a bachelor party there for 17 people. We were looking for a place to accomadate that many guys and not have to share beds and this was the perfect place. We arrived on a friday and checked out sunday morning of the 4th of july weekend. The place was ready on time and everything was set up and ready for us when we arrived. Every person there was saying this place is awesome in the first 5 minutes and that was before they saw how close it was to the river. They steped out back and said well done on the place I picked. We cooked out friday night and both grills were already set up. One comment from the group was they even have a salad spinner. That means you will not need to bring anything but yourselves, food and drinks. We did not float the river in the morning (a little hungover) but should have because we did not see anyone until about 2 in the afternoon. So I would suggest floating in the morning and exiting at the house which is very close to the end of the float. This house included everything from a pool/ping-pong table, kayaks, tubes and chairs in the backyard to observe others floating. The amenities in the house are just as nice with stereo, TV, dining area and back porch with a great view. I would recommend this place and will probably plan to go back next summer with a mixed group of guys and girls. This place is perfect for large party groups and even families with older children. It is also close to grocery and liquor stores as well as many bars and restaurants.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Perfect Guys Trip Weekend

Guest: Ken Hart (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 05/12/10

We had 15 guys from all over the US come to this house for a little guys weekend retreat. It was no accident it was Mother's Day Weekend either. We partied like rock stars and ate like kings. There was more than enough room for all of us and we are planning for 20 guys next year because of the amount of un-used space. There were still beds everywhere that weren't slept in. The deck has great views and the backyard is expansive. Deck chairs are plentiful and the fire pit was great also. The kitchen had every pot, pan, glass, etc that we could ever need. The bathrooms were stocked with towels and tissue. The TV's are all working - stereo system too. Couches were all very comfortable. This place is on a prime location on the river and we were loud and obnoxious at times and no one was the wiser. The parking out front easily accomodated all of our vehicles - which totaled 10 trucks and 1 car. Kayaks and paddles provided were fun. Plenty of firewood stocked - we brought a couple of truckfuls also, but it wasn't needed. We didn't have any complaints at all nor did we have any desires for anything that wasn't provided. Great place again for large family, girls weekend or guys weekend. Can easily accomodate 20 or more with space to spare. Garage is a bonus room with Ping=Pong, Pool combo table.

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

some problems but would still recomment

Guest: Katstas (Virginia)
Date of Stay: 04/04/10 Review Submitted: 04/12/10

I wanted to give this place 5 stars--I really did. However, we had no air conditioning in the upstairs portion of the house the entire week of our stay. Fortunately, it cooled off in the middle of the week but there were a number of nights where it was uncomfortably warm. An air conditioner repairman was sent out and I believe parts were ordered, but no fix was made while we were there. I think an offer from the owner of a refund of a small portion of our rental fee would have been an excellent goodwill gesture. My family was also really looking forward to the river float trip which was arranged by the owner to include pickup at the house, food, drink and return transportation. Pickup was to be noon and my family was waiting, as instructed, at the top of the driveway at 11:45. An hour later and several unreturned voice messages to the owner, we gave up and returned to the house to figure out our own plans. The outfitter company finally showed up at 1pm with no food and no drinks, saying they had only gotten the reservation that morning. He did offer to take us out but advised he did not have time to get food and could stop "on the way" to pick up some drinks. We declined. A brief email from the owner late that night advised of a family emergency to explain the unreturned phone calls. It was a very disappointing way to end our trip. With that in mind, I think I would return and would recommend it to others. The house is beautiful and clean and you cannot beat the location. Whether you just want to relax and hang out at the house or get out and do stuff in Gruene, San Antonio or Austin, the house is perfectly situated. Check in at the house before you head out for groceries and supplies--there are many items included here that I have not typically found in other rentals. The fire pit was ready to go and there was plenty of ice in the freezer. All beds were comfortable. I would say the house has four private bedrooms and one bunkroom that you have to walk through to get to the two downstairs bedrooms. The rest of the beds are in fairly public areas. It comfortably held the 12 adults and 4 children in our group. Despite the negatives listed above, this will still be a very memorable vacation for us.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Guest: Melissa Mathieu (Katy, Tx)
Date of Stay: 08/24/09 Review Submitted: 08/24/09

The photos just don't do this place justice! Sorry Chirs, they're great photos but the place is even better in real life. The kayaks added alot of fun for the family and the house was more than well stocked and beautiful. Chris, thank you for all of your help and the information you supplied was of great value. You are a great host! This is a wonderful place to stay on the river!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Texas/New Mexico Golf Group (Houston, Tx)
Date of Stay: 05/01/09 Review Submitted: 05/01/09

Great accomodation, our group had a great time and everything was as advertised. Only feed back comment is that it would be nice to have a gate in the picket fence to the house next door (we rented it also for supplemental beds). We'll surely visit again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Cheri Stringer (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/28/09 Review Submitted: 04/28/09

The River House was truly a unique experience for all our group. The beauty of the hill country and the river, combined with the proximity to Gruene made for a wonderful long weekend for our high school ladies reunion retreat. Your attention to detail in providing those small amenities (coffee makers in the bedrooms, garbage bags, paper towels, firestarters, etc.) that in the end contribute so much to everyone's stay, is so very much appreciated. Your rental provided us a chance to get together with a minimum amount of cargo! And all the allergy sufferers, really appreciated the hardwood floors, ceramic tile and the overall cleanliness of the entire house. We all felt so very blessed that we had the opportunity to reunite with friends in such a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. Thanks again for your excellent management.

Recommended for:

Guest: Manoj2 (Sugar Land, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/16/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/09

We enjoyed our stay at the house - your property is worth every penny and we all had a great time. Your honest input in planning the trip was invaluable and it met our every expectation. The property location, amenities and the convenience is beyond comparison. The location is unique as it gives you a country setting but you are 15 minutes away from major outlets. The kayaks, ping-pong table and keyboard you provided were fully utilized by all of us - could not use the tubes as the water was little on the cold side. The music system and the amount of TV/DVD players made it enjoyable to kids (we avoided conflicts as we had children ranging from 4 yrs to 16 yrs - you know what I mean!!!!!!!!). Bar-be-que and the camp fire was one of the highlights of the trip. Your attention to details is commendable - the house is well stocked. With the positive feedback from everyone in our group I am certain we will be back!!!!! Again, thank you Chris for all your help.

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Guest: Erick Nelson (Midland Texas)
Date of Stay: 04/12/09 Review Submitted: 04/12/09

our family rented this house the 3rd week of March 2009 for spring break. The house is very nice, clean and comfortable. The setting on the river is a great place to hang out and relax. The proximity to San Antonio is very convenient if you are planning on going there. I would recommend this rental without question. We hope to return someday

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/09/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/09

Renting from an unknown source can be unnerving but this property delivered above and beyond expectation. 8 golfing gals rented this house for 4 days early April and it was ideal for our retreat. So perfect in fact, that we never even saw old town Gruene that was less than a mile from the house! Chris has outfitted the house with everything you could need and then some. Quality furnishings were used and comfort was considered with each decision. We look forward to our return next year - kudos to Chris!

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Guest: Tim and Peggie Wells (Helotes, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/01/09

We stayed at the Gruene Home in early March w/ four adults and five children, ages 8-18. We felt extremely welcome and comfortable, and couldn't have asked for a more pleasant setting. We sat out on the deck in the evening and could hear the owls, and watch the turtles on the water. We kayaked up river, walked to town, had a great campfire, and the kids went fishing every morning. The home is so clean and cozy. We will recommend it to many and hope to return.

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Guest: Ann D1 (San Marcos, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/20/09 Review Submitted: 03/20/09

Unbelievable!! My friends and family were just blown away by the views, amenities, and accommodations at this beautiful house and cabin. We will definitely be recommending this place to everyone. Thank you so much for the unforgettable memories.

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Guest: Nimblefingers (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/06/09 Review Submitted: 03/06/09

For the last 2 years we have had a stitching retreat here and it has been wonderful. The house is beautiful and Chris keeps is well stocked with necessities including coffee. The women who attended have all raved about the home and who can't have fun in Gruene. We are definately planning to come back this year. Thanks for a wonderful exprience.

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Guest: Tamareh Tuma (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/04/09 Review Submitted: 03/04/09

My daughter had her bachlorette party here with about 16 girls and EVERY girl had a fantastic time!! These girls have traveled extensively and lived the "five star" life and each one of them was impressed by the quality of the home(clean, well maintained), the beauty of their surroundings and the attention to detail that the homeowner exhibits(information on the surrounding area, lighters & coal for outdoor fireplace,videos for HUGE television,etc.). The home is "just around the corner" from Gruene and this allowed the girls to go into town and enjoy everything there, but also to come back, relax and have more privacy(which is a tad more difficult when you are staying next to Gruene Hall like I was and want to sleep)!! Every one of the young ladies left with a huge smile on their face!!

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Guest: Teddi Cherry (Rockwall, Texas)
Date of Stay: 02/24/09 Review Submitted: 02/24/09

Our family just completed a reunion last week here. We had a wonderful time at this spacious, clean, and beautiful home! We had ten adults and six kids and all had plenty of room. Loved the homey touches and stocked condiments in the kitchen. Our favorite night was around the campfire with hotdogs and somemores after a day of kayaking with the kids!

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