Vacation Rentals by Owner

Love it!

Guest: Eco Chic Retreat (Taos, NM)
Date of Stay: 05/03/12 Review Submitted: 05/15/12

Loved the space...the views...true luxury. Thank you so very much.

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

Serenity just outside Taos is Lovely!

Guest: kay h.
Date of Stay: 04/03/12 Review Submitted: 04/15/12

We were very pleased. All the amenities of a resort hotel, plus the convenience of a kitchen stocked with the necessities and more. We highly recommend it!

Owner response:Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience at "Serenity". I keep the kitchen stocked with all the spices, seasonings and oils, vinegars and flour, sugar...so one can truly feel that the are at a home and can prepare food the way they like to. If your travel plans should bring you back to the Taos area, please remember my home. -Ellen

Recommended for:

5 star accomodations

Guest: JP Addison (Katy, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 03/31/12

My family and I have stayed in other VRBO rentals in Taos and I can certainly say this is the most luxurious. It far exceeded our expectations. For starters, Ellen is an excellent, friendly and gracious host, making sure everything is perfect before and during our stay. The condo was very spacious for my family of 5 - 2 adults and 3 kids. The amenities are first class. But the details really make this place feel special, from the designer shampoos, towels, fine silverware, espresso machines, etc, etc. It felt like we were the first ones to use. We look forward to returning to this gem in Taos. Thanks Ellen!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Good fit

Guest: Virginie (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/29/11

We had a great time at Serenity. I was a perfect fit for a family of four on a ski vacation. We have been in Taos many, many times and would highly recommend Ellen's place and her attention to details.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Perfect choice

Guest: Carlos C.
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

Great place! Comfortable, clean and stocked with everything one needs for a vacation. The location is a great compromise for skiers and folks looking to enjoy the other (very many!) features of Taos. Easy drive to Taos SKi Valley. Ellen (the owner) is very friendly and helpful. We would love to come back.

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

Perfect choice...

Guest: Carlos C.
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

Great place. Comfortable, clean and stocked with everything one needs for a vacation. Easy drive to Taos Ski Valley. The location is a perfect compromise for skiers and folks that want to explore the other (very many!) features of Taos. Ellen (the owner) is very friendly and helpful. We would love to come back.

Recommended for:

Clay workshop vacation

Guest: Deb (Las Cruces)
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 07/24/11

I had researched a variety of clay workshops both near and far as a way to combine professional development and relaxation. Taos fit the bill perfectly and this condo was perfect place to stay. Ellen is extremely conscientios, and the condo was perfect for us. We do not consider ourselves tourists as we live in Las Cruces, but we are visitors and the information about restaurants and events included in the condo was very helpful. Loved getting up and looking out at the beautiful view of the mountains each morning. The walks were lovely, as was watching the afternoon clouds build for a couple of evenings of rain. Taos clay was right down the road, perfect location. Thanks Ellen for creating a great place to experience Taos, relax, and to "recharge" our batteries! Thank you! Deborah Moore

Owner response:Dear Deborah, I am so happy that your clay workshop was worth attending. I know that the studio was close to my home so that was convenient. I love when folks stay at my place and have these great memories of Taos. Come Back someday. It is always special, every season! -Ellen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Romance, peace and quiet, and a gorgeous condo

Guest: Matt (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/12/11

Perfect location for our 5 year anniversary. Beautiful surroundings, and a comfortable, romantic condo. Ellen has everything you need at this condo to cook anything you want (seriously), and we ate breakfast each morning outside on the patio. I would absolutely recommend this for any couples heading to Taos. It was amazing.

Owner response:Thank you Matt for picking my home for your special anniversary celebration. I am honored to have had you stay,I am totally into hospitality and I truly want folks to have the best memory of my home that can add to their Taos experience. May you have many more anniversaries ahead. -Ellen

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway.

The condo exceeded all expectations

Guest: Franklin (Jackson LA)
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

We were excited about our plans to stay at “Serenity” in Taos. Our expectations were far exceeded by the luxury of the condo and the views. What views! Waken to snow covered mountains out the bedroom windows. We spent nine wonderful days in this gorgeous home. Ellen has decorated the home with interesting art work and sculptures. The expansive coffee table contains books, periodicals, and brochures on everything New Mexico. In the kitchen Ellen has supplied every conceivable appliance, condiment, and utensil. The bed room and bath room linens were plentiful and upscale. We experienced a medical issue the second day. Ellen responded with care and compassion, including escorting us to the emergency room, assisting with the check in, and waiting until the all clear. Thank you, Ellen, for your hospitality and caring. We truly experienced serenity.

Owner response:It was my pleasure that you stayed at my home for your honeymoon! It was fun gathering information for you about making wedding plans in Taos. It is a beautiful place to get married. I also am so glad that you called me that night so I could expedite getting you the care you needed. Altitude sickness: It is good for folks to know that my home, and Taos in general, is at 7,200 feet and that coming from sea level for a very few folks might be an adjustment. Also the base of the ski area is at 9,100 feet. One should make sure they are hydrated well before coming up to altitude and a little exercise before arriving can also help get the circulation going.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Mke W. (Austin TX)
Date of Stay: 03/23/10 Review Submitted: 03/23/10

Comment Text: We had the pleasure of spending some quality family time in Ellen's condo...we had a eally good time....being together with our daughter, son-in-law and three grand-daughters in such a lovely condo was fantastic. The condo location is super convenient to Taos Ski Area....the unit is very modern, clean, warm, and comfy...the views are spectacular from the mountains to the fabulous sunsets...it is without a doubt one of the best equipped condos we have stayed at...if & when we return to Taos we will definitely consider this condo!!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/23/10 Review Submitted: 03/23/10

This condo was really like having a home away from home. It was one of the best stocked condos we have stayed at. Everything was very nice and Ellen was an amazing host. I would feel confident recommending to anyone looking for a 2BR/2BA Condo in the Taos area.

Recommended for:

Guest: Carrie44 (Denton, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/08/10

Simply amazing. Everything about Ellen's home was simply AMAZING - from the beautifully decorated interior, to the dream kitchen, to the breathtaking views...amazing. A very quiet, relaxed place that really encourages recharging. Ellen is a extraordinary hostess, making sure that every need is met and all your wants too!

Owner response:It is truly my pleasure to provide you with a wonderful experience. I love hospitality and care so much to make sure that all is perfect. May all be well with you and may future journeys bring you back to Taos and Serenity. With Warmth - Ellen

Recommended for:

Guest: Jamie Claypool (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/08/09

This condo was magnificent by all standards. It was decorated well, was extremely comfortable and had all the added touches of a real home. We cooked when we were there and the kitchen had the best cookware and was fully equipped. There was even butter in the refrigerator. Our stay was for 3 days but would have been longer if we could have the condo for more days (people coming in). It had incredible Mountain views and one of the best features is that it is just a stones throw from Taos. We loved our stay there. Our hostess Ellen Hoffman made everything perfect- right down to the jacuzzi tub and wonderful lotions and potions she had available. We want to stay and entire summer next time. Serenity was perfect and soothed our souls!!!Jamie and Mike Claypool, Austin Texas

Recommended for:

More than satisfied!

Guest: RWG (TX)
Date of Stay: 03/13/09 Review Submitted: 03/20/09

Perfect for 2 couples, one of the nicest places We have stayed. Clean, comfortable and well decorated. Beautiful condo with beautiful views of the mountains to the east, and the sunsets to the west. I would recommend "Serenity" to anyone. We stayed 4 nights, and skied during the day and enjoyed the condo in the evenings. The large patio with gas bar-b-que grill was a great addition. The OBL Restaurant & Spirit shop is less than a mile away. We went there one night for drinks and another night for dinner. The food and atmosphere were great. The owner of the condo was in town during our stay, and she went above and beyond to make our trip great. Thanks Ellen, we are looking forward to returning. Ryan, TX

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/23/09

This is a gorgeous condo that doesn't feel as if it's a condo because it's an end unit and it's layout makes it feel big. It is also the best stocked place I've ever rented. Often you end up running out of TP or wishing you had some more clean towels. Not here. There were loads of extra sheets,towels,blankets,and TP. There was also a cupboard full of spices, cooking oil, and all those other ingredients you usually just do without. Most of all, Ellen Hoffman, the owner, made us feel completely welcome. Fresh flowers and a bottle of wine greeted us upon arrival! This is a special place.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/31/08 Review Submitted: 12/31/08

Our family stayed at Serenity over Christmas Break. We were in a perfect location, a short distance to town and a short drive to the ski lifts. The condo is an end unit so there is a lot of privacy. Everything we needed was provided. It got to be a game for us – when someone needed an item we looked and ALWAYS found it. We found ourselves saying “I bet Ellen thought of that!” and sure enough she had! Such great attention to details made this a special place to relax and enjoy our time together. There was even Christmas music playing for us when we unlocked the door and entered! Thanks, Ellen – we hope to meet you someday!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/04/08 Review Submitted: 12/04/08

we had a wonderful time and loved your place. it was so cozy and comfortably decorated with nice touches (eg. slippers)!did not ski, but visited two different natural hot springs; manby and black rock. great sceneries and settings, minimal usage by others.enjoyed visiting the pueblo and met a very informative local/native.indeed, you have a well equipped kitchen which was great, esp for the thanksgiving dinner preparations!would enjoy visiting taos in the spring and come back to "serenity".

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/30/08

Our family stayed at Serenity over Christmas Break. We were in a perfect location, a short distance to town and a short drive to the ski lifts. The condo is an end unit so there is a lot of privacy. Everything we needed was provided. It got to be a game for us – when someone needed an item we looked and ALWAYS found it. We found ourselves saying “I bet Ellen thought of that!” and sure enough she had! Such great attention to details made this a special place to relax and enjoy our time together. There was even Christmas music playing for us when we unlocked the door and entered! Thanks, Ellen – we hope to meet you someday!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/03/08

we had a wonderful time and loved your place. it was so cozy and comfortably decorated with nice touches (eg. slippers)! did not ski, but visited two different natural hot springs; manby and black rock. great sceneries and settings, minimal usage by others. enjoyed visiting the pueblo and met a very informative local/native. indeed, you have a well equipped kitchen which was great, esp for the thanksgiving dinner preparations! would enjoy visiting taos in the spring and come back to "serenity".

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/16/08 Review Submitted: 10/16/08

So much has been added to this wonderfulcondo to make it an exceptional place tostay while in the area. The location is great - on the road to the ski area andjust a few miles to Taos. All amenitiesare there along with everything you couldneed. I loved it.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/16/08 Review Submitted: 10/16/08

Serenity house was just as it's name describes, a wonderful retreat. As a hand-weaver, the furnishings, bedding, curtains were a lush, lovely, tactile treat! There were inviting warm colors every where.Every thing we could have wanted, and more, were provided for. Such amazing attention to detail. This house was a major player in our over all fantastic Taos vacation. I would stay there again and hope to make it a family tradition to do so!Thanks Ellen!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/16/08

I recently traveled to Taos for the Taos Wool Festival and stayed in this condo with the Shells (previous comment). This is a lovely, warm and inviting place to stay with all the amenities and an easy drive to Taos Ski resort. I definitely recommend it and plan to stay there again.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/15/08

Serenity house was just as it's name describes, a wonderful retreat. As a hand-weaver, the furnishings, bedding, curtains were a lush, lovely, tactile treat! There were inviting warm colors every where. Every thing we could have wanted, and more, were provided for. Such amazing attention to detail. This house was a major player in our over all fantastic Taos vacation. I would stay there again and hope to make it a family tradition to do so! Thanks Ellen!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/15/08

So much has been added to this wonderful condo to make it an exceptional place to stay while in the area. The location is great - on the road to the ski area and just a few miles to Taos. All amenities are there along with everything you could need. I loved it.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/24/07

This is a beautiful place. Everything that is said is true. The owner goes out of her way to make sure you are comfortable and adds a lot of special touches, just for you. We have been renting through vrbo for about 5 years now and this was by far the BEST place we have stayed.

Recommended for: