Vacation Rentals by Owner

Casa Bella

Guest: alain l.
Date of Stay: 05/11/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

Great stay at Casa Bella. Very confortable and tastefully decorated home with authentic Mexican charm and all the ammenities you would find in your own home, and more! The property exceeded our expectations, the owner Carlos was very helpful and provided excellent support before, during and after our stay. Particularly enjoyed the complimentary bottle of wine and fresh cut flowers throughout the house. Clean, well maintained, beautiful outdoor gardens and decks on every level. There is something to catch your eye in every direction you look. The location was a 10 minute walk to le Jardin, where many fine restaurants can be found. We enjoyed Don Felix Tacos in another beautiful private home setting which is a little hard to find, recommend taxi ride.

Owner response:Thanks for your kind remarks. It is our intention to provide our guests with information and assistance to make their stay easy and enjoyable. We help with airport transportation, food, restaurant recommendations, etc. We hope you will return to Casa Bella again!

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Resplendent Sanctuary--Casa Bella

Guest: Gail Gagnon O'Donnell
Date of Stay: 08/31/11 Review Submitted: 11/16/11

My husband and I stayed at Casa Bella for the month of September. We arrived around 7o'clock in the evening, just in time to catch the amber glow of the twilight in the lovely foyer and courtyard. Mari, the gracious housekeeper, was there to greet us, show us around the spacious quarters, and make us feel so very welcome. It's a wonderfully serene place to stay, super amenities, including daily maid service, weekly gardeners, North American telephone connection and internet included, and even filtered water-- services you don't expect to have in the heart of Mexico. The house, like San Miguel itself, has such interesting revelations that surprise and delight, like the book collection, the Mexican Art and artifacts, and the old tree that serves as a canopy on the top terrace. Every time we walked in the garden we discovered something magical. It's always a risk to rent without first visiting. Charles' description is accurate even modest.The architecture and feel of the place is authentically Mexican but with the luxuries of a high-end Boutique Hotel. You can count on this owner to give you all the information you need to make your stay memorable. He knows everything about San Miguel. We recommend this lovely home without reservation. It was our first visit to San Miguel and Casa Bella but certainly not our last. Gail and George--Montreal

Owner response:We want our guests to enjoy and love San Miguel and Casa Bella as much as we do. We believe that if our home is comfortable for us, it will be comfortable for our guests.

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A Great Stay at a Great Casa!

Guest: Nadim (California)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

This past August, my wife, daughter, mother-in-law, and I stayed at Casa Bella for the month. We had a great time and found the home very comfortable. Carlos was wonderful and helped us with our airport pick-up and travel. He also helped with other great recommendations regarding restaurants and entertainment. Mari (the housekeeper) was fabulous. She is very thoughtful and kind. We miss her a great deal. Overall, I would rate our experience as five star. We would definitely return. N

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

A Special Stay at a Special Home

Guest: Cordell (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/30/11 Review Submitted: 09/20/11

I live in Dallas. Two friends have second homes in San Miguel and I have wanted to go for a long time. I had coffee with a friend who told me he was going back the next day. Knowing it would be over 100 in the Big D over the 4th of July, I decided to make a last minute trip. I found Casa Bella and sent an email to see if it was still available. While at lunch Charles Soberman tracked me down and called me. We quickly reached an agreement for four nights over the 4th of July weekend. Once we had an agreement, Charles began giving me information to make our trip special. He arranged transportation with Pascual from the airport. He made sure the housekeeper Mari would meet us when we arrived. He sent us a lengthly document to help us prepare for our trip. In the evening of our first night, Charles called just to see if everything was ok and to answer any questions we might have. Bella Casa is all that is represented here and more. It is spacious. It is comfortable. The furnishings are upscale. It was like our own home. There are several very nice hotels in San Miguel, but having a spacious two bedroom, three bath house was ever so much better. I was so pleased by our stay that I wrote a blog about it encouraging my readers to stay at Bella Casa. My wife and I have rented many wonderful places on VRBO, but none of the other owners have taken as much time to ensure our trip was special as Charles and Linda did.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful home to use as a base to explore San Miguel de Allende, and surrounding area.

Guest: Richard (Stratford, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/18/10

This is a wonderful home to rent in a surprisingly flat and quiet part of San Miguel de Allende, with little or no traffic buzzing about. One can walk to many attractions within 5 to 8 minutes, no problem. The property is fully equipped with everything one needs to have fun, relax, and enjoy Mexican culture in a comfortable context. Charles will help you plan your week(s) in San Miguel right down to perfection, and his attention to trip planning details were greatly appreciated by us. Have no idea which airlines fly to Leon, Mexico City, or another airport nearby San Miguel? No worries, ask for Charles’ expert travel advice, as he knows all the best options available to you. Need a reliable taxi to transfer you to and from, say, Leon airport to the property in San Miguel? Charles will get you connected with a reliable driver, with a nice car. Want to see the best galleries in and around San Miguel? Charles knows many unique gallery owners and folk art collectors, and can introduce you to these interesting characters, helping set-up appointments that are not easily granted. Want to dine out most of the time? Just ask Charles, and he'll get you a well varied list of favourite restaurants for you to experience the best restaurant gastronomy in the city and surrounding area. Prefer to prepare your own meals in home? Charles knows where all the best markets and street vendors are located, as well as grocery stores and so on. Need an in-house massage, or, maybe attend a personal fitness class with a trainer during your sojourn? Easily, Charles can get you connected with local professionals, and help you accomplish your goals during your trip to further enhance your stay. Looking to take a cooking class or two? Again, Charles will recommend local Mexican chefs and classes for you to learn new recipes and cooking skills in no time. (These are just a handful of questions Charles quickly helped us solve!) Efficiently, Charles helped us plan most of our San Miguel getaway through email correspondence. This level of detailed personalized service went far and beyond what is the norm when renting a vacation property in a country such as Mexico. Charles is an enlightened host, and extremely enthusiastic about sharing his abundant knowledge of San Miguel and Mexico with his guests. Mari is a wonderful housekeeper and Mexican cook. She prepared and cooked for us one day, creating a very healthy luncheon we totally enjoyed!

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

Casa Bella for 10 days

Guest: sondi (denver)
Date of Stay: 09/10/10 Review Submitted: 10/02/10

we absolutely loved Casa Bella - the house is beautiful - very spacious feeling - open to the garden - to the small and large decks - 15 minute walk to the Jardin which is perfect - far enough from the "noise" in town, near enough to walk easily....paintings, photos, works of art - fantastically beautiful and comfortable bed...very quiet and lovely little street...great DVD/Etc. setups..of course San Miguel is a special place, magical - attracting creative, interesting people...we rarely saw Mari, the housekeeper who was lovely - and so it was very private.....for us, it was the perfect holiday....we'll be back.... Sondi and Hal Wakefield Denver Colorado Sept 10-19th 2010

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Everything You'd Ever Want!!!

Guest: "Cali" (California)
Date of Stay: 08/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

We took our sixteen year old granddaughter and her friend with us and this house was as much a delight to them as to us! We all enjoyed the color, gardens, artwork (particularly Linda's unique photographic art) and the cozy corners for reading. Every amenity was provided and Carlos was so attentive to our every need. Mari showed us how to make chile rellenos one day which were delicious!! The casa was located perfectly for walking if we chose to do so. We'd come back in a heartbeat!

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

Wonderfully Complete House in a Great Neighborhood

Guest: Ruth (Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico)
Date of Stay: 08/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/13/10

We have stayed in San Miguel in 3 other houses over the years and Casa Bella ranks at Numero Uno in price, location and ambiance. It is in North San Antonio, very close to Centro. The owners have all the amenities you need to have a divine stay. We shared this rental with another couple and were pleased at how well it worked out. Both master suites have King beds and ensuite bathrooms. The flow of the downstairs rooms, inside and out, is just perfect; anyone who wanted to find a little niche for themselves to read or relax, could do so. We stayed for 3 nights and wish we had stayed longer. The housekeeper, Mari, is delightful, helpful and cheerful. I would recommend this house to friends, family and anyone who wants a taste of living in San Miguel.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Right Choice

Guest: Miguel (Santa Fe NM)
Date of Stay: 07/27/10 Review Submitted: 08/14/10

Carlos and Linda, I spent a good deal of time looking through all the rental home listings for San Miguel and I could not have made a better choice for our "home" away from home. The four of us loved our stay in San Miguel at Casa Bella. Upon our arrival, we spent the first 30 minutes with our mouths wide open as we explored your beautiful home. Beauty for the eye at every turn, every amenity we could think of to soothe the body after a long day of experiencing the city and surrounds and Mari, who we found delightful, efficient and knowledgable. Thanks for all your help and suggestions and for checking in with us throughout our stay. We truly felt at home and were sad to leave. We will definately recommend your home to others as THE place to stay in SMA. Mike, Martina, Manuel and Teresa

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

San Miguel Experience

Guest: Susan L. (Memphis, TN)
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 07/11/10

Words cannot describe how pleased and excited we were to see Casa Bella for the first time. The photos online were inviting, but it was a wonderful surprise to enter a home which was much larger, prettier, and filled with such personality! We loved San Miguel mostly because of the helpful "insider" information from Carlos, the owner. He and his wife have a wealth of information about the entire area and always want to make sure that visitors are taken care of. Based on the Sobermans' recommendations we saw beautiful art galleries, ate in great restaurants, enjoyed the varied faces of the Jardin, and saw other areas in Guanajuato state.On one day we enjoyed having a local chef come to the house for cooking lessons in the large, comfortable kitchen. Mari, the housekeeper, is a lovely person and helps make your stay special. We have all agreed to return to San Miguel and know that we would like to stay at Casa Bella again-for more than 7 days next time!

Owner response:Thank you for the kind review. Linda and I are happy that you were able to truly enjoy not only Casa Bella, but also San Miguel. It was our pleasure to open our home to you, and we are so pleased that you also love this special place.

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

The Only Place to Stay in San Miguel de Allende

Guest: SMAlover (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

Being our first time to San Miguel, Casa Bella was more than we could have ever imagined. Carlos ( the owner) knows all the great places to eat, places to go, transportation questions etc, The Casa is amazing, decorated beautifully, and is so comfortable. We travelled with a large group of friends (everyone staying at different places) and the group voted Casa Bella hands down as the place to stay for their next visit. We had a great dinner party for 12 one night and it was the highlight of our trip. Mari - the housekeeper is a sweetheart and will make your stay perfect ( after travelling on the red eye - we arrived in San Miguel at 8:00 am to fresh fruit, salsa, chips and yogurt - fresh flowers - it was the perfect start to our vacation. All the details really make this house stand above the rest. Location could not have been better - easy walking to the Jardin - and the local neighborhood stores and neighbors themselves are so friendly and helpful.

Owner response:Thank you for the kind review. It points out clearly how houses which look almost the same on rental websites can vary widely. At Casa Bella we try to offer our renters something extra.... It is our house, and we try to make it our renters' home during their stay in San Miguel.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: gem-d (Lakes District, Cumbria. UK)
Date of Stay: 01/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/10

I have been meaning to write this for months. We were so enchanted by Casa Bella, and found it an oasis of calm during the chaotic saints festival week. The artistic decor is wonderfully Mexican and often locally sourced. Our travels were long and hot but Mexico enchanted us. The people, the landscape, San Miguel itself, and Casa bella is a most gracious place to base yourselves.gemma dunne. UK

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Guest: Edris (Dallas)
Date of Stay: 11/15/09 Review Submitted: 11/15/09

Casa Bella is a real find! I loved so many things about this home and thought it to be an excellent value. It was such a treat to return to the beautiful courtyard and garden daily. And it was soooo hard getting out of that awesome bed! So much attention to details that it made me SMILE at every turn! Mari, the housekeeper is not only just a lovely human being but very efficient and keeps the house SPOTLESS! Charles [owner] was so attentive, thoughtful and helpful. And I cannot thank him enough for being so gracious and kind. I look forward to my return visit. =

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Thanks for a relaxing, beautiful home

Guest: laura7a (houston, tx, usa)
Date of Stay: 10/19/09 Review Submitted: 10/27/09

We truly loved our stay at Casa Bella! The house is warm and inviting and obviously that of an artist with a wonderful mix of the owner/artists styles blended with the Mexican touch. Everything you need is available in the home including Mari who is always ready to help. She maintains the home beautifully as does the gardener. The owners are also always available for anything they can help with and provided assistance from booking our rides to recommending sites, etc. Would definitely recommend to friends/family and would go back but only with another couple. We felt we didnt get the full benefit of the home's amenities with just my husband and me. The pictures by the way do not do justice to the home.

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Guest: A McGhee (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

We rented the house for the month of August. It is even more beautiful and comfortable than the pictures can demonstrate. This house is lovingly decorated and outfitted by the owners, with more attention to every detail than homes that are mostly owned as rental properties. It is ideal for a couple who has some guests. Both bedrooms have king beds, are large, and have good sized bathrooms en suite. The owners are most helpful and available for questions.

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Guest: Leigh H (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/12/09 Review Submitted: 07/12/09

Thank you so much for allowing us to enjoy your beautiful San Miguel home, Case Bella.The size and location was perfect for us as we enjoyed the quiet street, as well as the short 10 minute walk to town center. In fact, the location allowed us to enjoy the fireworks from the spacious rooftop terrace without the deafening explosion sounds we’ve experienced with other houses located closer to Le Jardin. We appreciated the nice cross ventilation the house produces and didn’t miss our usual air conditioning. I especially enjoyed the satellite TV with your two flat panels as I was able to keep up with Wimbleton and other athletic competitions. They fit well with the décor and layout of the house.We’ve been visiting SMA every 3-4 months ....and we find that San Antonio (Casa Bella’s neighborhood) is among the best for tranquility and security, proximity to the Jardin and good local restaurants.We love San Miguel! Hope to see you there…soon. Please keep in touch.Leigh H.San Antonio, TX

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Guest: Kathy W. (Reno, NV)
Date of Stay: 07/12/09 Review Submitted: 07/12/09

Linda and Carlos, I wanted to send you a quick note to say how much I enjoyed our visit to San Miguel. As first timers to San Miguel it's hard to fit everthing in in a week's time and still take advantage of a siesta or two. Casa Bella truly is "bella". We felt very comfortable there in the house and I especially loved the gardens.The house was in good working order and easy to relax/sleep in after a full day of shopping walking and seeing the local sights. Mari is a special person and very competent housekeeper. I was our official translater(with assistance from my husband) and Mari was patient with my Spanish. She cooked for us two nights - chile rellanos, rice and black beans; and another night sopa with chicken.As well as guacamole and salsa.Everything was muy delicioso! I was so glad we chose Casa Bella for our stay. Regards, Kathy W. Reno, NV

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Guest: Marty and Jeff Kimmel (San Francisco, Ca)
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/01/08

After an extensive search for the perfect home in San Miguel I came across Casa Bella. This was our 5th visit to San Miguel and had previously rented homes in various neighborhoods. This was our first time renting in the San Antonio neighborhood which is a 10 minute walk to the Jardin. For anyone interested in renting this house you will not be disappointed. We stayed for two months! It's a wonderful house to entertain and have parties but cozy and comfortable for two to four people. Mari the maid was amazing she took such good care of us we all came home spoiled...

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/02/08 Review Submitted: 06/02/08

We loved our stay at Casa Bella! Even before heading to Mexico (San Miguel and Zihuatanejo), Carlos helped us with the logistics of our trip. After a long tiring day traveling we opened the door to Casa Bella and we were wowed! The interior design is fantastic with an obvious artist’s touch. Upon our arrival we were greeted by Mari who showed us throughout this beautiful, tranquil home and had fresh flowers, wine, and guacamole and chips waiting for us. We were truly able to relax, no accommodations were lacking. We especially appreciated the free long distance phone service and there was even a cell phone available which enabled us to take day trips and not worry about getting stranded. We would definitely recommend renting Casa Bella and hope to return ourselves one day.Greg and Jeannie Zook

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/01/08

We loved our stay at Casa Bella! Even before heading to Mexico (San Miguel and Zihuatanejo), Carlos helped us with the logistics of our trip. After a long tiring day traveling we opened the door to Casa Bella and we were wowed! The interior design is fantastic with an obvious artist’s touch. Upon our arrival we were greeted by Mari who showed us throughout this beautiful, tranquil home and had fresh flowers, wine, and guacamole and chips waiting for us. We were truly able to relax, no accommodations were lacking. We especially appreciated the free long distance phone service and there was even a cell phone available which enabled us to take day trips and not worry about getting stranded. We would definitely recommend renting Casa Bella and hope to return ourselves one day. Greg and Jeannie Zook

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