Like Visiting Grandma's Home Very Clean Comfortable and Quiet

Guest: Cincinnati Vic (Cincinnati OH )
Date of Stay: 09/04/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

My wife and I stayed here for 3 nights in early September and really enjoyed our stay. This home feels like you are visiting family (maybe your favorite grandmother). It is located across from a park where soccer practice and games take place regularly and is about 2 blocks from one of the entrances to the Garden of the Gods City Park. Even with temperatures in the 80's the thick walls kept the unit comfortable and we never turned on the air conditioner. The unit was very clean and the kitchen well stocked and if you look around the laundry room you will find a hand operated meat grinder and flour sifter that every kitchen had 50-60 years ago. We had a doe with two fawns come by the kitchen window and look in at breakfast time. Access to the house requires that you climb 3 sets of stairs so if you have trouble with stairs or the weight of your suitcases that could be a problem. We would not hesitate recommending that friends or family stay here and we hope to return in the future.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Enjoyed our stay

Guest: Janna (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/14/11

We stayed in this cottage June 27 through July 1. Because we spent a lot of time at Garden of the Gods, this was an excellent location. It was a short drive to downtown Manitou Springs and to the grocery store. The cottage was very clean and comfortable. It was a quiet location and we (two women) felt perfectly safe there. Other good features were the fully appointed kitchen and the washer and dryer. I found the owners to be very good to do business with, and the price was excellent for the accommodation (I did a lot of comparison shopping). Downsides for some might be the 26 steps from the driveway up a narrow stairway to the front door and the lack of central air conditioning. The steps did not bother us. The lack of AC was a little uncomfortable only because of the horrific heat wave that was happening. There is a portable AC unit that blows chilled air and helps cool the area you are in. It cooled down at night and the mornings were very pleasant. We enjoyed having our coffee on the deck. I would definitely stay here again and recommend it to others. It was a much, much better experience than staying in a motel.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Very comfortable place to stay

Guest: Carol (New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

We stayed here for five nights and were very impressed with this place. Our original intention was to stay at a hotel, but thankfully we found this place instead at the last minute. It's a very clean and cozy little house with all the amenities you might need for cooking and relaxing. We had planned to do some biking but the weather didn't cooperate, so we were glad we had a nice place to stretch out, cook meals, watch movies or listen to music (videos and CDs were provided). The kitchen is well stocked with the dishes you need to cook, there's a coffee pot and even coffee in case you forgot (and some creamer, thankfully, because I forgot mine), spices, tea, and other little cooking amenities. The washer/dryer came in handy for a long stay. We were just sad we didn't get to grill on the bbq out on the porch. It was like a home away from home. The place is indeed on a street that's a little dark at night but the neighborhood is just fine to stay in, and we had no worries. The outside of the house has plenty of motion-triggered lights to light the way inside. A little group of deer congregate in the evening on the hillside and some even walked right by the kitchen window. The view of Pikes Peak from the deck is really fantastic. The location is convenient as a base for shopping, recreating nearby, or just cruising around Manitou Springs. A number of really good restaurants are right nearby. I highly recommend this place!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Perfection!!

Guest: Brenda (Kinsley, KS)
Date of Stay: 11/23/10 Review Submitted: 11/29/10

What an absolutely perfect spot to spend my holiday this was! Words cannot describe the charm which radiates from the bungalow. From the court yard entrance to the warmth of the interior decor to the view-everything is just wonderful. The location, across the street from a city park's soccer field, affords not only a great view, but also is a feeding spot for a nice group of mule deer. The bungalow's hillside was also a popular spot for the deer each morning and evening. My golden retriever happily spent her days tucked safely behind the bungalow's fence or taking walks with me through the neighborhood and Garden of the Gods. All the locals were very friendly and helpful. I found it more than difficult to pack up and leave the bungalow behind; and thankfully the owners were able to extend my stay. From the bungalow I was able to quickly access Hwy 24 and head to Woodland Park or any of the many local attractions. The owners have thought of everything..even providing food wraps in the kitchen and bedside reading selections. I can't wait to return in the summer when the deck, patios, and courtyard flowers are in bloom!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Very QUAINT, comfortable accommodations!

Guest: Rick & Jill (New Prague, MN)
Date of Stay: 09/22/10 Review Submitted: 10/29/10

"Grandma's house" was just as described in the photo's. We stayed 3 nights to attend my nephews wedding at Garden of the Gods just down the road. The house was FULLY stocked, especially the kitchen so if staying in and cooking, there would not be a cooking item you could not find. As for "Kansas" review who felt it unsafe, we hardly saw anyone out around the house, it was extremely peaceful and quiet. We never once felt we needed to fear anything about the location. Close to everything! The price cannot be beat compared to the other 4 rental places we stayed at while touring Colorado. Very clean and owners were very helpful in answering any questions we had. Even had a land line phone which is unheard of in these times of cell phones. I am a bit of a clean freak, and this house was/is very well kept. Actually entertained family one night on the deck and they all thought it was much better than staying at hotel! Don't let one bad review scare you off, this family takes very good care of their mother's property and if we come back again to see parts of Colorado we never got to, will fly into the springs again, and would CERTAINLY stay here again. Thanks for the hospitality, our stay was wonderful!

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

Loved it! Great Location and Accommodations!

Guest: Cindy in Texas (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/20/10 Review Submitted: 10/07/10

What a wonderful place! Felt very comfortable, almost like being home as everything was nicely provided. Centrally located to Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak - really everything we wanted to do. Like the "at home" feel - appears the place was left "as is" from the lady who lived there. Slept well - recommend to individuals who want a quaint nice place without all the hustle of a hotel - which was exactly what we wanted. Thank you for sharing with us.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Quaint, Clean, and Comfortable Place to Stay in Old Colorado City/Manitou!

Guest: Angela (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/29/10

We love coming to my old home town, Colorado Springs every summer. We have stayed at this cozy bungalow for 4 years now. It is close to all of the fun things we love to do. Great hiking, biking, and running can all be accomplished at the Garden of the Gods, which is 5 minutes away. The part we really love, is sitting out on the great deck in the mornings with coffee, and in the evenings to grill, and looking at beautiful Pikes Peak, which brings back lots of fond childhood memories. Annually, we entertain my best friend and her husband who are Colorado Springs residents. The first time they came to the house, they oohed and aahed over how clean, quaint and comfortable the Vasquez home was. We love this home that this family so lovingly maintains and welcomes all who come with open arms. The neighborhood is very safe, fun and eclectic. It has great shops and restaurants. Our kids love the park across the street! Enjoy your stay!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Not a good location and not helpful when I did not actually stay overnight in the property

Guest: kansasvisitor (Topeka, Kansas/USA)
Date of Stay: 09/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/18/10

The property was not in a good/safe location, as confirmed by others who live in the Colorado Springs area. I would not have felt safe staying in this location. I did arrive at the rental and go into the home, which is accurately represented in the photos. However, there were at least one set of scary apartments behind this home and a trailer park across the street. There were a number of very nice homes in the area around/near this home and this house was well kept, but I was not comfortable in this area. I was not aware of this until after I arrived at the rental and when I called the owners to tell them I was not actually staying in the rental they refused to give me any money back. I am aware that I was unable to give any notice that I would not be staying at the rental but given the fact that I was unaware of the surroundings of this rental until I arrived, I had assumed they might be willing to offer some sort of refund since I did not stay in the rental at all. I wouldn't recommend this rental for a number of people, though I'm certain some might find it acceptable. I don't feel they were helpful concerning someone who was unhappy with their stay. Very poor customer service. If there is any chance you might not like the location I wouldn't recommend this rental, as they will not give you any refund. In addition, they were fairly rude when I called to discuss my problem with them and only implied that I was wrong as they had never received a complaint before.

Owner response: This home has been owned by our family for almost 40 years, our mother/grandmother lived here until she was 86 years of age. She loved the neighborhood and never felt unsafe. We are pleased she was able to live in an area where people look out for each other and lend a helping hand when needed. The mobile home park is home to many of her friends, the park is not directly across the street, but to the east of us and down a driveway making it barely visible from our rental. Directly across the street is an open area that is now owned by our high school and used for soccer and baseball games. As for the scary apartment behind us, (as discribed in the guest review), that is actually a private home owned by the same family for over 35 years, they continue to keep an eye on the rental and have never reported any problems. We are proud to say in the 8 years we have used this home as a vacation rental, we have a guest book filled with wonderful comments from over 350 satisfied guests, many who return each year. It is our policy and the policy of many vacation rental owners to refund money when cancellations are given 30 days in advance or if we can re-rent the nights that are cancelled, in this case 2 nights. We do work with anyone who has to cancel due to illness, etc. We did try to explain this policy to the family. We do hope they were able to find the accommodations they were looking for and they were able to enjoy their visit to this beautiful area of Colorado.

Recommended for:

Cozy in Manitou Springs

Guest: Laura (Lees Summit, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 06/30/10

Loved the property. So nice to have a place to "come home to" after a full day of activities. Nice city park at the corner. Listing description and pictures were 100% accurate. Comfy bed, great cool breezes, wonderful deck with an awesome view of Pike's Peak, grocery store very close. Property was very clean and owners were very helpful with questions when making reservations. A great notebook was provided with restaurant menus, tourist attractions, and a welcome letter. Very close by was Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak cog railway, Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, Bike Pikes Peak, Flying W Ranch. Less than an hour away was Seven Falls, Echo Canyon (white water rafting), Royal Gorge & Cripple Creek. Four day vacation was not enough time to see everything. Will use this listing again if it's available.

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