Vacation Rentals by Owner

Love this place!

Guest: ST (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/18/12 Review Submitted: 02/26/12

We just came back from our third stay at The Dorrington House and have thoroughly enjoyed our (Winter) stays every time. It really looks as good as shown in the photos! Everything is clean and well taken care of. If there is snow, there is great sledding right outside the front door - a favorite of our kids, though there was no snow this time around. The owner has been very responsive to all inquiries, though there were not many, since everything is very well organized from the time one inquires about a possible stay to the return of the deposit at the end of the stay. Highly recommend it! Our family of four is looking forward to many return visits.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

Great house, nice location, helpful owner, and no surprises

Guest: Anoop (E Palo Alto)
Date of Stay: 01/13/12 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

Everything was as advertised. The house is in a very good condition. They took care of the details such as turning on the lights and heat before we arrived, providing a concise list of instructions, etc. Everything was as expected - or better.

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

Great Family Getaway!

Guest: mikeandapril (Hollister, Ca)
Date of Stay: 01/04/12 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

Our family of 4 (two young boys) enjoyed our stay here. The cabin is very clean, comfortable and in a great location. Depsite there being no snow at the cabin, we still enjoyed some skiing at Bear Valley, hiking and relaxing. We would definitely stay here again!

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

Wonderful rental in the Bear Valley area

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 12/29/11

This is the second time we've rented this property. The first time was a few years ago and it's as if we rented it just yesterday. The house looked as well-maintained as it did the first time so the owner clearly takes very good care of this house. Everything was spotlessly clean when we came. The kitchen was well stocked. The wood stove was always a delight to light up. Having wood readily available was also very good. Though there was unfortunately no snow during the visit, there was a shovel and sleds available for use, "just in case". Correspondence with the owner was very easy. I received responses for my inquiries very promptly and offered tips to fully enjoy our stay in the house and in the area. We'll definitely consider renting this property again the next time we visit Bear Valley.

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

Clean modern cabin with all you need

Guest: Eric (Novato)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/27/11

My family spent thanksgiving weekend here and found this cabin to be in great condition and to have everything you need. The living room and dining area has nice open feel to it and the wood burning stove makes it a very cozy place to be on a cold night. The kitchen appliances are all up-to-date. The upstairs "loft" is a great place to enjoy a good book, play a game or watch the wind blow through the trees. Our two year-old son loved taking baths in the large upstairs bath and had plenty of place to play.

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway.

Wonderful Getaway

Guest: Sunny Side Up (Mountain View)
Date of Stay: 08/29/11 Review Submitted: 11/14/11

We spent a week at the Dorrington House at the end of August. The house felt like home upon entering. It was very clean, well stocked, and nicely furnished. The linens were soft and much nicer than we expected. We spent a lot of time hiking and kayaking at the lakes near Bear Valley. The Stanislaus National Forest and Stanislaus River are just down the road from the house. There is some great fishing in the Stanilaus River. This is a very beautiful area with so many places to explore. In the evenings, we had planned to drive to Murphy’s for dinner, but never seemed to make it. Dinner on the porch and a nice big bubble bath won out most nights. This house is a wonderful place for getaway. The owner was easy to work with and very responsive to all our questions before and during our stay. We will back for ski season. Thank you.

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

What's up with all these 5 star reviews????

Guest: matt (USA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

The pros: the house is just like the photos of the interior. It is tastefully decorated and has most of the amenities you need. The cons: the full time residents to the east of the house are loud- really loud. They were chainsawing at night, yelling at their kids and dogs at all hours of the night, and revving up the engine to the vehicle they were working on at 9-10pm. It was really hard to have a relaxing soak in the big tub with these people next door. Not to mention the eyesore of all the junk they have in their yard. Also, the vacant lot to the west of the house is full of junk, trash, old plastic tubing. I feel it ruins the potential for the enjoyment of the natural surroundings. The Dorrington house is located on the corner of the main road. It was loud at 7am with the logging trucks and loud at night with locals speeding up and down the hill. I had very little peace and quiet in the week I spent here. I feel it was not a good value for the premium price that I paid. But after 2 years of living in vacation rentals I've finally learned to stay at an area hotel one night and inspect the property first hand the next day before committing to a week or more. Had I done that, I never would have rented this house.

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Perfect cabin in a great location

Guest: Fiona (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/06/11

We stayed in this cabin for one week in July. It was very hard to leave at the end of the week, and we almost rang the owner to ask if we could stay longer! House: The house was extremely clean - pristine even - it was so clean, we wondered if all the cups, plates, fixtures, linen and furniture were brand new. There was one double bedroom, one bathroom and sitting area with TV upstairs, and then two double bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, dining and sitting area downstairs. Perfect for us and our two young children - 5 and 7 years. We spent a lot of time on the balcony, eating and over-looking the woods. The ipod dock came in handy, and we danced around the house to music, and then viewed a movie or two at night from the on-hand DVD collection next to the television. Location: From this house, we went hiking and biking from the front door. It took 5 minutes to get to the river where we fished (with success!), 15 mintues to horse riding, 20 minutes to canoeing on Alpine Lake, 30 minutes to the gold mines & caves. It was great to be busy, but to come back at the end of the day to a relaxing home. Owner: The owner was fantastic to deal with - responsive, and considerate. We would definitely stay here again.

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

Great place for families

Guest: Yvonne (Sonora)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

This is a lovely home! The home is very clean and well maintained. The kitchen has everything necessary for serious cooking, including condiments. Our grandchildren had a great time at the private lake nearby. The owner was extremely responsive and helpful. I'd definitely recommend this home to families with children of all ages.

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

Inviting Home

Guest: VFR800 (Carmel)
Date of Stay: 03/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

The Dorrington House exceeded our expectations. This home is inviting, clean, and comfortable. It has all the amenities one needs for a nice relaxing get-away. Our family had a week of snowy fun-filled and relaxing days at the Dorrington House. The location is ideal in winter with a short 20 minute drive to ski at Bear Valley. The town of Murphys is also nearby and offers a variety of shops, cafes, wine-tasting, and restaurants. We are hoping to return at another time of year to discover more of the area.

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

Enjoyable getaway for families

Guest: Family of Four (San Francisco East Bay)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/04/10

We are two adults and two children, one preschooler and one elementary age. The home owner was very easy to work with and answered questions in a timely fashion. The home and location are beautiful and the description accurate. For parents with young children, be aware that there is a large staircase, fine if your kids are use to stairs. Otherwise you'll need to supply your own safety gates (which the home owner did mention in the paperwork ahead of time). Also know that there is not a lock on the master bedroom door. Being near Big Trees State Park and Stanislaus River was a plus for getting outdoors. Also, the Snowshoe Brewing Co. in Arnold was a good place for dinner for the family.

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

Wonderful

Guest: Justine (Hogan)
Date of Stay: 08/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/08/10

My family truly enjoyed our stay at The Dorrington House. We found it just as described comfortable, well maintained and stocked with everything we needed. The deck was great, we spent time visiting, eating and relaxing. While some of the family chose to visit Ironstone Winery, Big Trees State Park, Big Bear, I was just happy to sit on the deck and enjoy the quiet peaceful surroundings. We have talked about returning in the future and look forward to our next visit.

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

We'll be back....

Guest: snowshoers (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 03/25/10 Review Submitted: 04/08/10

We all had a great time during our 3 night stay and the house really made a difference in our stay. Everything seemed like new. The beds/linens were all nicer quality than I've seen at other rentals. Kitchen was well stocked for cooking meals for our large group. Some of us opted not to go snowshoeing but still enjoyed spending the days just relaxing in the house as well as going on walks in the neighborhood. Seems that a lot of families have rented this place, but it was ideal for our group of 3 couples and 2 singles, as well. It was very nicely furnished and had everything we needed. Would definitely rent again. The owner was very responsive and made the whole rental process very easy.

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

Guest: Pat L. (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Date of Stay: 02/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/01/10

We stayed at Dorrington House with our children and grandchild for 3 nights in January. Everything was comfortable, clean and well-appointed. The quality of the beds, linens and towels were above the usual. We would highly recommend Dorrington House and look forward to returning next year.

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Guest: Neil S1 (Redwood City, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/29/09 Review Submitted: 12/29/09

We stayed here over Christmas and had a great experience. The house is immaculate and had everything we needed. There was ample firewood and kindling for nightly fires. The beds were comfortable and the furniture was up to date. The big DVD selection was a nice bonus. It is an easy drive to Bear Valley, Big Trees, or Arnold. We would definately come back to stay at the Dorrington House!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/26/09 Review Submitted: 02/26/09

Our stay at the Dorrington House was amazing. Not only was the house perfect in every aspect the location was priceless as well. The ease of working with the owners made our experience that much better. Anything you needed was already at the house plus more. We will definately be renting again!

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Guest: Thomas McCall (Merced, California)
Date of Stay: 02/21/09 Review Submitted: 02/21/09

We took our children and grandchildren for the four days. There was plenty of room andthe beds were good. The owner was easy to work with and very gracious. It was clean and well stocked. All our needs were met. We appreciate the snowplow service daily. We made a fantastic sled run right outside the door that kept our grandchildren busy the entire stay. We had a wonderful time!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/26/09 Review Submitted: 01/26/09

We rented this cabin over the 3-day presidents day weekend and it was amazing! The price was great, the house was beautiful, and the customer service was top knotch! I have to say this cabin was nicer then any place I have stayed in so far. I will definintly go back! Thanks! :-)

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Guest: Samantha 5 (Fremont, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/21/09 Review Submitted: 01/21/09

We had such a great time!! We had 2 kids with us who just loved being able to walk out the front door and play in the snow. The cabin was beautiful and I look forward to saying there again.

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Guest: Tony Uruburu (Oakland CA)
Date of Stay: 04/02/08 Review Submitted: 04/01/08

The Dorrington house was the perfect five day escape for our family reunion. This new house has everything rerquired for the perfect getaway. We made lots of plans to explore the local sights but somehow, just forgot. It's that kind of place. The peace and quiete was too intoxicating. A lovely place. Tony Uruburu

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Guest: Sandrijn (-)
Date of Stay: 03/16/08 Review Submitted: 03/15/08

What a great place to stay! The location is fantastic: an easy drive from San Francisco, close to Bear Valley but a lot more affordable than places in Bear Valley itself. We loved the house: comfortable and very well equipped, everything is new and well- maintained. The wood-burning stove makes it cosy and there is plenty of space. We will definitely come back!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/10/08 Review Submitted: 03/10/08

I just wanted everyone to know what a nice property this is. It was very cozy and comfy for 8 people. It was very well stocked and furnished and provided a great area for my young children to play in the snow. The price was very reasonable. I'm definitely looking forward to returning in the future.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/26/08 Review Submitted: 02/25/08

Our family stayed here over the Presidents' Week and had a wonderful time. The house was very new, comfortable, and well-maintained. We had a power outage one night but PG&E came promptly to fix the problem. There was a lot of room to play outside in the snow. Bear Valley was very accessible from the house as well as Big Trees State Park where we had a great time cross country skiing. We plan on being back again.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/13/08 Review Submitted: 02/13/08

Our stay at The Dorrington House was absolutely wonderful. The house was in impeccable condition and included everything we needed. The location was also perfect for making it up to Bear Valley for the day. The owner of the house responded promptly to all of our inquiries, and took the time to give us additional information about the area which was helpful. I have no doubt in my mind that we would stay at The Dorrington House again!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/07/08 Review Submitted: 01/06/08

My family and I stayed at the Dorrington house over Christmas and had a great time. The house is nicely furnished with a great floor plan. We have three small children and felt we had plenty of space for them to play. The house also has easy access to the snow in the winter so we enjoyed hours of sledding and building snow men. I highly recommend this rental to anyone with family!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/23/07 Review Submitted: 08/23/07

My wife and our 2 children stayed at The Dorrington House for five nights. The house was GREAT, and we had a wonderful time. This new house has lots of space, and had everything we needed. There are several lakes and a great river nearby to swim in. There are also several very good restaurants close by. We plan to stay at least once a year.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/26/07 Review Submitted: 06/26/07

My husband and I recently stayed here for our 4th anniversary. We had a wonderful time. The area is gorgeous and the cabin is new and nicely appointed. It was a fantastic experience that I'd recommend to others.

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