2nd stay at the Ceceilia

Guest: Happy Traveler (Santa Fe, NM)
Date of Stay: 01/20/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

It is our home away from home. We stayed at this lovely flat for several weeks in the fall. This time the weather was cool and rainy, but our stay was warm and wonderful. We will return.

Owner response:Thank you for choosing the Cecilia as your "home away from home". We are always pleased when the Cecilia is selected and then doubly pleased when guests return again and again as a number of folks do. We thank you!

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

Could not have been more conveniently located

Guest: Ruth P.
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

This condo was even nicer than it appears in the site photos. I felt completely at home from the moment of arrival. Everything was spotless and prepared to provide a comfortable, spacious, upscale backdrop for a great week's stay in a fantastic city. In spite of rainy weather, the neighborhood was delightfully walkable, with an abundance of interesting shops and restaurants nearby. One caution about this rental: several amenities (such as the bathtub) are better suited for somewhat taller people. Highly recommended!

Owner response:Thank you for your kind words! I too love the neighborhood as well as the Cecilia itself. The bathtub is considered a soaking tub so it is an inch or two inches higher than your usual tub. It makes for a lovely bath for those who enjoy soaking. I hope that you are able to return soon!

Recommended for:

Nancy Miller

Guest: Nancy (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/29/11

This was our second time at the Cecilia and it's beginning to feel like our home away from home when we visit our son from New Jersey. The kitchen was great for cooking for the holiday and is stocked with all of the gadgets and pans needed to make great meals. There is plenty of room and we utilized a good deal of it! The entire place if beautifully decorated! We rented a car and there was always a parking spot near the building. Our favorite surprise this time was a small food cart area on Hawthorne and 12th that made to-die-for-pizza!!! Our son walked down when we got in (after midnight) and got us a bite to eat! We ate the most fantastic food from Dick's on Belmont to the Portland City Grill! We love Portland and the Cecilia works great for us!

Owner response:Thank you for returning to the Cecilia and thank you for taking the time to write a review! I am glad that the Cecilia again exceeded your expectations and was able to make your holiday special. I'll look forward to your next trip!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+.

Charming Portland Condo

Guest: judy r. (atlanta, ga)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/04/11

My family and I enjoyed our 2011 Thanksgiving celebration at the Ceclia. The photos, while beautiful, don't convey how absolutely spendid this property actually is. We arrived on a rainy Portland afternoon to be greeted by a representative of the owner, who showed us around and explained how everything worked. (The owner would have done this herself but was out of town.) Every detail for your visit has been thought thru, everything you could possibly need has been provided; spices, candles, cleaning and laundry supplies, tools, lightbulbs . . . even umbrellas. The kitchen is huge with lots of work space and all of the necessary equipment to cook gourmet meals. Five of us worked on T'giving dinner in the kitchen at the same time! Knowing we were celebrating T'giving, the owner left us an assortment of lovely table linens and a leaf for the dining table. The home is open and spacious, gorgeously decorated like something out of a Pottery Barn catalogue, with lots of windows and a feeling of privacy. Views out the windows were beautiful as the property is surrounded by trees (golden at this time of year.) The condo is on the second floor so it is not disability friendly. The living space is enhanced by a covered private deck facing west that was usable even in November. The bedrooms are spacious with lots of closet space. My daughter commented that her bed slept like a fluffy marshmellow. I wish the unit had two bathrooms but the one bathroom is large and fully equipped with blowdryer and loads of towels. The condo is in a quiet Portland neighborhood with plenty of off street parking, sidewalks and grocery stores nearby. It is an easy drive over the Hawthorn Bridge to get to downtown Portland. The location of the property was accurately noted on the website and the owner provided detailed directions and a summary of how everything worked; trash, recycling, etc. Obviously Portland has so much to offer in the way of sightseeing so I won't go into that in this review. A car is a necessity to enjoy all the area has to offer though. We ate most of our meals at the condo but found a fabulous local restaurant called the Farm Cafe (resaonably priced) that I would highly recommend. My only minor recommendation to the owner would be to install a rheostat for the dining room light in order to lower the brightness of the fixture for dining. Overall, I give the Cecilia my highest rating. I would definitely recommend this property and will visit again myself.

Owner response:Thank you for taking the time to write this thoughtful review. And most importantly, thank you for spending your family holiday at the Cecilia. I always find it hard to describe how special the Cecilia is. Besides the amenities there is just a special feeling that I always get when I am there. I expect that it has something to do with the wonderful guests that have been there! I look forward to your next visit!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

Super Satisfied Couple

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/03/11 Review Submitted: 11/06/11

As personal owners of a VRBO, frequent users of VRBO lodging; the word pictures we would choose to depict this sweet condo are: Enchanting, refreshing, tasteful, discerning, generous, more than hoped for. The experience was like being welcomed into the home of a most beloved friend. Every detail attended to. Your personal comfort, joy of space & spirit considered throughout the home. Thank You the stay was definitely memorable.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+.

Perfect!

Guest: Janna S.
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We enjoyed our stay so much.....this place is so thoughtful and perfect I hope we can stay here again. Everything we wanted, thought we wanted, didn't know we wanted or needed was at our fingertips! Tasteful and comfortable decor with a charming sunny porch...you have created a perfect home away from home for travelers to Portland. It was as if we were family visiting in your home! I loved being on the second floor...up with the trees and a nice private feeling. Everything was convenient. Cafes and restaurants were within walking distance in any direction. Parking was never a problem Portland is a wonderful city and your condo made it even better. We used the location as a base to visit the beach, Willamette Valley wineries, Columbia River Gorge and of course all the great Portland neighborhoods and city. We have rented condo's before in other cities and this one by far was the most complete and extreemly well thought out!

Owner response:Thank you, Janna. I hope that you are able to return to Portland and the Cecilia soon. We will be ready to welcome you back!

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

The Cecilia was far better than we ever could have hoped for...Joan you really outdid yourself.

Guest: maggie H. (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 06/14/11 Review Submitted: 07/01/11

Attention to detail is what impressed us. Every little need you have on vacations was thought out and taken care of...even beautiful flowers to greet you as you walk in. The location could not be improved upon. The Hawthorn District has so much to offer. This particular condo is in the ideal area for fun and entertainment. If you want to explore Portland...this is the place. Easy access to shopping, local bakeries, retaurants catering to all tastes, parks, downtown, and outside of the city whether along the columbia river hwy or even the coast. From the first inquiry regarding this condo to the final day of departure, Joan made herself available to answer any questions and ensure that we were happy and satisfied. This was our first visit to Portland. Because we were staying at the Cecilia we were able to get around the entire area quite easily...whether into Portland proper or to the outings at Mt. Hood and the trail of the waterfalls. It always felt like home when we returned. We thank you Joan from the bottom of our collective hearts...truly wonderful. We know this is just a condo but you made it a home. Well done! We will return to Portland because our stay was so enjoyable and we will definetely look forward to being at the Cecilia once again.

Owner response:Thank you! I love the Cecilia too... for all of the reasons that you stated. An extra bonus at my end is getting to meet great people like you!

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

Barbara and Marc,Florida PanHandle, April 2011

Guest: Barbara and Marc (Tallahassee, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/30/11

Pictures don't due this unit justice. It has all of the amenities of home and more. The minute you step inside you feel like you are home......great location, clean, comfortable in every way. Owner left no stone unturned, even personally delivered a bag of coffee for the next morning. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. This was our first VRBO. Joan has set the "gold standard" for any future rentals we might try. Great job!!!!!!!!!

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

Spacious, gleaming, polished, perfect!

Guest: Layne (Salem, OR)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

We've treated ourselves to this beautiful lodging twice in just over two years: once, for a week in August and again the first week in January. Summer or winter, the Cecilia easily meets or beats any accommodation we've enjoyed in 19 years of travel, including great places in Seattle, Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Canada, Italy, Mexico, and many wonderful points in between. The web site's description of The Cecila and Portland are entirely true and precise. Mattresses are firm, linens luxurious; windows are large and many; all rooms are spacious and perfectly furnished; neighbors are quiet and polite; Portland's best shopping, dining, and delights are within easy walks or drives. The Cecilia has our greatest appreciation and highest recommendation. We'll be back!

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

Guest: Emily and Ed (-)
Date of Stay: 11/14/10 Review Submitted: 12/23/10

A week in the Cecilia seeing our children and their friends. What a wonderful place you have here. Every need was met-even a pencil sharpener! Thanks for making this such a great visit! We will be back.

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