Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful escape for the family!

Guest: Jonathan_HAC110471 (Roanoke, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

Our family had a fantastic long weekend at Bella Casa! It was the perfect layout for us (my wife and I and our 2 kids, 6 and 8). The upstairs sleeping area worked out great for us, although I can relate to other comments about the lack of privacy. Our kids enjoyed exploring the loft area, loved the selection of movies, toys and games, and especially liked the hammock in the back yard. The view of the lake was spectacular, especially when the geese flocked to the water each morning. While we didn't use it much, the back yard is quite large and would be great for outdoor activities. Highlights for us were making smores on the rustic outdoor fire pit, hiking at the Cascades (a must-do that is roughly an hour drive from the cabin), playing games around the large dining room table, visiting Draper Mercantile (off of exit 92), geocaching, and of course a Virginia Tech victory on Saturday! Nobody wanted to leave and our kids begged to stay three more days! We will definitely be back for another enjoyable, relaxing, family bonding experience!

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

R&R at Bella Casa

Guest: Suzi (Southern Shores, N.C.)
Date of Stay: 09/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

Our time at Bella Casa was so relaxing and enjoyable. This was our second year there for a week and we enjoyed every minute especially time on the porch, reading and enjoying the sounds of the New River. Thanks, Laura and Troy, for sharing your well-kept cabin with us. We hope to return again next fall. GO HOKIES!!! Sue and Jim Outer Banks, N.C.

Owner response:Thanks Sue and Jim! You know you're always welcome :) Laura & Troy

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

Family Retreat

Guest: Rachel (Athens)
Date of Stay: 08/12/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

Overall, my family and I had a very pleasant stay at Bella Casa. It was pretty much as described--very clean, beautiful cabin right on the river. If you're looking to get away from it all, this is definitely the place!! It was so nice to sit on the screened porch at the end of the day (or any other time) and do nothing!! The kitchen is totally equipped for cooking, and there's a propane grill as well as a more rustic charcoal grill. The river is great to play in, tho for very little kids it's not really safe because of the muddy/rocky/slippery bottom. My 4 year old loved it! We rode bicycles on the New River Trail which was really great, tho it did take about 15 minutes to drive there. The only other thing about the house is that sleeping is somewhat communal, as there's one large room upstairs with 2 double beds and 2 twins. There's a pull-out sofa downstairs. All in all, we had a relaxing weekend and enjoyed our stay.

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

Family Fun on--and in--the River

Guest: JH (Hickory, NC)
Date of Stay: 07/12/11 Review Submitted: 08/18/11

My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The cabin is full of little extras, including a closet full of toys and games that delighted my 6-year-old twin boys and my four-year-old daughter. A high chair and pack-and-play are also available for babies. After I got over my initial trepidation about letting the children climb the ladder to the loft, the loft area became a favorite area for quiet time: reading, coloring, or doing summer workbook. Bigger kids would delight in sleeping there. The kitchen was much better equipped than I expected, and a wood-burning stove in the dining area was cozy on the one cool morning we had. The dining table seats 8, so we ate and played games with plenty of elbow room. The stone fire area right outside the back deck was an enjoyable place to spend the evenings, and all of us enjoyed the screen porch. The lawn between the cabin and the river is reasonably wide and level: a great place to run around and catch fireflies at dusk. The unique upstairs sleeping area is divided by a half-wall: on one side are two double beds, and on the other are two twins very close together. While it might feel a little tight (not a lot of privacy), all of us enjoyed sharing the sleeping space as family bonding time. A separate window air conditioning unit ensured that the upstairs stayed very comfortable. The highlight for our family was the river. As a previous reviewer mentioned, there is a small island in the river kitty-corner from the cabin area. This configuration provided a protected section of river for us to explore. River access was a tiny bit challenging, but the river itself is never over thigh-deep and the current, while strong enough to carry you downriver on an inner tube, was not very swift. You can also swim in the deeper water on the far side of the island. Bring water shoes! Of the four places I've reserved through VBRO, this was hands-down our favorite. Perhaps the best endorsement: the only critique that my mother could find was that she thought the toilet paper holder was installed in an awkward place!

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

Great Cabin

Guest: Brooks (Lewisville, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11

Cabin and views exceeded our expectations. Wonderful place to get away from it all - peaceful and quite. Screened in porch overlooking the river was our favorite place to relax. We look forward to returning in the near future.

Owner response:Thanks! We're so glad you enjoyed your stay :)

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

Our Relaxing Graduation Celebration at Bella Casa

Guest: Linda (Ashburn, VA)
Date of Stay: 05/06/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

What a pleasant surprise! Bella Casa is just beautiful. The quiet, peaceful surroundings could not have been better. The online description of the cabin was right on point. Clean, Clean. We visited for the weekend of our son's graduation from Radford. We had no problems with the stay at all and the owners were very accomodating. We wanted to have a cookout and the owner personally went to the cabin prior to our arrival to make sure there was enough propane for the grill. Prompt refund of our security deposit as well. I would highly recommend Bella Casa.

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

Take a breath

Guest: Alex (SC)
Date of Stay: 12/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/11

We had a really good time and enjoyed the cabin and this area very much. This is the perfect getaway to relax and take a breath. The cabin was very clean and comfortable, the beds were really warm even at the cold winter days after Christmas.

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

a great place

Guest: randy (mayodan nc)
Date of Stay: 10/17/10 Review Submitted: 10/24/10

Thanks Troy & Laura for opening up your home to us.We had such a great time.We have stayed in the area many times before,but never knew that this great place was right under our nose.We will return. THANKS AGAIN ROBERT & SHIRLEY MAYODAN N.C.

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

October 2010

Guest: Patrick (Richmond, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/09/10 Review Submitted: 10/14/10

A great opportunity to visit our son at Virginia Tech and spend the weekend at this beautiful place. The cabin sits right next to the river at a most picturesque spot. My daughter's first words upon entering the cabin were "we should buy this place!" It was clean, comfortable and well stocked, though the gas grill was out of propane and I could not find any charcoal. A minor inconvenience at best - my wife arrived with charcoal upon coming back from Virginia Tech. My 81 year old mother who came with us loved the place - she could not remember ever seeing a more beautiful river. Most of all we enjoyed the screened porch - an ideal spot to eat, relax, play games, read, think, or anything else. The only drawback to the whole weekend was that a number of boys just up the river shot off fireworks all Sunday afternoon - not as peaceful as it would have been otherwise. Still, we would like to visit again when we are able. The website photos do not do the place justice. In a word - Bella Casa is wonderful!

Owner response:Thanks Patrick! We loved having you, come back anytime :)

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Bella Casa Cabin

Guest: " the TEXANS" (P.O. Box 517 Sweetwater, TX 79556)
Date of Stay: 09/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/04/10

The charming cabin went beyond our expectations! It was cozy and comfortable, and completely furnished with all kinds of cookware, dishes, nice appliances, comfortable warm beds, beautiful quilts to wrap up in during the cool mornings, and everything we needed to make our stay enjoyable. Even firewood for the wood stove was close at hand and ready. The screen porch was exceptionally lovely, and with the river right there within a few feet (and the wonderful geese), what more could we ask for! Our stay was most enjoyable, and we would definitely recommend Bella Case to others. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful place - and allowing us to bring our two spoiled family dogs!! That made everything complete!

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

Charming House by the New River - private and comfortable

Guest: Sam (Cary, NC)
Date of Stay: 08/15/10 Review Submitted: 08/20/10

This is my third visit to this cabin which sits right on the New River. From the porch you can see the water, wildlife, and take a very quick walk to the water. There is access to the river - it isn't deep, and it's fun to walk directly into the river to the rocky area (my kids called this mini rapids). There is also a little island within view where ducks/geese seem to settle. This house is well equipped with comfortable clean beds and a large sleeping area upstairs. There is a loft for sleeping, but I have sleepwalker children, so no one slept up there. That area would be better suited for an adult. The family room is awesome and set up well for watching movies. The info book the owner left perfectly described how to use the TV, DVD etc. The kitchen is also well stocked with whatever you would need for cooking and grilling (gas grill). The screened porch is nice and comfortable for sitting/reading playing games, etc. It was SO nice to be on this property and not have any issues with mosquitoes or bugs. I'm not sure if they are there, but I have never seen them. The air conditioning kept everything a perfect temperature while we were there. Everything in the description by the owner is accurate, the photos reflect how nice it is kept (maybe they don't even do it justice), and the owners are easy and pleasant to deal with. I cannot recommend this property enough. It's a 30 minute drive to Virginia tech which is a pleasant journey - though you probably will not really want to leave once you get there. Also it's near easy, quiet roads for bike riding with children. Wildlife we spotted also included deer, frogs, hummingbirds, turtles, some kind of furry creature too fast to i.d., ducks, and the list goes on. I have no hesitations in recommending this to any families.

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

August 2010

Guest: Debby (Galena, MD.)
Date of Stay: 08/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/11/10

We had a lovely stay at Bella Casa. As it turned out, we never left the cabin during our time there except to run to the grocery store to get the ketchup and mustard I forgot. One of our favorite memories of our trip was watching the hummingbirds....they loved the two feeders on the deck. Second was floating in the river. We would highly recommend the cabin for a relaxing,get away from it all vacation. The cabin is well stocked to prepare meals and is nicely decorated, clean and set up to enjoy a relaxing time away from home. The river is beautiful and owners were great to deal with. We tied our vacation in with a visit to Virginia Tech to take a tour for our rising junior.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

New River Tranquility

Guest: Nature Lover (Falls Church, VA)
Date of Stay: 06/27/10 Review Submitted: 06/30/10

Here's a very private community on the New River -- accessed by a gate, once you arrive you feel you're on a private compound. The charming, clean cabin is great for a small family, but is set up to sleep extras too. The layout is very open so you don't feel cramped and the views are fabulous. So peaceful! We recommend kayaking and hiking the Cascades Trail (Jefferson Natl. Forest) in Pembroke -- 30 min. drive to a lush microclimate up to the waterfalls. Kitchen is great for cooking -- nearby Walmart grocery --15 min. has all you need.

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

Truly a gettaway...

Guest: Gina (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 07/05/10

This cabin is like something out of a book. It couldn't be more cozy and comfortable with all the amenities you need, yet you will feel like you're a thousand miles away from home. if fact I was several thousand miles away from home. It was worth every mile and will continue to come back. It's well maintained and lovingly cared for. Beautiful walks and nearby bike trails, or just sit and watch the river go by from the big porch. It's a great place to have quiet reflective time or a fun place to to have family and friends. The beds by the way are incredibly comfortable. Loved it!

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

Peace at the river

Guest: Kelly (Fishersville, VA)
Date of Stay: 03/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/07/10

After arriving to the cabin late on Friday evening, I arose to find myself surrounded by inexplicable peace. The deck and river beckoned. At last, I could shed the trappings on a long work week and simple take in nature. The cabin is quaint, rustic and yet modern. I had so many choices... I could simply watch dvds or read books all day long or explore bike trails or the river. We even stumbled across an old cemetery as we took a walk along the river. I've been fortunate enough to stay at this cabin twice and will return there this summer. It beckons to me to return time and again. The owners have captured the essence of a getaway. Additionally, the property is extremely well maintained and above all clean! Would recommend this property to all!

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

Guest: The Williams3 (Richmond, VA)
Date of Stay: 11/29/09 Review Submitted: 11/29/09

We had a glorious setting for our Thanksgiving weekend; the cabin is charming, very clean and comfortable -and stocked with everything you'd need. The views of geese flying over the sunlit river were awesome and the hiking around the property and New River Trail was a great outdoor adventure not only for us, but our dog who did not want to leave! The area is a great find - remote, yet convenient to stores, a few restaurants, and of course the great outdoors. We plan a return for some summer fun! Thank you for opening your family cottage for others to enjoy!

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Guest: Rachel Mohler (Alexandria, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 11/04/09 Review Submitted: 11/04/09

My husband and I had a most relaxing and wonderful time. The cabin was like a comfortable home away from home where we could check our hectic city life ay the door and remember who we are at heart. Spending the day painting the view from the deck while my husband relaxed in the hammock or fished at the river was just what we were looking for. I will be telling everyone I know what a wonderful time we had. The cabin is beautiful, comfy, clean and very well stocked. All the touches that you would look for or need while away from home.

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Guest: The Blythe Family (Troy, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 10/04/09 Review Submitted: 10/04/09

Great get-away location. Wonderful cabin in a beautiful setting appointed with everything you would need. We used it for a mini-family reunion and everyone was delighted.

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Guest: Davis family2 (Rural Retreat, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/07/09 Review Submitted: 09/07/09

What a wonderful surprise getaway! The cabin was beautiful and well stocked. It was very relaxing listening to the river and lounging in the hammock. We look forward to going back soon! Glad to have found this wonderful "hideaway".

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Guest: Edward C. (Manassas, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/03/09 Review Submitted: 09/03/09

Very nice place in a great location, right on the river, with grassy banks and a small island to explore just offshore. Pretty much everything you need is in the house and only about 5 miles to the nearest country store at Barren Springs. Good bike riding along the quiet river road (not to mention the New River Bike Trail right across the river) and there is a nice put-in location for canoes just behind the house. Note that cell reception is problemmatic unless you have Sprint but there is a regular phone available for local calls.

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Guest: The Ruffin Family ( Radford, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/03/09 Review Submitted: 09/03/09

Bella Casa was our destination for our 2009 vacation in July. The Cabin is everything you could ever want it to be and more. It was well stocked with all amenities one needs for a great vacation. The river was beautiful to wake up to each morning and was a source of endless activities for the whole family. Looking forward to our next visit to Bella Casa!

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Guest: Shawn Delph (Dublin, VA)
Date of Stay: 07/22/09 Review Submitted: 07/22/09

The cabin was very well stocked with household essentials. Everthing was very clean. My family and I enjoyed an entire week. It was a great feeling to be able to wake up and go fishing every morning with only a few steps to the water and the view must be seen looking down the river, it won't disappoint. I can't wait to see it during the autumn months.

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Guest: The Evans family2 (Mechanicsville, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/13/09 Review Submitted: 04/13/09

Another awesome spring break spent at Bella Casa. A clean and comfortable cabin equipped with all that you need. A pot of coffee sitting on the porch listening to the river flow just doesn’t get any more peaceful than that. Our girls really enjoyed fishing from the bank, the local wildlife (ducks, geese, and a few squirrels, the hammock rides and of course the cookouts. Sitting in front of the warm fire place really makes us enjoy the cool weather that usually lingers during an early spring break. I recommend this cabin to anyone who loves the mountain views and the peace of nature.

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Guest: Carol33 (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 10/29/08 Review Submitted: 10/29/08

This is a beautiful cabin right on the New River banks. It is a very cozy, well decorated and well stocked cabin. There is also a hammock close to the water that is great for reading and dozing!! I spent alot of time there. I would recommend this cabin to anyone who loves peace and quiet and beautiful scenery. We will definitely be back!!

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Guest: Karen Holbert (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 10/27/08 Review Submitted: 10/27/08

Our boys continue to talk about our time on the New River and at your cabin!! It was all so wonderful...daily fishing and kayaking, our dog being with us, the sounds of the river, ETC! Our day trips were all awesome as well, particularly riding bikes all over the Va Tech campus, boating on Claytor Lake and hiking to the Cascade Falls! Really, we needed another week! We hope to return to your wonderful cabin again next spring!

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Guest: Cheryl20 (Bradenton, FL )
Date of Stay: 07/25/08 Review Submitted: 07/25/08

I rented this home on the river for 6 nights. Coming from Florida to VA it sure was a nice change of pace! Driving to it was awesome and once we saw the property we were just amazed. So peaceful and quiet. We spent alot of time outdoors on and in the river. My 14 year old son fished and was estatic with what he caught. Just sitting outside and watching the river flow was relaxing enough for me. Walking the dog along the road was nice. He stayed on the property and enjoyed the freedom. The home itself was very clean,cozy and there was more than plenty of room for the 3 of us and the dog. Central air and heat had just been installed, however, coming from Florida, I did not see the need for air! We checked out the area and it's all beautiful. I never made it to Roanoke! I'm sure winter is just as wonderful and I'm sure the fireplace would cozy it up as well. It was a nice get a way from every day life in the city. I would have liked to have stayed more days but weekends were not affordable for us, since the rate changes. I would recommend vacationing here and hope to return to VA in the future, permanently, when my house sells here in Florida.

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Guest: The Herrington Family Reunion (-)
Date of Stay: 07/03/08 Review Submitted: 07/03/08

We had one of the best times ever at this quiet little cabin on the river. We swam, fished, relaxed, and enjoyed the beauty around us. Cabin was so cozy and CLEAN! Thank you for sharing your retreat with us. We LOVED it, and we want to come back sometime!

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Guest: Scott Naff (Mechanicsville, VA)
Date of Stay: 06/29/08 Review Submitted: 06/29/08

Wonderful and relaxing stay. Cabin was clean upon arrival and there was plenty of firewood for the cool March evenings. The serenade of the river beats the lake anytime. We hope to be regulars - thank you!!

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Guest: CarolinaHokie (Cary, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/23/08 Review Submitted: 06/23/08

This was a wonderfully equipped and comfortable house. It is clean and tastefully decorated. Our children enjoyed it thoroughly - especially the access to the New River and the wildlife. The owner was great to deal with and even called after our arrival to ensure everything was okay. Thank you again.

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Guest: Billy and Meredith Storms (laurinburg, NC )
Date of Stay: 06/16/08 Review Submitted: 06/16/08

This cabin was very neat and wonderfully cozy. We enjoyed the exquisite view of the river as well as the fishing in the river. We loved watching the geese and the butterflies outside of the cabin and deer in nearby pastures on our way to town. The cabin had all of the comforts of home and was conveniently located to stores, food, etc. We truly had a wonderful time and this is the perfect quiet place to relax!

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Guest: Dean & Dana Shirk (Snyder County, PA)
Date of Stay: 06/02/08 Review Submitted: 06/02/08

If you're looking for an exceptionally clean cabin...this is the place to stay! The owners truly want to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Arriving on motorcycles, we were given exact directions, recommendations for to places to eat and shop for groceries. This cabin is on our list of places to revisit.

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Guest: Jeff & Wendy Pease (Wytheville, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 03/10/08 Review Submitted: 03/10/08

Our family recently spent a delightful and relaxing winter weekend at the cabin. We really enjoyed the spectacular view of the river, and observed an abundance of wildlife. For a family of 5 with young children, the cabin was very accomodating with all of the comforts of home. We hope to return in the Summer.

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Guest: Thomas Gehring (Richmond Va)
Date of Stay: 01/21/08 Review Submitted: 01/21/08

This is my favorite place on earth! Truely God's country! Last July I caught what I believe to be a world, yes world record Small Mouth Bass that measured 28". I could not weigh it and did not have a camera, so I did what any other real fisherman would do and released it. If you are truely lucky enough to catch this fish, I hope you will do the same.

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