Vacation Rentals by Owner

Loved it

Guest: lieverd98 (Phoenix, AZ)
Date of Stay: 04/20/12 Review Submitted: 05/15/12

I highly recommend this place! The owner is very friendly and easy to work with. The place was very clean and ready for a week with wedding people coming and going. The rooms are a nice size and the kitchen has plenty of storage for all sorts of food. We did not use the gas fireplace was just beautiful! Close to everything without being in the thick of the busyness! We loved it and will use them again when we come back there!

Owner response:Micheal, Thanks so much for your review. We enjoyed you all staying here and we are glad you like our VRBO so much. We look forward to your return visit. John Fowler

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Casa Tres Amigos

Guest: poppiebike (Kansas City)
Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

The apartment exceeds the quality of the pictures. The location in the middle of the Ynez Valley makes it perfect for exploration. We were 3 men cyclists and the apartment allowed for ample space for everyone. The owners could not have been any more hlepful during our stay. I would recommend the apartment to anyone who likes nice restaurants, wine, cycling, hiking, beauty and comfortable accomodations. Personally we ate breakfast at the apartment, rode our bikes, rested, tasted wine at the many local wineries, dinners at quality local restaurants and a good night sleep at the apartment, Repeat for 5 days. Now we are planning our return. Thank you for your hospitality!

Owner response:Patrick, Thank you for your kind words in your review. We do need some new pictures of the apartment and I think that is a good recommendations. Thanks again for your visit and stay safe out there on the roadways cycling. Best Regards, John & Sue Fowler

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

Outstanding!!!

Guest: Shelley (WI United States)
Date of Stay: 03/23/12 Review Submitted: 03/28/12

Can't say enough wonderful things about our stay at Shady Oak! Only regret is that we couldn't have stayed longer. Loved the location, it was peaceful, clean and had everything we needed and hosts/owners are incredibly friendly and accommodating. Truly exceeded our expectations! The past few years we have traveled in Marcy to the Santa Ynez area for a week of cycling and I sure hope Shady Oak is available for us in 2013!

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

Valentines Getaway

Guest: LBZ (Northern CA)
Date of Stay: 02/10/12 Review Submitted: 04/05/12

My husband and I wanted a quiet retreat to wine taste and fine dine and we were able to accomplish all of this during our stay in Santa Ynez. The accomodations were very pleasant and the photos depicted the property accurately. We will return for another visit if available.

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

We would stay at Shady Oak again.

Guest: Cyclist (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 01/06/12 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

We are cyclists and really appreciated the proximity of Shady Oak to a number of mostly flat cycling routes that were wonderful for keeping in shape for the winter. The hosts were helpful but generally unobtrusive and negotiable about extending our stay a day longer although it meant a quick cleanup for new guests. The kitchen was beautifully equipped and the room layout good with plenty of storage space. The one qualifier is the noise from passing cars, as the property is located on the main road through the town, but that mostly subsides between 10 pm and 6 am.

Owner response:Shelly, Thank you so much for your kind review. We also enjoyed meeting you and your husband and look forward to haveing you both visit us again next year. Best Regards, John & Sue Fowler

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

Easy Peasy

Guest: Zevonfan (Santa Ynez,CA)
Date of Stay: 12/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

I have rented from John a few times now and he makes everything easy. Great apartment in an excellent location. I give this VRBO property a high five!

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Cozy, comfortable apartment with nice ammenities

Guest: Hector (Napa, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/05/12

Some friends and I stayed at this apartment between Christmas and New Year's to explore the area and do some wine tasting. We were more than pleased with the condition of the aparment and how clean and comfortable it was. We did not need anything more than what was provided, really, and felt that all our expectations were met. It was and ideal size for four people, had very responsive heating which made the place very cozy, and an apt kitchen to cook any meals we wished to cook in. Furthermore the area it's located in made it very easy to find and explore the highlights of what this area had to offer. John, the owner, was very responsive with any questions I had prior to showing up and was pleasant to deal with. We will definitely attempt to stay here next time we're in the area as the value of this place is probably unsurpassed. Thanks John!

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

Great getaway

Guest: T & S (Bainbridge Island, Washington)
Date of Stay: 12/06/11 Review Submitted: 12/13/11

My husband and I were very pleased staying at Shady Oak. We were very comfortable and the property was clean when we arrived. We will be planning on staying again as our son and his family live in nearby Buellton. Thank you for having such a nice place that is affordable.

Recommended for:Age 55+

Great Host and Great Place to Stay!

Guest: Clever (Glendale)
Date of Stay: 12/02/11 Review Submitted: 12/06/11

I'm born and raised in LA, and if you're like me, then you like to get out of the city as much as possible. Then all things considered, it doesn't get any better than The Santa Ynez Valley! And if you're looking to stay somewhere with all the amenities for a great rate, it's Shady Oak. John is a fantastic host with that Midwest charm that fits in perfect in the SYV. The apartment is located off the main highways(246 & 154) so it's quiet, but also close enough to hop on one of them quickly and get your day started. It's easily within walking distance of Old Town Santa Ynez for that nice meal when you don't feel like cooking. Shady Oak will be a place that I'll continue to stay in the coming years and should be for you as well!

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

Great and easy place to stay!

Guest: ghark (Huntington Beach CA USA)
Date of Stay: 11/05/11 Review Submitted: 11/07/11

There was plenty of space, storage and still cozy. Great value for sure. Only thing to keep in mind, if you are going to cook, bring your own oils, spices, etc. Other than that, greatly equipped and very comfortable place to stay. John was great to work with and very kind.

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

What a great place!

Guest: Jessica H.
Date of Stay: 10/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

My husband and I stayed at this adorable little cottage during the Celebration of Harvest festival just this past weekend. I enjoyed working with John in the months leading up to our stay and we were greeted with a warm welcome as soon as we got to town. This getaway is nicely situated right near Los Olivos tasting rooms as well as just a few miles from Solvang. We like to have the conveniences of home, i.e., full kitchen, full bath, TV, board games, etc, that we can utilize....yet leave towels and beds unmade (like a hotel) at the end of our stay. We WILL be coming back soon and we so appreciated their hospitality and kindness! Ah, now back to the daily grind...

Owner response:Jessica thank you for your very nice review. Remember 10% off on every future stay. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. Come back soon.

Recommended for:

Great location and great hosts!

Guest: Sunit (California)
Date of Stay: 07/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

Our family stayed here recently and had a great time! John and Sue, the owners, made us feel very welcome. The apartment is well-appointed. One has everything needed to cook a meal, or walk 7 minutes to the center of Santa Ynez and eat there (it's a 30 second drive). Would love to go back and stay there again, and for longer :-).

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

Great location at a great price

Guest: Craig (Orange County)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/21/11

This is a great location right in the middle of everything in Santa Barbara wine country. The room was clean, well stocked, and well appointed. This will be the first property we check when we return. Very satisfied.

Owner response:Thank you for your review. We appreciate your business and hope that you will return soon.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great weekend getaway, very comfortable and relaxing.

Guest: DWW (Palmdale. CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Very nice location, comfortable accommodations, beats the heck out of any hotel we have stayed in and for the price any bed and breakfast. Centrally located to all of the small towns and winery's and just a short drive to Santa Barbara. John was very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Highly recommended, just don't take the next weekend we want to go.

Owner response:Thanks so much Dale for your review. We look forward to your next visit. Best regards, John & Sue

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wow! What a find!

Guest: Craig & Michelle (Sunset Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

We spent four nights here recently, celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary, and can’t wait to return. The home is centrally located to everything in the Los Olivos/Santa Ynez Valley – in fact, it could not be more perfectly situated for wine tasting in the area, and there are numerous lovely dining places within a ten minute radius. The apartment itself is spectacular, the decor impeccable and the property almost impossibly bright, cheery and well kept in every way. As others have said, the photographs simply do not do it justice. Every room was spotlessly clean, and beautifully furnished. Within moments of arrival, we felt completely relaxed and at home. No small detail was left out; even the pillows, luxurious towels and bed linens were top quality. The owners, John and Sue, are warm, gracious and accommodating hosts, and allowed us to return and extend our stay an additional night with just a phone call, after we had already packed up and left. We thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality and are very excited at having discovered our new “home away from home.” We vacation often, and are already planning our future visits. The highest recommendation possible -- thank you John & Sue! Craig & Michelle, Sunset Beach, CA.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Good Times !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guest: Tmpetersen (Orange County)
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/13/10

This is a very nice property. It was perfect. The owners were very helpful. The property is very clean and centraly located for wine tasting and Santa Barbara. I will positively be returning for weekend getaways.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful place to stay!

Guest: Katbanditt (New York City )
Date of Stay: 09/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/24/10

Shady Oak is a wonderful place to stay. The location is ideal, so close to the town of Santa Ynez and only a few miles from Buellton, Solvang, and Los Olivos. The apartment is very large, clean, and beautifully decorated. John (the owner) was very nice, wonderful hospitality! I would stay there again. Thank you Fowlers!

Owner response:Thank you Katbanditt! Come back and visit us again soon.

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

Wonderful Getaway!

Guest: Jeff (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 09/08/10 Review Submitted: 10/10/10

Thank you so much for our wonderful stay at Shady Oak! It was the perfect location to explore all of the wineries and charming towns (Los Olivos, Solvang, Santa Ynez etc.) We really enjoyed being so close to the great dining in Santa Ynez as well. We had a fantastic gourmet mexican dinner just down the street at Dos Carlitos. Will definitely come back next year!

Owner response:Thanks Jeff. We look forward to your family visit next year.

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

Great place to stay in SB!

Guest: april (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

Had a great time staying here for the weekend. The place is beautiful and comfortable to stay in. Would definitely stay here again!

Recommended for:

Way Fun!

Guest: Rob M. (california)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/14/10

Excellent value for a comfy place in a fun location with very accommodating hosts. Look forward to our next visit--Thanks so much, Rob M.

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

Guest: Karen Lee1 (Venice, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/10

We had a wonderful stay at this quaint little place. A delightful retreat and a perfectly homey apartment where we felt right at home and enjoyed every moment. John was wonderful and allowed us to stay until after our babies had their naps on our last day. We loved it so much we even thought about extending our stay for another night! We will definitely be back and tell all our friends about it! Made for a great way to ring in the New Year!!

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Guest: Natalie and Glenn (Anchorage, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 11/11/09 Review Submitted: 11/10/09

Great central location for wine tasting and biking. Felt like we were coming home every day! John and Sue are very helpful hosts! We'll be back!

Recommended for:

Guest: Ami2 (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/21/09 Review Submitted: 10/21/09

After staying in John and Sue's Shady Oak Guest Apartment, we now consider it our wine country home away from home. The location is quiet yet central, the beds are comfy, the filtered water is a huge plus, and the boot glasses are a hoot! You have to stay here, but not on any of the weekends we're planning to be in town - I can guarantee a fight over it.

Recommended for:

Guest: Dan91 (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/20/09 Review Submitted: 10/20/09

Perfect location up in wine country! My fiance and I have stayed at this apartment twice and had a blast both times - first with another couple and the last time just the two of us. It is a short drive to town and to all the wineries, the price is very reasonable, and John and Sue are great. I would highly recommend it, we will definitely go back.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/06/09 Review Submitted: 07/06/09

Stayed here in a group of five graduate students, while in town for a conference. The apartment was a great place to have as home base--everything exceeded our expectations! A great location, too. We'd definitely stay here again, or bring family.

Recommended for:

Guest: Nicole Cain (Phoenix AZ)
Date of Stay: 03/05/09 Review Submitted: 03/05/09

We were back in February, 2009 for another great visit to see the time trial stage of the Amgen Tour of California in Solvang, and can't say enough how about great this place is. We were comfortable and so at home with all of the extra touches. If you're looking for a fun, relaxing getaway with some of the most beautiful and peaceful areas in the U.S., this is the place. Thanks, John & Sue!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/24/08

What a gem this apartment is! My husband, close friends and I enjoyed ourselves tremendously last weekend and look forward to coming back again next year. John and Sue thank you again for all the little touches that make this a home away from home. Warm Regards, Courtney & Brandon Nomura

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/21/08

We stayed this past weekend with another couple in this gorgeous apartment. What a gem! We can't wait to come back and visit again soon. I was so impressed by all of the special touches that John & Sue included. Thank you again for your hospitality. Warm Regards, The Nomuras

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/03/08

We must say that picture posted in VRBO does not do any justice of how beautiful the place looks. We were two couples with 2 kids. And the apartment had all the ameneties we needed plus a video library, Electric BBQ Grill, books and toys for kids. Hosts were very accommodative in making our stay comfortable and we will definitely visit Shady Oaks again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/27/08

Wonderful apartment, location and hosts! We were cozy, comfortable and surprised at all of the special touches. The apartment is ideal if you want to prepare meals and have groceries on hand. Very comfortable for 2 couples, and kids. IDEAL for cyclists: amazing riding nearby. We'll definitely be back.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/20/07 Review Submitted: 11/20/07

My son and daughter and I spent a week at the Shady Oak VRBO earlier this month (November). The apartment was very comfortable and we all felt the word “Cozy” in the apartment description on the website was very fitting. We liked the fact that it was close to the little town of Santa Ynez where we spent several mornings wandering around and getting to know the local flavor. You have to stop by the Roasted Bean Coffee House where the locals all gather to gossip about events taking place in the Santa Ynez Valley. Shady Oak vacation owners (John and Susan Fowler)were very good hosts and provided us with all the information we requested regarding what sites to see (Miniature horse farm, Cachuma Lake, Wineries) and also with our requests for specific food type restraunts in the area. The Big Oak tree which literally is right outside the front door of the apartment made my kids feel like they were staying in a tree fort. Of course, I appreciated that it also had all the amenities of a nice vacation rental. I would highly recommend Shady Oak to those of you who are budget conscious. The Santa Ynez Valley allows for a break in one's hectic life and the opportunity to experience the peace and tranquility it has to offer.Cindy, Schuyler, and Quincy Livingston

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/19/07

My son and daughter and I spent a week at the Shady Oak VRBO earlier this month (November). The apartment was very comfortable and we all felt the word “Cozy” in the apartment description on the website was very fitting. We liked the fact that it was close to the little town of Santa Ynez where we spent several mornings wandering around and getting to know the local flavor. You have to stop by the Roasted Bean Coffee House where the locals all gather to gossip about events taking place in the Santa Ynez Valley. Shady Oak vacation owners (John and Susan Fowler)were very good hosts and provided us with all the information we requested regarding what sites to see (Miniature horse farm, Cachuma Lake, Wineries) and also with our requests for specific food type restraunts in the area. The Big Oak tree which literally is right outside the front door of the apartment made my kids feel like they were staying in a tree fort. Of course, I appreciated that it also had all the amenities of a nice vacation rental. I would highly recommend Shady Oak to those of you who are budget conscious. The Santa Ynez Valley allows for a break in one's hectic life and the opportunity to experience the peace and tranquility it has to offer. Cindy, Schuyler, and Quincy Livingston

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/12/07

I stayed an extended weekend at Shady Oaks. This apartment location is central to all the area has to offer. I felt at home with a full kitchen, washer / dryer, comfortable bedding, interenet access and cable.. Charming and unique decore is a influenced by the owners travels to far off and exotic destinatons. This unpretentious and affordable lodging allows you the luxuries of a world class wine, food, art, horse back riding, hiking, cycling and golf. The hosts are both knowlegable and enthusiastic to make your stay memorable .

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