Vacation Rentals by Owner

50th birthday celebration to remember!

Guest: Travelin' Texans (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 04/11/12

When 7 friends from Texas get together, it's going to be a great time, and this amazing home was the perfect location! It is centrally located to all of the wonderful wine regions as well as the coast and redwoods, and we enjoyed them all! The house itself is absolutely beautiful, spacious, well furnished and stocked, and the views of the valley are incredible! Everything about the backyard is terrific, as well - garden, hot tub, ample seating, etc. Wish it was warmer so we could have enjoyed the pool! (a reason to return) Maureen and Kevin, the owners, went out of their way to help us plan a wonderful celebration for my husband's 50th birthday! Maureen was always so responsive to phone calls and e-mails and gave us terrific suggestions and ideas on places to go and see as well as contacts which really helped so much! I can't thank her enough for all of her help! We had a chef come in to prepare dinner on my husband's birthday, and I HIGHLY recommend him if you're looking for a special meal. (Maureen has his contact information.) This is a fabulous home with gracious, caring home owners - our best VRBO experience! We look forward to coming back and staying longer!

Owner response: We'd love to have you back, any time (maybe when it's not so cold!) You guys were perfect guests, and further proof that the state of Texas keeps on sending us the friendliest guests! Thanks for the review of the chef; we will definitely recommend him to our future guests! Maureen.

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

Absolutely Fabulous!!

Guest: DeSt (Rancho Cordova, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/20/12

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this beautiful home. From the minute I started planning this family event with people flying in from every direction the owners of this Villa have been nothing but a pleasure to work with. The home itself is even more beautiful than the pictures and could not have a more comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. I have been using VRBO for many years to plan events and have never had a more amazing experience that this one. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

Owner response:Thank you so much! It's so good to have such wonderful guests, and we love it when people have a relaxing time at the villa with friends and loved ones. We hope to see you again, in better weather next time, when the roses are blooming! Maureen and Kevin.

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

Luxury Wine Villa for Family Getaway

Guest: Kay (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

Our large family of 10, ranging in age from 2 to 60, spent 5 days over Thanksgiving at this lovely home. The pictures accurately reflect the beautifully designed and well-maintained villa which is completely stocked with everything you need to entertain in luxury. The kitchen is a joy to work in and fits multiple cooks and prep people without elbowing (2 ovens, 6 burners); the spa and pool are private and have terrific views of the valley and the large garden is filled with flowers and hummingbirds (a joy to watch). Wineries and breweries are close by and shopping, both outlet stores and specialty stores are within 10 miles. The men in the family really appreciated the poker table and the large screen TVs in most rooms so they could keep up with the football games while playing cards for hours. Everyone has their own room and most have their own deck. This house has space for socializing and privacy - take your pick. We would be happy to return again!

Owner response:Thanks so much! We would love that. The hummingbirds are everywhere on the purple sage this time of year, and the gardens bloom even more in Spring and Summer.

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

4 couples from north carolina

Guest: robert (denver, nc)
Date of Stay: 10/24/11 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

this was our group wine country vacation, and the stay in this incredible house was a pleasure. we had plenty of room, the backyard is incredible, quiet and peaceful.....would recommend this house to anyone who wants to stay in this area.....would stay again if we get a chance, just cant say enough about how much everyone in the group loved the house.......the only problem was we were so tired from visiting all the wineries, by the time we got back to the house, we were too exhausted to do much other than eat dinner and fall asleep....wish we could have enjoyed the house even more

Owner response: Hi, Bob! We'd love to have you back, and next time we'll bring the wine to you, with our new wine concierge who presents her tasting right at the house. Then you can relax, and not worry about driving! We'll keep you busy and having fun right at the house! We'd welcome you back any time!

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

Fabulous and Relaxing

Guest: Happy Renter (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/28/11 Review Submitted: 02/03/11

Some friends and family spent 4 nights here celebrating a birthday. All had an exceptional time. The property - the house, grounds, pool and spa were all fantastic! We didn't leave the house except to get groceries. We relaxed at the pool and spa every day, and at night we hung out on the outdoor sitting area off the kitchen. The fireplace kept the temperature comfortable. Great space! We were amazed at the details and craftsmanship of the house. Some very nice and unexpected touches - robes and matching linens, fresh flowers and champagne, toiletries. The kitchen was a cook's (or non-cooks) dream. The double oven is great! A lot of space allowed several people to work in the kitchen without stepping on each other. Nice lighting everywhere and great views. Very clean and well maintained home. The owners, Maureen and Kevin, were very helpful answering questions and making recommendations for a great bakery. Oliver's Market is outstanding - got everything we needed and more. Overall, a very nice place - a grand home away from home where good friends could enjoy each other's company and relax.

Owner response:Enter Text Come back any time, especially when the flowers are blooming!

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

Santa Rosa Villas Valhalla!

Guest: Steve (Washington)
Date of Stay: 11/05/10 Review Submitted: 11/22/10

Maureen and Kevin are dead on describing (if perhaps not understating) the beauty and functionality of their home. We had a great time and will not hesitate to reprise our fabulous wine weekend!

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

Beautiful house and very friendly owners

Guest: benilia (Germany)
Date of Stay: 05/11/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/10

The house is situated in the hills of the wine country. It is more a villa than a house. Every room has its own charme. Two of the baths have jacuzzi and a fantastic view on the city of Santa Rosa. The garden is amazing with beautiful roses and a pool with hot tube. Here you can relax. The kitchen has all you need. And the living room has a nice fireplace. The owners are very helpful and friendly. They will give you recommends for good wine tasting tours. If we come back to California we will choose this house again. Thank you Maureen and Kevin!

Owner response:Hi, Ines! We sure HOPE you come back to us! We loved having all of you, and look forward to meeting your daughter. You were great guests! Maureen and Kevin.

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Perfect Villa - Perfect Location.

Guest: Diane P. (Valley, Ne)
Date of Stay: 04/15/10 Review Submitted: 04/24/10

This property was fantastic! Champagne and chocolates greeted us along with fresh flowers. The inside and outside of this property was perfection. The accomodations did not lack in any areas. We ended up staying in every night to relax with family and friends with a glass of wine to relive our days driving in the wine country. The gourmet kitchen had everything we needed. The location was perfect. This was our third trip to the wine country. We saw so much more this trip because of the location. We went to Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma and Napa Valley. We also went to Mendocino County which had a lot of good wineries. The owners live onsite which we never saw them. They came home late every night and were gone early in the morning. We actually wish we could of met them so we could thank them for sharing their beautiful home to us. I would highly recommend this home as a fabulous getaway. Thank you Maureen and Kevin.

Owner response:Diane, I'm so sorry we didn't get to meet you! We do try and give our guests total privacy. But we're thrilled you had such a good time. Come back again any time, and next time we promise to meet you in person! Maureen and Kevin

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

Guest: NY Visitors (El Paso, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/31/09 Review Submitted: 10/31/09

We rented the Villa for the July 4th week and loved everything about it. Mornings with coffee on the patio with fireplace, hanging out by the pool in the afternoons, dinners cooked in and the jacuzzi at night made for a great vacation. The house was pure luxury yet comfortable. Maureen and Kevin were great and offered many suggestions for the our stay including a private wine driver (a must). We have rented many houses and this one will remain a favorite. You won't be disappointed.

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Guest: Karen O'Malley (Fox River Grove, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 10/13/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

Wow! What a fabulous house. We shared this house with 3 other couples with room to spare. All celebrating anniversaries. We have been to Sonoma for 3 years now and this was the best. Close to Napa and Sonoma...the house and surroundings are fantastic. The pictures do not do it justice. We will be back!!!! Thank you to Maureen and Kevin for a wonderful weekend!!

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Guest: Ann Roberts1 (El Paso, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/11/09 Review Submitted: 10/11/09

Our family of 9 stayed at Villa Santa Rosa the week of 7/4/09 and everything about the house exceeded our expectations. The master suites were large and beautiful, morning coffee on the balcony with fireplace and views, evening meals prepared in the gourmet kitchen and relaxing in the jacuzzi at the end of the day. We rent houses a couple times a year and the whole experience, from the initial email to Maureen and Kevin,though our stay was perfect. They also provided us with alot of information prior to arrival including putting us in contact with a private wine tour driver (highly recommended). The house is everything is says plus more and made for a very memorible family vacation...

Owner response:Thanks, Ann! Please come back next year. We'd love to have you!

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Guest: John M. (-)
Date of Stay: 08/20/09 Review Submitted: 08/20/09

We spent a week in the villa with 4 adults and 2 children and it was everything we expected and could have thought to ask for. Spacious beyond belief with a wonderful view from every room on the down-hill side of the house.Amenities were top notch and the few minor things that inevitably crop up were dealt with almost instantly. We felt very welcome from the instance we walked into the house and were greeted by Champaign, fresh flowers and a wonderful cake. The kitchen is gourmet quality and the furnishings and details were beyond anything we have experienced before. The house is amazingly well stocked, minimizing the need to buy all the little stuff that adds up and you wind up leaving behind. Don’t buy anything until you see what is there.Morning walks into the public open space below the house are wonderful, by the way, we wound up eating-in more than we expected to because the kitchen is so easy to work in and will accommodate multiple "butts" to distribute the work load.We have VRBO'd with positive experiences in Europe, Mexico and the States, but this is a stand out from all of those.

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Guest: jamie51 (union city, ca)
Date of Stay: 06/21/09 Review Submitted: 06/21/09

A perfect blend of luxury and comfort! Our family of 9 recently stayed at this property for a relaxing retreat and it was absolutely magnificent! From the spacious common areas to the incredible showers in the master suites and the fully equipped kitchen, this property has it all. We had so much fun swimming in the resort style pool and enjoyed strolling around the charming garden. I read a book on the balcony and with the serene view of the santa rosa valley, I felt like I was in a different world. We loved this place, would highly recommend it to anyone and will definitely come back as soon as we get the chance! Also, Maureen and Kevin were the best hosts - so accommodating they went above and beyond to make our vacation special. Thank you again!

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Wonderful Home, Wonderful Location

Guest: TiLT (California)
Date of Stay: 05/15/09 Review Submitted: 05/26/09

This beautiful Wine Country Villa was everything it advertised. 5 couples shared the home and we had just the right mix of "group" space and "private" space. Enough room to share meals, wine and conversation and plenty of room to escape from the group when needed. The pool, spa and gardens were particular favorites. All the bedrooms were comfortable, the bathrooms spacious and clean and a very "quiet" house. The hosts, Maureen and Kevin, were great, available if needed and invisible otherwise. Great access to wine tasting, wonderful restaurants and other activities. Safari West is a great tour and about 20 minutes away. We would stay again!

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

Guest: Cassandra 1 (-)
Date of Stay: 03/09/09 Review Submitted: 03/09/09

We had 4 couples stay at this home and we had a fantastic time. Plenty of room and space for all of us. The house and grounds are beautiful, well maintained and very clean. Every comfort imaginable is found in this home and to make your stay that much more realaxing, the owners can give you names of a personal driver and chef. We used them and loved it! I am one of the pickiest people when it comes to staying outside my own home but this place was so great I had to add a comment. Thanks Maureen and Kevin!

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Guest: French lady (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 01/28/09 Review Submitted: 01/28/09

We loved the villa. The owners did not spare anything when building the house. They used the finest material. The house is spacious and very quiet because of the high ceilings and the size of the rooms. The furniture are beautiful and comfortable. The views are wonderful. The neighborhood is very quiet. The owners were very helpful and friendly. We really enjoyed our stay.

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A beautiful property

Guest: French lady (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 01/25/09 Review Submitted: 02/28/09

We loved the house. It reminded us of European villas, spacious, comfortable, quiet, and beautiful. The owners added many finishing details and used the best material. The views are beautiful. I recommend this property. Sandrine

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

Guest: irene moore (spring, texas)
Date of Stay: 01/05/09 Review Submitted: 01/05/09

Two couples booked this villa for a week in October to celebrate a couple of birthdays. This place far exceeded any of our expectations.We each had a master suite with a bath area that was gorgeous! All of the living areas had spectacular views of the pool area, gardens and the valley which was beautiful day and night. The furniture was all very comfortable and the house had everything you could imagine. We wish we would have booked longer, since the location was so close to the redwoods, the beach, and all of the wineries in Sonoma and Napa! Next time, we'll plan at least one day and evening to do nothing but stay and play at the house! Maureen and Kevin were very accomodating, we saw them when we first got there to get a tour of the home and how to work the Jacuzzi, lights, TV's, etc. They left us their phone #'s if we needed them for anything, but we had everything we needed so we went by their shop downtown on the way back to the airport to say goodbye and buy just one more souvenier of our trip! Of course, any excuse to go into Santa Rosa is a good one, but the Russian River Brewery was a huge hit with us - great pizza & a friendly place. Hope to do this trip again!

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Winter Family Holiday

Guest: Family memories (evansville/in/usa)
Date of Stay: 12/28/08 Review Submitted: 01/12/09

My family and I spent New Year's week at this beautiful, well-kept home in Santa Rosa. The house is exactly as described and shown in pictures---only better in person. What a gem! Although near town, the house feels like you are in the country with a private backyard, gorgeous gardens, pool and hot tub. Unobstructed spectacular city-light views of the town and valley below glitter like tiny jewels at night. The location is central to all the area attractions including wine country, the coastline and beaches, Muir Woods, etc...and of course---is in close proximity to San Francisco. The owners could not have been kinder or more helpful ( though non-intrusive! ) when called upon. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a quality home!!!

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

Use Caution

Guest: andrew_010 (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 11/20/08 Review Submitted: 12/04/08

There were way too many things the owner left out in the posting. First the posting says "weekly" stays result in a utility charge, that is not the case, the owners stated we used more energy than normal and they took it out of our security deposit. Next, when we called to say we were close to the rental we were told that we were supposed to arrive the next day, that was not correct based on our e-mail confirmation and the owners had to scramble for hours to clean the place while we unpacked. Lucky the place wasn't double booked though. Next, the listing does not show that they charge for heating the pool, I received our rental contract 3 weeks before arrival but I booked over two months out. This was the first I heard about the pool heat which was extremely expensive for three days. I also received the rules of the house which are lengthy and I recommend reviewing them before booking. Next, the pool and spa were not working correctly, it took us more hours than it was worth to heat up the spa each evening. Next, the owners live on the property which is not disclosed, after our trip they complained that we left main lights on, turned on the heat and so forth. The item that dropped the review down to poor was the owners personal attacks via e-mail to support them taking a portion of the security deposit. If it weren't for all of our problems with the booking, extra (undisclosed) charges, pool and spa problems as well as onsite owners then the review would have been much better. This place may work out well for a small group or couple but think twice about booking here. On to a better note: Napa and Sonoma were beautiful and we had a great time with our group for my wife's 40th birthday party. Don't forget a wine tasting tour by limo as that was the highlight of our trip.

Owner response:After we waived his util. fee, they used the heat and A/C at the same time, with doors flung open, in Nov. They left spa heat, jets, pool light show, and house lights on overnight, every night, against the rental contract. As for the pool, the heat is optional, because of the high cost, and I personally discussed this with him months ago, at time of booking. He said he wanted to "wait and decide later if he wanted to pay extra to heat the pool." He forgot to tell the group this, who then blamed us for "not telling them." After arrival, he decided he DID want the pool heat. He balked at the price, so what did we do? We gave it to him for FREE (he leaves that out). How is free "very expensive?" The spa worked perfectly, until he tried to heat the pool, which you can't heat at the same time. It messed up the entire system, which still worked, but no longer by remote control. To heat both, you need to control it at the box. We even went out and bought them a $20 cheesecake. He said they couldn't be bothered to turn the spa off at the control box, so they left it running all night, along with jets, pool lights, etc. They also said it would take a "techie" to not run AC and heat at the same time in different rooms (you just push one button on the wall), with the doors open. As for "living on site" (not in the villa) our ads clearly state "onsite caretakers in separate caretakers' cottage w/sep. entrance and approach, nights only." This was discussed with him at booking. Again, it appears he forgot to tell his friends. We were there only late at night; they never saw us, since we don't use the house. We greatly respect our guests privacy. He knew all of this at booking; all of this is because after agreeing to waive his fees, which we did, on condition he not abuse the utilities, and waiving the pool heat fee, which we DID, we dared take a whopping fifty dollars out of his deposit to pay for air-conditioning the outdoors in Nov. at night. I wrote a polite email explaining, and got an angry attack back. It was in response to HIS rudeness that he got an honest, blow-by-blow acct. of his group's behavior. He then sicced his friends on us. He sent me an expletive-filled email, calling me an obscenity. He is angry because we told him we would not accept him back. We waived all extra fees, and this was our thanks. Please read the reviews of all the other happy renters, who had no such problems, both here and on VRBO, "think green," and happy travels!

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Girls from Texas wine trip

Guest: Gals from Texas (Keller, Texas)
Date of Stay: 10/15/08 Review Submitted: 10/22/08

Just returned from a girl’s trip to the wine country. This fabulous house worked out great for the 6 of us. The home is very spacious and has wonderful amenities. The view from the many verandas was breathtaking. The beautiful gardens in the back yard were a real treat. Maureen and Kevin were very gracious and even had a chilled bottle of bubbly waiting for us and a birthday cake for birthday girl. We would go back and stay in the Villa in a heartbeat. Location was great for visiting the various winery and good proximity for flying in and out of SFO.

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

Perfection!

Guest: Loves Wine (Richmond, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 07/26/08 Review Submitted: 08/31/08

Truly Magnificent! My family (7 adults) made this our home base for a week in Napa/Sonoma. The villa was perfect – we had plenty of private space, wonderful family space, and I can’t say enough about the gardens, pool, spa, terraces and view! After a long day of touring, all we wanted to do was come “home” and relax in this lovely setting, cook our own dinner in the wonderful kitchen, and enjoy the beauty out doors. The villa is even nicer than the photos and description. Both luxurious and comfortable, the villa was also very convenient to all of Napa, Sonoma and the coast. Finally, our hosts were terrific from the first email to the final good-bye. Villa Santa Rosa is an exceptional rental.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

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

If you are considering a vacation rental in California Wine Country, look no further! My husband and I, along with 6 family members, recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at Villa Santa Rosa. The owners are extremely easy to work with and the beautiful home was exactly as advertised...in fact, it was even better. I realize that when making a choice of hotels, B&Bs, inns or vacation homes that you take a bit of chance and hope for the best. Again, rest assured that this wonderful home is everything they say it is. It is beautifully appointed and comfortably slept 8 people. The location is perfect - right in the heart of Sonoma County, and a close drive to Napa or the Sonoma Coast. Needless to say, I would recommend this vacation home to anyone...you won't be dissappointed and your guests will be very impressed!

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Fun in wine country

Guest: Karin and Tracy (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/30/08 Review Submitted: 06/04/08

My wife and I stayed here with two friends. It was as if we all had our own wing of the house. While it was large, it was very condusive to group activities around meals and relaxation. The pool area was great and extremely relaxing. The kitchen was well stocked with utensils for a full on dining experience. The location in relation to Sonoma and the Russian River was perfect. We will be staying here again. My only concern in posting this review is the impact on availability for us. Enjoy!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful stay, great owners

Guest: Dr. P (San Jose)
Date of Stay: 05/02/08 Review Submitted: 05/20/08

I rented the house for a retreat. I found Maureen and Kevin very friendly and helpful, the house beautiful, in tip-top shape, and full of wonderful amenities. In particular we enjoyed the pool, wireless internet access, and the amazing view. Cannot be beaten for a stay in wine country. I recommend it highly.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: littlebear (Rohnert Park, CA US)
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/10/08

Welcome one and all! Come and stay in our luxurious wine country villa, where we welcome you with champagne and chocolates, then relax poolside or soothe away stress in our hot spa. Please leave your comments in our online guest book after you leave, and we hope you enjoyed your stay!

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Wish we could have extended our vacation!

Guest: Winelover08 (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/11/08

The house was beautiful and everything was just as described. The owners were helpful with making arrangements and there to welcome us and show us around. Lots of reference for local wineries and destinations. Champagne and chocolates upon arrival was just a great touch. The house made a perfect home away from home and accommodated the entire group with ease.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful setting - private, peaceful and scenic

Guest: TELGSB (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/27/08

We spent new year's eve here and are planning to return to the house for a May weekend. We love the setting and the house hosts are very friendly. I would come back all the time if I didn't live so far away ... in Australia!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway