Vacation Rentals by Owner

Excellent location

Guest: RM (Wa)
Date of Stay: 05/08/12 Review Submitted: 05/21/12

What I would like to highlight the most, is the excellent location. It is very convenient to the bus, park, superb bakery, restaurants, stores, etc. It is also very safe and secure, never did I feel like the apartment or neighborhood was unsafe, not that I would be out walking the streets anywhere at let's say 3 a.m.. Michael was as helpful as could be expected, he really tries. However, I really feel the place could use a proper overall deep cleaning at least once a month. If you don't mind dust, dirty floors around the edges, one set of towels to use (yes, we could have washed them in the rusty washer and dryer on the back porch) and stained furniture and comforters than by all means this is the place for you. Just telling you like it is. With that being said, I would highly consider a return just for the price, convenience and neighborhood. I know this is a very mixed review, but I feel it was a very mixed stay of 4 nights in May. Again, Michael is a very nice guy, but maybe has his hands full here with the cleaning.

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

Great place for vacation

Guest: Meaw (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 04/25/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

I spent 10 nights in Modern Garden Suite. The place is livable. The location is so quiet and safe. The prices were very reasonable, and the location fantastic. Good location, walking distance to N Judah. My family visited me here and they were very pleased with the accommodations. It was an easy walk down to Golden Gate Park. Will stay there again!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children.

Great Stay!

Guest: Yael (Israel)
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 04/17/12

Great apartment, great value Guest: LArry (Madison) Date of Stay: 09/29/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11 My husband, I and our 2 teen-age kids stayed at this lovely apartment for 5 nights this March/April 2012. Michael greeted us and got us familiar with everything in his place, as well as giving us additional information about San Francisco. We had a car so getting around was very easy, as the location of the apartment is great.We had great weather so the back yard was lovely to look at. We highly recommend this apatment. Thanks Michael

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

Sunset Garden Suite was a SWEET experience

Guest: AndyT (Fayetteville, AR)
Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/29/12

I really enjoyed my stay at this VRBO property. It was spacious, comfortable, well-kept, and the bed had the softest sheets ever. The garden was luscious and perfect for an early morning stroll with coffee cup in hand. The location is very convenient for those travelers using public transportation.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Quiet Neighborhood!

Guest: Kathy (Kelseyville CA)
Date of Stay: 02/10/12 Review Submitted: 02/28/12

We had a great anniversary weekend. Clean and comfortable. Loved walking to restaurants, while feeling safe. Parking was on street just down the block! Will recommend to friends!

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

Quiet property in delightful neighborhood

Guest: Susan (California)
Date of Stay: 01/28/12 Review Submitted: 02/07/12

The apartment was clean with a comfortable queen size bed and charming garden. We loved the neighborhood and appreciated Michael's attentiveness. It's amazing to be in a quiet neighborhood in the middle of SF!

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car.

Highly recommendable!

Guest: The Bells (Rockville, Utah)
Date of Stay: 12/11/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

This place is just as it is advertised. It is a wonderful place. The property is in a great location, close to UCSF, Golden State Park, and public transportation. The neighborhood is clean and quiet. The suite is clean and well equipped. Michael is a gracious and accommodating host. Should the need arise that we need a place to stay in San Francisco, we will definitely contact Michael first.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing.

Wonderfully confortable San Francisco home away from home!

Guest: Visiting grandmother (Boston)
Date of Stay: 11/26/11 Review Submitted: 12/15/11

We spent two weeks in this wonderful street level apartment. The venue was fully equipped with wonderful amenities that included a backyard garden and patio, dishwasher, two large screen tvs, a computer, and more. Landlord very accommodating. Apartment clean and extraordinarily comfortable. We will be back for sure.

Recommended for:Age 55+

Thanksgiving stay

Guest: Mary (Gridley, California)
Date of Stay: 11/21/11 Review Submitted: 11/27/11

Michael was helpful and efficent and very prompt. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner in the flat and found the kitchen to be well stocked. My husband was a patient at UCSF and the walk was refreshing after long days in the hospital. I would recommend this flat to another small family as it was spacious and in a safe neighborhood.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Wonderful Stay at The Castle Garden Suite, although too short....

Guest: Michelle M.
Date of Stay: 10/23/11 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

My stay was a quick three-days, but delightful, I must say. I was greeted by the owner, Michael, who clearly has put his 110% into his well and thoroughly appointed in-law unit. The space was equipped with absolutely everything, with frozen snacks for the tired traveler to boot. The photographs don't do it enough justice. Not to mention that it was immaculate and the garden is absoIutley stunning. I most especially liked Mike though, for his open-mindedness and welcoming my assistance-dog (11 month old). I really thought he would send us away, but he held confidence to the end and maintained a positive attitude. This is unprecedented for a homeowner of such a flawless space, in my opinion! 5 stars to the quality of the space, decor, neighborhood, and 10 stars to Mike. Bravo!

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

Convenient and cozy

Guest: Gabriel (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 10/21/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

My wife and I just had a wonderful weekend staying in the Castle 1st floor apartment. Michael was a wonderful host who walked us through the whole place with great detail and showed us everything we needed to know about his place and the neighborhood. Public transportation is just blocks away and the apartment is clean with everything you need. There was no issue with parking or getting good sleep at night, not a noisy city-like neighborhood. I would absoutely reccomend staying here. Thank you Michael, you were a great host!!

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

Great apartment, great value

Guest: LArry (Madison)
Date of Stay: 09/29/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We stayed at Michael's apartment for a few nights this fall. It was exactly as advertised. Michael greeted us and got us familiar with everything: TV, computer, washer/dryer, etc. It is an easy walk to a vibrant neighborhood and Golden Gate Park. We have stayed at over 20 VRBO properties over the years. This unit is well appointed, clean, and a very fair price. We highly recommend it.

Owner response:We await for new good Guests. 310-345-7375 Thank you, Michael

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Neat little spot

Guest: 2 adults + 1 child (Vancouver, B.C.)
Date of Stay: 08/25/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

As mentioned the location is a very good one, close enough to the city center but just outside enough that you don't hear the big city bustle in the background. Felt really safe walking the neighborhood late at night. Micheal is very nice and accommodating; for example the dryer broke and he let us use his dryer in his suite. Suite is nicely stocked as well. Only downside was there was scratching & rustling in the bedroom wall at night, which made sleeping at night difficult at times - not necessarily the owners fault.

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

Comfortable and Cozy Place

Guest: N (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

To start with, the listing is quite accurate and the pictures accurately describe the place. The apartment is also nicely located, with a ton of restaurants and grocery stores in close proximity. It also happens to be very close to the Golden Gate Bridge and other downtown locations. When we arrived, Michael was very welcoming. The apartment had a nicely stocked kitchen, a nice wall-mounted television set in the living room and another TV in the bedroom, a phone, laptop and a nice patio. On reaching, Michael patiently went throught all the details of the apartment, showed us around and took us through the details of parking and going around. Michael was also accomodating, The dryer broke when we were there and Michael was nice enough to let us use the drier which was in the garage. We found it very easy to get to anywhere from there and enjoyed our stay there. The only downside is that parking is a little difficult, but then where in downtown SFO would you get parking easily. You can usually find some parking up the street from the apartment. Overall we would certainly recommend it to anybody.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners.

August 15th - 18th at the Golden Gate Castle

Guest: B-Man (Boston area)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

After a long flight it was great to be greeted by Michael and welcomed to the GCC. The apartment is very spacious and clean and worked great for our party of four - two adults & two kids. Michael provided plenty of information, including maps and a computer so we could plan out our days in SF. The N Judah is very close by providing easy access to Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf. Golden Gate park is withing walking distance and is very big. If you are planning on going there, allow plenty of time. we shopped at Roxy's, and ate at Milano's & Pacific Catch, all withing walking distance of GCC. The house had a great backyard and was very relaxing, our kids loved it! Of all of our hosts on our California trip, Michael was our favorite. Would highly recommend!

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

Comfortable, cozy, great location!

Guest: SFfan (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

My parents stayed here for over a week (I live close by), and I must say, Michael's property is just as described. Beautiful. modern, clean, cozy. and comfortable. The location is also close to many good restaurants and to the golden gate park! I will definitely recommend this place to any family or friends in the future.

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

Great place to stay in San Francisco. Better than a hotel!

Guest: Maya (Princeton, NJ)
Date of Stay: 07/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

The apartment is equipped with everything you need for a vacation in San Fran (the pictures are very accurate). It's situated in a quiet and safe neighborhood, within walking distance of the Golden Gate Park and it has a marvelous garden in the back (with a barbecue in it which we took advantage of). The owner is very nice and helpful and will answer all your questions. Parking is on the street and we had no trouble finding a spot. Make sure when parking downhill to turn your wheels toward the sidewalk and when parking uphill to turn them away from the sidewalk. The idea is to block the wheels so the car wouldn't move. We got a fine because we didn't do it properly :) You could probably get away with not having a car because the public transportation is one block away. Make sure to research the weather forecast before going there because San Fran has some weird weather. We went middle of July and the warmest we had was 72. It makes for a nice change from the 100 degrees we were having back home.

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

Very clean and cute

Guest: Jennifer (Scottsdale, AZ)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

We stayed 3 nights in SF and had a great time. This apartment is conveniently located within walking distance of so many things, we were so busy the entire time we were there. We never needed the car, which was great. The restaurants were fantastic and the Botanical Gardens were really beautiful. So much to do there! We took the city bus easily to the Golden Gate Bridge and then hopped on a tour bus and took a great tour of the entire city. The apartment is so clean and very useful for our needs. Neighborhood is super quiet, too which surprised us being right in the city. Loved it!

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

one great escape (as in vacation)

Guest: Gibet (Abbotsford, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

cozy and very clean. the sheets were fresh, just what you need when you are home away from home. absolutely near to everything, like the MUNI transport system which was just steps from the apartment. we actually used the hop-on/hop-off tour bus to go home from the wharf. would absolutely recommend this place to everyone. and, of course, Michael was so accomodating and patient enough to explain everything and anything we need as first timers in san francisco.

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

This suite has it all

Guest: Cynthia, Michael, & Olga (Atascadero)
Date of Stay: 06/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/06/11

What can I say that hasn’t been already said about this fine comfortable apartment and its owner? Michael is indeed a wonderful host who patiently walks you through all you need to know about the appliances in the apartment, the dishwasher, the stove, the TV with DISH satellite, the DVD and iPod players, and if you have any problems, he is readily available by phone. The apartment itself is spotless and bright—you could move in and call it home today. The kitchen is fully furnished with pots and pans, dishes, silverware, a dishwasher, and a microwave. Outside is a small private patio that is a comfortable escape on a sunny day. Best of all, the apartment is located in a quiet neighborhood close to Golden Gate Park and within walking distance of the CA Academy of Sciences and the De Young museum. And it is just a couple of blocks from the N-Judah line of the MUNI, an express trolley that will take you all the way down to the Embarcadero. And again, within easy walking distance, you will find great grocery stores, restaurants, and the best video shop in the city. This apartment is a great find and well worth the money. We look forward to returning. Thank you, Michael

Owner response:Thank you for nice review. Look forward to meet you here again. My Tel 310-345-7375

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

Great vacation!

Guest: claireruth (Laveen, AZ)
Date of Stay: 06/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/03/11

My family (husband, two kids, and me) recently spent three nights here and loved our stay. The location was great--just blocks to tons of shops, restaurants, Muni stops, Golden Gate Park--and the apartment was perfect for us. The backyard is amazing and great if you have little kids so they don't go crazy being stuck inside. It was so nice to have a computer there, too, for researching the city, getting Muni schedules, Yelp reviews for good restaurants nearby, etc. Michael was very friendly and welcoming. We were in San Francisco for my husband to do the Alcatraz Shark Swim; he mentioned it to Michael when we were checking in, and then Michael asked how it had gone when he saw us after the race...so nice! We would definitely stay here again!

Owner response:O, it is very nice to mention about my curiosity. I always would like to find out, if my guests meet their goals. It is very important for me. To serve them better next time. Thank you for Being with Us. My tel:310-345-7375 Call me 24/7. Michael

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

Excellent Location!!

Guest: Gabriela8 (Mandeville, LA)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

My husband and I just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary and stayed at the Garden Cottage and had a wonderful time. The location could not be better...just blocks to the Golden Gate Park, Supermarkets, stores, bust stop. Very nice and quiet neighborhood. We had breakfast in the garden almost every morning and truly enjoyed the garden. We also grilled some steaks one night as he has a grill outside besides all the great amenities (flat screen T.V., iPod dock, Laptop, etc) . Michael is very attentive and informative. He can tell you what to do and where to go. He has tons of information. We definitely recommend this cottage and we hope to come back here in the future!!!

Owner response:Thank you very much for a grate review and we look forward to meet you here next time. My telephone 310-345-7375 Call me any time. Thank you, Michael

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

Great Location!

Guest: Gabriela8 (Mandeville, LA)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

My husband and two children stayed at this beautiful cottage for four nights and loved it. Very conveniently located close to supermarkets, restaurants, shops and best of all the Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. The cottage has comfortable beds and all the amenities (flat screen TV, iPod Dock, Microwave, Coffee Maker, etc). We even grilled outside one night and it was so much fun. We had breakfast at the patio outside and the garden is beautiful. Michael was very friendly and informative. The only downside was the parking. Michael gave us a permit but it’s difficult to find a parking spot and watch out, Tuesday Mornings there is street cleaning and you have to move your car. Be careful because the sign is not highly visible and we got a ticket for $55.00 for not moving the car! Check on the time (and day, think it was Tuesday). It was also mentioned in Michael’s package. That was the only unpleasant experience but overall it was great.

Owner response:I told you in my Welcome speech Do Not Park on Tuesday between 9 &11 am. And It said in my printed material "Please Do not Park on 1st & 3rd Tuesday". I think it is not my fault and rate me 5 out 5 will be more correctly and sounds much better. Thank you Michael

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Great place in a great neighborhood!!

Guest: Michele (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

We loved staying here- especially appreciated the laundry. The Apt is spotlessly clean and a comfortable spot from which to plan your day's wanderings. We enjoyed walking through the neighborhood - a lot of restaurants, shops, etc. It was nice being so close to the park as well. Michael was helpful and informative when we arrived and lives on site should you need anything. Thanks for the great place!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place!!

Guest: Michele (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

We came for 3 nights and could not have been happier - the apartment had everything we needed (including laundry - always a bonus!!) and is in a wonderful neighborhood. Michael was very welcoming and will give you any information you need to have a great time in San Francisco!

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

Visiting from Illinois

Guest: Sue (Central Illinois)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/07/11

The apartment is at the ground floor and opens into a beautifully arranged garden. We liked the convenient location and proximity to public transportation, golden gate park and great restaurants along Irving Street.

Recommended for:

Awesome location near Golden Gate Park and Nice Owner

Guest: Jane (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

My stay at the Garden Suite was awesome. I stayed for a week with my boyfriend and best friend. The bedroom had a huge bed with a big chest of drawers, small tv and a closet. The comforter and pillows were clean and very comfortable and the room was perfect for me and my boyfriend. The big sofa in the living room was a foldout bed and my friend slept there. The TV in the living room was huge, and there was also an iPod dock, DVD player, laptop, printer and free wifi, which was very convenient. The neighborhood was very very quiet, and there also an amazing little garden attached to the unit with chairs, benches, a fountain, and even a little well. And we were 2 blocks away from a supermarket, lots of restaurants and bookstores, and about 4 blocks to the Golden Gate Park, which was breathtakingly beautiful. The owner, Michael, was very kind and provided instructions for everything in the apartment, and also gave us some tips about touring San Francisco. The only downside was the parking. Michael provided us with a permit and I was able to park in front of the apartment most of the time.. It was just a little difficult since the spaces were so tight, and I'm from Texas so I'm not used to parallel parking in such tiny spaces. But that was just a tiny inconvenience. Other than that it was an amazing place, clean and beautiful and convenient. I definitely recomend it :)

Owner response:It was a plaguer to have you here, thank you for stay with us.

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

Great Place Great Location

Guest: Jimmy (Bennington, NE)
Date of Stay: 05/06/11 Review Submitted: 05/13/11

We loved staying at the Golden Gate Guest Castle. The accommodations were perfect and the location was just what we were looking for. Did not take long to get out of the city to visit outlying areas. Was walking distance to a plethora of restaurants, bars, shops and other attractions. Golden Gate park was around 5 blocks away and there was plenty to see and do there. Michael was very helpful with the local information. Really enjoyed our stay.

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

Loved the neighborhood!

Guest: none (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/27/11

We really enjoyed staying in the apt. which is just as described, and loved the neighborhood. It was a true San Francisco experience! A busy section of Irving Street is just 2 1/2 blocks away with lots of specialty shops and excellent restaurants. The Ninth Avenue enrance to the park is just a block farther and you can go right into the Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden, museum, and Academy of Sciences. The "N Judah" (streetcar) is only a block and a half from the apt. which goes downtown and you can transfer anywhere from there.

Owner response:We steel in love with the neighborhood also. And we which to share this enjoinment with our renters. Thank you so much, Michael.

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

My Review

Guest: puchi (Murrieta, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

Overall, a great place. My family of four enjoyed the place, and will return. It had all the enemities and was very comfortable and clean. We did not have a chance to wander in the garden but it looked nice.We parked the car on the first day and left it until we left. The neighborhood was very safe and the restuarants on Irving (and around) were reasonably priced and tasty (better than downtown). It was a great way to end the day eating at one of them. Andrico's supermarket had quality and fresh food with prices varying betweewn reasonble to moderately high. Union Station (Powell St stop) was about 15-20 min from the apartment. Golden Gate Park (japanese Tea Garden) was a 15-20 min walk, Haight Ashbury about 25 min.

Owner response:Thank you Erich for your review. Michael

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

Stayed at the GGGC April 7 through the 10th and it was great!

Guest: J & K (Appleton, WI)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 04/17/11

Staying at the Golden Gate Guest Castle was my first experience with VRBO and I have to give both the property and the VRBO site top reviews. Michael, the owner of the property, was amazingly helpful and thoughtful and made not just our stay at his place but our visit to San Francisco wonderful. The pictures of the location are very accurate and the back garden area is even more beautiful with the sound of the birds and smells of the lilac bushes. Great place to have breakfast in the morning. Michael is very thorough when explaining all the details of the apartment and you have everything you need to live there like you "live there". It's a very quiet neighborhood and you're about two blocks from the Roxy grocery store that has everything you need as well as some great restaurants (I recommend the Italian place as well as the waffle sandwiches at the cafe all near the trolley stop.) You are walking distance to Golden Gate park (go up to the top of the De Young museum. It's free!) and a very short stroll to the N Judah line that'll get you downtown quickly. While parking is included in your rental, you really don't need a car and can take BART from and to the airport ($32 RT) and then take Muni to 9th street exit on N Judah. (Ask Michael, he'll steer you right) Also, if you rent a bike only rent one with an electric assist. Go to Plugz. Michael may have a coupon you can use for a discount if that offer hasn't expired yet. Do NOT rent a regular bike. Trust me. Great place. I'd stay again and it made me sad to leave.

Owner response:Thank you Jams for such a full & wonderful review.

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

True to the description, plus great hospitality

Guest: Kirstin (Santa Clarita Valley, California)
Date of Stay: 04/03/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

The apartment was just as it appeared on line. The other reviews are absolutely accurate about the hosts warn, attentive and accommodating manner. We traveled with our two school-aged daughters who loved the patio, back yard and the Disney channel. One of our daughters became sick and our host was able to recommend an excellent and close by urgent care facility. Because of the close proximity to Golden Gate Park the other daughter and I were able to walk to and enjoy the park. We wound up using our car more than originally planned, but the information is accurate. It is an easy walk to a Muni line that connects with the more touristy parts of the city. It was so pleasant to return to this comfortable home in a real neighborhood after a day of touring. We would love to come back to the castle and explore more of the city.

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

Good Location and Great Host

Guest: Alval (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 03/29/11 Review Submitted: 04/03/11

My daughter and I were lucky enough to stay at Michael's. Michael is very attentive to ensuring that his guests have everything they need from soap to parking permit. The photos reflect the rental's appearance and the amenities are abundant. When there was difficulty with the wifi, Michael insisted that we use his laptop throughout our stay!! The location was also very quiet and easy access to all that San Francisco has to offer. My hat is off to Michael!

Owner response:Thank you for this review. This comment, reflect the reality and we trying to make our pace spotless and most enjoyable place thru out your vacation. Thank you, Management.

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.

March 23-28, 2011

Guest: Patice (Redding, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/23/11 Review Submitted: 03/29/11

It was such a comfort to come home to this quiet, lovely apartment. The full sized kitchen & garden view were especially nice, as was the flat screen tv. Unfortunately the internet was not up & running but the owner was working on it throughout our stay. Michael is especially conscientious and kind; I am grateful for his quick response to our questions and needs & for providing this safe haven during our stay in S.F.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

Nice vacation

Guest: greg (minnesota)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/06/11

Our stay was very relaxing and enjoyable. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very nice(lots of rain), but we were able to stay in this really nice house which made it much better.

Owner response:I am sorry for that weather, but we made every sting to improve your vacation. Thank you

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

Cozy and Comfortable

Guest: RDB (Fort Worth, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/14/11 Review Submitted: 03/29/11

Our overall experience with the Golden Gate Castle was good. It is a small residence just a few blocks south of Golden Gate Park. Public transportation was easy to walk to, and there were plenty of restaurants, shops, and grocery stores nearby. The house was well-equipped with a full kitchen (very modern), computer with internet access (very convenient), a nice bedroom, a large living room, and a bathroom. The place was very clean upon arrival. The bedroom queen bed was pretty comfortable if you enjot soft mattresses. The pull out bed in the living room was not as comfortable, but it was functional. Michael is a great host. He greeted us when we arrived and provided everything we needed to get around the city. He was always available if we had questions or needed anything. He also made sure that our driver was on time to pick us up and take us to the airport. I really appreciated Michael's efforts and communication. The only smll issue that we experienced was that the noise level above our bedroom was noticeable at night during our sleep. It was not extreme, but we could hear Michael and others talking above us and walking around their house. This was the only thing negative that my wife and I discovered throughout our entire stay. Again, it was noticeable to us, but not extreme. If you are not interested in the touristy hotels our over-crowded areas, this is a great spot.

Owner response:We are very sorry, but this noise come from the top because our Grand son was staying with us at that time. It happened one time only. Thank you, Michael

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

Amazing Place, Charming Location, Fantastic Hosts

Guest: Brian (California)
Date of Stay: 01/03/11 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

My wife, our dog, and I were extremely happy with this place. Here's three reasons why this place is so amazing: the property, the location, the hosts. The property: The place was incredibly clean when we got there. The layout is great. There's a hallway for getting ready to leave/coming home. When you step into the living, there's lots of open space and natural light. The layout of the living is great, with a sectional couch that turns into an additional bed, a wall mounted TV, and leaning desk & bookshelf. The kitchen has all the amenities we needed and a perfect sized dining table. The bedroom has plenty of drawers and enough closet space for an extended stay. The curtains/window can be opened to let in light and fresh air or closed to keep it dark (perfect for sleeping in). Lastly, the patio is fantastic. Our dog loved to play outside. And there's was a washer/dryer just for us to use. The location: The Inner Sunset is a charming neighborhood. We were two blocks away from the action, 9th and Irving. There's plenty of restaurants and shops to explore. And the N-Judah is perfect for getting around the city. The Golden Gate Park was just one block further, and a great place to spend the day. The host: Michael and Polina are fantastic hosts, very accommodating and friendly. Michael was always on time to meet us, and he keeps his property clean. Overall, we had a fantastic time staying at this place. If you're staying in SF for a few days or a couple weeks, you can't go wrong by staying here. Thanks, Michael & Polina!

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

Fun Weekend in SF!

Guest: Lu (Orange County, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

Thank you Michael for a lovely weekend getaway. The property was clean and comfortable and all our needs were tended to. We had a great time and would definitely consider coming back to stay here next time we're in SF.

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

Family Time in SF

Guest: Marta (Nyack, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/22/10

We thoroughly enjoyed our accommodations. A lovely place to stay.

Recommended for:

Great location with ease of public transit

Guest: Family from AZ (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/06/10

Great spot! It was our intention to visit GG park after so many times in SF so this was in close proximity. Brought our 2 sons (4 & 8) who found "Mr.Mike" to be so friendly. After informing us of the house and its amenities, we took his suggestions and took the N Judah train to Pier 39. Andronico's was also a great spot to get groceries, very close by. The use our the computer was great and TV with sooo many channels was a plus LONG day in the city. Ran out clean clothes and he was kind to let us use his W/D. Although Mike and his family live upstairs, this was never an issue. Ate out and cooked in the beautifully renovated granite/updated Bosch kitchen. Would definitely come back.

Owner response:We like this reviews..

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

Great Stay with 3 of Our Grandchildren

Guest: Jim (Riverside, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

A great clean and well furnished place to stay. Great kitchen and rooms have the appearance of a full time resident rather than a rental property. An ideal location to access the Judah Street muni line and transfer to any other type of transportation that is desired. Many stores and restaurants withing walking distance. Since our car is not a small car we felt fortunate to be able to find a parking spot for each of the four days that we were there. Each day we took the only remaining spot in the block where our car would fit without getting a citation. It was great that Michael provided a free temporary parking permit which also allowed us to double park while loading and unloading our luggage. Even though Michael and his wife live in the upper floor, most of the time it was much quieter than you would expect with someone living above you. We had a great stay and I cannot imagine that there is a better value anywhere close to the actual city of San Francisco. My wife and I hope to return sometime in the future and we will definitely put this at the top of our list of accomodations.

Owner response:Will you try? Welcome.

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

Great location

Guest: Nicolas (Montreal)
Date of Stay: 07/20/10 Review Submitted: 09/30/10

Michael is a very good host. He makes sure we feel at home. The apartment is confortable with a newly refurnished kitchen. Our two daughter, my wife and i had a great time. Thank you !

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

Lovely Apartment!

Guest: Sonia (Southern California)
Date of Stay: 06/16/10 Review Submitted: 06/20/10

We reserved a last minute stay and Michael was very accommodating and hospitable. The apartment is lovely and perfectly located, with shops, restaurants, and Golden Gate Park near by. The neighborhood felt safe and Michael even included a free parking pass, which is very convenient, to say the least, in San Francisco! Will definitely stay here again!

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

Lovely place

Guest: Mike & Kathy1 (Ozark, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/11/10 Review Submitted: 07/03/10

My husband, two teens and I recently stayed 4 nights at Golden Gate Castle during our first trip to San Francisco. You can't beat the price! We enjoy staying in residential areas sometimes instead of "touristy" hotels. Besides the convenience of having extra space, a fabulous kitchen, and a washer and dryer, we enjoyed walking the streets appreciating the archetecture, finding resteraunts, and catching the bus. We also walked to Golden Gate Park (a portion of it - that place is HUGE!). We checked out the local grocery store, Androcino's, where we stocked up on bkfst and lunch items. Michael was a very gracious host, answering our questions, giving us tips, but respecting our privacy. The place was immaculate and we appreciated the uniqueness of a 1908 home. We had a small rental car that we were able to park on the street. But to us country folks, parking in teeny tiny spaces with strict rules, when one was available, was a bit stressful. No way would you want to have a big suburban! In fact we saw very few large SUV's in SF, lots of small cars! Overall, we enjoyed our stay and especially meeting Michael.

Owner response:Welcome to our Castle.

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

Our comments

Guest: madlyn (janesville,wi)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

Great place, value and definitely a bargain for big city dwelling. Would definitely stay here again. Thanks Michael for your hospitality. Topnotch!!!

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

VRBO #159988 Review 4.15.10

Guest: SLC UT (Salt Lake City, UT)
Date of Stay: 04/03/10 Review Submitted: 04/15/10

Michael’s place was wonderful and suited our needs very well for our week-long stay in SF. In a quiet neighborhood, the apartment is three and a half blocks from Golden Gate Park and 2 blocks from the N Judah train stop at 9th and Judah that takes you to Ocean Beach or downtown. The 43 bus nearby takes you straight to the Exploratorium and the Palace of Fine Arts. There are grocery stores, shops, and great restaurants in the Irving and 9th area about 4 blocks away. We could get anywhere we wanted in the city on public transportation from the area. For the price, the apartment is much larger and more spacious than most vacation rentals we researched in SF. There is a large main bedroom and a large living/sitting room with a pull out bed that our two children slept in. The kitchen is modern with new countertops, cabinets, refrigerator etc. There is a nice office area with computer and internet off of the kitchen and a bathroom with marbled shower. The garden is green and charming (great for our kid’s Easter egg hunt). Every morning we ate breakfast in the sun on the porch that looks out over the garden. As you walk out the front of the house and down the street, you can see the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. Washer and dryer in basement was helpful. Michael and his wife live upstairs and we rarely saw them. Michael was very helpful and willing to answer any questions. He even tried to find his fishing net when he learned our children were going fishing off one of the piers. We highly recommend his apartment and would stay there again. It was most comfortable and homey.

Owner response:I am speechless . WELCOME TO OUR CASTLE you will feel like you are at Home.

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

Guest: Nicole Read (Westminster, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 03/10/10

Four of stayed here and had a wonderful time! Michael was a great host and the apartment was beautiful and well kept. We thoroughly enjoyed the use of the garden, kitchen, and amazing shower. Thank you for a fantastic stay - so much better than a hotel. The neighborhood was well worth it and we were able to walk everywhere we needed to go. Public transportation was near by and there was a great hill a couple of blocks south (up the hill) that you could hike for a great workout. We would go back in a heartbeat!

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Guest: elliot3 (New York, New York)
Date of Stay: 02/25/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

Michael was a very informative, caring host. The rooms are exactly like the pictures show. The new matress was very comfortable. The kitchen was very modern with all the conveniences. Great value

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Guest: Naomi8 (Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 02/21/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/10

We had a lovely stay at the cozy comfortable castle. Michael was very friendly and helpful. I especially enjoyed the artwork, the quaint backyard, and the modern bathroom and kitchen. I would love to stay there again.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/10

This apartment is wonderful. Great hospitality from Michael. We walked to wonderful bakeries, restaurants and the park museums. Will definitely return!!

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