Mockingbird Cottage, Minutes from Cayuga Lake and Cornell

• Comfy Cottage witha few quirks

  Comfy Cottage witha few quirks

  • Guest Pearl
  • Date of stay 03/29/13
  • Review Submitted 04/11/13
  We loved this place, but there were a few quirks. The bottom floor was quite chillier than the rest of the house, but nothing some blankets (which were provided) couldn't fix. There were a large amount of ants in the kitchen, but if the food was off the counters, it was okay. The teas, coffees, detergents,and other touches we're wonderful. The yard was beautiful. You could hear everything in the house though, so when anyone was sleeping, you had to be very quiet. Overall, we had a nice stay.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your kind review and we are glad that you loved our cottage and the grounds, and found it to have all the extra touches you appreciated. In that your review is the first we've had that didn't earn us all five stars, we wanted to take the time to respond to the concerns you did have. We are saddened to learn that you felt a chill on the lower floor. It's something that we could have addressed quickly if you had let us know while you were there. We suspect that perhaps you didn’t realize the lower floor is heated by baseboards with controls separate from the upper floor thermostats. In lieu of the extra blanket, a turn of a dial could have warmed you up, and there is the downstairs fireplace, if happened to be up for a fire). Also, we apologize for any discomfort that may have been caused by the visiting ants. That issue has been resolved, though unfortunately it’s something most rural homes must face each spring. Thanks for keeping food items away as you mentioned; it helps. We hope that you will return to our cottage when the opportunity arises, and if you do and happen to encounter any issues, please call us and we will do our best to make things right for you. We live within short walking distance of the cottage literally 3 houses away and we wp;' and can usually respond right away. Your comfort is a priority for us and we are happy to quickly remedy any problems, such as the chill downstairs, etc., if you let us know of your needs. Kindly Suzanne and "Timothy

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• Comfortable rental for a family!

  Comfortable rental for a family!

  • Guest EarthyHeather
  • Date of stay 03/08/13
  • Review Submitted 03/24/13
  This was our first time renting a home. After our stay at the Mockingbird Cottage we are hooked! We stayed at the cottage with our two young children and my older mother while visiting our niece at Cornell. The home accommodated both age groups very well and we had plenty of space for even more people if needed. We were able to put the girls down for bed and still socialize in one of the house's 3 living rooms. Our daughters loved the circular floor plan on the first floor. (tip: if you are traveling with small children bring a gate for the top of the stairs that go down to the lower level where the other bedrooms are.) Having the option of the kitchen was a lifesaver! Our daughters are picky eaters and I have food allergies. We found the kitchen to be well equipped.(Tip2: bring a cabinet lock for under the sink.) Even though the home is older it was well decorated and comfortable. My mother commented that the home was like being a friends home. It was very clean and well decorated but not uncomfortably so. The bathrooms are small but do the job fine. My mother got a kick out of the downstairs shower! The water may be well water but is drinkable and was fine to bathe in.The wireless internet gave us a little trouble but if we just unplugged the router and then back in it worked fine. The owners were very easy to contact and were quick to respond to our concerns. The home is as advertised, even though it is out in the country a bit(look for the privacy fence out front) it is less than 10 minutes from Cornell. Even though we were there in the winter we still enjoyed the area. One morning we saw seven deer in the backyard! We loved having dinner at AGAVA! It's just around the corner from the rental. It has locally sourced food and a Gluten- free menu! It truly was a relaxing getaway in a home away from home! We look forward to coming again.

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

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• Like Being Home

  Like Being Home

  • Guest KC
  • Date of stay 11/02/12
  • Review Submitted 11/06/12
  Having rented numerous places throughout the US - this by far was the most comfortable and homey. It was very convenient for us to visit our nephew in Ithaca College. The kitchen was fully equipped and very well stocked, requiring the need to purchase very little. The number of dvd's, cd's, and books were overwhelming. The best way to describe this house is "like being at home". Owners were delightful to work with, and their recommendations are spot on. We especially loved The Antlers and Boat Yard. Will definitely be our first choice on future trips to Ithaca. Thank you for sharing your wonderful place with us.

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

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• Mother of the groom

  Mother of the groom

  • Guest Teresa
  • Date of stay 10/18/12
  • Review Submitted 10/25/12
  The leaves were at peak, the sun was shining & we enjoyed the wedding of our son. All of our destinations were easy to travel to. We had everything we needed at the cottage to make our stay comfortable. We hope to return at some point to enjoy more time relaxing and enjoying more of the Ithaca scenery!

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

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• Amazing Gem, Quite, Relaxing and Beautiful

  Amazing Gem, Quite, Relaxing and Beautiful

  • Guest Pamela
  • Date of stay 06/14/12
  • Review Submitted 10/24/12
  We had a lovely stay at this beautifully kept property. The house was more than comfortable for my family of four and the gardens are beautiful. The outside deck in the evening was relaxing and the wildlife and firefly show kept us laughing and smiling. The interior had all the comforts and amenities of home and the full kitchen had everything we needed to prepare homemade meals. My family will defnatley return for another stay.

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

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• Definitely worth a stay!

  Definitely worth a stay!

  • Guest Marsha
  • Date of stay 09/27/12
  • Review Submitted 10/04/12
  Oh, my!! Where to begin? It was everything we could have wanted in a home for our stay. It was clean, neat as could be, well stocked, great beds that wrapped around you when you laid down, more choices of cooking aids in the kitchen than we could imagine. The neighbors were far enough away we felt we had total privacy and it was pretty quiet as well in spite of a road going past out in front. There is enough room if someone wanted to have quiet time away from the others there was plenty of room for them to do that. We were 5 family members and we felt so at home. Furniture was comfortable as well. We saw deer sauntering across the backyard!! It's close to shopping and sightseeing areas. The book left for guests was amazing! Anything you wanted to know about the area was in there including maps to get there. Our 90 year old mother had a great time and didn't have a hard time getting around the cottage. We would go again in a heart beat!!

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

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• lovely

  lovely

  • Guest teach
  • Date of stay 08/05/12
  • Review Submitted 09/26/12
  lovely property, nice location and house was in wonderful condition. Would definately come back

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

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• Charming cottage in a great location

  Charming cottage in a great location

  • Guest Traveling girl
  • Date of stay 07/20/12
  • Review Submitted 08/15/12
  We had a family function in Ithaca and didn't want to stay in a boring ol' hotel, so I was thrilled to find this place on VRBO. The cottage is surprisingly roomy with 3 separate living areas, the kitchen is very well stocked and the backyard is fantastic. I loved enjoying my morning coffee on the back deck, watching all of the various birds. It was very peaceful and relaxing. The owner was very friendly and easy to work with and quick to answer any questions. I would definitely stay here again.

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

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• Mockingbird Cottage: a comfortable stay

  Mockingbird Cottage: a comfortable stay

  • Guest Thomas D.
  • Date of stay 07/11/12
  • Review Submitted 07/19/12
  I have stayed at several VRBO properties and this is one of the best. The owners have focused on making everything as comfortable as possible right down to the towels and sheets. The attention to detail is appreciated.The property has plenty of room inside and out. I will stay here again the next time I come to western NY. For anyone needing a place close to Cornell, this is it. Its just 4-5 minutes away.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• The Cabin

  The Cabin

  • Guest Tiffany
  • Date of stay 06/28/12
  • Review Submitted 07/03/12
  We had a great family vacation, it was a home away from home!

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

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May 01-Oct 31 ..   $250/night  (3-night minimum) 
Nov 01-April 30 .. $225/night (2-night minimum) 
Payment in full is required at time of booking.
Full refund if property is rebooked
$300 refundable damage deposit(separate check will be deposited)Or a $39 property
damage fee, that covers $1500 in accidental damage.
Higher rates during holidays Cornell and Ithaca graduations. $500/nt-(4 night min)
$100 cleaning fee

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.