Vacation Rentals by Owner

Beautiful, Well Appointed Home for Large Family Gatherings

Guest: Ddaisy (Oviedo, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/26/12 Review Submitted: 05/10/12

We rented this large, spacious house to celebrate my father's 90th birthday. We are a family of 11, ranging in age from 7 to 90, and this house accommodated all of us with room to spare. The house has original 10" flooring that is beautiful. The 5 bedrooms are large and the beds are wonderful. Bath towels are thick and new. The house maintains its old charm, but has the modern touches you want (i.e. bathrooms, kitchen, washer/dryer and central heat). The house was very clean and well appointed with all the necessities. The living room was large enough for all 11 of us to sit and talk. The yard is very large with a swing hanging from an old tree. The 4 boys loved playing in the yard. There is an attached greenhouse that is warm and inviting. Scott, the property manager and professional chef made certain we had everything we needed and then some. We hired Scott to prepare my father's birthday dinner and it was superb! This is a wonderful house and I would rent it again!

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

Had my April wedding here!

Guest: Rachael (Waterford, CT)
Date of Stay: 04/21/12 Review Submitted: 05/01/12

I highly recommend choosing this house for your special occasion. I recently had my wedding of 38 people inside this beautiful home. My ceremony took place in the historic living room in front of a roaring fire. Rented tables and chairs sat my guests in 4 adjacent rooms on the main floor. Catering was available on-site; the caterer is very accomodating and took special interest in making my day special. And the food was absolutely delicious(he made a delicious vegan entree for the vegan groom!), and he was able to make the food gluten free for those who can't process gluten. Everyone had a blast at this intimate wedding. So thank you to the owner, and to the caterer for all his hard work!

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

Mini College Reunion

Guest: Jayne T.
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

We wanted to thank you for the use of your lovely home. We so enjoyed our “mini-reunion”, however, we all agree, it was simply too short! We spent hours in front of the beautiful fireplace and talked into the night. It was reminiscent of all the hours we used to spend talking in the dining hall at college. We loved that the linens and towels were provided (one less thing to worry about). The kitchen, while modest, was perfectly suitable and well stocked for the wonderful dinner we prepared. The house was warm and inviting. We were comfortable from the moment we entered the back door! It was also quite deceiving in that the house was much larger than we expected. There was plenty of room for all to sleep comfortably. We also loved the knick knacks and art work throughout the house. (Hilda especially loved the pear)! Thanks again for helping us renew our friendships…..and plan our next reunion! Sincerely, Jayne T.

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Delightful 2 night stay in a large but cozy New England home.

Guest: Maureen (Darien, CT)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

Wonderful home in a convenient location! Despite the size, has the feel of a cozy smaller house. Lots of charm...very warm. We had a large group and everyone had a bed to sleep in. Highly recommend this property. Yvette is lovely and responsive.

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

A Perfect Getaway House on the shore

Guest: Butch B. (Boston)
Date of Stay: 10/10/11 Review Submitted: 10/19/11

This lovely antique rambling house is charming, welcoming and perfect for large family gatherings or functions. Nestled on the Connecticut shoreline right on Route 1, it is centrally located while offering privacy and intimacy in a beautiful, natural setting. Well-appointed and impeccably maintained, its decor is whimsical, authentic and comfortable. It was easy for us to relax in this venue and to feel 'right at home.' We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and recommend it highly. A delightful destination for any reason or season!

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Great property for groups with lovely grounds

Guest: Nell d.
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/06/11

old Saybrook is very lowkey, and the beaches are fine but not stunning. That makes this house even more of a treasure - its spacious bedrooms, comfortable common areas and gorgeous lawn make it an awesome base for a group holiday. Johnny Ad's has delicious seafood takeout just down the street if you don't want to BBQ, and the outlets in Clinton are very nearby. Enjoy, we certainly did!

Recommended for:Girls getaway

OUR WEDDING AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY

Guest: Dan and Courtney Oliver
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

Dear Scott, It's hard to beleive that it's been a month since our wedding at the beautiful property you manage.The cleanliness of the house,with it's eclectic charm and warm presence made us feel welcome.We appreciate the expectation of "consider this your home during your stay".That enabled us to just concentrate on creating lasitng memories. We're so happy to have had the opportunity to work with you in arranging our speical day, and overall apprecate your flexability in the menu design and of our requests and the design, accomadation of our request and patience in planning process.The food was fabulous,your timing impeccable and your presence invaluable. We have no reservations in recommending you and the property to anyone seeking a fun,realxing place to gather and create memories. No matter what the occcasion,they should include you and your catering abilites in their event. Best wishes for your future endevors. Thank you ,Sincerely,Dan and Courtney Oliver

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Great New England Getaway

Guest: julie (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 01/10/11 Review Submitted: 01/16/11

Loved this house--great for a large group. It was extremelly well-maintained and the landlord was fabulous! The common area was very well-appointed and had a wonderful fireplace. Perfect for any size group...Thumbs up!

Owner response:Thank you Julie, I am happy that the home worked for you, during this time.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Great house in quaint New England Town

Guest: julie (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 01/10/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/11

We were so glad to have found this house; we needed a house to accomodate a very large group and it was perfect. The place was clean and well-kept. The family room was a great common area (nicely appointed and a great fireplace) and the bedrooms provided lots of options for sleeping arrangements. The place worked extremelly well for our group and we would definitely return. The landlord was also very sweet and easy to reach with any questions, etc Thumbs up!

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

Amazing New Year's Weekend

Guest: Tara D. (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/03/11

I was at the house for New Year's Eve weekend with 13 of my friends. The house was large, cozy, welcoming, extremely clean and beautifully decorated (with original artwork and big, comfy couches). The fireplace and spacious kitchen contributed to a weekend none of us will soon forget. The owners, Yvette and Greg, were extremely helpful and accommodating, even allowing for one of our dogs to join us last minute. We can't wait to come back again in the summer to enjoy the grounds outside of the house as well as the nearby beach. It was truly sad to leave at our trip's end.

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

LOVE THIS ANTIQUE HOUSE/GREAT TIME

Guest: Jaquelynne L. (Portland, ME/Stowe VT/ Montreal CANADA)
Date of Stay: 12/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/28/10

Driving down the driveway I just knew I would love staying here. After we had driven more than 3 hours, I was in desperate need for some rest and relaxation and thats just what we got. Walking into the home we were greeted with beautiful, warm surroundings, lovely furnishings, and a real sense of staying with old friends. After we all chose our rooms for the evening (and there were alot of choices) we lit a fire (wood provided) and relaxed in a very well appointed living room surrounded by and eclectic mix of old and new. We decided to dine-in the first evening and found everything we needed from dishes to cookware provided. The next morning we went into town (about 4 min away) and walked along a main street that felt like we stepped back in time. Lots of interesting shops and wonderful places to eat and socialize. (we remembered a couple to return later that evening for dinner) Uncle K wanted to stay in that day and tended the fire so when we returned the house was toasty warm and to our suprise he had baked abit so the house was full of wonderful aromas. The next 2 days were filled with checking out some local sites of interest (wonderful antique train ride in Essex, 15 min away) and ate lunch in one of the oldest tavern/inns in Ct. This whole area is so beautiful in the winter I can just imagine when summer comes how wonderful it will be to stay here (if it isnt booked up). The greenhouse is a wonderful addition and looks like a place I would love to just relax and read a good book. We also took a walk down to the private beach and wished for warmer weather to spend the day there. The grounds, although mid-winter, were nicely done and you can easily see that they will explode in color come spring/summer. If I can get the family together this summer we will definately be staying here again. Alot of attention had been given to this home and it shows. The property owner was very accomodating and great to deal with. I wish I could live here all the time as it was very hard to leave. KUDOS to Yvette and her staff for making us feel at home at treating us like family. THANK YOU

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.

Great and charming house

Guest: Chris (New York)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/10

We found exactly what we want on this house: space, charming, old fashioned style. My family really enjoy the stay. The house was well decorate, cozy, Thank Yvette.

Recommended for:Families with young children

UPDATED THE HOME

Guest: Yvette Fournier
Date of Stay: 12/08/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

I have been at the home, for the last three weeks and very happy to report that every item or concern, that a Guest has had,has been addressed.We have hired a manager to see that all of the houses are left, as I leave them now.I am very excited to be able to say, this is my 6th year of renting out my homes,and am looking forward to a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. We started the New year off with a lovely group of young people from NYC, that loved the house!I am also open to suggestion to make your stay better each time.Happy traveling.Yvette

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Heading to the house on Dec. 8, 2010

Guest: owner Yvette Fournier
Date of Stay: 12/06/10 Review Submitted: 12/07/10

This the second bad review I have received and am on my way to Ct. I was due to be there in Oct. but due to personal issues, I could not make the trip. Within one week the house will be the way I left it in Aug. If for any reason you book with me and the house is not in great shape. I will refund you money...I am very sorry for any inconvience this has caused anyone. I have now hired a manager, since many things were overlooked by the service that was incharge.

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This House deserves a second look

Guest: CtScruffy (CT USA)
Date of Stay: 12/03/10 Review Submitted: 12/07/10

I am writing to let those interested in this home know that from this point forward there is an onsite management crew that will be adressing all issues brought up regarding this home. This home has been a labor of love for many years and unfortunately some issues have not been adressed or even mentioned until now. While there is no excuse, this owner has had health issues with herself and now her husband and has not been able to give as much attention as she would have liked. That is why I will be onsite everyday taking care of all issues large and small. We will also begin soon serving a full breakfast available to our guests as well as any catering or event needs as they arise. This is a very special home and while the comments were heartbreaking to read, they have and will continue to be adressed so all our guests have a truly memorable experience. We look forward to meeting our newest guests and extend and invitation to the few that did not have the experience they had anticipated for a second chance to make a first impression. With winter upon us please consider getting away and sitting in front of a roaring fire with good food, and great company enjoying this little part of history and knowing all your needs will be attended with all the attention you would expect from staying with family. Thank you for reading this and we look forward to welcoming you to our home.

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.

Thanksgiving Rental

Guest: Kate (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 11/29/10

My family and I stayed at this Old Saybrook home for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had friendly and prompt correspondence from the owner/renter leading up to our stay. But I have to be completely honest, we were quite disappointed when we arrived. Overall, the house has not been taken care of or kept up over the years. I don't think there is anyone local who is caring for the house and can see the problems first hand. This is a shame, since it is such a historic place. I read earlier reviews, from 2008. Perhaps the house was better cared for a couple years ago, however I agree with the more recent "disappointed" review in 2010. Specifically, the full bed in bedroom #4 was literally broken. The box spring was snapped in half. One of the cots was broken as well. The towels and linens provided were overused and of very poor quality. The entire upstairs of the house was dusty and unclean. The walls and ceilings have small holes and stains. The windows were covered in dirt and dead bugs. The vacuum cleaner was broken. The oven temperature was off by about 30-50 degrees and one of the stove burners did not work. As a side note, there was no filtered water as specified in the posting. We are a family that makes the best of their situation. However, I feel it is necessary to provide feedback. I would not recommend this house until it is given the attention it deserves (more than just a casual cleaning crew). We did not receive the service and cleanliness expected for the price we paid.

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Not as pictured

Guest: Disappointed (NY)
Date of Stay: 10/16/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

This house was not as pictured. The livingroom had throws on the furniture covering stains on the upholstery. The fireplace was boarded up and the bedroom certainly didn't have a cute quilt on the bed. The beds were broken down and linens were ripped and stained. The kitchen and bathrooms were as pictured but the diningroom was quite dusty and the tablecloth was dingy and dirty looking. We were looking forward to this cute house that was pictured but were very diappointed in what the reality was.

Owner response:The Guest that left this message were refunded, for the cleaning. We were not told about any of these problems until they checked out.They accepted the house and used it for four days. When I have an issue I address it right away.The cleaner were new working for the company that has worked for me for three years.The cleaners did not have time in between Guest, to wash and put the couch covers back on. The previous Guest left 3 hours late, not leaving enough time to launder and replace the covers. The cleaners were new and felt that if they put throws over the furniture, that would work... I agreed with the Guest that left this nasty comment and refunded them. The fireplace has a board with handles and hook, that is easily removed to start a fire, other Guest remove to light a fire...Never ever had a complaint before..I am very sorry that we changed out the quilt and it was not the one pictured...We change them from time to time. I was not notified that a bed had fallen, if I had been it would have been fixed right away. The new cleaning people did not put the right sheets on the beds, they did not have proper instructions from the cleaning company, and used sheets that were not used on the beds....I take full responsibility for keeping these home comfortable and clean. I have been in this business for over 6 years and very rarely have complaints. I hope this helps you in your decision to stay at my home...Thanks...Yvette P.S. The Guest before and after were very happy!

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Annual alumni retreat weekend

Guest: CT Visitor (Providence, RI)
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 09/22/10

We hosted a 3-day event in Old Saybrook this past weekend for 14 people, and this house was the perfect spot. We had guests coming in from Boston to DC for a relaxing weekend along the CT shore. The house was exactly what we wanted - a great historic New England feel with plenty of space indoors and the yard was great for lawn games and hanging out. Not to mention that the beach was less than a mile away. We had a great time this year that we hope to come back again next year again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Great Place for gatherings!

Guest: Kelsey (Brooklyn)
Date of Stay: 07/23/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/11

I had the chance to stay at this beautiful house for my 10 year anniversary. It was a big house and all the guest were comfortable. The owner was very accommodating and after a year I still remember when I called the owner about having an empty gas tank for the grill. Instead of being rude she just said that she'll reimburse me for the trouble. I couldn't even ask her for a reimbursement because the owner was so nice about it. Anyways, Thank You for being a great owner!

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

Great long weekend away from the city!

Guest: tracy (New York City)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/27/10

11 of my friends and I spent a long weekend at the house in Old Saybrook. We had a fantastic time cooking, lounging in the yard and enjoying the town beaches. I would definitely reccommend staying in this house, it was charming and comfortable. The owners were fantastic to work with as well!!

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

George Washington could have slept here

Guest: Glen0691 (New York City)
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/10/08

This Old Saybrook house offers plenty of space, comfort, style and New England charm. The Inn is without a doubt an authentic colonial (built during colonial times) and offers up modern conveniences such as new appliances and fixtures, and yet while maintaining the charm of a home restored to it's historic brilliance. The bathrooms are new/restored, with all the right touches, and clean. We found the owner very welcoming and accommodating. I would highly recommend this vacation property.

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

5 bedroom 2 bath old saybrook

Guest: John and Cathy (Falmouth, MA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/13/08

I love this house. Will absolutely go back. Great location. Close to everything. Restaurants, galleries, shops. Beaches, Close to the clinton outlets and even the casino's. Love the seaglass colors in the bathrooms. Nice large yard with plenty of seating for cookouts. My favorite spot in the house is the greenhouse, set up for your morning coffee or to just read for a while. The woodwork detail is beautiful. Love the old floors. Very comfortable house. The wrap around porch is a great place to hang out also. We had 14 people and we were quite comfortable. I am recommending the house to my friends.

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

Guest: stev (Stockbridge,Ga )
Date of Stay: 08/11/08 Review Submitted: 08/11/08

This is a wonderful old home with loads of charm, yet modern amenities (a/c units in each BR and living room, updated bathrooms, etc.). We just completed a 4 night stay and were sad to have to leave. The entire setting added so much to our coastal CT experience. Thanks!

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Guest: Annabella Hall (Dallas,Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/24/08 Review Submitted: 07/24/08

Our Family had a wonderful time at your holiday home. The antique house is fully modernized yet has it original antique features and well equipped and most accommodating. The local beach is pristine and perfect, we enjoyed live music at night at a local cafe and we dined upon scrumptous fresh seafood on the panoramic Saybrook waterfront -while watching the sunset! We enjoyed strolling downtown Saybrook taking in live music, antiques, cafes...too much fun here- Decidedly the perfect vacation spot. Thank You for sharing your special house with us.

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Guest: skip and lisa (del ray,florida)
Date of Stay: 06/27/08 Review Submitted: 06/27/08

I had the pleasure of staying in this magnificent historic property in early June. From the moment I arrived I was blown away by the details that have gone into this home! Since it was only me and my boyfriend we had our pick of rooms like goldie locks and the three bears. We choose a downstairs room that was cozy and tranquil. The home was filled with thoughtful and original art and charm. The grounds of the home were expansive with several places to sit under a tree and read and relax. The nearby attractions were easy to get to and included fabulous restaurants and shopping. I would recommend this property to anybody who appreciates historic charm. My favorite spot was the greenhouse which I later found out won 1st prize on HGTV. I enjoyed sipping a glass of wine by candlelight each night. Hope your stay is as good as ours was :)

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Guest: gregg lovely (easton,ct)
Date of Stay: 06/26/08 Review Submitted: 06/26/08

I recently stayed here and have to say that my visit was absolutely wonderful. The manager, Vickie, was very charming and a pleasure to deal with. She placed me in what I thought was the best room in the place. She also gave me a "heads up" on all the local attactions in the area. I took her advise and made the short jaunt to the beach. I was pleased to find that it was so close. They also were very warm and welcoming to my dog Ty. You do not find too many places these days were pets are allowed so I found this to be a great plus since I always travel with him. Ty was delighted when they would sneak him a cookie (with my permission, of course) every now and then. I would recommend this place to anyone passing through the area. Kudos guys......a big thumbs up!!

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Thoughtfull and Charming

Guest: Lisa Ann (Delray Beach, Florida)
Date of Stay: 06/05/08 Review Submitted: 11/08/08

This property is owned by my best friend! This house is a direct reflection of her talents as an artist and beautiful human being. No detail has been ignored and the house is full of thoughtfullness and charm. My friend has breathed new life into an historic home and filled it with unique art and warm touches. I had the pleasure of staying there for 5 days over the summer. Since the house was not filled I choose the bedroom which spoke to me, a quaint and cozy room which overlooked the greenery and to be honest I loved the bedding. It danced with a flower kissed quilt with my favorite bright colors. Upon arriving I drove minutes down the street to find a local grocery store, wine shop and speciality item stores. My favorite spot was the old garden shed which has been transformed into a restful oasis overflowing with chic touches. There was nothing better then lighting some candles and sipping on local Conneticut wine there in the evenings. Although it was summer sitting in front of the fireplace in the living room was also a treat. This property is one of a kind and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a vacation in a beautiful house in a great town, Old Saybrook!

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