Beauty with a View...Things that Make You Go..Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• VERY Poor Service & Still Waiting For Deposit!

  VERY Poor Service & Still Waiting For Deposit!

  • Guest Andrew R.
  • Date of stay 10/15/10
  • Review Submitted 08/19/11
  In October of 2010 my wife and I were married at this property. We given freedom to use both houses on the property for our wedding party and our guests on Friday October 15 and 16. With the deposit and rental fees we were promised two working hot tubs, wireless internet access, access to parking for our guests, firewood for a bonfire, and an early arrival time of 2:00 pm. When we arrived on Friday, the owner stopped us at the driveway and said that we could not arrive at the property before 4:00. We were allowed to drop off our supplies and luggage but had to go away until 4. Once we returned, we were greeted by the very helpful property manager who apologized for the owner and informed us that one of the hot tubs were not working (leaving a giant eye-sore with stale, green, odorous puddles in the bottom of the uncovered unit), there was only a little firewood to use and the internet was broken. Undeterred, we soldiered through and set up for the wedding, finding out, as people arrived, that the area for guest parking was locked. We could not find the property manager to open it for us. None of the phone numbers we were given worked and had no way to log on to retrieve information from emails. This left our guests to park along a very narrow, blind-curved road, possibly illegally. Guests that took advantage of the "working" hot tub stated that the temperature did not reach above 80 degrees and the jets did not work at all. Feeling a bit cheated and fairly upset we attempted to clean the house as much as we could and complete as many of the things on the checkout list that we could remember (no internet nor working phone number). Two and a half month later we contacted the owner and asked about the deposit. We received an email back from the property manager stating that there was a pile of dirt on the stairs (no way from us, I personally swept all of the floors), the firewood was all used up (we were told that we could use it all), and the owner was generally unhappy with the state of the houses. After a number of unanswered emails stating our position and pleading for the list of grievances or our deposit back, we filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and still have not heard anything. If you want our advice, steer clear of this place. Its beautiful but have no understanding of running a property or of helping customers. Very, very, very disappointed.

  Owner response: This party arrived at the property at 10:30 am, when there check-in wasn't until 4. We had a back to back booking this weekend so a party had just vacated the premises and my property manager and myself were cleaning the home before this party arrived. They had rented both properties so there party was able to start entering the other property seeing as it was already clean. We did allow them to unpack there wedding decor and have deliveries left in the garage of the main house. The party was informed upon arrival that there was no internet connection due to the actions of the previous guests. There was no time for us to have the internet provider up to the property to re-establish connection. This party had no problem with that. They were also informed that there was only one working hot tub and were okay wih that as well. There is a clause in our contract (which I will email to home away) that states our guests are to purchase firewood at the grocery stores in town. This party used every piece of our firewood for a bonfire which they had on the driveway concrete. They left ash everywhere. The gate to the overflow parking was closed but had been unlocked prior to the guests arriving. The property manager lives onsite and was on the property during this time. They could have gotten ahold of her easily. Th reason I held there security deposit was not simply because of a little dirt on the steps. I am not that petty. The smaller house was a complete disaster and clearly had housed more people than the contract allowed. They also had more guests in there party which is another breach of contract. This party received a very discounted rate because they were teachers on a tight income and we were trying to accomodate them as best we could. Unfortunately we cannot please everyone but we try very hard to do just that. This party was informed months ago that they would not be receiving there deposit back. A poor review on my home will not make me change my decision.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 14/14

• Excellent property and excellent care taker

  Excellent property and excellent care taker

  • Guest Padma
  • Date of stay 05/27/11
  • Review Submitted 05/31/11
  The owner as well as the care taker, Kris were very good at very stage of the whole process. Cheryl and Kris we really loved your place and our kids loved it too. Thanks .

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Padmaja, Thank you so much for your kind words. While at first, we were quite skeptical about a group of teenage girls, as you know. However, after spending time round each person in your group, not only the girls, but the Teacher and chaperons as well, we could not have asked for better house guests. Please come back next year with your girls or just come up with family. You and your entire group will always be welcome at this house. Thank you again for taking such good care of the house.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/6

• Just As Promised.....

  Just As Promised.....

  • Guest GoB
  • Date of stay 02/04/10
  • Review Submitted 06/02/10
  I had to ask Kris the "perfect hostess", just to be sure, that what was floating by my head were actually CLOUDS...I mean, clouds that I could reach out and touch, that were floating in through an open patio door. I was speechless. This house and the smaller home on the property, Camelot, served as the home base for a state wide company gathering. From the time we arrived and were warmly greeted by Kris, we felt right at home. The welcome we received was honest and each one of us appreciated it. The property was amazing and truly above and in the clouds. Thank you Kris and Cheryl for everything. We will be back.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/13

• Would have received a 5 plus rating if ...

  Would have received a 5 plus rating if ...

  • Guest Ron of Canada
  • Date of stay 12/11/09
  • Review Submitted 05/23/10
  The home above expectation. Kris the hoWme keeper is wonderful and truly cares about the guest in the home. Our family of eleven had lots of room for all of us and everyone of us loved the home. the fog on the road up sometimes a little scary to drive but the view at this home is worth it. We would love to come back to this home and have another vacation in the bay area. We have not received our promised refundable deposit and it has now bee five months. that would be the only thing that I could say could be improved. Everything else about this home was above and beyond our expectations. Christmas 2009, thank you Cheryl and Kris. Your new friends from Canada

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

  Owner response: My New Friends from Canada. Ron, you and your family will always be welcomed guests at my property. Each and everyone in your group were the perfect house guests and I appreciate that more than you will ever know. I am happy that we came to an understanding regarding the return of your deposit. Thank you very much for your patience, as well as your sympathy regarding the situation surrounding my grand child. The fact that you enjoyed your Christmas vacation at my property, coupled with being in a position to make it all work for you, was an honor and a pleasure. Please come back real soon..my door is always open for you. Thank you once again for your kind words and your never ending patience.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/12

• Great Vacation

  Great Vacation

  • Guest wog
  • Date of stay 12/14/09
  • Review Submitted 01/08/10
  Over the holidays, we rented this house for our traditional family gathering. We choose this house based on 2 important things. One being the centralized location and the second being the owner and her assistant, Kris. The house itself was enchanting and the view was spectacular. Kris greeted us upon our arrival, as the owner was detained, and walked us through the house, answered all of our questions and left her home number, telling us to call her if we had any further questions and/or if a problem happened to arise. Making us feel welcome, seemed to be at the top of the owners priorities and had passed that mission on to her assistant. The house was set up perfectly for our group, as we had a wide variety of ages. The added bonus was the play room, which was set up for kids, young and old, but wasn't isolated from the rest of the group. Upon Kris' suggestion, we made s'mores on 4 different nights, using the fire pit on the back patio. The kids had a ball and the adults enjoyed the view, creating a great family memory. We even turned on the stereo and danced around outside and just laughed and enjoyed each others company. I was quite struck by something Kris said to us when we arrived and thought it was just lip service....but soon found out, she meant it. She said...."The house is all yours and on behalf of the owner, we welcome you and appreciate that you and your family decided to include this house as part of your celebration. We are honored to have you. So please enjoy, relax and do not hesitate to call me if you need anything." Needless to say, we did call her....asking about some wood for the fire pit, as we had used the supply that was left for us....and within 5 minutes her and her husband,Paul, arrived with a wheel barrow full of wood, even a starter log. She also emptied our garbage at that time. Yes, this house was our home. It wrapped its wonderful arms around all of us and made us feel so comfortable, there were times I forgot I was on vacation. If you want a truly wonderful experience, surrounded by great views, wild life, perfect hosts and comfortable feeling of home.....try this house.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/17

• Amazing

  Amazing

  • Guest Threepeater
  • Date of stay 10/26/09
  • Review Submitted 11/27/09
  I am a repeat guest at his lovely house and would never dream of staying anywhere else, while in this area, except here. The owner is always a pleasure to deal with and has provided a clean and well stocked house on each of my visits(3 times). The peaceful surroundings are nothing short of perfect and when the rest of the family come up to enjoy a family gathering, there is plenty of parking for all. Each room is filled with something old and beautiful. You will never mistake any one of these bedrooms for a motel room. The decor is too well put together, too elegant and much to comfortable. I love the fact that I don't have to worry about a close neighbor looking at me, as there is no one close enough to see in any window. In fact, there are no window coverings on any of the windows, which I love, because there is nothing in the way to block the view, which is great from every window in the house. At night, the sounds remind me of the farm I grew up on. As a young girl, listening to the frogs, crickets, coyotes and owls. This house takes me back to that time and I am totally relaxed. Admittedly, the first time I drove up to the house, I was a bit taken a back by the road, but it was worth the drive. At the top I found Heaven. Just a short distance away, in the town of Livermore, I found great dining, live theater and a wonderfully delightful downtown area. This is the perfect place to stay and still be close to other attractions. But the house, the house is a wonderful place. Pictures could never do this house justice, you just have to experience it for yourself. I strongly encourage any looking in this area, to give this house a try.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/17

• Satisfied in every way

  Satisfied in every way

  • Guest Threepeater
  • Date of stay 11/06/09
  • Review Submitted 11/24/09
  My family recently stayed at this beautiful home while in the Bay Area for a Family Reunion. As soon as we entered the home, we were immediately impressed with the lovely marble entry with the chandeliers hanging from the tall ceiling. As the owner and her assistant showed us from room to room, ohs and ahs from every member of the family filled the air. Each room was tastefully decorated with antiques, from the beds all the way to the light fixtures (some even from a ship) The kitchen had everything needed to cook anything we wanted, I mean this kitchen had things that my kitchen at home doesn't even have. I was impressed with the way the owner had thought of even the youngest family members, by dedicating a whole room for them to play in. The owner referred to this room as the 'playroom" and that is exactly what it was, complete with toys(all kinds of toys), board games, puzzles, outside games, a tv, a reclining couch and of course an antique desk. She also had available for use, a portable play pen. The Master bedroom had its own small library with a wood burning stove and patio doors leading to the outside. I spent a lot of time, just relaxing on the couch(which is also a hide a bed), glass of wine(from one of the local wineries) in hand, reading and looking out at the wonderful view from the library. Did I say wonderful view? This view is simply to perfect to but into words. As impressed as all of us were with the inside, once we made our way to the back patio and witnessed this view..we were speechless. So impressed was I, that I didn't hear another word being said. Later when it got dark, we lit a fire in the fire pit and all of us sat quietly, listening to the sound of coyotes howling at the moon(it was full), the owls calling out and breeze blowing lightly through the trees. All of this while sitting under a blanket of stars. Needless to say, if you and your family want to relax after a day of going to the regular tourist stops, this is the house for you. The owner encourages you to come up and take a look at the property before making a commitment. We were truly impressed with this, as it proved that the owner had nothing to hide and she recognized the importance of a satisfied customer. We will be back. In fact, our niece is planning on having her Wedding Reception at this house, with 200 guests to attend.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, people with disabilities.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/16

• Unhappy

  Unhappy

  • Guest Rosa1234
  • Date of stay 07/01/09
  • Review Submitted 11/04/09
  Our family rented this vacation home in July 2009. The description and pictures on the website did not hold true. The hottub was broken, the gas grill did not work properly, there was no computer available, no internet access, and the kitchen had old and expired spices that could not be used. The house did not have any curtains or blinds on any of the windows...not even in the master bathroom. There was no comfortable patio furniture to sit on...no chairs, no table and no umbrella for shade. The owner never returned my phonecalls, and withheld a large amount of our refundable security deposit without providing any proof or receipts accounting for the extra charges that she claimed us for. I would not recommend this property!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 14/19

• Glorious!!!

  Glorious!!!

  • Guest larrycan
  • Date of stay 06/09/09
  • Review Submitted 07/10/09
  Nothing can compare to the outstanding visit we experienced when our family rented this home for our reunion in the East Bay. Both the home and the private surrounding grounds were immaculate, spacious and elegant. The owner bent over backward to be certain everything was perfect. She obviously cared about our comfort and made certain we were happy with the accomodations. I certainly would recommend this home.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/9

• Excellent Property

  Excellent Property

  • Guest Pathway
  • Date of stay 05/15/09
  • Review Submitted 05/20/09
  The property was roomie, clean and great location with wonderful views of the Livermore and central valley.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/9

Rates range from $375-$475 per night; based on number of overnight guests.
Holiday rentals or special needs may increase this rate.
Weekly rates include 1 night free; reserve for 7 but pay for 6.
Cleaning fee (non-refundable) ranges from $350-$400 based on number of guests.
There is a 10% Occupancy Tax. A $500 Refundable Security Deposit is required.
This property DOES charge separately for events and/or groups for day use.
When inquiring, please provide information about the type of gathering and
the expected number of guests.  We will provide you with a quote.

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