Vacation Rentals by Owner

WE LEFT OUR HEARTS IN SAN FRANCISCO

Guest: J & J (North Easton, MA)
Date of Stay: 10/17/11 Review Submitted: 11/07/11

Perfection..accommodations, location, transportation and communications!!! We stayed for 12 days and didn't want to leave. The apartment is exactly as depicted and described. Mark is super easy to work with and has a fun sense of humor. All of his recommendations were spot on, especially getting the Muni card for a week..What a deal!! We hopped on and off cable cars and buses and explored a different neighborhood every day. It is very efficient and safe. Highly recommend walking across the Golden Gate, trip to Alcatraz and drinks at the Top of the Mark.. We've never done these in past trips, thinking they were "too touristy"...so glad we did this time. Also don't miss going up to the rooftop to watch the sunset with a killer view of the Golden Gate....

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

FANTASTIC APARTMENT!!

Guest: Stuffed Olive (North Branford, Connecticut, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

We just returned from a ten day stay at this Russian Hill apartment and had a terrific time! Communication with the owner was easy, directions to the apartment were spot on, and the location cannot be beat (right on the Hyde/Powell cable car line). The space is clean, stylish and modern but with the charm of an older building and quiet. You can hear the distant clanging of the cable cars and that was delightful. The bedroom was spacious, the king bed extremely comfortable and with nice linens. The full kitchen is stocked with everything you need and the bathroom is equipped with a super nice rain head shower. A special little nook area off the living room is a great place for watching the fog roll in and relaxing. Area restaurants are very good, and a walk down the hill to Polk St. offers so much more. You can easily walk to North Beach, Chinatown, & Fisherman's Wharf. Public transportation is fine to get around but if you're feeling adventerous, we recommend renting a scooter. It's a fun way to cover a lot of territory and not have to worry about parking. We definitely left our hearts in San Francisco!

Owner response:I couldn't sum it up better. Thanks so much. Hope you can come back. Return guests get a day free!

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

brilliant stay!

Guest: Claire M. (Markinch, Fife, Scotland)
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

We have just spent a wonderful 4 nights in this beautiful apartment. The apartment is everything it appears to be in the photos and description. Russian Hill is a wonderful area. We rode the Powell and Hyde Cable Car to arrive and leave. We had our wedding anniversary meal in Frascatti at the foot of the street and we walked to Fisherman's Wharf area several times to pick up the tour bus, take the ferry to Alcatraz and rent our bikes to cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge. We stayed in several great places in our US trip and this appartment was one of the best and we voted the shower 'best of all'.

Owner response:Cheers! It's hard not to have a romantic thought in that shower.....oooooo!

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

We loved this place

Guest: Vanessa (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 03/03/12

We had the most wonderful 10 day stay last Easter at Mark's beautiful apartment. We felt so at home from the moment we walked in the door. The apartment is extremely spacious, with absolutely everything we could possibly need. It exceeded our expectations and more than lived up to the website description and photos. We really felt as if we lived in this lovely part of San Francisco. It is easy to walk down to Fisherman's Wharf, and excellent exercise to walk home again up those wonderful hills. The views all around more than make up for the effort. Or you can take the cable car back up the hill. On arriving at SFO airport after a 14 hour flight from Sydney, we took the train from the airport, then the Powell and Hyde Cable Car to arrive at Green Street, all very easy. The cable car stop is just on the corner, and gives a scenic ride back to downtown San Francisco. There are plenty of local shops and restaurants, we especially liked Frascati on the corner of Green and Hyde. Polk St is just a couple of blocks away and offers an interesting range of bars, restaurants and shops. I have recommended this apartment to friends, and would love to stay there again if visiting San Francisco another time. We loved sitting in the nook watching the changing weather roll across the hills, and the view of the Golden Gate bridge from the roof and the front entrance took my breath away every time.

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

Couldn't be better!

Guest: Sharrie and Bud (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 09/22/10 Review Submitted: 10/03/10

Our recent trip to San Francisco was a celebration of our 40th anniversary, and we were hoping it would be something extra special. When we got to the apartment on Russian Hill, we knew that it would be. The location is in a lovely and safe up scale residential neighborhood just a few blocks from everything you might need. Falling asleep and waking to the sound of the Hyde Street Cable Car is total San Francisco, and something we will not forget. The apartment is just the right combination of luxury and functionality. The bed, the linens, towels, etc are high quality. The kitchen left nothing to the imagination, and the rain shower was unique. The owner and onsite manager are there to help you if you need something or just want advice about The City and its many adventures. San Francisco is a spectacular visual treat, and the apartment is your very own part of the show. Sit in "the nook" and watch The City wake up in the morning, and put on a light show every evening just for you. Moreover, let us not forget the million-dollar view of The City, San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz and The Golden Gate Bridge from the roof. We certainly will not.

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

Excellent!

Guest: SH (London, England)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

Just wanted to re-confirm all previous 'excellent' reviews and comments for this apartment, staying here really made our holiday - so much better than staying in a hotel! The apartment is lovely, clean, modern and well equipped and in the best location. Really easy to get to anywhere either on foot or via cable car or bus. There are some great restaurants nearby too - we tried Luella at the corner, Zarzuela's on the corner of the next block and Antica on Polk St twice because we liked it so much! This really is a lovely place to stay and if we ever go back to San Francisco we'll be very disappointed if we can't stay here again.

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

Exactly as Described

Guest: Kiwitraveler (New Zealand)
Date of Stay: 05/13/10 Review Submitted: 05/29/10

This apartment is exactly as described, very clean, comfortable and modern with great views of the city. We really enjoyed our stay. The location is amazing and the neighbourhood feels safe. We found there was no need for public transport as we were able walk everywhere, including to Golden Gate Park. Being so close to Polk Street is a real bonus because of all the great places to eat. Would definitely book again and recommend to friends and family. Thanks Mark.

Owner response:These guys are hardy! They make 'em strong in NZ. I'd thoroughly recommend getting a Muni pass when in SF!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Ivory Levine (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/23/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/09

When we opened the Roman shades each morning in the roomy, quiet bedroom of this fresh Russian Hill apartment, we realized that for just a few days we were given the opportunity to experience San Francisco as if we were residents. We tip-toed on the plush, modern rugs wisely placed over top- nailed old oak floors to preserve the neighbor's peace and quiet. Cooking in the modern kitchen was easy. All of Mark's restaurant recommendations were so appreciated and spot-on! As the sun set between the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tamalpias while we sat out on the roof, we counted ourselves among the lucky ones to have found this sweet, inviting place.

Recommended for:

Guest: Mary Ann11 (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/16/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/09

What a wonderful 10 days in San Francisco as tourists - and there is no doubt that the comfortable, well equipped, bright, and well located apartment at 1159 Green Street played a big part in our enjoyment of the city. The apt is exactly as advertised - clean, modern, but in an older building. The apt is in the back of the bldg. and is very quiet. We did, however, hear our upstairs neighbour in the mornings when he got up early for work - the wood floors creak. But we only heard him in the bedroom. We are in our mid-50s and had no trouble with the surrounding hills or the stairs to the second floor apt, but if you have any mobility issues this may not be the apt for you. The garden is an added bonus but we never seemed to have time to sit out. Watching the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge from the rooftop, with glass of wine in hand, is an unforgettable experience. Make sure you get a pass for the cable car and other buses because the apt is easily accessible to various routes - North Beach, China Town, Fisherman's wharf all within 10 minutes. We got up one morning at 7 am and rode the cable car down to Market St and then back to Fisherman's Wharf. There are plenty of lovely restaurants within several blocks and the Boulange at the corner of Polk and Green is fabulous for breakfast and lunch. Mark Tall was extremely easy to deal with and provided a lot of information in advance of our trip. We took the BART in from the airport to Powell Station and then picked up a cab at the Parc 55 hotel, which is just up the stairs from the Bart (it was about $6.50). The apt is slightly removed from the main tourist areas and we were so happy to return each night to the peace and quiet of a residential area. It takes no time to go anywhere, however, either by cable car or foot. We had a car for 3 days to go out of town, and parking is tricky. First night it took us over 20 minutes to find a spot, 2nd night, 2 minutes. But it is true what they say about parking in San Francisco - avoid a car if at all possible. Great vacation and we would have absolutely no problem recommending Mark Tall's apt.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/11/08 Review Submitted: 11/11/08

This was an absolutely delightful place to stay with its lovely interior, (bright and spacious), excellent bed, elegant shower, and great access to public transportation. The owner is an excellent host, making sure things are comfortable for guests and giving superb suggestions for eating out! Loved it.

Recommended for:

Guest: Gina G. (Oakton, VA)
Date of Stay: 11/04/08 Review Submitted: 11/04/08

We canceled our reservation at the Westin because we wanted to experience San Francisco while staying in a "real" neighborhood. The second we walked in were so happy that we had made the change. The flat is modern, yet has a warm homey feel, it's absolutely immaculate (we like the no shoes bit) and has everything you need to relax, cook or hang at any time of day. We loved having morning coffee in the nook. It is also very quiet for city dwelling. It is close to everything, if you are in good shape you can walk the entire city from this location. If you don't want to walk there is plenty of cheap and good public transportation a block away. 'Wish we could have stayed longer. We will definitely be back. oh - We went to Napa and Tahoe after 5 days in San Fran and got homesick for this place.

Recommended for:

Guest: Gail Johnson2 (Lititz, PA)
Date of Stay: 09/09/08 Review Submitted: 09/09/08

We stayed for a week, one of our best vacations ever. The apartment is spacious, bright & comfortable, plenty of room for the 3 of us. The location is perfect, 1/2 block from the cable car, block from the bus stop. Definately do not need a car while you are here, buy a 7 day muni pass on line or at the airport when you arrive. Great restaurants within a few blocks, follow the owner's suggestions, you can't go wrong. The kitchen has everything you need for days you want to cook, we went to the farmer's market at the Ferry Terminal building and feasted on fresh fish & produce. The owners are great, we hope we can come back & stay here again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Sandy S. (Westerville, OH)
Date of Stay: 09/08/08 Review Submitted: 09/08/08

Perfection ..... location, amenities, ease of renting, spotless, heavenly linens and bedding,FABULOUS rain shower...the list is endless. Everything in the condo of the highest quality. You can count on me as a regular!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Yen1 (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/02/08 Review Submitted: 09/02/08

We stayed in the apartment for 3 days in August. The neighborhood, location and nearby amenities were all fantastic. There are not only plenty of taxis that drive through the area (very convenient if you are looking to get somewhere in a hurry) but there are nearby transportation options as well (cable car and SF muni bus) that make it a very central location from which to explore all of San Francisco. Best of all was the apartment, which was bright, spacious, well-designed, modern and very comfortable. It was a wonderful place to put up the feet and relax after a day of sightseeing and eating our way around San Francisco. We would have loved to have stayed longer and will definitely be looking to stay again at this apartment when we are back in San Francisco.

Recommended for:

Guest: Leslie Ross (Charlotte, NC)
Date of Stay: 07/27/08 Review Submitted: 07/27/08

We enjoyed every minute of our stay at 1159 #3-- please count us in for an annual visit--maybe for two weeks next time!! We especially enjoyed this place as it is in the neighborhood where we lived in the 1980's. The apartment is so wonderful--beautiful inside and out, quiet, with everything we needed to relax at home or step out the door to Frascati (wonderful as advertised) and the Wine Bar (a couple of good glasses of Burgundy), not to mention Zarzuela and Swensen's. When we cooked in (3 of the nights) we found all the kitchen tools and equipment we needed to feel at home. We went to the Ferry Bldg farmer's market on Saturday and brought back some goodies--it is easy to get there and back on the cable cars. We got a 7-day MUNI pass and rode all over the city. We took Bart from the airport and then the 45 bus within a block of the apartment--upon leaving, we took the cable car on Hyde to Powell and hopped on Bart to the airport. A definite recommendation for anyone who stays at your apartment. We are glad we didn't have to worry about finding parking. Not to mention the walking--everything is so accessible by foot including the little hidden walkways all over Russian Hill that one misses if in a car--we covered at least 5 miles each day. The views from the apartment are magnificent and the sound of the cable cars is magical. ---

Recommended for:

Guest: D. (Fairfax, VA)
Date of Stay: 07/13/08 Review Submitted: 07/13/08

My husband and I stayed in this beautiful condo, and we loved it. Everything from the location to the furnishings was excellent and first class! We wouldn't have had nicer surroundings in a 5 star hotel. We would definately stay in the condo again--we can't wait to return.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anita Michael (Germantown, TN)
Date of Stay: 06/12/08 Review Submitted: 06/12/08

Our family of 4 were the 2nd guests to stay at this fabulous property. The location was perfect - 10 blocks from the wharf, and there were numerous trendy shops, bars, and restaurants in the vicinity. The amenities were excellent... Everything from the beautiful furnishings, state-of-the-art kitchen and bath (you have to try the shower!), glorious king bed, and 40" plasma TV. The upper deck above, and the courtyard below the condo, were both very inviting and relaxing. I would definitely stay at this property again and again if we visit the west coast in the future.

Recommended for: