Multi-Family Get-Away Home on Lauderdale Lakes in Southeast Wi

• Great getaway!

  Great getaway!

  • Guest Mary P.
  • Date of stay 03/22/13
  • Review Submitted 04/16/13
  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the vacation home! The house is beautiful.... Spacious, plenty of room for big groups, and so much to do! The outside is just as great with a beautiful lake and spacious yard. It is an easy ride from Chicago and close to lake Geneva. We will definitely be coming back in the future with our families!

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• Fun Family Weekend

  Fun Family Weekend

  • Guest Anne
  • Date of stay 02/01/13
  • Review Submitted 02/06/13
  The house was all it was billed to be . . . and more. We had three families -- 6 adults and 8 kids (ages 6 to 13). Everyone had a great time. There is lots do outside (sledding, skating, skiiing) and lots to do inside (pool, ping-pong, games galore). Our kids were super excited to find the inflatable castle and maze! The knick-knacks made "I Spy" a room-by-room favorite. Don't park in the snow on the lower level unless you have 4 wheel drive to get back up!

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

  Owner response: We love it when the house is appreciated AND Mother Nature cooperates. This group took advantage of nearby skiing at Alpine Valley, with the added luxury of on-going snowfall throughout the weekend. It also sounds like they made full use of our conglomeration of sleds. We love sharing them so people can take mini joy rides down our hill--just enough of a slope to get a good run in but not so much that the climb back up is a hassle. The drawback to the snow of course is having to navigate the driveway. They were very resourceful and found the shovels in the garage, but we don't expect you to dig yourselves out of a snowstorm--our local plow guy is on standby just waiting for a call if needed. Skating and broomball/hockey on the lake are also great when conditions are good. And does anything beat hot chocolate (or a hot toddy) in front of the fire after an invigorating outdoor activity?! Our year-round house welcomes people who know how to make winter their friend! The best thing this group told me when their weekend was over? They're already checking their calendars for a summer date.

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• OMG - !!! This house is awesome!!!

  OMG - !!! This house is awesome!!!

  • Guest Steve
  • Date of stay 12/01/12
  • Review Submitted 12/06/12
  I took a small group of friends and their kids for a weekend, and I wish it was for two weeks! There is so much to do and so many places to hang out, giving adults and kids plenty of alone time. The great room is huge and the kitchen peninsula seats 10 or 11, and the dining table seats 10 too. So meal time was great to all be together, and the family room affords a great family game time experience. The views and privacy were top notch. The kids all loved the kayaks, canoe, and paddle boat. Super cozy feeling in all of the rooms!! We didn't need to bring half the stuff we brought, the house had everything we needed. The deck is awesome, and has a huge high end gas grill. Grilling was fun on that thing, and it didn't take long to feed everyone. The play room downstairs kept everyone busy and excited the whole time we were there. The tavern (with a fireplace too) was a great place for the adults - right next to the game room. The kids all loved the huge bunk room (so did the adults - the house layout is so cool). The owner of the house was very kind, and answered questions I hadn't asked yet!! (Regarding fun places to go if we wanted to get a bite or take a nature trail hike, etc.). The only drawback is that we were only able to stay for a weekend - I plan on taking a larger family trip as soon as possible - for a week. This is a great place to unwind (or not) for all ages and have high quality time together. Spreading out and being alone to read is easy too. The house was clean, and nothing tricky to deal with. The paddle tennis court in the big open driveway was a blast for my whole group - we played until the last minute! I would recommend this place to anyone - in a second.

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

  Owner response: We love this kind of group--they know how to have fun, which is what our house is all about! It just goes to show that there really isn't an "off-season" if you have the right combo of people in a location with lots to do, even in the first weekend of December. Not only did this gang take full advantage of what our home has to offer, they even left the place better than they found it. They re-stocked the Pictionary dry erase markers (they tend to dry out quickly from regular use), and the ping pong paddles, which also get quite a workout, and they left the place in great shape. They would probably even do windows, but we'll save that for the cleaning service. :) It's always a little scary letting other people stay in your home, especially when it's fully stocked like ours. Our friends have suggested we put our personal belongings in storage, but that would take away half the fun, the conveniences and the ambiance out of the place. We want our visitors to feel like they're at a home away from home. Luckily, time and again people like this group have proven that the risk of opening up your home for others is low and the rewards are high. These reviewers are the prime example of that. We look forward to their return!

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• One of a kind Get Away

  One of a kind Get Away

  • Guest Dan D
  • Date of stay 11/30/12
  • Review Submitted 12/04/12
  This entire property and its owners deserve a applause. Please take a bow with pride for what you have accomplished. My family and friends joined this past weekend. We are all still talking about our time here. We have stayed several times over the years and keep coming back for many reasons. The care and dedication to the property is evident in every area. The one "poor" reviewer here may need a hug. Water access, fun room, and scenery make this home a perfect getaway, not so far away. We spent as much time looking at all of the antiques as did watching wildlife from the deck. I love this place and will return as long as possible. My kids have made me promiss to go every year. Chris is a pleasure to work with. See you next season.

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

  Owner response: It's unusual that 2 members from the same party post a review, but it just makes us doubly happy that they took the initiative to give some feedback to help other potential travelers make a decision. If you really want to be guaranteed a good time, you should go with these guys! They'll show you how to maximize all the nooks and crannies, play game tournaments, take advantage of Mother Nature--all while treating the house with the respect and the fun spirit it cries out for. We love it when the reviews do the talking for us. Of course, we're happy to field any questions, too, but who knows better how the house functions than those unbiased folks who have been there, right? We truly appreciate groups like this, and look forward to more friends and families like them creating special memories under our roof.

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• Best Thanksgiving Ever - big enough for all 17 of us!

  Best Thanksgiving Ever - big enough for all 17 of us!

  • Guest BridgewayFamily
  • Date of stay 11/21/12
  • Review Submitted 12/03/12
  We stayed in this gorgeous house with 8 adults, 9 children, ages from 2-70 years old for our Thanksgiving weekend. I can’t remember a better Thanksgiving. It was cold, but the views were still beautiful from the house. The fireplaces were awesome, and there was an abundance of firewood outside to use. We only left the house to go to the grocery store and were never bored. There is plenty to do in the house for all ages – books, card games, toys, etc. A special find was the original Nintendo with Mario 3 – lost about 4 hours from 11pm-3am one night playing! The kids and adults bonded over intense games of pool, foosball, and ping pong in the game room while the non sporty people could be away watching tv, reading a book, or spreading out in any of the many spaces in the house. The bunk room upstairs is where all the kids slept, and they loved it – what a great idea! We slept in the basement bedroom with our 2 year old in the crib. It has inspired me to buy blackout curtains because he’s never slept better in his life. We actually got to sleep in! A couple of the guys decided to do the polar plunge and jump into the lake at 23 degrees outside. Definitely a great memory for all of us – and a hilarious facebook post for the family to share. You will not want for anything at the house, the kitchen had everything we needed to prepare Thanksgiving Dinner for 17, and the owners even left us all their holiday dishes and decorations which was really wonderful of them. We broke the wishbones on the last day, and my 5 year old son won his – when we asked him what he wished for he said, “I wish we could stay here for 100 more days”, which really sums up everyone’s feelings. This is not a typical rental. I have rented numerous houses from VRBO over the past 10 years, and this is the most unique house I’ve ever stayed in. This really is someone’s home that they have decided to rent out, not a rental that someone decided to stay in occasionally. My inlaws are huge antique buffs, and loved the decorating. Every day he would find something new and say – “did you see that picture over there?” or “did you see all those antique phones?” It was really private and quiet. I would rent this house again in a moment, and highly recommend it to anyone. We had no problems, and no complaints.

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

  Owner response: Not only are we lucky that such a great family celebrated Thanksgiving at our home, but the bonus is having someone who must've been an A+ English major writing a review for us! Thanks for sharing your fun anecdotes, and especially for bravely embracing our family's Polar Bear Plunge tradition. We're tickled pink that you enjoyed the Mario 3. Next time you visit, though, we might have to impose house rules on you for your own sake. When our kids were little we kept them from getting too carried away by imposing a rule that Nintendo/video games could only be played before breakfast or after dinner, especially when Mother Nature beckons everyone outdoors to play Capture the Flag, engage in a driveway paddle tennis tournament, sled down the hill even if there's just a dusting of snow. On second thought, you can play as long as you want. It's YOUR vacation, and we're so happy you chose to enjoy it at our house. Unless you win the lottery you probably won't be booking for 100 straight nights, but hopefully your son's wish will come true on a smaller scale and you'll return many times in the future.

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• House For All Ages

  House For All Ages

  • Guest Nelson
  • Date of stay 07/25/12
  • Review Submitted 11/29/12
  We rented this property because we needed a reunion with my husband's college buddies and their children. Our last reunion was five years ago. It is hard to find a place for 21 people plus some day visitors. There was plenty of sleeping and playing room here. The kitchen provided ample room for the cooks and many kids eating at once. The long dining table provided extra seating and room for a group all ages puzzle endeavor! The basement and outdoor areas are where we all lived. The kids ages 9-19 loved playing foosball, ping-pong, and doing gymnastics on the mats in the walk out basement. Rumor has it- some moms too! All this, while the adults enjoyed the outdoor fire-pit; with an eye on the kids. The roomy living room enabled all Olympic and movie watchers a great view. Everyone enjoyed the kayaks, fishing, and canoe on the water. The owners made it simple for us to bring our own boat and do some tubing on the lakes. The swimming is not great. However, our group went to Lake Geneva for the day and really enjoyed a beach day together; as well as the tweens hitting some shopping! At the house, there is an upper and lower deck, lots of room to spread out and have adult, kid, and family time. The hosts were welcoming and forgiving of our enthusiasm for the property; as well as the dates we requested! We had 10 adults and 11 children; everyone enjoyed a great weekend!

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

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• If you like fun, you'll love this house!

  If you like fun, you'll love this house!

  • Guest Kim G.
  • Date of stay 09/07/12
  • Review Submitted 10/02/12
  Our eight night stay was as close to perfect as I could have hoped for! At our max, we had 20 people staying there, and it was perfectly comfortable. This house has anything and everything to ensure a fun and comfortable stay. If you have kids, this is the house for you. The basement has a huge playroom with a ton of toys, so we didn't have to worry about hauling our own toys up there, which is a huge bonus. That being said, even if it's just adults this house is amazing. The tavern in the basement made for some really fun nights after the kids went to bed! The location of the house is great too, because you have a ton of privacy. It has a north woods feel even though it's within two hours of Chicago. The deck, yard, and beach area are great. Another big bonus is it's within 20 minutes of Lake Geneva, so you are on a lake that isn't busy, but you have the bars and restaurants of Lake Geneva at your disposal. It was a pleasure to work with Chris, the owner. She sent me a ton of info to make our stay as nice as possible. She checked in with me during our stay to make sure everything was great. We also had a couple of mishaps that she was really understanding about. Overall, this was the most fun yet relaxing vacation I think I've ever had. We are already looking forward to next year!

  Owner response: It's always so rewarding when other groups enjoy our house as much as we do! It helps take the sting out of not being there ourselves as often as we'd like. We know how it is to have large groups there, so I tend to be very lenient with little mishaps caused by guests (within reason, of course). Nobody likes to have their security deposit dinged, and I understand that Things Happen. Leaving our personal items available for use requires a little faith and involves some risk, but it's silly to have all sorts of fun stuff there and then make things off limits. And if we cleared everything out, the house would lose half its appeal! Plus normal wear and tear on toys and games is pretty hard to avoid, so we'd rather people enjoyed our things and did their best to take care of them. I get an extra kick out of it when I notice that the dress-ups have been used by an adults-only group! This group was such a pleasure to work with that I'm already looking forward to their return visit next year. We might try to work it out so that we get a chance to meet in person; they seem like the kind of people we could enjoy a steamy cup of coffee or a cold beer with. That's the feeling I get from most of our renters. A large cozy home really seems to attract nice groups!

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• Couldn't be better

  Couldn't be better

  • Guest User
  • Date of stay 09/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/02/12
  This home is amazing! First of all, it's located on a point (quiet, no wake zone), so you feel like you have your own lake. Gorgeous views in all directions. The house itself is awesome, from the massive great room, to the second floor deck, from the tavern downstairs to all the sleeping areas upstairs...it goes on and on. I loved relaxing in the mornings on the sun porch. We took advantage of the paddle tennis court to have a tournament. There is so much to explore in this home it's unbelievable. We will definitely be coming back!

  Owner response: I should reiterate the advantages of the great privacy that this visitor enjoys so much, since others have also appreciated our unique setting. We're at the point of a peninsula, so we have easy access to the lake but can also just sit back and watch the scene out on the lake without having to endure jet ski and boat noise right out front. The binoculars are fun to spot skiers and birds with. Or the fishermen who seem attracted to the nature preserve area off to our left. You can also sit out on the deck late at night talking (or singing, even if you're off-key) without worrying about bothering the neighbors, since we basically don't have any! It's truly the best of both worlds--close enough to the action to enjoy it but not in the middle of things where your behavior might affect others.

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• Couldn't have been better!!!

  Couldn't have been better!!!

  • Guest User
  • Date of stay 09/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/02/12
  This home is amazing! First of all, it's located on a point (quiet, no wake zone), so you feel like you have your own lake. Gorgeous views in all directions. The house itself is awesome, from the massive great room, to the second floor deck, from the tavern downstairs to all the sleeping areas upstairs...it goes on and on. I loved relaxing in the mornings on the sun porch. We took advantage of the paddle tennis court to have a tournament. There is so much to explore in this home it's unbelievable. We will definitely be coming back!

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

  Owner response: Like this frequent guest, we never tire of the different activities and seasons to take advantage of at our house. We're coming up on the holidays, which are as much fun there as the summer months. There's nothing like a game of Capture the Flag in the side yard/forest after watching some football games and parades while the smell of turkey wafts through the house. Once the effects of the decadent Thanksgiving dinner kick in (all of you can eat at the same time either at the island or the dining area table), there are plenty of places for bodies to sprawl while playing Pictionary or just relaxing in front of the fire. Fast forward to Christmas time, when the chances are good that you can get some sledding in (we have a variety of types under the sunporch just itching to get out for some runs down our gentle slope) before it's time to come in for hot chocolate. If Mother Nature cooperates you can replace the paddle tennis tournament with an ice hockey or broomball game down on the lake. The best is when the whole lake freezes and you can walk or skate over to the restaurant. That's usually not 'til January. Unless there are trucks and huts out there, we always call The Landing first to make sure the ice is plenty solid. The cross country trails at the Kettle Moraine Forest Preserve make that another fun winter activity, and of course there's downhill skiing at nearby Alpine Vally. For the less active, there are all those couches beckoning...

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• User

  User

  • Guest Peachy
  • Date of stay 08/05/12
  • Review Submitted 10/01/12
  We can’t rave enough about our positive experience at this rental property. The owners were prompt and wonderful to work with throughout the entire process, paying attention to all kinds of little details to help us out. Plus, the place itself makes you say wow! It is incredible with such a homey feel, and it was large enough to accommodate our group, dinner seating and all. Some highlights of our trip were: the triple bunk beds, quality family time with billiards, fussball, ping pong, and board games in the game room, bocce ball in the yard, paddle ball in the driveway, paddleboating on the lake and blowing a kiss to the grand room moose. This place was a big hit... we hope to return!

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

  Owner response: I assume they meant User Friendly? This group was friendly for sure! We certainly hope these guys come back over and over again. Our repeat guests start to feel like family, and we enjoy hearing how they've made themselves at home. I love the anecdote about blowing kisses to the moose. He's sporting some handcrafted shades (thanks to the creative genius of a previous group), and thrives on the attention. The bunk beds are the only triples we've ever seen--they were special- ordered from a family man in MN who made sure they would be a fun safe haven for all ages. They are primo real estate for fort-building, a great bonding activity for all seasons and all group demographics! I'm glad this group pointed out the ample dining seating. Our favorite system is to have the food lined up buffet-style for serving on the counter, with all the kids seated at the island (the kitchen is double-wide so you can cook, dish up and sit at the same time). The parents/adults sit nearby at the dining room table. All 20 can dine simultaneously. When it's time for the dishes, the team that scored the fewest points in our mini-Olympics is on duty. We've done combos of ping pong, bocce, paddle tennis--you can customize the events to meet the interests and abilities of your gang! After dinner is the perfect time to relax with Pictionary by the fire, or squeeze in another quick kayak ride before the sun sets. The heartier souls can head down to the tavern to do some more bonding and maybe dare to try out the karaoke machine--probably most likely after partaking in a little liquid courage. (You'll be confused if you try to use the tappers on the bar--they're screwed on but not attached to hidden kegs!) I could go on and on about the things we love about our house, but why not just come and find out for yourselves? Maybe you can share some of your traditions with us and we can give them a try the next time we're there...

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Additional information about rental rates

Holiday Rate is slightly higher.

Fees:

• Refundable Damage Deposit: $1000
• Property Damage Protection: $49
• Taxes Included

Cancellation policy:

RENTAL AGREEMENT This contract is for rental of the Castino's Home Away from Home All checks should be sent to: Chris Castino at 3 Rolling Ridge Road Northfield IL 60093 Lake house address: W5690 North Drive Elkhorn WI 53121 HomeAway.com Property Number 190869; vrbo.com Listing Number 188550 This contract is for the following time period: ________________________________through__________________________, 2013. Day of the week and date of arrival Day of the week and date of departure Contact Person for your group is: NAME:_____________________________________________(Please print.) ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________ PHONE: (cell, home and work, listed in order of preference): ________________________;_______________________;______________________ email address:___________________________ Back-up name and contact info (esp. cell phone) in case I can't reach the key organizer : _______________________________________________________________________ Number in group: (20 maximum)_____ Special occasion?__________________________________ Adults:_______Age range:___________Children: _________Ages_________________ Your reservation will be confirmed and the website calendar booked in your name once a non-refundable deposit for 1/2 of the rental total has been received. The remaining balance is due a minimum of 45 days prior to arrival or booking cannot be guaranteed, along with a security deposit of $1,000 and a cleaning fee of $275. The security deposit will be returned within 30 days of your departure if the home was left in the condition in which it was found. Additional cleaning fees due to disarray above and beyond normal usage may be deducted from the security deposit at the owner's discretion, along with compensation if there are damaged or missing items beyond a reasonable level. The following information is not for rental payment, but is only to be used as needed if circumstances indicate it necessary after check-out. Please provide credit card information in order to guarantee your reservation and protect us in the event of major breakage and/or theft. This info will be kept in a secure place and will only be necessary in the event that catastrophic damage is discovered after your departure. This has never happened, but just in case... Credit card company:________________Number:______________3 digit code:______ Name on card:___________________________________Expiration date:___________ Non-refundable Rental Deposit paid: Amount:___________________Date:________ Balance due:_________________________ Due by:______________________ (Mark your calendars to send the remaining balance at least 45 days prior to arrival.) Security deposit check for $1,000_______ Cleaning fee check for $275______ Check-in is 3 pm and check-out is 10 am. Please check with me in the week prior to your arrival to discuss getting in. We don't have keys, but I'll make sure the house is open in time for the first of your group to gain entry. Usually the cleaning service leaves it open for you when they go, but depending on the season, the system varies slightly. Signature required: On behalf of my group, I/We_____________________________________________; _____________________________(signature(s)) agree to the above terms. I/We will accept responsibility for the required payments, and guarantee that proper care will be taken of the property during our visit. We also take full responsibility for the health and safety of all the guests in our group during our stay. Thanks for returning this promptly. Once we have received your payment, you will be sent additional information concerning house rules already included in the listing (no pets, smoking outdoors only, etc.) along with information on how to dispose of garbage during your stay, local restaurants, fun activities in the area, etc. Questions? Call Chris (847) 877-2003, (847) 441-7394, or email me at cmc7394@aol.com We look forward to doing business with you. Hopefully you'll enjoy and care for our home-away-from- home as much as we do!

100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date.