Vacation Rentals by Owner

Scenic Area, Perfect for a Small Group

Guest: Caitlin (Somerville, MA)
Date of Stay: 12/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

A party of 7 adults and an 18 month old stayed during a very warm New Year's Eve and had a great time. The lake is just a quick minute walk down the road and beautiful to look at. The house was very clean, the kitchen provided almost everything we needed to cook our way through the weekend. The fireplace provided warmth for the entire house. The dogs mentioned in another review were out in full force, but if you are in the backyard it's pretty easy to ignore them. They are big though and there are a lot of them, at least six. Overall, we had a fantastic weekend tucked away in a cozy house.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Property 191742

Guest: Sabra (Cornwall, England)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 10/23/11

stayed 09/17/11-09/21/11 The rental lived up to expectations according to the description we saw online. Prior to arrival, communications were excellent with owners. Full deposit was returned in a timely fashion. Owners were very flexible as far as allowing us to rent for only four days rather than make us pay for a full week as was the case with many others we contacted. This was very much appreciated!! Pros: The house was very comfortable, felt like we were house-sitting. The kitchen was loaded with plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, ... all you need for food preparation/serving and lots of staples, sugar, spices, condiments, etc. The place was well equipped with televisions including satelite or cable, games, movies, towels, sheets, and blankets. There were lots of birds, squirrels and a chipmunk who looked for their food daily which was supplied by the owners but needed to be put out by us. It was entertaining to watch them eat. The house was centrally located in the "Berkshire" area with ready access to everything you might need. The owners provided a decent amount of local information (things to do, grocery stores, restaurants etc, all with pretty good directions if you don't have a GPS). Cons: There is a neighbor with six dogs, I think there were three Rottweilers, two Doberman Pinschers, and a smaller heinz 57. There was a short flimsy fence that they could clear, and one did reported by one in our party! We own a German Shepherd so are not generally afraid of dogs but these dogs were scary and didn't obey their owner when he called them when they barked and growled at us. We were not comfortable being outside when the dogs were out and as a result didn't get to the lake more than once. Once, for no apparent reason, we didn't have hotwater. We were out all day and came home to make dinner. We discovered upon cleaning up that there wasn't any hotwater. We called the owner but he didn't seem too concerned or helpful in how to remedy the situation. He suggested we not use hotwater from more than one location at a time. Well, there was only one tap at a time trying to get hotwater. We tried the kitchen, then the bathroom. No luck. About 45 minutes later, there was suddenly hotwater. Pillows and microwave could use replacing. Stove is gas. Overall we enjoyed this home and thank the owners for the opportunity to have a decent place to call home while visiting with my husband's parents who came from Canada while we traveled from England.

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

AT

Guest: Side Trip (FL)
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

I rented this house for 4 weeks in 2010 & came back for another 4 weeks in 2011. Obviously I liked it. The location is excellent for hiking the AT & many other fine trails in NW MA. You can ride from the house to the Ashuwillticook Bike Trail - a short distance without serious traffic hazards.

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

This house was perfect for our stay!

Guest: Bill (South Jersey)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/07/11

We rented the house for a long weekend in late June and cannot wait to do it again. The house and property were super clean, convenient, comfortable and many other positive things. The owners were a pleasure to work with and I recommend this house as a perfect place to spend time at or use as a home base while exploring the local sights.

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

A GREAT ESCAPE

Guest: PETE&KAT (CARVER, MA)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 07/23/11

We really enjoyed our week in Cheshre. The location and the home were ideal for our needs. The bird feeder added entertainment to our morning coffee, and the delightful fireplace really enhanced the damp, chilly days that the weather sent our way. Added a nice romantic touch, too.

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

home away from home

Guest: Kim (Napa, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/05/10 Review Submitted: 10/08/10

My three sisters and I have a lovely vacation reunion in this lakeside house. Communication with the owners was always prompt, clear and helpful. The house itself was clean, spacious, and convenient to all destination points we were interested in. Moreover, the extras were appreciated: the gift basket of chocolates to greet us, the condiments filling the refrigerator and cupboards; and the many pots, pans, utensils, etc. to aid us with our many meals cooked during our stay. We especially enjoyed our visit to the Hancock Shaker Village and to Mt. Equinox summit. We wouldn't hesitate to return.

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

Relaxing

Guest: Fishing Crew (Chicopee, MA)
Date of Stay: 08/09/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

We were very impressed with everything and we had a very relaxing time. The house was very big and clean and we enjoyed watching the chipmunk & birds eat their seeds & peanuts. We also had a great time fishing and the neighbors we met were very friendly. I would highly recommend this house for relaxation.

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

Gorgeous Spring week!

Guest: First time in Massachusetts (Mesa, AZ)
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

We chose this location because it was close to our son's college, as he was graduating this May. We knew we wanted to be on a lake and get some fishing in that week; we had no idea this location would be so perfect for us. House was clean and well stocked; very comfortable and we caught fish every day! Lake is an easy and close walk and the private dock was very relaxing. Cheshire is close to so much! We took short visits to VT and used the bikes to ride the local trails. Owners were very comunicative and helpful. We would love to come back in the fall; best VRBO we have ever rented! Thank you so much for a wonderful week in MASS.

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

Guest: Jeff101 (Worcester, MA)
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/16/10

Wonderful little place. We had a group of 5 stay during the winter and there was plenty of space for everyone. Got to go ski Jiminy Peak which is only 20/25 minutes away. House was very clean and had everything we needed, there were even condiments in the fridge! (Have rented before and almost always forget to get ketchup/syrup/etc). Would love to see what the place is like in the summer, but winter was very picturesque. Highly recommend!

Recommended for:

Guest: Karen158 (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 09/02/09 Review Submitted: 09/02/09

This is a lovely country house: the kids loved feeding the ducks (and fish!) at the dock, the house had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Bike trail and many other activities nearby.

Recommended for:

Guest: Burt and Anita Cady (Millis, Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 08/28/09 Review Submitted: 08/28/09

We enjoyed your home very much with all its nice amenities, but we were out most of the time exploring the Berkshires. A favorite was going to the top of Mt. Greylock and eating a gourmet lunch at Bascom Lodge and climbing the stairs to the top of the War Memorial. Also, we visited the Crane Museum in Dalton and learned alot about papermaking out of rags. Thanks for the restaurant recommendations; we ate at Bob's Kitchen for 2 breakfasts and a dinner at Bass Grill. I imagine this area is spectacular in the fall foliage season--hope to return soon.

Recommended for:

Guest: Liz Massa (Springfield, MA)
Date of Stay: 08/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/18/09

We had an extremely peaceful weekend at the CHeshire house. The entire area is gorgeous, the mountain views are breathtaking. The house is within walking distance to the bike trail. There is great shopping close by. I was not expecting to be so close to everything but was---in a short stay we went to the Alpine SLide and Mt. Greylock. Firepit and fully stocked kithen is a very nice touch. We will absolutely be going again. Thank you!

Recommended for:

Guest: Tony13 (New York City)
Date of Stay: 01/16/09 Review Submitted: 01/16/09

Great place for a weekend getaway! Spacious, clean home in a picturesque location. Cozy for two, but plenty of room for the entire family. There are numerous recreational activities in the area if you are interested, or just stay in, like we did, and enjoy the view and charm of a New England winter wonderland. Why stay in a motel when for the same money you can have "your own" vacation home?

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/15/09 Review Submitted: 01/15/09

Our family enjoyed a wonderful New Year's at this lovely home. We were welcomed with a gorgeous basket filled with goodies for everyone in our party. My two small children especially enjoyed playing in the snow, going ice skating and visiting the ski resort minutes away. We had a great time!

Recommended for:

Guest: Andreas3 (Watertown, MA)
Date of Stay: 10/13/08 Review Submitted: 10/13/08

We really liked the house and its location close to the lake. The photo on the VRBO page actually does not do it quite justice, it is much nicer and has great lawn and porch. Everything in the house was in very good shape. We used it as a base to explore the foliage in the Berkshires. Recommended !

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/26/08 Review Submitted: 09/26/08

We really enjoyed our two weeks here this summer (2008). The house was comfortable and clean, and there was a welcome basket and fresh flowers to greet us when we arrived. Our kids loved watching the birds and chipmunks at the feeder, and feeding the ducks on the lake. There was so much to do in the area, we could have stayed much longer!

Recommended for:

Guest: michele 2 (Wantagh, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/04/08 Review Submitted: 09/04/08

My family and I stayed at this home in the summer (2008). It was very neat and clean. The bedrooms were a good size. The lake is beautiful and the farm stand up the road has amazing apple pie! I would love to go back in the fall, the mountain views are beautiful.

Recommended for:

Guest: Pat & Family1 (Long Island, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/11/08 Review Submitted: 08/11/08

We had a wonderful time, the house is clean and comfortable, and it felt like home as soon as we walked in. Our group included ages 14 months, 4 yrs, teens, and adults, including 2 senior citizens, there was plenty to do and see around the area for all to enjoy. We enjoyed relaxing on the deck in the mornings and evenings alike taking in the beautiful view. We enjoyed boating on nearby Lake Pontosic, shopping at Prime Outlets in Lee, Mini golfing, golfing range, enjoyed fresh fruits at a nearby farm stand, and feeding the ducks by the lake. We visited in July and we definitely plan to return again soon.

Recommended for: