Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Great Birthday Weekend!

Guest: DanielK (Seattle, WA, United States)
Date of Stay: 05/04/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

We came here for my fiance's birthday with some friends, and had a wonderful time! We cooked and BBQed to our hearts content, hiked the bluffs and beaches of the Island, played board games, drank single-malt scotch, and sang merry melodies. The hot tub was a particular triumph, as was the gorgeous view, the well-stocked kitchen, and the deck. Thanks for a great time!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Perfect Getaway

Guest: Nancy (Olympia, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/02/12 Review Submitted: 03/06/12

Loved the five days I spent at The Happy House! A lovely home perfectly located on Whidbey Island that provides breathtaking views and all the amenities of home. You need only bring a change of clothing! Everything from wine bottle openers & coffee supplies to kids' toys, movies & books is already there. It is centrally located between Langley & Oak Harbor in the charming community of Coupeville with easy access to the most charming shops & restaurants. The home can comfortably accommodate anywhere from one person to large families. I came alone for a much needed rejuvenation & was very happy with my stay! The views are spectacular and the only sounds you hear come from the seagulls & eagles soaring by. Definitely will return!

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

Quiet and Comfortable! Relaxing and Rejuvenating!

Guest: James (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 02/03/12 Review Submitted: 02/26/12

Can't Thank you enough for our wonderful stay at the Happy House. Thanks for all of the great recommendations, for the comfort of your house, for the beautiful views, and for the overall sense of peace. Perhaps we can come back again in the summer when the kids can play at the beach and we can relax on the amazing patio. It was just a little too chilly to spend much time outside this time. The bathrooms are amazing and all of the amenities of the house are just awesome. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

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

Happy House makes us HAPPY!

Guest: Sheila (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

For 20 years we have spent New Year's with our closest friends, another couple. For most of those years we've been moving around to different venues looking for the "perfect" spot. It needs to have a wood-burning fireplace, an outdoor hot tub, and allow dogs. Last year we discovered Happy House and loved it. We immediately re-booked and now have a standing reservation for our special weekend getaway. Between last year and this, they've completely renovated both bathrooms. They're GORGEOUS! The Sleep-Number bed is great. We watched one of the movies from the well-stocked supply. I can't say enough good things about Happy House and Shane is very easy to work with. It's also very kid-friendly though that's not one of our parameters.

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

Repeat Happy Vacationers

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

Shane and Martin, Thanks so much for opening your house on the holidays again this year. Our family of 5 adults 2 children and our granddaughter couldn't have been happier once again! Your Happy House doesn't dissapoint, and is well worth the 4 hour drive for some of our family members. We were welcomed back to the house with a pleasant surprise of brand new remodeled bathrooms. Great job, this is a huge improvement, and I can't even remember what they looked like before, but I new they were from the original house. The new linens, bed sheets and towels were also quite nice, I recognize some of the IKEA patterns, especially with all the extras in the closets. Your 10% discount was much appreciated for our return visit, and your recommendations for restaurants was dead on. We always go to the Oyster Catcher when we come to Coupeville, and found it to be superb once again. We will definitely return here for another visit, Thanks, Susan B

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

Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Anon.
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

Love it, love it, love it -- If I had my way we would never leave. The house is perfect, the view spectacular. Close enough to town to make it easy - far enough away to enjoy the quiet. Thanks you!

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not as advertised

Guest: tell-it-like-it-is (PNW)
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/12/11

This home was quite a disappointment for my family. My in-laws travelled from out of state for this vacation and we were excited because the reviews were so good! After our arrival I really thought we were at the wrong place. As soon as we walked in the first thing we noticed was a really bad smell. It was similar to wet dog smell. The house obviously had not been cleaned since the previous occupants left. We had to wash sheets & towels and sweep hair, food crumbs, and dirt that had all been left behind. Not a great way to start a vacation!! We are reasonable people and understand that sometimes things happen. After calling the owner, we were told they would get someone over right away to clean the place. It never happened and there was no more communication from them since then. After traveling such a long ways, we tried to make the best of it. It only got worse. We discovered the bathrooms were in serious need of repair. The drains did not work and left standing dirty shower water in the downstairs tub and it was no better in the upstairs sink. The kitchen has no disposal yet the owners don't provide a lid for the garbage where all the food obviously has to go. This did not help with the overall smell in this house. There are cobwebs and spiders throughout on the walls and ceilings. The base around the hot tub is falling apart. The bottom of the hot tub is incredibly filthy and when you turn on the jets, bubbles shoot 2 feet in the air making it look more like a fountain than a relaxing, quiet place to enjoy a soak. We tried to walk around the property to see the view of the water since it is obstructed by overgrown trees and shrubs, but the trail was covered in thorny bushes and hard to find. So instead we tried relaxing on the deck with all the dead, brown plants in the pots and the weeds growing out of the gutter. This house would be a lot more "happy" with a little TLC and a lot of maintenance. Anyone who is planning a visit should be aware of these issues so you can be prepared before your arrival. I wouldn't want anyone to waste a vacation (like we did) because you didn't know what to expect.

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Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Dick & Dabney Schmitt (Alexandria, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 08/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

How we have loved our stay at the Happy House...your recommendations for restaurants were perfect: we too had great meals at the OysterCatcher in Coupeville, Frasiers in Oak Harbor and Prima Bistro in Langley...most of all, though, we enjoyed your relaxing, beautiful place.

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This is a great place!!

Guest: Cindy (Salem, OR)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/20/11

We enjoyed our stay at the Happy House so much. Everything was just as described. We especially enjoyed the deck with the view of the Sound and Mt Baker. We spent a fair amount of time relaxing there and eating there. The house was very clean and everything was in working order. Whidbey Island is so beautiful and has a lot of fun things to do. We went clamming one morning and made a stew with our finds. I'd highly recommend this place and I hope to return soon. We had 8 adults (2 seniors, 3 adult children and their spouses) and an 18 month old and this house worked well for us.

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

Not a winner

Guest: RomanticCouple (Lacey, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

My wife and I have rented multiple VRBO listings throughout the Pacific Northwest for romantic get-aways. This is by far the worst. The vacation probably should have ended the moment we opened the front door and were all but overwhelmed by a musty smell. In addition the "housekeeping" left out their supplies; the beds were not made; the silverware was dirty in the drawers; there was limbs and branches laying all over everywhere making it looked almost abandoned; and as a computer engineer it took me almost an hour to get the internet back up and running. We reported all of this to the owners, including some possible reasons for the musty smell issues and received a response by snail mail nearly a month later with our deposit returned. The response was, roughly paraphrased, "Too bad." I couldn't recommend the "Happy House" to anyone.

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Thanks for an awesome week!

Guest: rpruthie (San Marcos, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/08/11 Review Submitted: 06/17/11

Thanks so much for sharing your home with us for a week! Everything was just as stated plus even better than I anticipated! Being 2000 miles away from home, it was so relaxing to have EVERYTHING that we needed right there in the house! The house was comfortable and relaxing - the well stocked kitchen made it easy to prepare meals. The washer and dryer made for a much easier trip as well. The deck area was beautiful and relaxing at all times of the day and night. The location was perfect! It's just far enough out of town to get the "away from it all feeling" but close enough to enjoy all the amenities of the area. This house was "hip enough" to keep the young ones entertained but comfortable and cozy enough to keep grandma and grandpa happy as well. I'd highly recommend and be quick to return!!

Owner response:So glad you had a wonderful time! Glad you could enjoy it just the way you wanted! Look us up again when you come visit! Shane

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

A Happy Place

Guest: Gina (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/15/11

We booked three nights at the "Happy House" back in April for the Whidbey Island Half Marathon and to celebrate a couple birthdays. It was so nice to have a cozy, gorgeous place to stay to rest up for the race. The weather wasn't great, but it didn't matter...having the amazing views, the hot tub, the unbelievably cozy couches and a great collection of movies helped us completely relax and feel like we were light years away from our busy lives. We also brought our dog and she enjoyed her little vacation as well. She slept for hours on the big dog bed provided by the owners, ran around the fenced yard, and loved taking nightly walks with us down to the water where she swam and chased seagulls. This is our second time at the Happy House and we can't wait to go back. Although the Whidbey Island Half Marathon course is a tough one, just the thought of going back to the house next year and soaking in the hot tub or sinking in the couches post-race makes it all worth it. This is one of our Happy Places and always will be.

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

Great Place to Stay for a Family Get-Together!

Guest: Marvin (Corvallis, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 02/10/11 Review Submitted: 02/24/11

Thanks for sharing your house with us. It had plenty of room and a great view. It's a very comfortable house to lounge in and visit! Lots of table space and a variety of rooms to use. We've stayed at many other places, and this one felt the most like we were staying at someones home. We were happy to find it well stocked with games, books and movies. We didn't use any of the toys, but would recommend this place for families with younger children. The walk to the beach was short. It was quiet, beautiful and somewhat "private feeling". We saw lots of birds and two mature bald eagles just down the street from the house. We got lucky and were able to use the hot tub under a clear evening sky. Thanks again for sharing your house with us…It met our needs well!

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

Lovely Christmas vacation at the Holiday House

Guest: Fi (Everett)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

We had a wonderful 4 days at this wonderful house. Very calm, serene, and perfect for lying around readying, napping, hot tubbing (every night) or watching movies. The hosts take wonderful care of you, and everything was laid out ready and waiting for us. Including ice cream!

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

So relaxing and rejuvinating!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/28/10 Review Submitted: 10/09/11

I will definitely stay here again! I was pleasantly surprised by the relaxing queit atmosphere of the house. Its perfectly sized for a family of six and wonderful get away place, so easy to get to from Seattle. I think it is underpriced, and I heard from the owner that they are doing some remodeling this winter, which will be amazing I'm sure based on the contemporary feel of the house. For a rental, this house pretty much has it all. Books, music, DVDs and tapes... But you don't even need that, because you can just sit on the deck and kick up your feet. You are completely surrounded by nature, and do not even hear your neighbors. This is a bargain for the house and the location, and is definitely a Happy House as advertised. Thanks for letting us stay!

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

Guest: luanne2 (everett, wa)
Date of Stay: 09/09/09 Review Submitted: 09/08/09

Shane, my family and I just wanted to let you know that we had such a relaxing time at your very homey place. My parents loved the view and of course the hottub was a hit with everyone. We were all mussel and clammed out by the time we left. The neighbors were all so friendly. We were lucky enough to meet the friendly chunky yellow lab who was taking an early morning stroll down the beach. The dogs loved the water and my kids got a kick of clams squirting them in the face. We appreciated the fact that you have everything that we needed. Your place was very accomodating and the drive was very scenic. Thanks again for sharing your home to us and letting us bring all 3 dogs. PS, all 3 squished themselves in the dogbed that you provided rather than using their own dog bed that we brought from home. I guess they like your dogs as well. Sincerely, The Te and Murro Family

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Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/20/09 Review Submitted: 07/19/09

Shane, Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know we were absolutely thrilled with the Happy House. We enjoyed a wonderful and much-needed relaxing vacation in your home. We were pleasantly surprised at every turn – from the wonderful accommodations with breathtaking views, to the beautiful artwork and terrific extras packed into your warm, comfortable, and lovely home. We all commented on the way the tension seemed to leave our bodies moments after arriving. The layout of the house worked perfectly for grandma/grandpa (us) downstairs, and mom/dad and baby (7 months) upstairs. Even George (the dog) was happy! We enjoyed nice walks during the day, dinner on the deck, and the hot tub at night. Thank you very much for sharing your home with us. We can’t wait until our next stay! Sincerely,Tony and Linda (Palmdale, CA)Michael , Jennifer and Dexter … and George (Seattle, WA)

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Guest: Mike107 (Seattle, WA & Chester, England)
Date of Stay: 05/26/09 Review Submitted: 05/26/09

8-6-08 Fantastic house you have! Understand why you call it the 'Happy House'! In particular the deck with the awesome views and the sun in the morning. Hot Tub... excellent!!! Local mussels are amazing! Many Thanks and our very Best Regards! Mike and Cindy, Seattle, and Steve and Alisa, Chester, UK

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/26/09 Review Submitted: 05/26/09

7-24-08 Thank you for sharing your Happy House. We were thrilled about the baby toys. My little girl had a great time. She really enjoyed the Tickle Me Elmo and the flash cards undr the TV. It is so refreshing to be on vacation and have stuff around that the kids can play with. The hot tub was wonderful and relaxing. The view is extraordinary. Thank you, Rachel

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Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Pat & Jim Smiley (Claremont, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/08/08 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and looked forward each night to coming back home to the Happy House...(we) could have spent the whole week on the deck. Thanks for sharing your piece of paradise with us...hope we can return soon.

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Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Angela & Adam Strow (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

We really enjoyed staying at the Happy House! It is so relaxing. Thanks for the quick turn around in your guests with the cleaning, you made our Holiday weekend! :) You have a beautiful slice of heaven here, I hope we can come back again someday.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/31/08 Review Submitted: 08/31/08

Wow, what an amazing getaway home. Relaxing, beautiful, and like they say feels like a million miles away from home. It was so nice at the 'Happy House' I could have sat on the deck all day and in the hot tub all night. Its a fully stocked home, so I'm glad I didn't need to bring anything but food. The have spices and other condiments, even coffee for the coffee maker. Wow, I cannot wait to take my family again and to tell my friends about this home. Thanks for the stay.

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Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Dennis/Vivien/Valerie/Serena/Anthony/Jonathan
Date of Stay: 08/24/08 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

Thanks for sharing this wonderful 'Happy House' with our family and the many things that are in it that make this place a home. We find it perfect for our family vacation and all of us appreciate your hospitality very much...Although 4 days are not quite enough here in this little slice of paradise, we feel renewed and ready to face tomorrow again...It has been the most pleasant vacation time and hope to be back some day! Many blessings to your family!

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Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Ann Thornton & Family (Everett, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/17/08 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

We have had a wonderful week staying at the "Happy House". Whidbey Island, and especially Coupeville, have always offered a special retreat when my parents come to visit. To be able to "live" here for a whole week was delightful! You have a beautiful home with a beautiful view...thank you!!! What a wonderful experience to be here in your lovely "Happy House" - a beautiful contrast to my Colorado country - so peaceful and quiet - sitting on the deck and soaking up the view is indescribable.

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Happy House Review (from guestbook)

Guest: Wilma - Newark, DE
Date of Stay: 08/10/08 Review Submitted: 02/24/12

Martin & Shane, may the blessings and peace that you shared with us through opening your home to strangers return to you many times. We enjoyed our stay, the views, the strolls, the warm beds, fresh air...How delightful. :) (from guestbook)

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