Vacation Rentals by Owner

Absolute Perfect Hideaway

Guest: Olga (Woodbridge, NJ)
Date of Stay: 02/17/12 Review Submitted: 02/20/12

A long weekend away sounded too good to pass up, but if we knew the type of town St. Michael's was, and that the house would be so historic itself, we would have stayed much, much longer! The locals were an absolutely pleasure and so kind, the scenery and antique stores great, and the overall atmosphere absolutely serene! The warm fireplace lit nights will be a pleasant memory of ours for many years to come, but we are hoping to come back next year, a little closer to spring/early summer, to really enjoy the blooming nature and fishing! The house had everything one would need for a stay - great kitchen supplies, comfortable beds and towels, friendly owner... - my list can continue on for many pages. Everything was in wonderful condition and exploring the house alone was a thrill! I think the biggest statement of all is that we are definitely coming back! Thank you!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Historic Home on St Michael's Harbor

Guest: Discerning Traveler (Annapolis, Md)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

This house is "Best of Class"! When looking for an historic comfortable, charming, convenient, vacation house in St Michael's... look no further! This one has it all!!! Beautifully appointed, water views from all rooms, a huge fenced yard for the little tykes and also adjoining the famous waterfront Muskrat Park! Plenty of room to accomodate everyone...adults & children of all ages. Formal Living Room, Library w/ fireplace, Family Room with fireplace, WiFi, FIOS, DVDs...the works! The house is conveniently located within walking distance to multiple great restaurants & all the fabulous little shops on Talbot Street. Don't miss this one...it is very special!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Historic Home on St Michael's Harbor

Guest: Discerning Traveler (Annapolis, Md)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

This house is "Best of Class"! When looking for an historic comfortable, charming, convenient, vacation house in St Michael's... look no further! This one has it all!!! Beautifully appointed, water views from all rooms, a huge fenced yard for the little tykes and also adjoining the famous waterfront Muskrat Park! Plenty of room to accomodate everyone...adults & children of all ages. Formal Living Room, Library w/ fireplace, Family Room with fireplace, WiFi, FIOS, DVDs...the works! The house is conveniently located within walking distance to multiple great restaurants & all the fabulous little shops on Talbot Street. Don't miss this one...it is very special!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Fall Weekend

Guest: Weekender (Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/21/11 Review Submitted: 10/28/11

We couldn't have been happier with our weekend spent at the Thomas Harrison House. It was exactly as described in the listing, and provided the ideal setting to enjoy a weekend out of DC in the fall. The house is well appointed with authentic historical touches throughout. The backyard is beautiful and large, and was the perfect spot to sit and breathe in the autumn air. There are good restaurants, a grocery store and all the rest that St. Michael's has to offer within a short and enjoyable walk. The owner has obviously taken a lot of care with the house which encourages guests to treat it the same way, but it feels lived in enough that you can easily sit down and relax. This isn't so much a review as an endorsement: the highest praise I can give is that we will definitely be returning for another visit in the future.

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

Great location and historic house!

Guest: A&B (Richmond, VT)
Date of Stay: 10/04/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

My brother, sister-in-law, husband and I rented the Thomas Harrison House for the Annapolis Boat Show. We loved the location and the house! It was wonderful to be on the water in a quiet neighborhood with a short walk to the grocery store, the seafood shop, restaurants, shops, and the Maritime Museum. We loved the historic qualities of the house! The furnishing and finishes weren't overdone so that we felt comfortable living in and using the place. It was a large house for the four of us and our only regret was that our siblings and children weren't along. Our thanks to owner, Tom, who was a phone call away when we had a question or wanted suggestions. We look forward to next visit!

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

A Gem

Guest: Barbara C. (Cincinnati)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

My husband and I, our three adult sons, and their significant others, just returned from 4 days here. We wish we could have stayed longer. The house is in terrific shape, beautifully furnished with antiques, but comfortable, not stiff. The fenced-in yard is large enough to allow for wiffle ball and croquet games, thanks to the supplies provided. The rooms are larger and brighter than they appear in the photos, the water is quite visible from many, especially the living room and the master BR. The "street" one crosses to get to the park and the water is actually a gravel, dead-end, one-lane private drive for the three houses on Green. The location was perfect as we could drop kayaks right in the water without driving, could walk to town for dinner or groceries, and yet it was quiet and secluded. The linens are in fine shape, the kitchen has lots of space for supplies, and it is adequately furnished - we made plenty of meals for the whole family and never struggled. The owner, Tom, was easy to work with and very accommodating and responsive. It is a great place for a larger family as there was so much room, and lots of places to sit together or be alone. Just perfect.

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

Marine reunites with family!

Guest: Nick (Currently deployed in Afghanistan)
Date of Stay: 07/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

I was able to return to my hometown for a family reunion just before my latest deployment to Afghanistan. I have to say this was one of the greatest experience I have had! The house was perfect! The many comfortable rooms provided enough space and beds so that everyone could stay together yet not feel crowded, giving us time to spend with each other. Everything we needed was in the house or within walking distance. The house also had many interesting pictures, photos, furniture and pieces of St Michaels history that I enjoyed reviewing myself as well as sharing with my family and friends. Best of all I was able to relax and enjoy my time home on the waterfront, revisiting my childhood haunts such as the Maritime Museum, my favorite seafood restaurants, crabbing and fishing on the Miles River, and the Night-Time spots my friends and I enjoy. St Michaels was a great place to grow up! It is an even greater place to visit. Thanks for providing me with such great memories.

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

Wonderful house - Best Location in St. Michaels

Guest: JennyVL (Norwalk, CT)
Date of Stay: 06/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

It was our second time renting the house and it just could not be better and more comfortable and convenient - especially with kids - there is plenty of room for everyone to have a little privacy and comfort. Great owner too - really nice and easy to work with.

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

FAMIILY OF FIVE AND FRIENDS

Guest: Warner (Arlington Va)
Date of Stay: 05/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

We have stayed several times, sometimes just the two of us for a perfect romantic get away, other times with our 3 teenage kids and many other friends, for active yet relaxing retreats. The house setting is ideal- on the water with gereat views, kayaking and boating just out the front door, and a five minute walk to anyplace in town. After days on the water, biking, playing tennis or golf, the back yard is a quiet and restful place and it's always a special treat to sit out front, at water's edge for a great view of the setting sun. The pictures are accurate- the house has been wonderfully restored and is very well kept. We' ve stayed in each of the rooms during all seasons. We've also stayed in the other cottages across the street- although the term " cottage" doesn't do the houses justice. The use of the cottages has allowed us to take large groups, giving everyone comfort, privacy, historical charm and as much time together as they wish. The main house is very comfortable for 10. We'd never been to St Michael's before stayiing at the Harrison House. We can't immagine staying anyshere else. The owners have done everything they can to make this a perfect vacation spot, and because they know the area so well, they never lack great suggestions for food, activities and ways to soak up the local culture.

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

Easter Family of 10 Get-together 2011

Guest: JRY (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Date of Stay: 04/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

We were extremely disappointed in this advertised "large fully updated 18th century" house. While the location is marvelous for access to St. Michaels, the updating that has yet to be done leaves a lot to be desired. The kitchen is poorly equipped with no pots and pans, no toaster, and a very dirty coffee pot. The dishes are located in a broken down cupboard and there was no place to store our groceries. The cable TV is about 18in and we could only get local and Baltimore stations. While the outside yard is nice, the inexpensive, old wicker furniture seats 4 people, and there were 10 of us. We paid for towels and sheets, and the condition of the towels were such that one would use them to wash your car. This was a terrible experience and I would never recommend this house to anyone. The owners need to take a class in "house rentals" to continue on VRBO.

Owner response:In almost 20 years of renting this house, I have never come across a renter like this one. Within minutes of arrival, this renter had my property manager spaying bug killer around the backyard because she had seen a bee fly near the house (the rental was in April and there are many flowers on the property). She then went on to complain that there was not a private room for each of her grandchildren even though she had been sent a floor plan with the beds designated for each room. No other renter in almost 20 years, has ever complained that the kitchen is poorly equipped or not enough space to store groceries. There are pots and pans and there is a toaster. The "broken down" cupboard referred to is an antique cupboard with wavy glass that works just fine. The house has both cable and internet and there are 2 televisions. There is both a covered patio on the rear of the house with seating and a side patio facing the water with additional seating (which can me moved to the covered patio if desired). Finally, no one else has complained about the linens (the tenant did not even pay for the linens that were used).

Recommended for:

Fantastic Location

Guest: T.W. (Reston VA)
Date of Stay: 03/17/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

This was one of the best vacations I have ever had. The Thomas Harrison House is in a perfect location in beautiful, charming and historic St. Michaels Md. We enjoyed sitting out front watching the boats come and go in the St. Michaels harbor and Miles River. The historic house and the town are very romantic. We also loved the backyard-- sitting in the shade of a huge old tree or sitting in the rocking chairs under the covered porch. You can walk to everything in town!

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

9th Consecutive Year Renting

Guest: MNF (Pasadena, MD/Mid Atlantic)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

What a great house!!! This is our 9th year of renting this property and have not been disappointed yet. Its historic charm and location keeps us wanting to come back yearly. We travel with a large group and it's difficult to find a quaint property within walking distance of town that can accomodate us, but this property has it all. It is clean and well maintained, multiple bedrooms each one unique unto themselves. We bring our bicycles and ride them everywhere (Tilghman and Oxford are two great bike ride destinations) then come home to relax on the back porch or by the water and watch the boats pass by. I would recommend this property to young and old. This property lends itself to families with young children as well as teenagers. We will be back next year!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.