Vacation Rentals by Owner

Off-the-hook FANTASTIC!!!

Guest: Jim and Kim (Wheaton, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

Words cannot describe how wonderful this house is. From the minute you walk through the front door, you can smell how clean it is! And the decorating is amazing... the furniture, artwork, rugs, lamps... every little detail... every square inch of this place was decorated to perfection... right down to the twig-shaped drawer pulls on the cabinets and the flatscreen TV in the master bathroom. It never felt like we were renting a house. It felt more like a really awesome friend had this amazing house on the river and let us stay there... and that our friend took care of every little detail to make us feel comfortable. The fact that each of the three bedrooms has its own bathroom gave everyone in our group lots of privacy. We are cooks, and the kitchen had everything we needed to make great meals. But the star player in this whole thing is the beautiful, dramatic Big Thompson River... just steps away from the house. We have long been fans of the river, but the proximity of this house to it... well, it's just off-the-hook FANTASTIC! It's been nearly a week since we left, and just looking over the pictures makes our hearts melt. We long to hear the rush of that river again, enjoy the many birds (tons of hummingbirds), and smell the great outdoors. Donna is the wonderful woman you will deal with in completing your booking. She is so helpful, friendly and caring. You will be tempted to want to hang our with her, but remember the mountains! We have traveled the world and stay in hotels like Ritz Carlton, St. Regis, Four Seasons... we say this not to brag, but to point out how high our standards are. This home is lodged firmly in our hearts. It far exceded our expectations. And we are already booked for a return trip.

Owner response:We are THRILLED ...you enjoyed our Estes home. After years of countless rental disappointments of our own, we couldn't wait to make Casa Rio Vista a reality. It's our goal to make your visit as wonderful as ours. Attention to detail is key and Donna keeps that happening everyday. She is a Gem! Thank you for taking time to share your experience and we hope to see you in the near future. Mary & Ken

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

Great Summer Vacation!!

Guest: Jack and Debbie (Carmel, IN)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/20/11

This was the perfect house for two families. Very comfortable, well appointed. The Big Thompson was too high to fish but there were even poles for our use hanging by the door. We would highly recommend this rental -- just not when we want it !!

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

Fantastic Vacation

Guest: Rod W. (Philadelphia, PA, US)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/20/11

If you're looking for the perfect getaway in Estes Park, this is it. We loved sitting outside on the porch watching the Big Thompson, just steps away. The quaint little neighborhood is like no other. It's close enough to town (4 miles) but far enough away to feel private. Rocky Mountain Park is just 2 miles away. The house was very clean and had everything we needed. Sleeping accommodations were perfect for our family of 7. The owners were incredibly helpful and were just down the street if you need them. Some places you should really visit are the Donut Haus, Smokin Dave's BBQ, and Fun City. For the fishermen, we liked Scot's Fishing and the Trout Haven Pond is great for kids.

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

THIS IS BECOMING A HABIT ! 3 Couples from Kansas

Guest: EMPTY NESTERS (Kansas)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/24/11

We have been coming to Estes for years....probably 15 trips over the past 20 years. This is our favorite VRBO yet. And, we are no longer shopping around. BEST PLACE WE HAVE EVER STAYED IN ESTES ! This is definately becoming a habit for our group of 3 couples from Kansas. We stayed in June, 2010 and again last month ( June, 2011). And, we're coming back in September for another week !!! This lovely home is only 12 feet from the Big Thompson River. The soothing sound of the river is a guarantee for a great night's sleep. We love both the inside of the home ( tastefully decorated and furnished)... and the outside porch. First thing each morning you will find me on the porch with my cup of JO and a good book. Only one thing i can think of that would make this experience better....would be if we could stay here for a couple of months. One week is just not enough.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Three retired couples from Georgia

Guest: Georgia Bulldawg Fans (Athens, GA)
Date of Stay: 09/30/10 Review Submitted: 10/12/10

Our stay in this property completed a 16 day road trip which began in California. We traveled the A1 Coast road from San Francisco to San Diego and then flew to Denver, Colorado where we rented another Surburban for the last six days of our trip. Our goal here was to see the Georgia Bulldawgs take on the Colorado Buffalos in Boulder - which did not have the outcome we would have liked. However, the house on the river was the PERFECT place to spend the last days of our trip. The house was a perfect fit and offered every convenience. The sound of the water just outside the door was so relaxing and the location made it an ideal choice for being able to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park. The fall colors were becoming very beautiful and because it was rutting season for the elk, we enjoyed seeing MANY of them around the outskirts of Estes Park. We also had the delight of a black bear wandering out of the river and strolling by our front porch. By the time we got the camera he was several houses down, but he stopped, turned and posed just perfectly for me. We would recommend this location to anyone who just wanted to relax and enjoy a beautiful area of this wonderful country that we are fortunate enough to call home.

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

Perfect for us

Guest: Kjm (Austin)
Date of Stay: 09/23/10 Review Submitted: 09/27/10

We are still here and I wanted to write a review before I get back to reality! The house is great, has everything you need but a fishing pole. Setting so peaceful, we have never stayed in a home that felt more like home.... No detail forgotten. The kitchen is great! Beds comfortable.....the layout maximizes on every inch. We will be bah....the best of Estes!

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

AMAZING

Guest: njb (Omaha)
Date of Stay: 08/02/10 Review Submitted: 08/07/10

This was our first time to use VRBO and we were very impressed. This place was perfect for our family of many ages. Each bedroom had a bathroom and the main floor was the perfect size. The house was fully equipped with anything that we needed. It's located just far enough away from the busy downtown to feel like we were nestled in the woods. We fell asleep to the sound of the river each night. We already miss it and we are looking forward to staying here again. I would give it six stars!!! Thanks for sharing your place with us.

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

Awesome

Guest: Terry (Fulton, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/13/10 Review Submitted: 06/24/10

This house was awesome-plain and simple. Was everything we were told it was. Great location. Would recommend to family. We had a wonderful time, and will be staying here again.

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Perfect vacation home

Guest: Karen (Petersburg, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/17/10

My family and I rented this beautiful home for a full week. We could not have been more pleased. The home had everything we needed. We especially loved the three bedrooms with attached baths. We saw elk and the "wandering" bear. It was so relaxing to wake up in the morning and enjoy our coffee on the deck by the river. The only disappointment was not being able to fish from the desk, but the river was just too high and fast from the mountain snow melt. Donna and Lloyd were extremely helpful in making sure we had everything we needed. I would highly recommend this property. It was more than we could have hoped for and provided us with many wonderful memories. Estes Park is my favorite vacation spot and now I know where we will be staying the next time we plan a visit.

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

Family Gathering

Guest: Lillyann (Hannibal, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 05/20/10 Review Submitted: 05/27/10

What a perfect house for a family gathering. We came for a wedding at the YMCA and made a mini vacation with family. The house was very welcoming, very clean, and in a beautiful setting. The Big Thomson river rushing by with in feet of the porch. It is within minutes of the RMNP and Estes Park with it's many activities, which we took advantage of. If you like to fish the YMCA has guided trips and we caught some nice trout. The house was well equiped with all kitchen needs, games, videos, and local information. The owners even supply the Safeway discount number to buy groceries, and restaurant suggestions. The beds were very comfortable and it was so nice that we each had our own bathroom. We saw many elk, black squirrels, and even bears. They came right up to the porch and we watched (from inside) and snapped pictures as they swam across the river. Thank you to the owners for sharing this lovely home.

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

Guest: Missy Klem (Albuquerque, NM)
Date of Stay: 08/24/09 Review Submitted: 08/24/09

We spent a week at Casa Rio Vista and had a wonderful time. The home is beautiful and peaceful (and extremely clean!). My husband and my sister-in-law fished the Big Thompson which is literally off the back porch. My two daughters loved the bunkbeds. Everyday our family went hiking, fishing, horseback riding, bike riding... but it was so nice to come back to this lovely home, cook dinner and relax with each other at the end of the day. We come to Estes Park each August before the kids go back to school. I think we've finally found the ONE place to stay when we visit.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/10/09 Review Submitted: 08/10/09

This really is a home away from home, and a wonderful spot for our first vacation with our 8 month old twins. We knew we wouldn't get out much, and were perfectly content to stay put at Casa Rio Vista. The river runs so close to the house, my husband could fish and I could watch him from the porch while listening for the babies. We have wonderful memories of early morning walks (a path into RMNP is very close!), peaceful moments by the river, and even a first tooth! Thank you for sharing this treasure with us. We can't wait to visit again!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

What an amazing home! This was our first vacation as a family that included husbands, and a very memorable one too! We loved the patio, being able to open windows at night (can't do that in July weather at home), watching movies, playing games at the kitchen table....it was wonderful. I know most of us now want to live in Estes, and have a home like this to come to!! Thank you for sharing it with us. We'd love to come back again, and I'm sure we will as this is the sixth visit to Estes some of us have had!!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

Thank you for allowing us to enjoy your home! What a cozy place --felt just like home the minute we stepped inside. The river kept calling us.....we spent a lot of time enjoying your deck even tho weather dictated we be wrapped in blankets! We enjoyed watching deer climb the hill across the river, feeding the trout and ground squirrels, listening to hummingbirds and wildlife (tho no bears!) It was a perfect time to celebrate Dad's 80th birthday!

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Guest: Eilts family (Hays, KS)
Date of Stay: 07/23/09 Review Submitted: 07/23/09

We enjoyed a truly wonderful week at the Casa Rio. The minute we all walked in, we felt totally comfortable! The bedrooms worked out perfect for each family (loved the TV in the master bath!), the kitchen was fully equipped with everything we needed for cooking and the appliances were great! We were a little disappointed with the lack of wildlife that particular week, but we'd set our sights high having seen a bear last summer! There was just nothing like sitting on the back deck within feet of the river and sleeping with open windows with the river lulling us to sleep. It was very difficult to leave this lovely place and we would highly recommend it to everyone!!

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Guest: Reynolds Family2 (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 06/13/09 Review Submitted: 06/13/09

When thinking of a word to describe our stay at Casa Rio Vista, the only one that comes to mind is "perfect." The house was immaculately clean and we enjoyed its warm decor. We loved the top-end everything in the kitchen, the comfortable beds, (including the built-in bunk beds which our adult sons found comfortable), the TV in the master bath, and most of all listening to the rushing water of the Big Thompson River as we fell asleep with the windows open! The location is amazing. We caught numerous trout in the Big Thompson River which is literally 10 feet from the back porch, gazed at elk climbing the hill on the other side of the river, listened to hummingbirds as they swooped by our heads, watched turkeys spread their tail feathers in the lane in front of the house, and to our amazement, observed a black bear (from inside the house) as it meandered across the back porch! This vacation home is just a mile from Rocky Mountain National Park's many trails. A typical day for us was 1) fish in the morning outside the back door, 2) lunch at the house, 3) hike one of the park's trails in the afternoon, and then 4) dinner at one of Estes Park's many restaurants (we especially enjoyed the Stanley Hotel, Dunraven, and Cheese). We'd recommend this vacation home to any of our friends with no hesitation. Our only regret was that we had to return to Indiana!

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