Vacation Rentals by Owner

Best Birthday Celebration with Friends and Family

Guest: RegionGirl (NC)
Date of Stay: 02/09/12 Review Submitted: 02/20/12

We had a total of 19 people in Albuquerque for my and one of our best friend's 30th birthdays. 10 of us stayed at this awesome house. We only stayed for 3 nights but hiked 2 of those days. If you like to hike and be outside this is a great house. The path off the back/side of this house hooks up to the trails. It's neat how the house is built into the slope of the foothills. The views on the trail are awesome but so is the view from this house. Made for great pictures. I think the night time view is my favorite of all the city lights. We didn't drive to the balloon park but we could see them from this house that Saturday. We made sure to ride the Sandia Peak Tram nearby and had dinner up there one night. Maybe not the best food in the world but worth the trip. We went up before sunset and down at night time, great views. I agree with another reviewer that I wouldn't recommend this house for anyone that has difficulty with stairs. Uneven stairs going up to front entrance and a few stairs in and out of bedrooms inside, but we had people ages 4 to 50+ here and all did fine with the stairs. Great kitchen for entertaining. Stocked with cooking and baking utensils, pots, pans, coffee maker, blender, etc. Plenty of plates, utensils, mugs, glasses, bowls. Provided soap, shampoo, lotion, paper goods. We had breakfast at the house every day, some lunches, and one dinner. We could have easily had every meal there. Cozy bedrooms. Close to grocery, drug stores, shopping, dinning, airport, etc. I think everyone commented how the house smelled good when they first entered. We really spent the majority of our time at this house. Enjoyed the great nighttime view and played games. Internet and TV were great but we didn't watch much TV. I was so excited to get BTN there to watch college basketball but we had to pick up friends from the airport during game time. Everyone commented how great of a trip this was and I recommend this house for the view alone! Great house to gather with family and friends! Owner was helpful and available for questions/help. Photos don't capture how great the view is! Thanks!

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

Amazing House

Guest: Lloyd G (Sugar Hill, GA)
Date of Stay: 01/22/12 Review Submitted: 05/19/12

What an amazing house! We were looking for a large house in Albuquerque to use as our base for a family reunion. We has people coming from CA, AZ, CO and GA to spend the week together. The place looked good online but we had no idea how wonderful it would be. Plenty of room for everyone and everyone had their own private space too. The views are out of this world and we even had a dusting of snow one morning that was a real treat and was gone by noon. We were all in our sixties and one 89 year old. There are a lot of steps but we managed quite well. Our every need was met and any problems were taken care of right away. We had a problem with the heat and the owner was right there to get us nice and warm in no time. I would recommend this home to anyone who wants to stay in a first rate place with amazing views and sunsets. I hope we get to come back and stay again.

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

Ideal for Large Family

Guest: Phil (Oklahoma)
Date of Stay: 10/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

We spent 5 nights with our 11 children ages 10m to 19yrs and were delighted with the spacious house. The sunsets are stunning with the city lights in the foreground and in my opinion are the greatest attribute of the property. Our children loved hiking and bouldering nearby. There were plenty of different trails to keep them interested throughout the week. The owner came right over to address a problem with the entertainment system (loose cable) and was very friendly and helpful. There are a lot of steps in the house so maybe not the best for toddlers or adults prone to falls. The kitchen handled our mealtimes with ease and we ate on the deck most of the time to enjoy the view. House was very clean and well equipped. We enjoyed the tram, hiking, and a train ride to Santa Fe The perfect day: coffee and breakfast on the deck, hike over to the tram and ride to the top of Sandia Peak, then hike back down to "your" house, nap, supper and watch the spectacular sunset on the deck again. Soak in one of the tubs, then fall asleep in the recliner watching a movie.

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

90th birthday party surprise for our mom/grandmother

Guest: Deedie D (New York)
Date of Stay: 10/13/11 Review Submitted: 10/22/11

My mom loves Albuquerque so for her 90th birthday, we decided to surprise her by celebrating her birthday in Albuquerque with all her children, their spouses and their children. There were 14 of us and we all wanted to be together, so I found Sandia Mountain, which looked like it could accommodate us. It did way beyond simply accommodating us!! Everybody kept telling me how wonderful the house was and that they didn't want to leave. The deck overlooking Albuquerque is gorgeous, both at night and during the day- just spectacular. The kitchen was HUGE and very well stocked. We had intended to eat out each night, but ended up cooking in two nights because the kitchen was so lovely and the house was so nice that we just didn't have any incentive to leave. As my sister said, where could we go that we would we get views like this? Sipping margaritas on the deck was heavenly. The bedrooms were spacious and the beds quite comfortable. Sandy really thought of everything- there was even lovely shampoo and conditioner in each bathroom. Everybody had a fabulous time. We highly recommend this beautiful home.

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

Great New Mexico Experience

Guest: Niki (Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

My family (including a 2 yr old and 4 yr old) stayed at this home in Sept 2011. The house was wonderful, spacious, well maintained with many personal touches. The views are magnificent and you are far enough away to enjoy the peace of the mountains and landscape but close enough for the attractions, restaurants and stores. It was a perfect location. The owner answered every question we had promptly and the visitor folder at the house was detailed and so helpful with our day trips and outings. I would recommend this property. My 4 yr old didn't want to leave this beloved home. Thank you!

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

Slam-Bang Success: High Above Albuquerque

Guest: Bill C. (Minneapolis)
Date of Stay: 06/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/30/11

Planning our group's annual golf event last fall (the venue for 2011 was Albuquerque), the Committee found this property via VRBO. It was described with exceptional clarity in both photos and text. We felt it was precisely what we wanted in terms of space, facilities and location. Now that our one-week late June stay is over, all seven of us agree that it was a great decision. Everything about the house and its setting was as stated. The spacious, clean, well-equipped kitchen was a prime focal point for us, the bedrooms were spread out in a leisurely manner and the bathrooms were fine. (As it turned out I ended up sharing the master bath: The best of three.) Dealing with the owners was simple and direct. We had virtually no issues during our stay but the owner stopped by once to say hello anyway and answered every question we had about the house's history and its exceptional setting. We were very pleased with the transaction, start to finish — and would rent this house again.

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

Spectacular House in a great location.

Guest: Dan (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 06/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/27/11

Just spent six nights here and I can unequivocally confirm every positive statement found in the reviews below. This is a fantastic property, large, clean, comfortable and even with seven of us in the house it never felt crowded. None of us spotted the "scorpion" mentioned in the earlier review and I would bet what they really saw was a Vinegaroon (common to New Mexico and quite harmless but looks a lot like a scorpion).

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

Great house to sit back, cook, visit and just relax.

Guest: Cheryl (Plano, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

We had a very memorable time at this wonderful home. The view from the deck is the best part of the house, but the kitchen is a close second. The master bathroom is something else, you can have a bath and view the lights of Albuquerque down below. The home has a great layout so everyone is not crowding each other as far as bathrooms, or if you need some alone time. Unfortunately, my son and I came down with a stomach virus for 3-4 days but what a house to be sick in! We watched tv and sat out on the deck until we felt better. Overall, I would rate this house good to excellent. I would not recommend it for older/elderly people because of the steps and loose rocks. We also had a "house" scorpion on the front steps every night, so I would recommend shoes when walking around. We would love to come back and enjoy it again when we felt better!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Stop looking, this house is PERFECT!

Guest: KTBH (Gainesville, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

This house was wonderful! One of my initial reactions when I first arrived was how refreshing it was to find something exactly as it was advertised. If you have any doubts as to whether this vacation rental could possibly be as nice as the reviews say, leave those worries behind! I did quite a bit of looking before choosing this home and I couldn't have been more pleased. The home itself is in a beautiful setting, away from the city, but close enough to use as a 'base' if you want to explore the ABQ-Santa Fe area. The house is very tastefully decorated and all comforts and supplies are provided. We had six adults gathered for a friends' reunion/50th BD celebration and the house and setting couldn't have been more perfect. The deck overlooking the sparkling night lights was only rivaled by the moon views looking out from the master bedroom's comfortable bed. Two of our group prepared a fantastic surf-n-turf meal in the spacious gourmet kitchen and fully functioning outdoor grill. I'm also a bit of a home audio/theatre fan, and the house has high quality systems (Yamaha, Mirage, Niles) for sound throughout the house and a very large flat screen/surround sound system in the living room for winding down with a movie or favorite show (e.g., Breaking Bad!). Figuring out the controls was even taken care of with several easy to follow instruction sheets thoughtfully placed next to the equipment. The owner, Sandy, is responsive and very helpful, even answered the many questions I had about the house and the area. We hoped to have the time of our lives at our reunion and to Sandy and this Sandia Majic home, we most certainly did!

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

Stop looking, this house is PERFECT!

Guest: KTBH (Gainesville, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

This house was wonderful! One of my initial reactions when I first arrived was how refreshing it was to find something exactly as it was advertised. If you have any doubts as to whether this vacation rental could possibly be as nice as the reviews say, leave those worries behind! I did quite a bit of looking before choosing this home and I couldn't have been more pleased. The home itself is in a beautiful setting, away from the city, but close enough to use as a 'base' if you want to explore the ABQ-Santa Fe area. The house is very tastefully decorated and all comforts and supplies are provided. We had six adults gathered for a friends' reunion/50th BD celebration and the house and setting couldn't have been more perfect. The deck overlooking the sparkling night lights was only rivaled by the moon views looking out from the master bedroom's comfortable bed. Two of our group prepared a fantastic surf-n-turf meal in the spacious gourmet kitchen and fully functioning outdoor grill. I'm also a bit of a home audio/theatre fan, and the house has high quality systems (Yamaha, Mirage, Niles) for sound throughout the house and a very large flat screen/surround sound system in the living room for winding down with a movie or favorite show (e.g., Breaking Bad!). Figuring out the controls was even taken care of with several easy to follow instruction sheets thoughtfully placed next to the equipment. The owner, Sandy, is responsive and very helpful, even answered the many questions I had about the house and the area. We hoped to have the time of our lives at our reunion and to Sandy and this Sandia Majic home, we most certainly did!

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

Kick back!

Guest: Eric (United States)
Date of Stay: 04/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/22/11

We had a two-part vacation in this wonderful, relaxing house. My brother, four buddies, and I celebrated a milestone birthday for several days - generally limiting ourselves to one activity per day and returning to relax and soak in the surroundings in this incredibly comfortable, quiet abode. Then, when the others pealed off to return to "the real world," my wife and two teenage kids joined me and we continued to enjoy this retreat. The house is as advertised and the owner is more than happy to give you tips on what to do when you decide to venture away. It was clean, well kept, and had plenty of room. Fantastic kitchen (Viking range, SubZero fridge). Lots of towels and sheets, all the spices and cookware you could hope for, and a great HD TV/audio room - plus speakers throughout the house and the ability to hook up your tunes. Wi-fi was an added bonus. Feel free to write if you'd like to know more. Eric

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

Kick back!

Guest: Eric (United States)
Date of Stay: 04/13/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

We had a two-part vacation in this wonderful, relaxing house. My brother, four buddies, and I celebrated a milestone birthday for several days - generally limiting ourselves to one activity per day and returning to relax and soak in the surroundings in this incredibly comfortable, quiet abode. Then, when the others pealed off to return to "the real world," my wife and two teenage kids joined me and we continued to enjoy this retreat. The house is as advertised and the owner is more than happy to give you tips on what to do when you decide to venture away. It was clean, well kept, and had plenty of room. Fantastic kitchen (Viking range, SubZero fridge). Lots of towels and sheets, all the spices and cookware you could hope for, and a great HD TV/audio room - plus speakers throughout the house and the ability to hook up your tunes. Wi-fi was an added bonus. Feel free to write if you'd like to know more. Eric

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

True Sandia Mountain Magic

Guest: Mimi (Southington Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

Spectacular in all ways. True Mountain Magic. Every room is spacious bright, clean with wonderful views. Furnishing comfortable with a NM style. Kitchen well stocked my family are very creative in the kitchen and this kitchen has it all. Patio with a great view of the city light and a bright sunset we never wanted to leave. SPECTACULAR rent it.

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

True Sandia Mountain Magic

Guest: Mimi (Southington Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

Spectacular in every way. True Mountain Magic. Every room is spacious bright with wonderful views. Furnishing NM style very comfortable and clean. Kitchen well stocked my family is very creative in the kitchen and this house has it all. Patio off the kitchen is a great place for watching the city lights and a bright sunset. We never wanted to leave the house. SPECTACULAR rent it.

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

It's everything you imagained and than some!

Guest: jackie b. (Iowa)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/21/11

First of all...the pictures do not do this place justice! The views are spectacular in all directions, the house and yard immaculate. Each room is spacious and bright, lots of light, decorated tasetfully and sparingly w/ regional decor making it easy to imagine you live here! The kitchen is well stocked w/appliances, utinsels and cooking essentials (salt, sugar, etc), the patio is a perfect spot to watch the city lights come on in the evening and fade away as the sun comes up in the morning. We had 9-11 family members throughout 7 days, we never lacked for privacy and there was ample space for all of us to gather. Comfortable and elegant, architectually New Mexican, if you do nothing else but stay in this house the entire week you'll feel like you've had a rich New Mexican experience! Rent it!

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

Truly "Magic"

Guest: Jeff (Howard, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 07/22/10

This home is incredible!!! Pictures can't describe how beautiful this home is as well as the fantastic views in any direction. We are from Ohio and were attending a family reunion in Albuquerque. We had six adults and three young children in our group and plenty of room to spare. The rooms are large and spacious making it easy for all of us to gather together in one place. The kitchen is huge and has a dining table large enough for all of us to sit and eat meals together. One of our favorite amenities was the large deck. We enjoyed coffee together each morning watching the sunrise over the mountains as well as gazing at the stars at night and the city lights of Albuquerque. The home is located is somewhat of a private development, however, it is close to anything Albuquerque has to offer. We went to "Old Town", the Sandia Mountain Crest, the Turquoise Trail, and visited the City of Santa Fe. We truly had a wonderful "Southwest" experience that we will never forget. Our original plan was to spend nights at the house and most of our days sight seeing and visiting with family. The home was so comfortable we found it hard to leave each day and were anxious to return in the evenings. Working with Sandy was also delightful. She made sure that we had everything we needed for a perfect vacation stay. It was more like staying with a friend than renting from someone we had never met. If you are staying in Albuquerque, "Sandia Mountain Magic" is one experience you don't want to miss!!!

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

Guest: Chicago Joanne (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 10/13/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

Perfect, and then some!We knew the pictures were beautiful, but we never imagined this house being as perfect as it was! We were a party of 8 from Chicago, there to celebrate a 50th birthday. Our expansive house was immaculate. It was perfectly spaced out with ample room for all. We quickly looked around and claimed our bedrooms. Each room was decorated beautifully, with bathrooms and kiva fireplaces aplenty! The kitchen and patio/deck overlooking the city became our hub. I was with some serious cooks, who were delighted with every appliance! Those two spaces, along with the late night huge-screened tv in the living room, made for incredible memories.We were there for only three glorious nights. Each time we ventured out, we couldn’t wait to get back to the house. We drove to Santa Fe the first day, taking North 14 behind the Sandia Mountains, stopping in Madrid on the way. It was a gorgeous day in Santa Fe with great shopping and museums. Instead of stopping for dinner on the way back, we much preferred getting back to the house and eating there…incredible sunset! On the next day we went hot air ballooning on the west side of Albuquerque and enjoyed the Sandia Tram in the afternoon, only a few miles from the house. We did our share of shopping in Albuquerque at Nob Hill and chose, again, to go back home to enjoy the sunset from the deck.Thanks so, so much for everything. We’re coming back!- Joanne in Chicago

Recommended for:

Perfect!

Guest: Chicago Joanne (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 09/25/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

Perfect, and then some! We knew the pictures were beautiful, but we never imagined this house being as perfect as it was! We were a party of 8 from Chicago, there to celebrate a 50th birthday. Our expansive house was immaculate. It was perfectly spaced out with ample room for all. We quickly looked around and claimed our bedrooms. Each room was decorated beautifully, with bathrooms and kiva fireplaces aplenty! The kitchen and patio/deck overlooking the city became our hub. I was with some serious cooks, who were delighted with every appliance! Those two spaces, along with the late-night huge-screened tv in the living room, made for incredible memories. We were there for only three glorious nights. Each time we ventured out, we couldn’t wait to get back to the house. We drove to Santa Fe the first day, taking North 14 behind the Sandia Mountains, stopping in Madrid on the way. It was a gorgeous day in Santa Fe with great shopping and museums. Instead of stopping for dinner on the way back, we much preferred getting back to the house and eating there….incredible sunset! On the next day we went hot air ballooning on the west side of Albuquerque and enjoyed the Sandia Tram in the afternoon, only a few miles from the house. We did our share of shopping in Albuquerque at Nob Hill and chose, again, to go back home to enjoy the sunset from the deck. Thanks so, so much for everything. We’re coming back! - Joanne in Chicago

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

Guest: "reg" (Elkhorn, Wisconsin, US)
Date of Stay: 07/05/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

We celebrated my son's wedding in Albuquerque and had the pleasure of staying in this beautiful home. On Sunday morning I had 28 guests for breakfast and gift opening after the wedding and it was so wonderful. The house became a home in about 10 minutes of time and we plan to return sometime soon. Enjoy this one, ever so worth it!

Recommended for:

Guest: Joy Renee (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 06/17/09 Review Submitted: 06/17/09

First, let me start off by saying that the photos are accurate however, no photo can adequately capture this property. I coordinated the rental of Sandia Mountain house for our extended family celebration. My youngest brother-in-law was getting married in Albuquerque . He is one of 6 children, the house comfortably held his step Mother and all of his siblings. They came with significant others, singly and with children. A total of 12 of us, most from New England . /This southwestern style house is nestled into the side of Sandia Mountain . After climbing the twisting driveway you enter the home through a traditional adobe arch to the flower flanked stepping stone stairway by the waterfall and under a large gnarled tree. People with mobility issues may find the entry walk with no rail to be a challenge. /All 12 of us found ourselves in the kitchen one morning and we were all able to continue our respective tasks without feeling cramped. Saying this kitchen is fully equipped is an understatement. The dining area table is substantial and after bringing in a couple of extra chairs 10 were able to sit at the table and enjoy meals overlooking an outstanding view of Albuquerque . Every morning we were there hot air balloons were over the city. /The deck is off of both the dining area and the master bedroom. The fairy lights and lanterns illuminated around the deck and patio were a wonderful sight returning back to the house after an evening out. Every morning the deck is the place I went to enjoy my first cup of coffee, it has the best view and I loved the hummingbirds and the tinkling of the wind chimes. Since I was on Eastern time I was often the first one up in the morning, and at night you could see thousands of stars by just looking toward the hill with your back to the twinkling city lights below. /The Master Suite is fabulous with custom touches. My sister-in-law exclaimed that the closet was bigger then her first dorm room. The master bath had many cabinets, a built in vanity double sinks, a double walk in shower and a deep whirlpool bath in the corner where you could see the view. Downstairs there is a den where our older children slept. This space is somewhat separate from the house...perfect for teens. The second access to the house is through this room. /This property is not just a house it is clearly a luxury home. You feel like a loved and pampered guest. The owners share their travels through the unique and beautiful art work and objects used t

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Guest: Amy Elle (Sun Valley, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 06/01/09 Review Submitted: 06/01/09

Grown family of 10 siblings gathering in Albuquerque for a nephew's wedding. Several subfamilies shared this property. I only wish we could have had more time to spend at the house enjoying the view of hot air balloons over coffee, the spectacular kitchen, and hiking trails just outside the door. The bedrooms were each very private and well appointed. There were seven of us (you easily could have more) and you almost didn't know each other was there. We are used to properties in Sun Valley and Deer Valley and this is easily of the same caliber.

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Guest: HenryEtta (New Smyrna Beach, FL)
Date of Stay: 05/24/09 Review Submitted: 05/24/09

This beautiful home was the residence of seven senior ladies for a week in May 2009. The home was in immaculate condition with enough bedrooms & baths to make living conditions private and comfortable for each of us. We have known each other for over 60 years & we choose a different geographical location each year for a reunion. This year we choose the Santa Fe - Albuquerque area. This beautiful home is located about 20 miles north of Albuquerque & 40 miles south of Santa Fe allowing for day trips to each city. The decor is southwestern with many lovely amenities. The view is spectacular! If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of New Mexico, this is the perfect rental.

Recommended for:

Guest: Angeleno (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/21/09 Review Submitted: 05/21/09

The photos and description on the VRBO website exactly match the experience. It is an exceptional house, beautifully situated; perfect for our 3-day family reunion with guests ranging in age from 4 years old to 75 years old. We highly recommend this rental.

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Sandia Mountain Home

Guest: HenryEtta (New Smyrna Beach, FL)
Date of Stay: 05/18/09 Review Submitted: 05/23/09

This beautiful home was the residence of seven senior ladies for a week in May 2009. The home was in immaculate condition with enough bedrooms & baths to make living conditions private and comfortable for each of us. We have known each other for over 60 years & we choose a different geographical location each year for a reunion. This year we choose the Santa Fe - Albuquerque area. This beautiful home is located about 20 miles north of Albuquerque & 40 miles south of Santa Fe allowing for day trips to each city. The decor is southwestern with many lovely amenities. The view is spectacular! If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of New Mexico, this is the perfect rental.

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

Great house, Lovely Location for Family Reunion

Guest: Angeleno (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/09 Review Submitted: 05/12/09

We had a 3-day family reunion in ABQ and booked this house instead of five or six hotel rooms. It was just the experience we had hoped for--large kitchen/dining space for hanging out together, plus big deck with awesome views, night sky for family time. La Luz hiking trail starts at end of this private property. Booking the house was easy. Everything was ready upon arrival. The photos and description on website match the experience. We would definitely recommend.

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