Vacation Rentals by Owner

Nice for visiting family

Guest: Erin (PDX)
Date of Stay: 04/20/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

My family came to visit us, we are a bit short on room these days in our house, so we looked into a nearby vacation rental and found the Zen Cottage to be in a great location, walking distance to shops, restaurants, parks, fun neighborhood. It was also reasonably priced for a longer stay option, which interested us. Our family enjoyed the accomodations, found everything comfortable and clean. We would definetely reccomend the Zen Cottage. Thank you!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Cozy and Relaxing - a lovely experience!

Guest: Meaghan (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 09/21/11 Review Submitted: 10/02/11

I have stayed at the Zen Cottage twice now and had a delightful experience both times. Anna and Sid are friendly and welcoming and are eager to make sure that everything about your stay is wonderful. The cottage has everything one needs for a relaxing stay in Portland. Close to Hawthorne, and near a couple of bus routes, so it's a great starting place for travels around town. The skylights are my favorite part, giving this charming space a very open, airy feel. Highly recommended. I hope to come back again!

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

Perfect Location

Guest: Johanna W.
Date of Stay: 04/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

This was the first time that we decided to not stay at a traditional hotel or B&B. The idea of being able to cook sometimes rather than have to eat out all the time was one of the biggest draws. Sid and Anna were so nice as well, and very helpful in anything we needed. They're located ideally close to some of the best areas in town (Hawthorne mostly). There is the famous Stumptown Coffee around the corner as well as a great French Bakery where you can have breakfast or lunch. We bought 2-week bus/train passes, which is more fun than driving. You really get to know the area this way. We mainly used just 3 lines and got everywhere. I know that this isn't the most informative review, but trust me, stay here, and love its location. We were able to continue our research about what to do via the Internet with the free Wi-Fi. We plan to stay with them again when we re-visit Portland.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great alternative to a hotel

Guest: anonymous (Springfield, OR)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/24/11

Just wanted to say my wife and I had a very comfortable stay at your cottage last weekend. We really appreciated that the reservation process was simple and straightforward. No surprises. The cottage looked just like it did in the pictures you posted. We took walks around the neighborhood and someday we hope to live in the area. If we visit Portland again and need a place to stay, we'd definitely stay at your place again instead of a hotel. We liked having our own kitchen to make meals.

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Place, Super nice helpful owners, Would definitely return

Guest: Jake (Saint Louis)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/30/11

My Wife and I stayed at the Zen Cottage in mid march. We had never been to portland before, and quickly fell in love with the city. We were super happy to not have to rent a car. We walked and road the bus everywhere. It was great being able to return to the quiet and cozy cottage. We took full advantage of the kitchen, which was high quality. The bed was comfortable, and we absolutely love the skylights above it. The Shower is super nice. I would definitely stay here again.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beauty, Design, Comfort, Location

Guest: RJL (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 03/10/11

The Zen Cottage is a great little place -- super efficient yet homey, close to some of Portland's coolest areas yet blissfully quiet, hiply designed yet (yes) Zen, private but with a personal touch. It just has a great feel inside, which makes it tempting to hang out there, even though the surrounding area is filled with shops and restaurants. I stayed there as a woman by myself and felt completely safe and comfortable. The kitchen has most everything you'd need, the bed is super comfy and the bathroom is eco-friendly and really pretty. There are just nice little details everywhere, all with a clean, minimalist appeal. Light pours through the skylights, even in the rain, making daytime lights unnecessary (although if you are sensitive to light when you sleep, you might bring an eyeshade.) Anna and Sid are gracious hosts, but give you complete privacy, too. I've stayed in a number of nice rentals, but this truly had a character all its own, and a very Portland character to boot!

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful!

Guest: Alisa (Park City, Utah)
Date of Stay: 03/04/11 Review Submitted: 03/09/11

The Zen Cottage is quiet, comfortable and well maintained. My famiily had a lovely time using the cottage as a home base while visiting Portland. Stumptown coffee is a short walk as are many other wonderful restaurants. The Zen Cottage is a real gem!

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

Perfect

Guest: Bonnie and Tom (Trout Lake, Wa.)
Date of Stay: 12/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/16/11

My husband and I spent 2 months in the Zen Cottage. It was a quiet peaceful retreat in a safe interesting neighborhood. Most days we ate at least one meal in the neighborhood. We took buses downtown to museums, symphonies and plays. We took city walks described in a book called "Portland City Walks" from Timber Press-checked out interesting architectural styles in the area, found a pottery studio nearby. There were book signings at Powell's on Hawthorne and night music within easy walking distance. Portland has the greatest parks, including the largest urban wilderness in the country. We enjoyed the city's wild areas. The cottage was very comfortable and well equipped.It is set back off the street, behind a hedge. We had off street parking. Staying in to cook and eat, and cozy up with a book, or watch tv, it was great. There were all the pots and cooking gadgets we needed. We look forward to another happy stay as Anna and Sid's renters.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relaxing Weekend at the Zen Cottage

Guest: Laura (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/10/10 Review Submitted: 10/06/10

My husband and I visited Portland for the first time for a weekend in September, and the Zen Cottage was a great place to stay. It was nice to stay in a real neighborhood with a lot of character, and the cottage had every amenity we could have asked for. Anna and Sid were wonderful hosts. Check out Mt. Tabor park, the Wyeast pizza truck, and Pok-Pok for thai food nearby!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Highly recommended

Guest: Emily and Randy (Lambertville-on the Delaware River-NJ)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10

Zen Cottage is a lovely little green space and the owners are wonderful.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

A Great Find!

Guest: Joyce (Scarborough, Maine)
Date of Stay: 07/13/10 Review Submitted: 10/07/10

My husband and I spent 2 weeks at the Zen Retreat last summer while visiting our new grandson. The accomodations were spacious, very clean, and had everything we needed including some extra "touches" and supplies. All the furnishings seemed new and the bed with topper was remarkably comfortable ( a real plus for us "older" people). Sid and his family were wonderful hosts, always respectful of our privacy and quiet, and made sure we had everything we needed for our stay. Finally, the location is perfect for walking to shops, places to eat, Mt. Tabor Park, and the busline to get intown. There was no need for a car (Sid provides bikes!). We plan to return next summer. I would definitely recommend the Zen Cottage for a stay in Portland.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect for a couple wanting to get away for a weekend

Guest: *Lori* (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 03/25/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

We were delighted when we arrived to the cottage. It was cozy, clean and well stocked with anything you might need to enjoy your stay. It was great that they provided an iPod dock so we could listen to music all weekend and keep it charged. We had planned on spending a lot of time checking out the city but loved just spending our afternoons relaxing on the little patio and drinking mimosas. We hope to be returning soon. It was perfect! Thanks for the hospitality!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

We loved the zen cottage!

Guest: Coach Vanessa (Nevada City, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/16/10 Review Submitted: 03/24/10

There were so many things to love about this place. It had all the amenities we needed. We walked and biked to all the great shops, cafes, and restaurants on Clinton, Division, Hawthorne, & Belmont. It's sustainably done (important to us), aesthetically simple and beautiful, very clean, cozy, just the right temperature. Anna and Sid were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the area. I think it's even better looking than the pictures listed on this site. We would definitely stay there again and highly recommend it to others.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/05/10 Review Submitted: 03/05/10

This is a beautiful place to stay: clean, quiet, simple and comfortable. So much nicer than a hotel. Close to good coffee, easy to walk to food and transportation. I had a wonderful stay and would love to stay there again.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/24/09 Review Submitted: 12/24/09

Our November visit to Portland was great, thanks in large part to our quiet mornings and relaxing evenings at the Zen Retreat. What a wonderful place for us! We loved the neighborhood and especially appreciated the easy access to the rest of the city. Our daughter’s apartment is located just a few short blocks away - it was fun to feel like her neighbor for a few days! There were plenty of good, reasonably priced restaurants within walking distance. Anna and Sid, thank you for your gracious hospitality. We hope to return again soon.

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Guest: Richard and Lori (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/15/09 Review Submitted: 11/15/09

The Zen Cottage is cozy, yet modern and bright. We loved the location, which is walking distance to all sorts of good things, including the best pizza. Sid and Anna were great hosts -- helpful and available when we needed them.

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Guest: Will & Amy Jones (Indianapolis, IN)
Date of Stay: 07/23/09 Review Submitted: 07/22/09

My husband and I just returned from our Portland vacation and couldn't be happier. Sid and Anna were wonderful hosts. They offered great suggestions and were just great to chat with about our adventures. The cottage was exceptionally clean with everything you could possibly need. The neighborhood felt very safe. There were many great restaurants and shops nearby. Don't miss the excellent food at Poqui No mexican restaurant. It is worth the wait in line. I would highly recommend the zen cottage to anyone travelling to Portland. Thank you so much Sid and Anna.

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Guest: Jody 3 (LA, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/11/09 Review Submitted: 07/11/09

We stayed at the Zen Cottage for several weeks in May and it was fantastic! First of all the owners, Sid and Anna, are great, down to earth people who are happy to accomodate your needs but also respect your privacy. I had a laundry list of "needs" and they had everything! Family friendly? ( we stayed with our 2 year old daughter) Yes. Wifi? Yes. An iron, an french press coffee maker? Yes,Yes. All of this in an imaculate, stylish cottage with a full sized kitchen. We also loved the little things that made it so much nicer than most places...skylights over your bed, cool japanese decor, warm bamboo floors, beautiful tile in the bath and a lovely green garden outside your door. You should stay here!

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Guest: Joanne Teasdale (-)
Date of Stay: 07/01/09 Review Submitted: 07/01/09

Thank you Anna and Sid for making my visit to Portland so wonderful. The cottage was impeccable and the surrounding garden beautiful. See you on my next trip! Joanne Teasdale

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Guest: Catherine McMillan (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 03/29/09 Review Submitted: 03/29/09

Immediately upon arriving at the Zen Cottage, I was so excited! Anna was sick, but so nice to let us in late (it was at least 9:30 PM.) She chatted for a moment and gave us some tips about the place and the area. The cottage was so stylish and cozy. My friend and I slept very well in the bed. The heating system worked fantastically and we were always comfortable. Really, there are no complaints! I loved the view of their garden in the back and also how easy it was to get to downtown from the bus stop only a couple blocks away. I really enjoyed the freedom and the privacy we had staying at the Zen Cottage. No Housekeeping waking you up at 8AM - that was definitely a plus in my book! The neighborhood was quiet and safe. I would recommend the Zen Cottage anytime and I'm sure I'll stay there again. Anna and Sid were so nice! Thank you guys!

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Guest: Sandi Henry (McKinleyville, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/14/09 Review Submitted: 01/14/09

Calm, quiet, understated elegance-that is the Zen Retreat! My husband and I stayed at this VRBO during the first week in January and our experience was delightful. The location of the cottage in Portland's SE section near Hawthorne was just perfect. We could walk to many enjoyable restaurants and coffee bars as well as meander through the charming quiet residential areas. Our hosts, Sid and Anna made the process of booking the cottage painless and they made sure all our needs were met while we stayed there. I'd highly recommend the Zen Retreat as a lovely Portland destination.

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Guest: Lindy Patterson (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 01/09/09 Review Submitted: 01/09/09

We are so very happy to have found this cozy, clean, convenient "zen retreat." The space was very private, serene, and comfortable. Anna and Sid were super helpful and thought of everything to make our week-long holiday visit relaxing and fun. They even mailed us a few forgotten items. Thank you, Anna and Sid! We'll be back!

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Guest: Whitney3 (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/13/08 Review Submitted: 12/13/08

My husband and I stayed here on our way from California to Washington State, and we would return in a heartbeat. In fact, we plan to! This place is fantastic! It is a truly modern yet cozy retreat with everything we needed for a refreshing and memorable stay, including a comfortable bed, full kitchen, and nice, clean restroom. The studio has complete privacy and opens onto a very nice backyard, making us feel right at home in Portland.

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