Vacation Rentals by Owner

Comfy and kid friendly!

Guest: MrsC (Penn Valley, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/18/12 Review Submitted: 02/20/12

We had a great trip in SF! The owner of this house was very responsive and answered all our questions. We specifically chose this rental because it was the size we wanted and was kid friendly. Our toddler was super happy here! He loved the toys and books and we were all very comfortable. If it was a little warmer, we would have spent a lot of time in the backyard - very nice! We loved being close to the water and other attractions. We ate at some great restaurants on Chestnut. Thanks for everything!!!

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Greatplace to stay!

Guest: Annalisa (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 06/12/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

The apartment is super convenient, and equipped with all amenities (and if you want more, you simply need to ask the owner, who is very cooperative). I was there with my three kids (ages 13-8) for 5 wonderful days. You do not need a car, but if you have one (we rented one for one day), parking is not an issue. Two blocks from the bay and magical Crissy Fields, and one from the beautiful garden surrounding the Palace of Fine Arts. Plenty of restaurants to choose from around Chestnut, and nicey served by the 30 bus, which covers the main sights/places in the city. Will recommend it to anyone!

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car.

Exactly what we were looking for

Guest: Angie (Crested Butte, CO, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 05/20/11

All of the reviews pretty much say it all. I came to San Francisco to have knee surgery so the ground level was a key factor. I was bedridden the whole time so the large glass sliding doors onto the lovely garden was pretty much my whole world and made all the difference. I can't imagine being stuck in a hotel. My sister came all the way out from Australia to nurse me through the 2 weeks and enjoyed walking down by the water hanging out at coffee shops and boutiques on Chestnut. With 24 hr Walgreen's, Apple Store, 2 cinemas and great restaurants, this area has it all. Carissa is perfectly helpful responding very quickly to text or email or calls. Sadly we never met her face to face but I'm so grateful for her patience and service. There are 2 children upstairs so you may hear the pitter patter of little feet but it was not all a problem. Small warning re communication. It may be that AT&T is particularly bad in this neck of the woods but the cell service was very bad. Phone conversations of any significance were basically not possible. Even calling a cab was difficult at times so we were very thankful for the wireless and just used the texting option.(traveller's tip: form a relationship with your favourite cab drivers and get cell #. Hailing isn't as great as it might seem. Cabs can be downright scarce. You'd have to walk back to the shops a couple of blocks) Reception may have been better out in the street or in the garden but we didn't test that. Not worth taking a star away as everything else fully lived up to high expectations. It's my first experience with VRBO but am probably going this route every time from now on. Thank you Carissa!

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

Easy and convenient!

Guest: Richard from England (England)
Date of Stay: 04/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/22/11

I had researched our trip quite extensively, and knowing that we only had a few days in San Francisco, I wanted to be located close enough to the main areas of the City but not so close that we couldn't relax in the evenings. I found Carissa to be very helpful in the whole process and the apartment was a very comfortable place to relax after a hectic day. Traveling with young family is not always easy but I would recommend this apartment over a hotel room any day. If you are wanting to see the sights, we used the open top bus route that takes you over the Golden Gate Bridge and back and on route drops you right out side the apartment. You can buy a ticket which lasts two days and is a great way to get around.

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

Great Place to Stay

Guest: Anne & Family (Tahoe)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/27/11

We really enjoyed our stay at Carissa's apartment. The apartment looks as good as the pictures & as described. This is a great apartment for families - there are plenty of toys, books, baby bath tub, cribs, etc. Although it is a garden apartment, it didn't feel dark - plenty of lights. The bathroom was spacious which is so convenient if you have young kids. The apartment was well stocked with everything that you need from toiletries to kitchen supplies. It was a clean apartment - I'm a clean freak and usually bring my own cleaning supplies, but I didn't have to use them! Location was great - walking distance to so many things. We had a car and parking was not an issue. We usually found parking within a block or two. Carissa was very responsive and made the whole process very easy. It felt as if she put in a lot of effort in making the apartment comfortable. We can't wait to come back!

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

Great location, close to water and transit, great apartment, everything you'll need

Guest: Family Holiday (Victoria, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/08/10 Review Submitted: 11/15/10

The description of the apartment is very accurate, as are the reviews. The property is clean and well maintained and the owner is very helpful. We would definitely recommend to a friend and would stay here again if returning to San Francisco. The apartment is close to Chestnut St, a great collection of shops, coffee shops, restaurants, including an Apple Store. This gives you an idea of the upscale neighborhood. There are no problems here walking around at night. Transit goes from across the road and from 2 blocks away to anywhere you'd like. We bought the 7 day passport transit passes (remember to get them at the airport they are hard to find in the city) and found transit to be generally OK. You have to collapse strollers and within the general city area the buses are crowded but as you get out to the Marina things get better. Do not bring or rent a car, it would be a waste of time, transit will get you anywhere you need. When you catch the 30 bus back to Chestnut look for a single bus not the "bendy" buses then you won't have to change at Van Ness. Great restaurants in the area, there are leaflets in the apartment or urbanspoon reviews are pretty good for the ones we went to. Full cooking equipment in the apartment if you need it. (The owners bought a kettle for the apartment while we were there for those passionate for tea and needing to fill babies bottles). There is wireless internet in the apartment (about 2Mb) and the TV has inputs for s-video, composite video etc so you can hook up your computer or iPhone to play kids movies etc. A small printer is there for printing boarding passes etc. There is a bunk bed and a toddler bed and two portable cribs. They slept well and we found the bed comfortable with the pillow top. There is no noise in the area so very little disturbance. We chose the vacation rental concept as we wanted a holiday too, the idea of a bedroom for the children and one for us and the ability to relax in the evening while they were sleeping convinced us to dump the usual hotel room. We are glad we did. For about the same price we had a great neighborhood, a great apartment and freedom to move around the location without tourists, street vendors, noise and hordes of people. I would definitely recommend this apartment if you are traveling with children.

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car.

Lovely home in a perfect neighborhood!

Guest: Sarah (Newport Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/30/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

This was a wonderful place to stay! It accommodated both my aging travel companions as well as my infant and toddler. The unit was nice, clean, well stocked, and very comfortable. The owners were the most accommodating individuals who made our stay very pleasant! I will certainly rent here again!

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

Families with children - look no further - this is your place.

Guest: COMom (Rocky Mountains)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/18/10

We recently stayed at this lovely apartment with our 3 year old son. This was a perfect apartment and location for a family traveling with a child (or multiple children). The apartment was clean, comfortable and well stocked – not only with basic essentials, but many toys and books our son enjoyed playing with during our stay. It was also completely child proofed. We didn’t have to do our typical “sweep” of items to be hidden away during our stay. The owner was extremely responsive and helpful – an absolute pleasure to work with. They have also put together a binder with a huge amount of helpful information and recommendations. The apartment is walking distance to many shops, restaurants, Chrissy Field, Chesnut St., Union St. etc etc, and public transportation is within a block or two and very easy to use. If you stay at this apartment you have access to all the wonderful attractions that San Francisco has to offer, but when you return in the evening and crawl into bed, you will almost forget you are in a busy active city. Waking up to the beautiful garden each morning was a nice bonus. Our family had a truly wonderful vacation, no small part of which was due to our accommodations, and we definitely plan on returning someday.

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

Great for families with young kids!

Guest: Ten day visit (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

We stayed ten days with our two daughters, ages 3 and 14 months. They were happily entertained with all the great toys, games, books and DVDs in the property (almost more entertained since everything was new to them!). Location was very convenient for walking to great restaurants and getting groceries. Cow Hollow and Union Street just up the hill a few blocks for even more restaurants and shops. Crissy Field was just around the corner for a great running route with the Golden Gate bridge in view the entire way. Property was clean and well stocked with most things you'd need to feel at home. We requested the parking permit for a fee and didn't find parking that difficult for a city. Ten days is a long time to stay somewhere, but we felt quite comfortable the whole time.

Recommended for:Families with young children

Fantastic property

Guest: Buckley (Melbourne, Australia)
Date of Stay: 03/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/24/10

My wife and 7 year old daughter spent two great weeks in this apartment. It is located in a beautiful neighbourhood, close to shops and even closer to public transport (there was no need for a car). The buses ran on time and enabled us to reach the main sites in a short time. The Palace of FIne Arts is a few minutes walk as is the Bay. The tranquil garden provided a welcome space to relax at the end of a long day sightseeing. The owners, Andrew and Carissa were terrific with lots of advice on where to eat, transport etc. The apartment is very comfortable and well equipped. We would love to stay here again and highly recommend it as a comfortable base to explore a lovely city.

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

Guest: Samantha16 (London)
Date of Stay: 11/03/09 Review Submitted: 11/03/09

We stayed here for 1 week in September (a group of 5) The apartment was great, very spacious and very well equipped. The pictures just don’t do it justice. Every room in the apartment was lovely and the bed in the master bedroom was sooo comfortable. A perfect base for exploring San Francisco. We had pre-booked a car for the week but after spending a day here decided to leave it as everything was so easily accessible. We walked most places and found the local buses very easy to use, 10 mins to Fisherman’s Warf, 20-30 mins to China town and Downtown. Stunning views of the GG Bridge, shops, bars/restaurants were just a short walk away. We visited Alcatraz, GG park, Chinese moon festival, rented bikes and rode over the GG Bridge, shopping Downtown (brilliant for shop-a-holics). Everything you could need was in the apartment and Carissa was extremely helpful before, during and after our vacation. We received our deposit back as promised with no problems what so ever. San Francisco is an amazing place and the apartment made our vacation perfect. Great for families, but we made it work with a group of 5 (1 couple). I will definitely be returning.

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Guest: Ben North (-)
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/22/09

We stayed at this SF rental in July 2009. The spacious two-bed apartment accommodated 2 adults and 3 children (8,5 and almost 2) perfectly well with the youngest in a travel cot (which we moved into the living room at night). Having the open living/dining area gave us so much more room than we would have had in a hotel and the garden space was an extra bonus. The furnishings were all good quality and stylish giving the feeling more of a boutique hotel than your standard rental. Some basic food and bathroom supplies were provided which a surprise and very welcome. A very good 'local guide' had also been compiled with recommendations (and menus!) for local restaurants/shops as well as tourist info, maps and other suggestions for keeping the family entertained. The location also turned out to be ideal for us. We didn't have a car so were relying on our legs and public transport to get around. The apartment is walking distance to the local shops; the marina and the Exploratorium, even the Golden Gate Bridge if you have your walking legs on. We used the convenient and inexpensive buses, which stopped only yards from the front door, to get over to Fisherman's Wharf and also up to the Golden Gate Bridge and down to the Golden Gate Park (don't pay for a tour to the bridge, just talk the bus and walk it yourself!). The owners were helpful and available via email and phone when required and the stay itself was all positive and a great start to our holiday.

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Guest: Palagi family (Riverside, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/16/09 Review Submitted: 07/16/09

For those families with small children seeking a quiet home base from which to explore San Francisco-look no further! The apartment was quiet at night but also centrally located for the many family activities we did during the day. The apartment was within easy walking distance of coffee shops, restaurants and markets, even with a stroller in tow! We had a lovely stay in San Francisco, and this lovely apartment in the beautiful Marina District was a big part of it. The Hawthorns were very gracious hosts who went above and beyond the call of duty to make our visit pleasant. thanks so much!

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Guest: Alice & Leong with Luc, Zac & Rae (Singapore)
Date of Stay: 06/24/09 Review Submitted: 06/24/09

We really enjoyed our stay at this vacation apartment. We stayed there for 3 days and would have extended if it has been available. It's a lovely apartment done up tastefully and yet kids friendly with bunk beds, DVDs, books and a garden for them to run around. It is exactly what the pictures have showned. The host has everything prepared and is readily available for any help. Oh I miss the master bedroom bed, it so comfy perfect to snug in after a day of sightseeing. Also the hot tub was nice. The location is great, walking distance to Palace of Fine Art, and v easy access to 101 over GG Bridge to the Marin Headlands and Sausalito. We will be back !!

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Guest: Anita9 (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 06/17/09 Review Submitted: 06/17/09

This was our best VRBO experience! We stayed with our 4 and 5 year old children and took the buses everywhere. All I can say is location, location, location! The apartment was perfect, with ameneties galore! We took the #30 bus to Ghirdelli square, streetcars, cable cars, Chinatown, Museum of Modern Art and other places. Took the #28 bus (less than a block away) to the Golden Gate Bridge and Park (Academy of Sciences). This is the best way to see San Francisco. The books, DVDs, and cable were great and the kids loved the jets in the tub! The backyard is beautiful. The apartment is close to many local parks which the owners recommended and our kids LOVED. Overall a 5 star experience! We'll be back to San Francisco and this is where we are staying every time! Thanks for being such great hosts!

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Guest: Tina Olmsted (-)
Date of Stay: 06/04/09 Review Submitted: 06/04/09

What a beautiful, cozy and quiet apartment and you can't beat this location -- walking distance to the most beautiful spots in SF (golden gate bridge, Presidio, Fort Mason, Chestnut and Union Streets. I will most definitely stay here again -- better than a hotel as you can cook your own meals. The apt was recently remodeled so everything is clean and new, including heated bathroom floors! We had our 4 and 7 year old with us and the space was perfect for families, including stools, books and DVDs for the kids. The owners were extremely helpful with advice on restaurants and activities. Thanks for making our stay in SF so memorable.

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Guest: April12 (Vancouver BC)
Date of Stay: 05/20/09 Review Submitted: 05/20/09

We stayed in this apartment with our young son and my parents, and it was a great place for us. Kid-friendly, GREAT location, very friendly and low-key owners. We definitely recommend this rental!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/14/09 Review Submitted: 04/14/09

My husband and I stayed here with our two daughters ages 12 and 9 for 4 days over spring break. The apartment is comfortable and tastefully decorated. We had everything we needed including a beautiful garden to look out on to from the dining room and master bedroom. The location was great! The nearby # 30 bus took us down to Ghiradelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, and finally to the ballpark. Within walking distance is Chrissy Field, Palace of Fine Arts, and even the Golden Gate Bridge. There are many running and biking paths to take you to The Golden Gate bridge or into the presidio. Also within walking distance on Chestnut St. were so many good restaurant choices. We liked Dragon Well and The Grove for breakfast and coffee.

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Guest: Carrie-Andrea K. (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/20/09 Review Submitted: 02/20/09

This apartment was a fantastic vacation rental. It's close to great restaurants, and activities. Classy but comfy decor; great amenities; private entrance. Everything is clean and new as it was just remodeled. The owners are super nice and very helpful/ flexible. Two thumbs way up! :)

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