Vacation Rentals by Owner

Extended family vacation

Guest: Family Weekend (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 04/02/12 Review Submitted: 04/14/12

Seven of us gathered for the week at this property and found it to be absolutely perfect for us. We appreciated the comfortable spaces for games, reading, and having shared meals. The house was immaculate. Everyone reported that their sleeping arrangements were comfortable. We walked & ran on the roads, saw wildlife, spent time in the hot tub daily, had turkeys walk almost to the sliding doors, and just relaxed. The kitchen was spacious and well-stocked. All of the furniture and furnishings were high quality. Galena is a lovely little town. We will definitely return to this house.

Owner response:Thank you and we are thrilled you enjoyed your stay.

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

New Year's Fun!

Guest: Molly (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/05/12

A group of friends from college stayed in this home over the New Year's weekend. There was a total of 10 of us and plenty of room. We enjoyed the breath-taking views, went on a long walk around the territories and made countless meals in the gorgeous and HUGE kitchen. The home was perfectly outfitted for anyone's needs. We even dipped a few times in the hot tub! Easy access to the general store for any last-minute needs. I would definitely recommend this home to any of my family and friends! Thanks, Stacy! Molly (and friends)

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

Wonderful mini vacation!

Guest: Chris (Elgin, IL)
Date of Stay: 10/22/11 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

We enjoyed a fabulous girl's weekend in this home to celebrate a 50th birthday! While there were eight of us in the home, it never felt crowded. The kitchen was amazing and afforded plenty of room for us to all be working and enjoying each other's company. As others have stated, the house is lovely, neat and well appointed, and the views are amazing. I have stayed in many properties in the Galena territory, and this home by far is one of my favorites. The owners were wonderful to work with and extremely responsive to all questions we had prior to our stay. We will definately look to rent this property for our next trip. Thanks again, Stacy!

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

Beautiful Home

Guest: Holly (Bolingbrook, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/17/11

The home is wonderful from the inside to the out with top of the line decorative details. The house has spectacular views and maintained very well. There is also plenty of space which is laid out very well for a large group to be together but still find privacy. A GREAT stay!

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

Great Weekend away!

Guest: kathy1214f (Batavia)
Date of Stay: 09/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

My husband and I were invited to go to this house with a few couples for a well-needed kid-free weekend. It was a wonderful getaway in a beautiful setting. The house was very well maintained and beautifully decorated. The kitchen was well-equipped for 8 adults to cook together. I can just imagine how beautiful it would be during the holidays. We would definitely return again!

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Had a GREAT experience

Guest: Ryan (Elburn, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

We had 4 couples for the weekend and had a blast. The home was immaculate. We couldn't have asked for nicer weather to enjoy the outdoors as well as the indoors. They guys were able to golf while the ladies went into town. We took advantage of Galena Lake and rented a pontoon boat by the hour. What a gorgeous area! The idea for the weekend was that we would cook a nice meal in the gourmet kitchen, and that is what we did. We watched the sunset from the patio and even had a bonfire to top off the night. We really enjoyed our stay in this home. It was a very relaxing time and are planning another trip out there soon. The homeowners were EXTREMELY easy to work with and had all of our questions answered before walking through the door. Highly recommended!!

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

WOW!!! One of best places I've EVER stayed!!

Guest: The Pickles (Mundelein, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/24/11

The home is immaculate in every detail with top of line decor throughout. Trust me, the photos do not do it justice. The place is huge, the floor plan is open and perfect for gatherings, games,parties or just relaxing the day away. The huge kitchen is FULLY stocked with everything you'll ever need. The owners were a joy to work with and followed up afterwords to ensure our stay was 100% care free. You will not believe the breathtaking sunsets or how many stars you'll see in the night sky (especially from the hot tub!!!). If you can get yourself to leave, the home is close to EVERYTHING Galena has to offer. I've stayed at a lot of places and usually don't even bother with reviews, but this home, and the owners top notch service, so far exceeded my expectations, that I had to. If you're planning a stay in Galena, take my advice and stay here - it will be one of best vacations you'll ever have!

Owner response:Thanks and were are so glad you enjoyed your vacation. Please come again.

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

Disappointing and Frustrating Experience

Guest: Sco (Laredo, Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/04/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

Description was accurate regarding the location and photos accurately showed the rental amenities. The air conditioning did not work for our entire stay - 3 nights in August. House temperature was over 80 degrees our entire stay. Homeowners advised unit could not be fixed until the following week and did not offer any alternate accomodations. A used condom was found in the closet in the basement. Basement restroom and kitchen area had worms, small centipede type organisms reapeatedly. We definitely would not recommend this unit to our friends or relatives based on the lack of follow through, support or communication from the owners. As business owners we were puzzled by the lack of business acumen and willingness to do the right thing that the homeowner displayed during our stay and afterwards regarding the multiple issues.

Owner response:My response to this renter is, yes the air conditioner died during the first day of his stay. I will disagree that the house was over 80 degrees. We called a maintenance person and an HVAC service man to look at the unit that same day the renter contacted me. The replacement unit was ordered that day. As for the bugs and the condom, we have used the same cleaning service for the past three years. They assured me that all of the closets were vacuumed. It is possible the condom was left by one of this renters guests. He did occupy all of the rooms. As for the water bugs, we did have some due to the heavy rains and flooding. These bugs were found in the laundry room drain area. This renter was offered and accepted monitary compensation for his inconvenience. He didn't complain about the bugs and or the condom until he wanted more $. I am sorry the air conditioner broke during his stay but he was compensated for it.

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Great Getaway - Pictures don't do the place justice~!

Guest: LMF (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/14/11

Stayed here for the holiday weekend with my family and we had a wonderful time! It is very remote however, so we were very happy when Stacy (owner) recomended stopping at the local market Sullivans to bring any necessary items. There is also a super cute general store with a great deli in the area to pick up any missed items. The weather didn't cooperate enough for us to use any of the ammenities at the owners club, So we spent alot of time at the house, but the home itself made for a great relaxing trip with my family.

Owner response:Thanks we're glad you enjoyed your stay. Come back again!

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

A memorable week

Guest: Have Needles will Travel Stitch Group (Illinois/Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 02/06/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

This nicely decorated home with a gorgeous view was where we spent our girlfriend getaway/stitching retreat. Great facilities and amenities, including a kitchen amply stocked with utensils, bakeware, and tableware. The owners were extremely helpful and accomodating. I can only begin to imagine how beautiful it would be here after the snow melts!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Beautiful, Spacious Home!

Guest: Carly (Iowa City, IA)
Date of Stay: 01/14/11 Review Submitted: 01/26/11

A group of friends and I stayed at the house for a wonderful ski weekend. The house was so beautiful and had plenty of room for a large group. After a long day of skiing, this house was perfect for relaxing, playing games, and enjoying each others company in the open kitchen and living room space, as well as the hot tub! I have stayed in Galena all of my life and this house has the best view I have ever seen. This is one of the nicest homes I have ever stayed in, I highly recommend it to anyone looking to stay in Galena!

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

Great Holiday weekend

Guest: Mike (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/12/10

We stayed over Thanksgiving weekend with our sons and their families. The house was already decorated for Christmas! The home is beautiful and very clean. It is great for a large group. We wish the weather had been a little warmer and not so rainy so that we could have enjoyed the outdoors. We recommend the home for anyone looking for a great get away.

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Relaxing and homey

Guest: Nikki (Romeoville, IL)
Date of Stay: 08/16/10 Review Submitted: 08/25/10

What a beautiful house and wonderful way to experience Galena! The views are amazing and there is so much to do within the home, as well as out. It was wonderful to be able to sit in the hot tub and chat while looking out over the land, play cards at the large table in the living room, and watch old movies on the big screen televisions. I would highly recommend staying at this property!

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

This title more than aptly describes this fantastic home!! Actually, I think it's understated.

Guest: Sally (Deerfield, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/19/10 Review Submitted: 07/27/10

Although the picture of this house is indeed dramatic, it's actually even more impressive in person! It's absolutely brand new and that feeling of spaciousness, cleanliness and freshness hits you in the face the minute you walk in the front door. The entry way leads your eyes to the enormous floor to ceiling bay of windows that overlooks the wooded territory and gives you the feeling that you're high in the clouds. The brand new kitchen to the left is huge! It has magnificent granite counter tops, two sinks, lots of counter space, disposal,and the cabinets are full of absolutely everything you could possibly need or desire! In fact, I think I found utensils that I don't even have in my own house! The kitchen table can seat large crowds! And if you need or want even more room, just step outside through the sliding glass/screen doors, out onto the patio, where there's more tables and chairs alongside the big gas grill! Not to worry, all the utensils you need are stored underneath the grill! Oh, and don't forget to watch the incredible sunsets from the hottub! Just remember you need to allow 4 hours for it to reach the desired temp! The bedrooms are very tastefully done. The bathrooms are clean, brand new....you feel like you're in a 5 star hotel. The huge fireplace in the living room was tempting, however, we decided to come back and use it in the winter time and not when it's 80 degrees outside! The house affords tremendous privacy, as there are virtually no other neighbor's houses looking in, which is something we really liked. And being in the territory, you can take beautiful hikes in any direction...what a paradise. It's about a 10 minute car ride from the house to the city of Galena, which is nice and convenient. Truth be told, we were so sad to leave. We felt like we were at a home away from home, except better! An absolute delight, and my only concern is that if we recommend it to too many people, it won't be available to us when we want to come back!!! So, be selective with those you share this gem with!

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

Awesome, so much more than I expected

Guest: Zaya (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

It was a great fantastic weekend. We enjoyed the hot tub a lot. Nice view and we will definately come back. Thank you Stacy. PS: It is so much better than it looks on the pictures.

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

Great home in great location.

Guest: bonsaijim (Naperville, IL)
Date of Stay: 05/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

This is our 2nd year staying here. Eight guys for a long golf weekend. Well maintained and clean house. Kitchen is well appointed with everything you need. We cooked every night. Very spacious and confortable home. Seems bigger than 2800 sq feet. Yard is great with very beautiful views of the area by day and great views of the stars at night. We used the fire pit every night. Neighbors far enough away so very private. The hot tub was great after 36 holes. Owners are great to work with. We will be back again next year.

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

Guest: Doug25 (Wedron, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/30/09 Review Submitted: 09/30/09

We stayed the weekend of Sept 26th and it was fantastic. We had 5 couples altogether and every one of us enjoyed your house. The only thing that could have made it better would be to walk in to a fridge full of beer waiting for us. LOL! Thanks Stacy & Doug, your house is great and you were very easy to work with. We're already planning another trip.

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Guest: Larry and Chris S. (Glendale, AZ)
Date of Stay: 08/25/09 Review Submitted: 08/25/09

We stayed here with another family totaling 9 people and could not be more pleased. Between the roominess of this gorgeous home and all the variety of things to do in Galena- we have already booked for next year!

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All that we wanted and MUCH more!

Guest: Soccermom2010 (Sherwood, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 06/25/09 Review Submitted: 05/17/10

My family and I spent a 3 nights and 4 days at this amazing home. It was everything we could have hoped for and more! The luxury house is BEAUTIFUL and immaculate! Everything we could have possibly needed was in the home. We spent our days relaxing and enjoying the amazing scenery. We spent some time at the pool and a day shopping and wine tasting in downtown Galena. What a quaint little town. We will be back!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/15/09 Review Submitted: 06/15/09

We spent a long weekend in May. The weather was perfect for sunshine on the breezy deck, enjoying the view and the birds - amazing! It is a very gracious home, every amenity you could wish for, beautifully decorated and immaculate. Thank you, Amy, Grayslake, IL

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/10/09 Review Submitted: 03/09/09

What a beautiful experience. Luxurious! The view is breathtaking and, in our opinion, the house has everything a vacation needs. It is cosy but also modern and spacious with lots to do in the area. We especially enjoyed the real log fireplace and the outside hot tub. Thank you Doug and Stacy. We'll be back!

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Guest: Iris F. (-)
Date of Stay: 03/09/09 Review Submitted: 03/08/09

What a house. Amazing decor. Extra clean. I would stay here again. Fenti Family, Iowa

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Guest: Sharpy one (Palatine)
Date of Stay: 03/09/09 Review Submitted: 03/08/09

Beautiful, great views and clean. Owner was easy to work with. The Stein's from Chicago

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Guest: Kathy70 (McHenry, IL)
Date of Stay: 02/02/09 Review Submitted: 02/02/09

We had a wonderful time staying at your home. It is absolutely beautiful and very spacious. The property is magnificent and offers great views of Eagle Ridge. The location is very convenient yet very private and relaxing. You were very easy to work with in scheduling our stay. We will definitely be back!

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