Vacation Rentals by Owner

Mini honeymoon

Guest: Sharon H.
Date of Stay: 09/06/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

My husband and I just got back from 4 days at the Carriage House, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Jim was wonderful, greeted us on arrival and came to say goodbye when we left. His meals were excellent and we tried breakfast, lunch and dinner . It was sad when we left. It was so peaceful...The Carriage House was as cute as it could be and I often mentioned to my husband that I'd love to buy it. You won't be disappointed in any regard. We plan on going back next summer.

Owner response:I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at the Carriage House and letting me share my culinary treats with you. Hope to see you again next year.

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

Quiet & Relaxing

Guest: T H.
Date of Stay: 07/24/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

The listing doesn't do justice to the pictures & area. The cottage was beautifully decorated & the landscaping impeccable. Jim was pleasant & easy to work with. The private beach was just a short walk & we enjoyed the sunsets & sitting on the beach reading & listening to the waves roll in. The cottage was a short distance away from several towns with great shops, restaurants & wineries. Also if you like to get out in the water, look into Sailing South Haven & Captain Aaron & go for a sail on her 37' sail boat. Wow It was a perfect get away for my husband & I. We would highly recommend this lovely cottage! We are ready to go back.

Owner response:I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at The Coach House. Thanks for letting me prepare your boat ride lunch. Hope to see you again.

Recommended for:

Great place to stay

Guest: Maryann G. (Bartlett, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

This was the most relaxing vacation. The house is beautifully furnished and so comfortable. The host is delightful. An added bonus is that he is a chef and you can purchase his services for meals. Well worth the money. The meal he prepared for us was yummy!! The listing is very accurate. The property is hidden away and only a short walk from the beach - so private. There are two towns a short distance from the property with lots of shops and places to eat. There are also wineries and many places to buy fresh fruit and veggies. I would definitely recommend this property and I plan to go back next year.

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

Great Stay

Guest: Dawn (Evanston, IL, Midwest)
Date of Stay: 09/19/10 Review Submitted: 10/10/10

We so enjoyed our stay at the carriage house, so private, quiet and completely charming with all the comforts of home. The location was superb, half way between South Haven and Saugatuck. We barely saw another soul on our our bike ride around the wooded neighborhood, then had the private beach all to ourselves a few blocks away. The chef and owner created a fabulous salmon dinner for us. Another evening we had a cooking lesson and were taught some new cooking techniques for steaks. I especially enjoyed the wine selections and having the recipes to bring home. The french toast with pecans for breakfast could not be beat. Thanks for contributing to a delightful get away! We had a lovely time.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

South Haven's Utopia

Guest: amos (Champaign IL)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 08/13/10

I came here for a girls get away with mom, sister and aunts! The place was fabulous! House was charming and in a quiet area! Jim was amazing and the appetizers and wine were the perfect start for the vacation! I would highly recommend to stay here! We are already planning a trip for next year and will probably try Jim's cooking class!

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

Charming house/great location

Guest: 4guests (Commerce Twp)
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

We just returned from our weeks stay at the Carriage House and absolutely loved it. The house is very clean and wonderfully decorated. You can tell Jim, the owner, puts alot of pride into this house. Although the cottage only has one bedroom, we found it to be quite comfortable for our family of 4. The kids were able to sleep downstairs, which gave everyone lots of privacy. There are so many charming beachtowns within a 1/2 hour or less of this location. I would recommend this rental without hesitation!

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

Return visitors

Guest: Katie (Kirkwood, MO)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

This was our second trip to this house and we had another great experience. We chose to come back because the owner was so accommodating, and the access to the beach is hard to beat. We came with our three children, ages 7 and 2 and they loved it as well. I would like to come again with just my husband and enjoy the private chef's offerings. Our activities included visiting surrounding towns, South Haven and Saugatuck, both of which are worth visiting. I would recommend this location as a great couples getaway, and for small families as well. This home's only fault in my opinion is that it lacks a bathtub, which would be helpful in removing sand from sandy children, but we made do with the large shower.

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

Fantastic vacation home

Guest: adventuremom (Saline)
Date of Stay: 07/08/10 Review Submitted: 07/17/10

The whole experience was wonderful. The house was clean, very tastefully decorated, and comfortable for the 4 adults and 1 toddler we had staying there. Jim was very attentive to details. The appetizer and wine Jim provided were delicious - and much appreciated after the drive there! Everything we could have wanted in our vacation, we found. Would recommend this place (and Jim's cooking) to anyone.

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

Highly recommend!

Guest: Sue (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 06/13/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

The listing is exactly as shown in the pictures and the write up.The inside is beautifully decorated and has everything you could need. It is in a gorgeous wooded neighborhood, quiet street. Perfect for relaxing and getting away from it all. Very conveniently located in between So. Haven and Saugatuck. Jim was so accommodating and helpful, I wish we could have taken advantage of his chef services, but maybe next time. We loved the beach and it is easy to either walk to or drive.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Best Kept Secret

Guest: HarpBird (United States)
Date of Stay: 09/15/09 Review Submitted: 10/07/09

What can I say? The pictures do not do this property justice. It is absolutely beautiful. The rooms are clean, comfortable and cosy. The hosts are attentive, friendly and Jim is an excellent chef. I look forward to returning next year to experience more of his culinary arts, and to bask once again in the quiet and restful atmosphere.

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

A perfect get-a-away!

Guest: beachtown traveler (florida)
Date of Stay: 07/31/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

I booked a weekend stay for my sis, the bride to be and the bridesmaids. It was enough room for five of us. Beautiful house and yard! The owner was a great host and chef! The garden room is my favorite! Also was nice to be so close to a private beach. Would love to go back for a romantic vacation with husband and would definately take a cooking class! I highly recommend this place!

Owner response:Thanks for the kind words, the cooking classes are fun.

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