Vacation Rentals by Owner

Relax in Luxury

Guest: Linda (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

My family returned this summer for another wonderful vacation at Dennis and Veronique's house in Occidental. The property is a work of art, and the house has every amenity. We spent our afternoons swimming in the pool and looking out at the lovely rose garden. Veronique and Dennis could not have been more hospitable, giving us advice on scenic hikes and restaurants in the nearby area, and treating us to their homemade gelato, homegrown vegetables, honey, and even saffron. We very much admire this property -- and its owners. We shall return again!

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

Gorgeous Paradise Retreat

Guest: Jo S. (UK)
Date of Stay: 07/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/01/11

If you are looking for a peaceful haven of beauty and silence (except for the sounds of birdsong and rustling trees!), gorgeous gardens, including a splendid rose garden where you can sip your evening drink - then don't look anywhere else! There's complete privacy with a view of lush trees and forest from every room along with all the luxuries you would expect from a top class hotel! Dennis and Veronique have created a wonderful paradise and they demonstrate their generosity not only in the lovely comfortable rooms and bathrooms but with all the little extra touches such as gifts from their garden, their own delicious wine:). We explored the US for 4 weeks and this house and the beautiful countryside around it were the absolute highlight of our trip - thanks again Dennis and Veronique!

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

A peaceful place for families and friends

Guest: Nat (Montreal, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

I do agree with every other reviewers. It is such a quiet and peaceful place... If you are looking for a nice retreat near Bodega bay and some wineries, it's the place to be. The kitchens are so well equiped to make wonderful meals ! The best thing is that we felt so welcomed, thanks to Dennis who wanted, as much as I, to make the perfect trip for my family and friends. Thank you from all of us ! (Merci encore pour toutes ces jolies fleurs dans la maison !)

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect hideaway amongst redwoods with amazing landscaping and gardens

Guest: BrbPrb (NY, NY)
Date of Stay: 07/06/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

Amazing house and property which can not be done justice in words or photos. Stayed here with another couple and we all plan on returning for an anniversary stay. Owner welcomed us to the perfectly manicured gardens and was very informative about the features of the home. His generosity in sharing items from his gardens was an appreciated finishing touch. The location is ideal for those looking to enjoy the redwood parks, the pacific coast and/or sonoma county wineries. This property is a gem and we are very excited to return to it soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Restorative Retreat

Guest: Jes (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

My husband and toddler and I had an incredibly relaxing vacation at Dennis' home. He makes you feel welcome the second you arrive with homemade honey, saffron and a welcome letter. We had active days lounging by the pool, playing in the yard, riding bikes down the country lane and visiting the various wineries and farm stalls. Thanks for an amazing holiday!

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

An amazing home!

Guest: Thea (Tucson AZ)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/20/11

My family and I recently stayed at this home and had the time of our lives! The home owners have truly thought of everything – you will never want to leave this house! The pool and gardens are absolutely stunning and when you’ve had enough of the sun the house will simply take your breath away. From the double kitchens, to the comfy furniture, sound system throughout the house….I could go on and on. Don’t even bother looking at other houses in the area – this is the place to be! Thank you again to Dennis for an absolutely amazing time!!!!

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

Incomparable hospitality

Guest: Gini and Peter (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 10/08/10 Review Submitted: 10/22/10

Dennis took care of us like friends or family from the initial contact. He set up massages following our cycling event and made sure that we had some of his wonderful cabernet produced on the property upon our arrival. I have stayed in many vacation rentals and I have not had a better experience with an owner. Bravo!

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

A beautiful oasis outside of the city

Guest: Heidi (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/08/10 Review Submitted: 10/10/10

What a fabulous property! We enjoyed staying here while riding Levi's Gran Fondo in Santa Rosa. The stunning gardens were great for strolling or just sitting and listening to wild life. I loved watching so many varieties of birds come feed and your peacock strolling around the property. The greenhouse with your pet koi pond was beautiful. The home had plenty of outdoor seating for cocktails, chatting, or enjoying the beautiful weather. The house was very tastefully decorated with two complete kitchens. I hope to come back soon! I would recommend this rental to anyone who wants a beautiful home to get away in.

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

Fantastic family get away

Guest: Kerry H. (El Cerrito)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/06/10

This house is perfect for families. The interesting architecture, stunning grounds, gardens, and pool were everything we could want. The house is lovingly maintained and the owners go to every length to make the house welcoming and ready for your arrival (including fresh herbs and fresh cut flowers). The house has two kitchens and every possible kitchen ware which makes it perfect for entertaining and cooking for the family. We have rented several houses from VRBO and this house is an absolute jewel. We highly recommend it. .

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

Garden of Eden

Guest: Lynda and Jorge (Oakland, California)
Date of Stay: 08/27/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

My husband and I have just returned from a weekend getaway with our close friends and we stayed in this wonderful oasis. From the moment the gates opened, we were giddy seeing the property for the first time. It’s difficult to describe just how special it is. There is a beautiful indoor/outdoor aspect to the house. In addition to exceptional amenities mentioned in other reviews, what I found striking was the quality of artwork and visual sensitivity shown to every room. The property has complete privacy and solitude. It’s wildly romantic – next time it will just be the two of us! The gardens are filled with surprises. There are interesting, ivy covered outbuildings, artfully restored that dot the landscape. The many garden spaces are beautifully maintained down to the raked paths. You could easily believe yourself to be in the European countryside. The pool alone is a gem. Birds and other wildlife are abundant. The entire property and home have a personal touch rarely experienced in our travels. Come prepared with the knowledge it will be very hard to leave. We’ve stayed in numerous homes from VRBO in California and abroad and this is easily our favorite. Thanks, Dennis, for making an unforgettable experience! What a host!

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

Fantastic Vacation Property!

Guest: Linda (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/13/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

My family has rented a number of vacation homes including one directly above La Place Maubert in Paris and one on a canal in Amsterdam. Of all these beautiful places, this one is the most memorable. Everywhere you look, there is something unique and beautiful -- a lovely rose garden, a tiled pool, a greenhouse, and even a resident peacock. The owners have done everything possible to provide a comfortable home away from home for their guests. The kitchen is admirably stocked, there are plenty of clean, fluffy towels, and guides for local hikes and haunts. This place (and its owners) couldn't have been nicer.

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

Fantastic gardens beautiful pool and a great villa too.

Guest: Hermes (Warwickshire, United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 10/11/10

A wonderfully unique villa in beautiful grounds. We chose this villa for a few days rest and relaxation during a hectic tour of California in August 2010. We were not disappointed. The villa itself is well equipped (particularly the kitchen) and the fantastic walls of windows make it very light and bring the gardens inside. The gardens themselves are a delight to wander around and the pool a beautiful place to sit and wile away the afternoon. Thank you Dennis for your great hospitality, for the wine and for all the information you provided to help us in our sight seeing.

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

A Truly Magical Place

Guest: Trina (San francisco, Ca)
Date of Stay: 07/19/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

We rented this property for a week based on the previous reviews. Everything is true and more! The house is so well furnished and comfortable, that you lack for nothing. We especially enjoyed the French press and espresso machine. The gardens are spectactular and the pool area was hard to leave. Dennis is an incredible host. Upon our arrival, he had beach towels, a bottle of his delicious homemade red wine and a "big dog" bed ready for our little dog Lola waiting for us. Lola even received a personal follow up e-mail inquiring if her stay was up to snuff! Dennis also alerted us to the Friday Occidental Farmers Market that showcased an amazing Paella demonstration cooked on the spot in 5-foot -wide pans (btw is mentioned in the August 2010 Sunset Magazine). This is truly a magical place and we can't wait to come back! Thank you Dennis.

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

You must rent this house!!! Beautiful oasis in Occidental

Guest: Tiffany (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/24/10 Review Submitted: 07/02/10

We just rented this property last weekend because we were attending a wedding in the area and we were blown away by how amazing it looks in person! Even better than in the pictures. This house is like a little oasis where you feel completely secluded in your own little private compound. But it is convenient because it is literally a 3 minute drive to "downtown" Occidental. The grounds of the house are gorgeous and beautifully maintained. There are gorgeous flowers and trees everywhere, and the house and outdoor area are the perfect mix of modern and quaint. The house itself is spotless and has wonderful natural light throughout, an extremely well appointed kitchen, and luxious beds with very nice bedding. There is a wonderful pool (Dennis even provides you with pool towels outside), croquet, swans, and overall it is just the perfect place to relax. Dennis is SUCH a gracious host, he even offered to drive us to our wedding! He really thinks of everything to make your trip enjoyable & to make sure you are comfortable. We will definitely come back because we loved this house so much! We stayed there with 2 other couples for a total of 3 nights and there was plenty of room. There was an extra detached bedroom near the pool that we actually did not even end up using. I highly recommend this home to anyone looking for something fabulous in the area. We were sad to leave! Thanks Dennis :)

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

It was wonderful

Guest: from SF (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 06/06/10

From the incredibly well appointed kitchen (Henkel knives, All-Clad cookware) and luxury bedding inside to the beautifully manicured lawns and blooming rose gardens outside, this house is wonderful and inviting. We stayed over the Memorial Day weekend, 2010 and had a terrific time grilling, wandering the grounds and looking at the swans brooding their eggs. Dennis is a remarkably gracious and lovely host. He not only gave us a truly wonderful bottle of home-made wine, he found our friend's lost dog and named the new baby swans after our daughters. We were deeply touched by his kindness and can't wait to go back.

Owner response:I have had friends and visitors here from all over the world. Often times they would bring their children. I did not pay too much attention until someone would tell me five and sometimes 10 years later that their children still remembered their visit. That alone makes the effort worthwhile.

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

Guest: Papaz (Paris, France)
Date of Stay: 03/11/10 Review Submitted: 03/11/10

Oaks and redwood trees are among the trees I love best because they remind me of holidays. The house is just surrounded by so many of them that it was for me a gift to spend a few days in Sonoma. Astonishing, pleasant, comfortable, the house has everything you can dream of to be sure that the time you are having there is just perfect and simple.

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Guest: Elsa2 (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 02/21/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/10

This place is magical, and perfect if you need a break from the city life. I went there over the last summer and had the most relaxing and fun time. Mr Cuyler is such a great host and certainly knows about wine and food! The house itself is amazing, you wake up surrounded by the forest, then can jump in the pool and enjoy a walk in that gorgeous garden! I can't wait to go back!

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Guest: Dirk3 (San Francisco/CA)
Date of Stay: 02/18/10 Review Submitted: 02/18/10

I stayed at this lovely estate over 4th of July Weekend with my girlfriend. We were looking for a few relaxing days away from the city and that's exactly what we got. It has everything you could ask for: Beautiful surroundings, a refreshing pool for those hot days and warm evenings, state of the art kitchen + BBQ and most importantly, total privacy. The property is in a league of its own and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. Can't wait to go back!

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Guest: Burton Pritzker (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 02/02/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/10

I stayed at Mr. Cuylers home in lat May of 2009. In a word the place is magic and Mr. Cuyler is the most gracious host I've ever had. It was one of the best vacation rental experiences I've ever had. I look forward to repeating it. He was knowledgeable and offered suggestions that would have, otherwise, been unavailable. He knew wine and food and offered me suggestions when I didn't know. I recommend it enthusiastically.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/10

Delightful getaway! Beautiful estate with a lovely and very large landscaped garden. The house is comfortable and welcoming . The proximity to the beaches, hikes, oyster farms and wineries is a wonderful "plus". Great restaurants in the immediate surroundings. Do not miss this special hideaway.

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