Vacation Rentals by Owner

A magical experience

Guest: Anne Keogh (Dublin, Ireland)
Date of Stay: 04/19/12 Review Submitted: 05/12/12

I stayed in the Skinny House for a week with my family. We all had a wonderful time. The house was ideally situated and convenient for all the lovely restaurants and shops. It is so much nicer to stay in a house than a hotel especially when travelling with family. The house was very well equipped and spotlessly clean. The house manager, Olivia, was exceptionally welcoming and provided us with many suggestions of where to visit and was always at hand with advice. I would highly recommend staying at the Skinny House, Northend Boston.

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

Skinny House April 2012

Guest: Kate (Dublin)
Date of Stay: 04/19/12 Review Submitted: 05/11/12

What a wonderful fun house to have for a great holiday. Stayed there with my three sisters (2 60+ and 2 50+) and found it much more comfortable and relaxing than a hotel. Location fantastic everything within easy reach, very friendly neighbourhood with a super collection of shops and restaurants. The house is very well equipped, clean and quirky. House manager Olivia was efficient and extremely helpful. Already looking forward to my next trip to Boston and would not hesitate to stay in The Skinny House.

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

THIS is the best historic Boston address!

Guest: laurie (Greenville)
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/07/12

My husband and I and our three teens just returned today from a stay in the "Skinny House". We have rented many times through VRBO (including a few times in Europe) and THIS was possibly the most fun, coolest and certainly the most historical place we've stayed. The house was fun because it is so unusual - 4 floors but several "rooms"! We always felt like we had enough space to spread out and looking down on the Copps Hill Burying Ground was unique. We could even see the masts of the USS Consitution just across the river. A few steps and we were at the Old North Church for Sunday morning service. A 12-13 minute walk in the other direction and we were watching the Celtics play. The house itself was clean, comfortable (our weather was cold but those charming radiators were warm and toasty at the end of a long day). The master bed was VERY comfy (and I don't ever sleep well away ffrom home). As has been mentioned, the only possible downside for some will be the one bath you need to descend a flight or two to use in the middle of the night - well worth any inconvenience, though! We just loved this unique place! You should stay here for the experience!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Feels like Europe!!

Guest: Anne (Grenoble, France)
Date of Stay: 01/15/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

We had a wonderfull time at this historic house!! Situated in the Italian quarter with narrow streets, little shops, great cafés and restaurants, felt like being in Europe!!! Great for us from France, felt comfortable. Very easy access to eat out and walk around town, easy to catch the metro, water not far, great museums to visit, only 20 minutes from the airport by taxi. But not recommended for young children or people having walking difficulties, it's a four story house with steep staircases. Very charming, cozy, very clean, well equiped. We'll definitely go back for our next stop in Boston. Anne-Laure

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Skinny House

Guest: debbieperez (Wesley Chapel, Fl.)
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 12/20/11

We come to Boston every year in December and we have found our home away from home. This is the perfect little clean place in a quaint neighborhood on the north end. It was easy to take the subway from the airport an saved us about $50.00 one way. We bought a subway pass for $15 pp and used it for our hole trip . All great restaurants are within walking distance just get out and explore the area it seemed to be safe. The hole house thing was great I enjoyed getting up and walking around the corner to get fresh pastry's for breakfast. Perfect spot in the North end an the owner Jen was nice to deal with. Thanks for sharing you home with us and look forward to next year.

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

Nice Place, Needs Some Updates

Guest: Shepherdkisses (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 10/29/11 Review Submitted: 12/29/11

I give this house an average review since the linens were old and pilled and the pillows were yellow with age. Also the beds in the kids room were on boards and were not very comfortable. In addition, the heat turns it down by it's self so you need to reprogram or keep adjusting it. The master is on the top floor and it can be hot at night, and the one bathroom is two floors below. However, the owners have done an excellent job remodeling this home and the kitchen is lovely. The house was very clean and little extras like cream for coffee were appreciated. The neighborhood was great too. So, I did not get much sleep, but this is a novel house. I would recommend for folks under 30 who can still sleep anywhere.

Owner response:The owners appreciate the constructive criticism. For 2012 we have(1)replaced all pillows and sheets and any other linens that appeared worn or aged (no matter how slight) and (2) scheduled to replace the thermostat with an easier to use model in February 2012.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Fantastic location, wonderful layout, overall great place to stay!

Guest: Ginny (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 11/12/11

I spent a lot of time finding a place to stay in Boston that would provide a local feel, be within walking distance of the majority of things we wanted to do and would provide a great environment for 4 adults to share conversation, yet provide privacy when wanted. The Skinny house was the perfect match. We walked to dinner every night and brought dessert home with a bottle of wine almost every night. The owners of the Skinny house have done an excellent job of making the house very livable while keeping the historic feel. They were helpful and the material they provided in the house was very handy. The kitchen was well appointed, there was not one thing that we need that was not close at hand. The Skinny house truly helped make our Boston vacation a once in a life time event.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A Great Vacation Rental

Guest: John, Nancy, Kara and Emma (Pinellas Park, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

At the risk of repeating the other reviewers, this house is a gem. The appliances are top notch, the house neat as a pin, the location unbeatable. We got used to the stairs after a day, though others may find them more challenging. We didn't do any cooking, despite the markets, butchers, cheese shops and the Haymarket nearby. Our kids liked waving at the tour groups across the street, especially the evening Ghosts and Gravestones groups (say "Hi" to Mercy, Miss Agatha and Scarlet for us). We never had a problem finding a table for dinner somewhere in the North End, but reservations are definitely advised for some places. Caffe Lil Italy down the block, across from the Old North Church, was our regular breakfast resource. The 8AM/8PM cannon fire from the USS Constitution makes a neat time signal. We'd definitely stay here again. Thanks for a great stay.

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

BEST VACATION EVER!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/20/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

During our stay at the Skinniest House in Boston from July 20, 2011 to July 30, 2011, we found all the reviews and the listing information to be absolutely correct. The house is idealy located about 1/2 block from the North End Church with numerous markets and Italian restaurants nearby. The subway (an ideal method of transportation) was within about 1/2 mile walking. It was so... interesting and bigger than we believed. We stayed there 3 adults and 2 teenagers with no problem. The sleeping arrangements were ideal! We had extremely hot weather (101degrees) but since we are from South Florida, it wasn't so bad and the two air conditioners kept the house cool. It was easy to walk to Haymarket or catch the subway to Shaws for grocery shopping at the Prudential Center. The house has great small touches like numerous hangers to hang your clothes, hooks in handy locations and even provided with reusable shopping bags for those trips to the store. State of the art kitchen with everything needed and even a partially stocked pantry with coffee, filters, cooking oils, salt and pepper and sugar, etc. This was such a great value and so centrally located that we were able to explore everything in Boston (Fenway, Newburry Street, Freedom Trail, Boston Commons, movie theater, grocery stores, etc.) and still have time to return for a break at the house before going out again. Stairs are narrow but that is helpful when getting up during the night to use the one bathroom. (You have to go down either one or two floors) The architecture was amazing and the furniture was just right with the expandable dining table and the folding chairs that could be used. It was also nice to have a washer and dryer in the unit. Overall I can't say enough postive things about this rental. The owners provide all the information you could need and the unit was very clean. I would say you should definitely explore the neighborhood restaurants as they were fabulous!

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

Best location in Boston!

Guest: Yolanda S. (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/21/11 Review Submitted: 10/31/11

Family of four, two teenagers...perfect location for all our Boston adventures. Cafe Lil Italy on the corner has the best hot chocolate. Pasta Pomodoro was our favorite dinner place, go early because it's a small place. Polcari Bros for some coffee beans to take home. Urban Adventours for the best way to tour Boston (by bike), ask for Baylor (awesome guide)! House was fun to be in, liked waving to the tour groups across the street. Comfortable beds, more space than pictures show, sometimes all four of us would be spread out through all four levels! Would have loved a larger sink bowl in the bathroom but that's my only suggestion. Cannot beat the location and owners are nice to work with!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

This is the place to stay. Really.

Guest: m5 (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/04/11 Review Submitted: 05/12/11

Just got back from a week-long stay at the Skinny House with my wife and 13-year-old triplets. Our goal was to just "do" the Boston historical experience as well as some other cultural things (Harvard museums, MFA, etc). There's just no describing how awesome the location of this property is - really, really close to *everything*. My wife loved the fact that she could walk around and always find her way back simply by intersecting with the Freedom Trail. There are restaurants, cafes, and bakeries everywhere, so it really couldn't be an easier, lower-stress vacation. The house itself is awesome - after a day or two, we really didn't notice the "skinny" effect at all, except in so far as how totally delightful it was. The kitchen is great (though I didn't really do any cooking - why would I with all those restaurants right around the corner?) and there's plenty of room to spread out. It's pretty minimal (in a good way; what I mean is that there's not a lot of pointless knick-knackery around) but very friendly and bright. The topmost spiral staircase is a beautiful little special feature that I just loved. It's kind-of neat seeing the tours stopping at the Copp's Hill Burial Ground turning to look and point at the house :-) My kids loved the house completely. TV was great, and the Internet connectivity was flawless (kudos for the spare Ethernet cable too!!). The bathroom is teeny but perfectly serviceable. Washer and dryer are new-ish and top quality. It's important to note that there's a lot of stair climbing in Skinny House, so if you're limited in mobility that could be a problem (but we loved every minute of it). The owners were a delight to deal with, totally professional and courteous. Tip: if you do stay, spend some time on Google maps looking over the neighborhood. I was glad I did, because our cab driver from the airport had no idea where to go :-)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect location, and ideal for those with an interest in history!

Guest: Diane (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 04/28/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

We loved staying at the Skinny House in Boston. We had five women sharing the house for an extended weekend stay in Boston. The location was perfect - easy walking distance to the North Station T-stop, and right on the Freedom Trail. The house was charming and comfortable, and there was enough room for all of us. I would also recommend the house for families, both for the amenities and for the location, and would definitely stay there in the future with my husband and children. We enjoyed the tour groups who pointed out the house and who stopped to ask questions about the history. Jen and Olivia were very helpful, and gave us lots of suggestions! Mike's Pastry is nearby on Hanover Street, and is excellent; we found several stores with coffee, fresh-baked croissants, and cheese around the corner. The house is a short walk (1 mile) to Cambridge / MIT and the Museum of Science.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Location, Amazing House!

Guest: K. K. (Cedar Falls. Iowa)
Date of Stay: 11/05/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

WOW! What a vacation!! My husband and I (VRBO veterans) stayed at the Skinny House for eight nights and were joined by our sister-in-law and her 14-year-old grandson (our great-nephew) for 5 nights. We couldn't have chosen a better place! The house may be small in square footage but it "lives large" -- we could all have our own space as we needed it and never felt crowded. Jen was wonderful and very helpful before our trip and the on-site manager was very sweet and instantly responsive. Thanks, Jen, for all of the informative books about the area! The photos don't do the place justice, especially the views! (Although the back courtyard didn't come with the house, the tranquil view did.) The location is ideal -- on a quiet street but a very easy walk to SO many great sights! The neighborhood felt very safe, even late at night, and the neighbors and people in the area are helpful, friendly and wonderful. Don't hesitate to ask the docents at the Old North Church for advice. My sister-in-law and I had wonderful coffee and biscotti and her grandson had a breakfast sandwich every morning at the corner coffee shop across from the Old North Church -- amazing view at breakfast! We all loved staying in a landmark, across from another landmark, Copps Hill Burying Ground, and a half block from another landmark, the church. As mentioned by others, the house is beautifully renovated with absolutely everything we needed. The washer and dryer allowed us to pack less and travel lighter. The description didn't mention that the appliances are all top-end, the master bed has a memory-foam mattress, the bathroom has a short but (decadently!) deep soaking tub and much more. Only one caution -- three of us are in our 60's (two hip replacements and one knee surgery) and although we had no trouble with the stairs, someone who is more movement-impaired would have trouble here. For families with kids -- our great-nephew had a marvelous time here, actually being at the places his classmates were only reading about! For those arriving at night, Bova's Bakery (with sandwiches and meals available) is a few blocks down Salem Street from the Old North Church and is open 24/7. We only wish that we could give the Skinny House 6 stars! We already want to come back and are recommending it to our friends and relatives!

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

What an Awesome House!

Guest: Jason and Emily (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/05/10

We stayed here for a week in April for the Marathon. What a great location. We were able to walk to many great restaurants, the Aquarium, the freedom trail, the Market. The house is very unique and surprisingly roomy. We had 4 adults and three young children. More than enough room. The kids loved looking out the windows and waving to all the Freedom Trail tour groups. We could not have asked for a better experience staying at this house. If we ever visit Boston again, you can bet we will be staying here. Thanks for the great stay Jen!

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

Everything you need and want when visiting the Boston area!!!!

Guest: telizabeth (Sharon Springs, KS)
Date of Stay: 03/14/10 Review Submitted: 03/23/10

Location is amazing! Many activities within walking distance. A few being Old Town Tolley Tours, Boston By Foot, TD Gardens, Harbor, and much more. Wonderful restuarants, bakeries, and coffee shops down every street. I felt very safe - the people in the north end were very helpful and friendly. The house is stocked with everything you need and it was very clean. I look forward to returning and staying at the Skinny House again. Thanks Spencer and Jen!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Lynn & Drew (Parsippany, NJ)
Date of Stay: 10/27/09 Review Submitted: 10/27/09

We stayed here along with another couple, all of quite comfortable in this "skinny house". The owners of this property did an extraordinary job of modernizing a historic home for comfort. We commend them on their choices of built-ins, colors and decor. From this location, one can see the harbor across Copp's Hill and the city lights from the rooftop. There is no better neighborhood to hang out in than the North End (especially for oysters and Italian food!) We give the Skinny House two thumbs up, would stay here again, and would recommend the home to our friends. Thank you!

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Guest: Adrienne Hill (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/16/09 Review Submitted: 10/16/09

My husband, daughter and I stayed at the Skinny House recently and couldn't have been more pleased. The location was excellent...right on the Freedom Trail and a short walk to the great restaurants in the North End, the Old North Church and less than a 5 minute walk to the North Station T-stop (Green Line). If you have kids, this is a great option with the bunkbeds, very unique layout and the close location to the waterfront and its parks and playgrounds. The house has obviously been recently renovated, was spotless and has all of the conveniences (and more) you'll need. We will definitely stay here again on our next trip to Boston and would recommend to anyone, with our without kids.

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Guest: Nicole Roberts1 (San Diego California)
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

This is one great treasure of a rental. Along with its charm and history and super location, the owners of the Skinny House provide everything necessary for their renters. We liked the hardwood floors, exposed brick, simple modern furnishings, ample pillows, linens and towels. The house is very clean and clutter free. The kitchen has everything you need down to a good carving knife. The AC units in the bedrooms work great! The shower has great water pressure! The towels are soft! The washer and dryer is on the same floor as the bathroom tucked under a nice counter. The on-site manager is very nice and came over right away to fix the lock box key that we broke in the lock the first night. Overall, if you don't mind walking up flights of stairs, the Skinny house is very comfortable and fun, every level is unique. We would stay again and refer this place to anyone! The owners are very friendly and helpful. Also we really enjoyed staying in the North End. We felt very safe in this area as there are people out walking around all the time. If you go, please be sure to enjoy a pizza at Pizzeria Regina! The best pizza we've ever had. And stop in for a pastry, there's a shop on almost every corner.

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