Vacation Rentals by Owner

PERFECTION ... when you need a weekend getaway from New York City.

Guest: SAS (New York, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/12 Review Submitted: 01/10/12

The house was exactly as advertised and everything we were looking for ... a perfect, secluded mountain getaway. The house had an exquisite country charm to it, setting the stage for a quiet and relaxing weekend. The surrounding areas offer plenty of sites to see and activities if you wanted to explore, or if you are looking for more of a hideaway (as we did), this is the house for you. The neighboring house is in view but we never saw them. The house was well kept and all amenities worked without a glitch. Our favorite time of the day was obviously spent at night after dinner around the fire place. Prior to our arrival, the owners provided a detailed document outlining everything about the property with recommendations on local sight-seeing, food and activities. We spent most of our time at the house but had dinner at Cucina (restaurant on the main street of Woodstock) one night, highly recommended ... simple/classic/chi decor and the food was above average. We also took a drive to neighboring Saugerties which has a number of really great antique shops to explore. When we plan another trip around here, we will absolutely stay again at this property.

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

Ramble Headquarters

Guest: Alabama Ramblin' (Heart of Dixie)
Date of Stay: 05/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

I have used VRBO rentals from coast to coast. This particular property----for the price and the amenities involved is very high on the list of "rent again" if in the area. The home is very secluded and conducive to a quality night of sleep after a full day of exploring the area. The entire experience both of the property and the Catskills area of New York was very gratifying. Hats off to the owners.

Owner response:We are grateful that our home provides a happy, serene haven for our renters!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

Easter weekend in the rain relaxed us all!

Guest: Merrie (NYC)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

Three weary 30-something New Yorkers drove up Friday night this April and got lost lost lost from the supermarket in the dark. When we arrived, we were surprised that there is a neighbor so close to the house, but it ended up being private and serene anyway. We decided to listen to oldies all weekend and quickly built a fire, turned on the tunes and grabbed a National Geographic from the library. We hiked and walked around and drove into town and generally relaxed as much as possible in such a short weekend. The owners have everything needed to enjoy the house and were quite patient with my multiple questions about items in the house. The patio - when it stopped raining Saturday afternoon - was perfect for grilling, glass of wine and a book! The moss floor and quarry out back are awesome, but we never found Snake Trail or the "gorgeous litany of waterfalls." My friends would like to stay here again, but we'll bring our own trail directions next time.

Owner response:A reassuring note to our guests: If you're not coming via the Thruway as per our directions - especially if you're coming at night - feel free to give us a call! We'll guide you through the back roads safely to our house. There are many natural attractions on and near our property, including a waterfall past the quarry. Our apologies to guests who sought out the "litany of waterfalls" - it's at the base of Platte Clove - but recently the owners have posted no trespassing signs. People used to go ahead through it but it seems serious now. But if you go up Platte Clove a few miles, you'll find more falls, which are more spectacular, but less private. In our secluded enclave there are two dwellings owned by us: the Mountain House where our guests stay, and the Well House, which we renovated about 5 years This charming building, also Craftsman style but on a much smaller scale, is visible from the front yard. However, when you're in the backyard or on the patio, where most people hang out, it is completely private. Our property is surrounded by beautiful trails, and on two sides, protected land. Our longtime neighbor was a doctor who willed his land to the Woodstock Land Conservancy. Snake Trail, which is about 2 miles away down Stoll Road, and takes you through Sloan Gorge Preserve, which is known for its geologic formations. The trailhead is basically a wooden barrier. The Conservancy sometimes leads hikes (in fact, there's one this coming weekend!) For information about Sloan Gorge Preserve, go to the Woodstock Land Conservancy website. We look forward to helping our guests make the most of their time at our house and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

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

Forested Woodstock retreat

Guest: Mary Ellen (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/22/10

Romantic and a little bit rustic, the little red cottage is far more charming than appears from the pictures. The house has a nice flow, intimate rooms filled with character (mellow woodwork and many thoughtfully placed casement windows fitted with quaint interior screens). The bedrooms upstairs (2 large, a third a tiny square that would delight a child) sport vintage wallpapers that enhance the sense of stepping into the past. And it’s so quiet! Not to mention so dark at night the overhead sky is a feast of stars. Even the single bathroom has charm: it’s small and not fancy, but the deep soaking tub and forested views make up for that. A couple of notes: the counters in the kitchen are a couple of inches taller than normal. Despite being very short myself (5’ on a good day), this didn’t really bother me much. I want to come back in the summertime to enjoy windows flung wide and that lovely flagstone patio and grill. It's close to all the Woodstock area has to offer, but you could easily spend a week on the property relaxing in front of the fireplace or outdoors (hikes and walks right from the property). And don't miss the moss forest on a meander close to the house. Peter and Marietta are EXCELLENT hosts, and very helpful. I would definitely recommend the house to friends -- in fact I have several folks who are already interested.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

A Great Weekend Away!

Guest: Besties Quintet (Brooklyn, NY & Jersity City, NJ)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

The Woodstock home was a great house for our small reunion of 5! It was just as it was listed in location, layout and amenities, and beautiful surrounded in all it's fall colors. The owner was accomodating and clearly listed what they were looking for from renters - a little mix up with keys - which worked out fine in the end. However, the owners did ask for a lot of very specific/thorough clean-up from the renters, which felt a little unfair as we were only there for two nights, and the place was far from pristine. It was wonderful - but it wasn't until we were cleaning up for check-out when notes like "Dust mantel and shelves" we found irksome as they were dusty when we got there. Also Renter please note there are mice & traces of - which is fine if you are aware of that up front (we were told they might be about). Overall though a really wonderful weekend, close to town, near farms to pick apples, fireplaces to have fires. We would definitely reccomend it. A big thumbs up. - A Brooklyn/Jersey Quintet of Besties

Owner response:I'm so glad you all had a great time - and thank you for taking such great care of the house and your patience with the key glitch. Also thank you so much for taking the time to review - you all were great! Just to let future guests know, we offer the choice to either pay the $100 cleaning fee upfront, or clean it themselves and leave the house ready for the next guests. Toward that end, some guests do ask for a list, which I include in the lease just in case. Part of the "charm" of being off the grid is wildlife, which unfortunately sometimes includes mice - who may leave their little love notes. Our lease does forewarn of this possibility. But overall, please rest assured that the house is well maintained! I'm happy to clarify if anyone has questions.

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

Guest: Karen and family
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

We have had an amazing time and what to thank you! Your land I big and beautiful and amazingly serene; Gus (our dog) had the time of his life being able to roam free on the opan land. Thank you again.

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Guest: Bill and Family
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Your woods are magical and the house seems set up and equipped by kindred spirits.!

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Kindred spirits

Guest: Bill, Megan, Kate, Doug, and Zappa
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Nice house. Great setting. Your woods are magical and the house seems set up and equipped by kindred spirits. We had trouble with eletronics - radio until we found the "karioke" button; unable to rn the DVD player. Also we couldn't find the fire screen. But none of that distracted from what we came for. Thanks ofr having us in your house. We hope to come back soon!

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Guest: Bill, Megan, Kate, Doug, and Zappa
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Nice house. Great setting. Your woods are magical and the house seems se tup and equipped by kindred spirits. We had trouble with eletronics - radio until we found the "karioke" button; unable to rn the DVD player. Also we couldn't find the fire screen. But none of that distracted from what we came for. Thanks ofr having us in your house. We hope to come back soon!

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amazing vacation house!

Guest: NYC567 (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 11/14/09 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

I rented this property for a romantic weekend away from the city. It was everything i was hoping for and more. from the moment you drive up, down a long wooded driveway, you immediately feel like you entered a different world. the house has so much old country charm while still offering modern comfort. the living room offers an amazing wood fireplace and comfy couches. the kitchen is equipped with a great modern stove top and oven, perfect for preparing a great home cooked meal. However, if you want to venture in to town, it is a simple 5 minute drive from the heart of Woodstock. The prices is extremely reasonable as well. I highly recommend this property for your Woodstock getaway!

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

Quiet beauty

Guest: Jean
Date of Stay: 10/17/09 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

We were immediately taken in by the quiet beauty of our surroundings. Entering the driveway was like driving into a winter scene from a postard. I knew we were in for a treat when we caught a glimpse of the house around the curve through snow covered trees! Every member of the family enjoyed exploring the grounds– especially the path leading to the waterfall. Although we were here for only a short time, we made the most of it. We were able to experience a little bit of everything this area had to offer.

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Guest: Jean
Date of Stay: 09/17/09 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

We were immediately taken in by the quiet beauty of our surroundings. Entering the driveway was like driving into a winter scene from a postard. I knew we were in for a treat when we caught a glimpse of the house around the curve through snow covered trees! Every member of the family enjoyed exploring the grounds– especially the path leading to the waterfall. Although we were here for only a short time, we made the most of it. We were able to experience a little bit of everything this area had to offer.

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Coffee on the patio at sunrise

Guest: Cynthia (HITS)
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Thank you – we enjoyed your home very much. My favorite thing to do was to sit on the patio with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise. Just beautiful.

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Guest: Cynthia (HITS)
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Thank you – we enjoyed your home very much. My favorite thing to do was to sit on the patio with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise. Just beautiful.

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Guest: Laura and Scott
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

We can't thank you enough for the use of your magical house. We have had a wonderful winter that we will never forget. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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Perfect Summer Escape

Guest: Katie and Anand
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

What a wonderful, wonderful month we just spent. This home is the perfect summer escape and we enjoyed the water holes immensely. Thanks!

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Guest: Katie and Anand
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

What a wonderful, wondrerfull month we just spent - thank you! This home is the perfect summer escape and we enjoyed the water holes immensely. Thanks!

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We felt truly at home

Guest: Sherri, Jared, and Family
Date of Stay: 03/03/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

When we arrived on Friday night around nine in the dark, the wind was howling. The trees blowing and bending almost to the ground. When we opened the front door, we could hear banging upstairs! oh my! was someone living here? We proceeded upstairs to find the window open! All night long the wind blew and sent eerie sounds throughout the house. We built a fine and it settled our spirits and made us feel at home. When the dawn broke, the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day, which we enjoyed thoroughly. Today as we leave, I think back on the fun we had exploring the grounds and the area, and the objects in the interesting house. We truly felt at home. Thanks!

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Guest: Sherri, Jared and Family
Date of Stay: 03/03/07 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

When we arrived on Friday night around nine in the dark, the wind was howling. The trees blowing and bending almost to the ground. When we opened the front door, we could hear banging upstairs! oh my! was someone living here? We proceeded upstairs to find the window open! All night long the wind blew and sent eerie sounds throughout the house. We built a fine and it settled our spirits and made us feel at home. When the dawn broke, the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day, which we enjoyed thoroughly. Today as we leave, I think back on the fun we had exploring the grounds and the area, and the objects in the interesting house. We truly felt at home. Thanks!

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A winter wonderland

Guest: Sarah and Gabe
Date of Stay: 01/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

What a spectacular spot to welcome the new year! This home was a perfect fit for us and it felt like it could have been ours fro the moment we stepped inside. When the snow fell on New Years' Eve it was like a winter wonderland. I can't wait to see it in the spring or summer. We would love to come back. If you ever decide to sell, PLEASE call us - really it felt like such a perfect and natural fit. I love every touch - what fabulous taste you have. Thanks for everything!

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Guest: Sarah, Gabe, and Steve
Date of Stay: 01/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

What a spectacular spot to welcome the new year! This home was a perfect fit for us and it felt like it could have been ours fro the moment we stepped inside. When the snow fell on New Years's Eve it was like a winter wonderland. I can't wait to see it in the spring or summer. We would love to come back. If you ever decide to sell, PLEASE call us - really it felt like such a perfect and natural fit. I love every touch - what fabulous taste you have. Thanks for everything!

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A winter to remember

Guest: Laura and Scott
Date of Stay: 11/01/06 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

We can't thank you enough for the use of your magical house. We have had a wonderful winter that we will never forget. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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