Vacation Rentals by Owner

Very attractive, sunny appartment in convenient neighborhood

Guest: Atlanticside (Marblehead, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/08/12 Review Submitted: 03/14/12

A delightful apartment with sunny outlook on garden and large private deck. It is well maintained, comfortably and tastefully furnished. The location, as listed, is very convenient to shops, restaurants bus routes and only a short walk to the BART while still being in an area away from traffic. The owner was extremely helpful and prompt answering any questions and making all necessary arrangements. I would definitely come again and recommend the property to friends and family.

Owner response:Hi Marianne - I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the Rockridge Bungalow and really appreciate your glowing review. I look forward to hearing from you again for a future visit. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

holiday

Guest: herky (Toronto, Ontario,,Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/05/12

Our stay at Rockridge Bungalow was ideal. We chose it because of its proximity to family who live in Oakland. A perfect location for walks and location of Bart. Lots of restaurants and cafes and good grocery shopping.. House was spotless and supplied with everything needed for meal preparation if required. Nice sunny deck facing west for sunsets. A great accomodation for holiday. A very favourable recommendation

Owner response:Hi Mary Jo - thanks so much for the glowing review. I'm thrilled you enjoyed your visit with family and look forward to hearing from you again. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Helen

Guest: Helen (Oakland CA)
Date of Stay: 01/14/12 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

We rented this lovely apartment for our visiting son, daughter in law and two little grandsons. It was the perfect place in the perfect location. There was plenty of room for everyone, lovely bed for the adults and comfy air mattresses for the kids, great kitchen and deck, and the location is superb= walking distance to all the good things on College Ave as well as BART, Safeway, Starbucks and Trader Joes. Michelle is so nice to deal with, and very thoughtful about having everything tenants might need, including a treat from the Market Hall bakery! This will definitely go on the "favorites" list for a home away from home!

Owner response:Hi Helen. Thanks for the great review - you pretty much said it all! I'm so happy to hear your family enjoyed their visit and we look forward to their next one! Warm regards, Michelle

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

Great Location

Guest: Bob & Chris (Pensacola, FL)
Date of Stay: 12/14/11 Review Submitted: 01/08/12

The Rockridge Bungalow was a very convenient location for us during our holiday visit to Oakland. Access to shops, grocery stores, restaurants and the Bart were excellent. The bungalow was clean and had all the necessary items to cook meals when we chose not to eat at the many wonderful restaurant locations on College Avenue. The listing description was accurate, photos reflected the property appearance, and Michelle was very helpful/efficient in setting up the rental, plus provided good information on the College Avenue businesses surrounding the bungalow. We would definitely recommend this property to anyone who will walk to restaurants or shops and does not need a car for their transportation needs since both the bus and Bart are readily accessible.

Owner response:Hi Christine - So glad to hear you enjoyed your stay and thanks so much for the glowing review! The bungalow is very convenient to all the shops/restaurants/cafes on College Ave - I'm glad you took advantage of it. Hope to hear from you again for a future visit. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Rockridge

Guest: Flo (Hopewell Jct. NY)
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

We loved our stay in Rockridge. We were at home instantly. We had dinner with our kids at Hudson's and were pleased with the food and the service. We recommend a visit to this quiet charming area of Oakland..

Owner response:Hi Florence - So happy to hear you loved your stay at Rockridge Bungalow and that you enjoyed one of my restaurant recommendations - there are lots more on the RB blog! Look forward to hearing from you again for a future visit. Warm regards, Michelle

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

Quite nice, but a bit overpriced.

Guest: Kel (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 12/05/11 Review Submitted: 12/14/11

The place is well cared for and in a good neighborhood. It's about a 10min walk from the Rockridge BART. A great alternative to a hotel in terms of privacy and character. The booking/check-in process was very simple and Michelle was quite accommodating given our last minute request and late arrival. The apartment was tastefully decorated and there was a loaf of delicious ginger bread awaiting us..a lovely touch. Especially since we got there too late to get any food nearby! The bed was comfy, the shower hot, and the internet worked fine. It is, however a garden/partial basement apartment and there are some unfinished rooms connected to the finished parts, which is kind of creepy and made the place hard to warm up. It was about 50F outside and we had all heaters going full blast! After the first night we were able to warm the place up comfortably, though. My only complaint is that I feel the price was a bit high for two nights, including taxes and a cleaning fee. I stay at vacation rentals all over the world and this is pricey for what you get. We needed something on short notice and were picky about the neighborhood, but if I had it to do over again I would probably stay at a hotel for half the price or search for something more appropriately priced in Oakland. Also, the cleaning fee seemed steep considering the check-out procedure which entailed stripping the beds, putting the towels in the washer, taking out the trash, etc. That is most certainly above and beyond what most vacation rentals require at check-out if they are charging a substantial cleaning fee. It may have been more worth it if we were staying longer, but that seemed excessive for a two night stay. I really enjoyed Oakland, though, and appreciated all the nice touches Michelle put into her rental. She made it a cozy experience and we would recommend it as long as you can afford the price!

Owner response:Hi Kelly - So happy to hear you enjoyed your stay and thanks for pointing out some of the bungalow's highlights - cozy, well-appointed and conveniently located in one of Oakland's hottest neighborhoods. Now, to address your other concerns. I agree the cleaning fee is steep for a short stay but that is my exact cost to have it professionally cleaned each and every time. The rates are very competitive with other local vacation rentals and certainly with the only comparable hotel - The Claremont Resort. Lastly, while it's nice to have an actual laundry room, I don't think it's that unusual to place a washer/dryer in an unfinished basement or garage. Thanks for recommending us! Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Tourists without a car

Thanksgiving made uncomfortable

Guest: Chris V. (Evergreen, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 11/23/11

First I can tell you the home was really clean and furnished well. It was convenient to the freeway and to shopping. That's where the comfort level stopped. The home is not appropriate for a family nor guests with more than 2. The blowup twin mattress made the one bedroom cramped and would not be convenient in the living room. The love seat would not sustain a sleeping arrangement either. Couples should use this home only as the 2-4 designation is somewhat stretched here. That's the negative for the sleeping quarters. What really made this trip uncomfortable was the overwhelming noise from the tenant living above this unit. I've lived in apartments before but didn't think I'd need to relive that noise level during a vacation. Given the home was built so long ago, the insulation is poor making every step, stomp, run, chatter, drawer shut, door shut, music, toilet flush, shower, and furnace come through the ceiling. I want to bring this to everyone's attention before you choose this unit just in case you are looking for a peaceful getaway. A tenant living upstairs is what it is. Peaceful it was not. As I'm writing this, the stomping is growing in volume and it's 9:30pm. Being on Broadway also created a couple of annoyances. The bedroom is street level so you get lots of traffic noise with Broadway being a main drag. Parking also became inconvenient. We'd have to park across the street at times and down a ways and then have to cross a busy street. Interesting with a 5yr old. The home was cute and convenient....that's as far as I would go. Sorry Michelle....I won't be returning nor recommending your home.

Owner response:Hi Patty & Chris - While I am sorry to hear your stay was uncomfortable, I am thankful for a such a thorough review from someone who is obviously extremely sensitive to noise. This helps other prospective guests make a well-informed choice. In 2 years of hosting dozens of happy guests who submitted 33 positive reviews, this is unique feedback but valued nonetheless. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:

Rockridge Bungalow Weekend

Guest: Les (Southern CA)
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

Everything promised and more! Great neighborhood for walking, dining and access to getting around the East Bay. Comfortable home away from home with everything you need including a kithchen equipped to turn out a lovely dinner for 4! We loved staying at the Rockridge Bungalow and hope to go back again soon.

Owner response:Hi Leslie - So happy to hear you enjoyed your stay! It's true, the bungalow IS very conveniently located in a great area of Oakland. We look forward to hearing from you again. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+

October Reunion

Guest: Boston (near Boston, Ma)
Date of Stay: 10/25/11 Review Submitted: 11/03/11

Rockridge Bungalow was charming, cozy, immaculate and comfortable. Owner was responsive and helpful and we hope to rent the property again!

Owner response:Thanks for the glowing review Margo! We look forward to hearing from you again for a future visit. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Rockridge - Perfection

Guest: Ian Brinham (London UK)
Date of Stay: 09/27/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

Returned for our second visit to the Rockridge Bungalow and as with the last visit was not disappointed. Fantastic location with all you could possibly need right on your doorstep - the bungalow makes for a wonderful retreat after a day pounding the streets of the Bay Area. As always check out Michelle's blog for helpful hints as to where to eat and drink - highly recommend Hudsons, Homeroom (for Mac & cheese), Rick and Annes & Bettes Diner for breakfast and if you don't manage to get a fried chicken sandwich from Bakesale Bettys because they have sold out then settle for a box of their cookies and you won't be disappointed. Always try and at least once have coffee sitting outside the Market Hall with a wonderful morning bun - watch the world go by. Once again a great stay at the bungalow and will certainly be back again.

Owner response:Hi Ian - a pleasure having you back for a return visit and thanks for the glowing review! I really appreciate your mention of my blog as well. I love Rockridge and all that it has to offer and the blog is a great way to share what I stumble upon. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Hope to return!

Guest: jess (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

My stay at Rockridge bungalow was a great experience, and Michelle, the owner made it so easy to enjoy. The place is very clean and well appointed with everything you could possibly need. Not to mention the proximity to shops, restaurants, public transit, etc is pretty much ideal. The 51B bus line picks up right around the corner and Bart is a 5 min walk. If I did have a car it would have been pretty easy to find a spot on the street (it's a busier street FYI - Broadway). The cottage entrance is from the back and is the lower part of a duplex, so if you don't mind a little noise sometimes, it's very quiet otherwise. All in all, I hope to be returning and also hope all these positive reviews won't mean it will be perpetually booked up!! :-) jessica

Owner response:Hi Jessica - thanks so much for such a thorough and glowing review. We hope to hear from you again very soon! Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Rockford Bungalow

Guest: Nan (Chicago, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/15/11

I am a repeat customer and this place is great! I didn't want to write a review in the past since I'd like to keep the secret to myself. I agree with all the good things said and would like to clarify that there is now a dish drain, a toaster and a microwave. Michelle must carefully pay attention to feedback. I find the bed to be very comfortable and the little bit of noise from upstairs is charming, like having real neighbors. Wish I could live there!

Owner response:Hi Nan - So happy to hear you enjoyed your stay. There is no greater compliment to us than return visitors. Keep the feedback coming - we are definitely listening. Take care and see ya next time. Warm regards, Michelle

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

One More Favorable Review!

Guest: AlexP (Avon, CT/New England)
Date of Stay: 03/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/06/11

There's little I can add to the rave reviews the Rockridge Bungalow With Style has received. Its description is completely accurate. It's a great small apartment in a vibrant, walkable neighborhood with lots of good restaurants, boutiques and a couple of bookstores. Travelers without a car can easily walk to the BART station and be in San Francisco within minutes. The neighborhood is safe, so walking down the street late at night is not a problem. I felt very comfortable in this cozy, serene place and will definitely come back.

Owner response:Hi AlexP - Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay and thank you so much for your rave review. It was a pleasure hosting you and we look forward to your return visit. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Very cute and clean bungalow

Guest: Marie (Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 01/11/11 Review Submitted: 01/20/11

This bungalow was amazingly close to College Ave. Twice parking on the street was about 100 feet from the home, but the area is quiet and felt very safe. Everything was clean and nicely appointed. Comfy bed and living room sofa, and flat screen in living room was well-placed for viewing.

Owner response:Hi Marie - glad to hear you enjoyed your visit and yes, the bungalow is very central to all the action. Thanks for the review and we hope to see you again. Warm regards, Michelle

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

Rockridge Bungalow

Guest: Bobbie (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 12/21/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/11

Very nicely kept and appointed! The steep walk down the driveway should be noted for older couples and for getting the luggage up and down. It was a little slippery in the rain and rather unsafe for us in our 70's and 80's. The bed really sags in the middle. It was very quiet and very well equiped.

Owner response:Hi Bobbie - Thanks for the feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed a quite stay at the bungalow. Also, thanks for noting the driveway. While I try, it's difficult to cover all the details with each guest. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing.

November 2010 stay

Guest: Steve (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/06/10

My wife and I stayed at this very nice rental for a one month to visit with our son who lives in nearby Piedmont. We stayed for Thanksgiving and our son's birthday. We got into a great daily routine of having coffee/tea and danishes or muffins every morning while visiting with our son then we usually went out for the PM. We did not have a car, our son drove, there is easy street parking. We had a really great Thanksgiving meal at "the Montclair Bistro." The food was exceptionally good. Do visit this restaurant. For Breakfast or lunch we also recommend "Rick and Anne's" accross the street from the "Claimont Resort/Hotel." You may have a slight wait for a table, but it is worth it. Also try "Mark 49" - a bar with a small menu. The humus appetizer is awesome, as are most of the pannini sandwiches. Unpretentious "Christopher's" burgers on College Ave has super good burgers. College Ave has tons of nice restaurants - try "Crepevine" for deleicious crepes, or the "Hudson Cafe" for a great laid-back coffee shop experience (bring your laptop to most of the cafes - there is free WiFi in most of them, so you can stay for hours sipping good strong coffee). These restaurants are patronized by locals mostly because there are no hotels or motels in the area, therefore no tourists. That is one of the best parts of staying in Rockridge - almost no tourists, so you feel like you are one of the locals. We visited the Bodega Bay area in Marin County to visit friends and for the spectacular ocean/cliff views. This area is north of San Francisco. You will want to move there ! We also went south (of SF) to Santa Cruz to visit friends and to see similarly spectacular views along the shoreline on Route 1. Santa Cruz is a great shore town for strolling on the pier to see seals, or sometimes, dolphins. The pier has great seafood in any of its restaurants. You will also want to move to Santa Cruz ! You will want to move to Rockridge and to Montclair and to Piedmont and to Walnut Creek, etc, etc. You will see for yourself. Michelle was very helpful when we requested a microwave, so we could re-heat leftovers or for take-out food. There are: a Safeway food store, a CVS pharmacy, a Wendy's, a Boston Market, and tons of other restaurants. This rental is in a good location. It is on a busy street, but you cannot hear the traffic once inside. The only noise you may hear are the people walking around or watching TV upstairs. We would use this place again it is so conveniently located.

Owner response:Wow Steve - that is one thorough review of the area. Thanks and I'm so happy you had nice visit. Warm regards, Michelle

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

Great, Comfortable Property

Guest: Kevin (Oakland)
Date of Stay: 10/23/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

My parents stayed here for a long weekend and absolutely loved it. For the money, you're getting way more than you would with a standard hotel. The furnishings are wonderful and the space itself is very roomy. We will definitely be putting our out-of-town visitors in this place. Very private yet close to everything you could need.

Owner response:Hi Kevin - Glad to hear your parents enjoyed their visit and thanks so much for the great review. We look forward to hearing from you again soon. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent location, charming vacation house perfect for all your needs!

Guest: Tracey-Canada (NB, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/09/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

We stayed at Rockridge Bungalow from Oct 9th until 18th. The location of the apartment is central, with a short walk to the BART (perhaps 10 minutes max), local market, grocery and drug stores, and plenty of restaurants. The house was comfortable and inviting, well kept and very clean (in fact, the owner herself was there cleaning when we arrived a bit early!). The kitchen was well stocked with everything you could need, the only thing lacking I would suggest is a microwave but we made do without one. The living room is comfortable and we appreciated the TV with cable/satellite and wireless internet as well. The bathroom features a tiled shower which was nice and big. There were plenty of linens for the week as well. The bedroom is spacious and the bed was COMFORTABLE (not many hotels can boast that!). It was a nice feature to have the washer and dryer in the apartment as well if needed. The patio was great for the evenings and we enjoyed it fully! Overall, I would highly recommend Rockridge Bungalow. It's location is in a nice suburban neighborhood and you feel completely safe in that area. A nice gesture as well was the welcome note from Michelle and the sweet bread (so yummy after a long day flying to our vacation destination). You will not be disappointed in Rockridge Bungalow, it's a great little spot!

Owner response:Hi Tracey - Wow! Thanks for such a thorough review. We are so happy you enjoyed your visit and look forward to hearing from you again. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A great place in every way.

Guest: Nan (Chicago, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 09/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/07/10

It was great, way better than staying in a hotel. We were able to share meals with friends, eat breakfast and sit on the back porch in the sun, walk to the Bart to visit San Francisco and Berkeley, stroll to great places to eat and shop. Will definitely do it again.

Owner response:Hi Nan - Thanks for a great review and we look forward to your next visit. Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Rockridge Bungalow

Guest: Robert (Farnham, UK.)
Date of Stay: 09/15/10 Review Submitted: 09/28/10

Ideal for a couple with everything you could need. Excellent spacious accommodation, spotlessly clean and well appointed. Good position for the East Bay. 10 minutes walk from (good) local shops and restaurants. Michelle, the owner, is really helpful and communicative, especially important as we were visiting from the UK. Helpful and clear instructions much appreciated. Would thoroughly recommend. A good find !

Owner response:Hi Robert - Thanks for your kind review. So happy the bungalow met your needs and that you'll be visiting us again next year! Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+

Great Getaway

Guest: Pam (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 08/29/10 Review Submitted: 09/15/10

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Rockridge Bungalow. The location is superb, easy walking distance to shops, fabulous restaurants, transportation. We loved Olivetos and had terrific Indian take-out food (sorry, I can't remember the name of the restaurant.) The property was clean, nicely appointed without being overly precious. The whole process--from renting on-line to return of damage deposit--was easy and accessible. We're over 55 and did not find the steep walk down the driveway to the entrance a problem, but that might be the only drawback for some. We have family in the area and would definitely stay at the Bungalow again.

Owner response:Hi Pam - Thanks for the great review. So glad you loved one of my restaurant recommendations - Olivetos. The Indian restaurant I think you're referring to is Khana Peena. There are many more great ones on my list - only steps away from the bungalow, so we hope to hear from you again for a future stay! Warm regards, Michelle

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

A great apartment, noisy neighbours

Guest: Bravo (New Hampshire )
Date of Stay: 08/15/10 Review Submitted: 08/27/10

The place itself is great - quiet, pleasant, comfortable, with fantastic location (close to public transportation, restaurants, and stores, plenty of street parking). The owner is also helpful and friendly. However, it is not ideal if you're a light sleeper - the sound of the upstairs neighbors walking, talking, and taking showers is very loud, and they tend to do all those things in the middle of the night, often at 1 or 2 am. So I would not recommend it if you're sensitive to noise - otherwise, very highly recommended.

Owner response:Hi Bravo - Thanks for your thoughtful comments and please accept my apology for any missed sleep. As your review is the 18th one we received and not one other person has complained of noise, I'm hoping this was an extremely extenuating circumstance. The bungalow is typically a very quiet, well-appointed and peaceful abode - only steps to all the action of College Ave! I sincerely hope you give us another shot and that we hear from you again for a future stay. Kindly, Michelle

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Wonderful home away from home in Oakland

Guest: Ian and Sarah (Takoma Park, MD USA)
Date of Stay: 08/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/11/10

We stayed at this beautiful Rockridge Bungalow for five nights while visiting a friend who has just moved to Oakland. It was a wonderful stay. The neighborhood is very walkable, close to restaurants and public transportation, and great for us as it was an easy walk to our friend's place. The property is beautifully set up and and kitchen was nicely equipped- certainly adequate for us to fix breakfast. The bed is extremely comfortable and the whole place is extremely clean. From the time we made our reservation until we checked out, all communication with Michelle was very clear and easy. We had no trouble finding the place and did try out some of her restaurant recommendations. We especially liked Oliveto and Aunt Mary's. We will definitely want to stay there again for our next visit.

Owner response:Thank you Ian & Sarah for such a great review. So happy you enjoyed your stay and Ian's birthday dinner at Oliveto. Hope to hear from you again for a future visit!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful place to stay in Oakland!

Guest: Cara (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

Thanks for a fabulous stay. The photos don't do the home justice. It is immaculate and adorable. Perfect accomodations for a small family, and Michelle was extremely accomodating. The outdoor areas (a deck and small yard) are a wonderful bonus. The fridge stopped working toward the end of our stay, so our food went bad. But I know Michelle fixed it as soon as we left. That's only reason for 4 out of 5 stars!

Owner response:Thanks for a great review Cara! So happy to hear you enjoyed the garden and deck - it is a peaceful spot only steps from the action on College Ave. The fridge is good as new - sorry about your food. Hope to hear from you again for a future visit!

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

Great Neighborhood, Quiet Bungalow

Guest: Greg (Long Beach)
Date of Stay: 05/28/10 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

The four members of our small family spent a great weekend in the bay area with Rockridge as our home base. Great location near College Ave, we order pizza to go from a local pizza shop and enjoyed it on our patio, watching the sunset. Nice sized bedroom, cozy front room for TV & relaxing, and a kitchen for breakfast and when you don't want to go out. Thanks for the great stay!

Owner response:Hi Greg - So happy you and the family enjoyed your stay. It's true - the bungalow does provide nice options for either going out or staying in. Hope to hear from you again soon! Warm regards, Michelle

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children.

Guest: Cindy L. (-)
Date of Stay: 04/06/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

We really enjoyed our time in March at Michelle's very nice Rockridge Bungalow. (We appreciated the good heat!) It's in an area we know well and lots of our favorite Bay Area restaurants and shops are nearby. We hope to be able to stop there again every year for a week or two on our annual migration to Mexico from India.

Owner response:Thank you for the feedback Cindy! I hope to hear from you when you return next year - would love to have you back.

Recommended for:

Guest: Paul131 (Westport, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/03/10 Review Submitted: 03/03/10

I really enjoyed my stay at the Bungalow. From the living room window, you can see Mt. Tamalpais in the distance above the Rockridge rooftops. The space is quiet and peaceful. And everything you could want is within walking distance. Michelle is extremely helpful and quick to respond to all questions. Many thanks, I'll stay here again.

Owner response:Thank you for the kind comments Paul, we enjoyed having you. Come back soon!

Recommended for:

Guest: alana ulrich (scottsdale, arizona)
Date of Stay: 02/12/10 Review Submitted: 02/12/10

Took my sister for a vacation and she wanted to stay in a neighborhood which reminded her of our favorite place in Paris! Well, she was totally blown away! Not only was the location awesome (walking distance to so many wonderful restaurants in Rockridge, shopping, etc.), but we found a bakery, a flower shop, and a restaurant which are now on our "favorites" list! The bungalow itself leaves nothing to be desired and we really enjoyed packing up our many flea market treasures in the "cave"! Wonderful space, so nice and clean, and we hope to come back in the summer to enjoy the lovely deck... Thanks so much for a truly wonderful stay!

Owner response:Paris? Wow! Thanks Alana - so happy you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to hearing from you again soon. Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Bruce23 (Kathmandu, Nepal)
Date of Stay: 01/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/10

Fantastic location. Choice of two Transbay buses into SF (I was here on business), walk to BART and handy to very good restaurants and great markets. WiFi was also very much appreciated.

Owner response:Thanks Bruce and safe travels! Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Steve146 (Point Arena, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/05/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/10

Lovely home, well situated, ample on-the-street parking. Clean and well lighted with a view. Welcoming host, attended to all billing in professional manner. Good price, for good product

Owner response:Thanks Steve! We hope to see you again for future visits. Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Elisabeth and Laurie (Bloomington. IL)
Date of Stay: 12/31/09 Review Submitted: 12/31/09

Loved our stay at the bungalow. It was homey and close to all our favourite Rockridge amenities. Yeah for Market Hall! Our stay would have been assisted by a microwave and a toaster/oven. Also, a soap dispenser in the bathroom. We'll be looking forward to our next visit to Otown and will defintely stay at the bungalow.

Owner response:Thanks Elisabeth! Looking forward to your next visit. Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Marci 1 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 12/18/09 Review Submitted: 12/18/09

Michelle, Thank you so much for the use of Rockridge Bungalow for our stay in Oakland. It was a perfect get-away from the busyness/chaos of my cousin's wedding. What a wonderful alternative to a hotel! Our relatives were at the nearby Claremont Resort and were very envious of the amount of room, amentities, and location we had. My mother and I felt completely safe, even when arriving home LATE at night from making last minute alterations to the flower girls' dresses. We were able to walk to a variety of restaurants on College and enjoyed Market Hall. You were right-there is really no need for a rental car! The heaters worked great and warmed up the place quickly. The only suggestion I can make is to have an umbrella in the closet. I am sure any of my family who returns to Oakland will want to stay at your place.Thank you so much for the delicious bread!

Owner response:Thanks Marci! So happy to hear such nice comments and we look forward to future visits from you and/or your family. Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/15/09 Review Submitted: 11/15/09

We loved staying at Rockridge Bungalow! The place was clean, had great views of the sunset from the deck. It was perfect for our family of three, and super kid friendly thanks to the safety gate and sand box! The kitchen was well stocked and we appreciated the welcome breakfast treats! We used to live in the area, and it was great to be in such a wonderful neighborhood -- lots of great food! We have recommended it to friends and hope they have guests stay there in the future.

Owner response:Thanks for the nice comments John! We hope to hear from you again on future visits. Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Don and Sarah Cohen (-)
Date of Stay: 11/07/09 Review Submitted: 11/07/09

We agree with all the positive comments and feel that of the 4 0r 5 places we have rented, this is the nicest due to location, cleanliness, decoration, thoughtful attention to details and information for visitors. We would rent again on another visit most definitely!

Owner response:Thank you so much Don and Sarah. We enjoyed having you stay with us. Thank you for leaving the bungalow in such good condition. Come back soon! Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Ian Brinham (London UK)
Date of Stay: 10/10/09 Review Submitted: 10/09/09

I can highly recommend the bungalow having just spent a very relaxing two weeks there. The location is very convenient for a whole variety of things whether for a stroll down College Ave or a jaunt into the City. The bungalow itself has plenty of space for a couple as well as being decorated and furnished to a high standard. We had several friends over for drinks on the deck and all were impressed with the layout. We will certainly think about staying there on our next trip over.

Owner response:Thanks Ian! Hope to hear from you again for future visits. Michelle

Recommended for:

Guest: Suzanne30 (Pound Ridge, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/20/09 Review Submitted: 09/20/09

This is a very nice apartment in a very nice location. It is in walkable distance to the BART, Starbucks and variety of restaurants. I am very selective and must have clean linens, decent bathrooms and clean kitchen. I smiled as I walked through the apartment, I was charmed by the touches and the baked bread. I missed a drain board and microwave, but it is minor to the whole place. I walked home alone late at night and I was felt safe as I walked. That counts big with me. I give you 5 stars. Thank you, Suzanne

Owner response:Thanks so much Suzanne! You are wonderful and I'll see you back in November. - Michelle

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Guest: Sandy48 (-)
Date of Stay: 08/16/09 Review Submitted: 08/16/09

Michelle, We had a great week! The location is perfect and we loved the porch and backyard. If location is everything, this is the perfect place to be. Shops, restaurants, highway and BART are all close at hand. We loved it. Thanks for the wine. It was a welcome remindr that we were in California! Sandy, Washington DC

Owner response:Sandy - I am so glad you had a good time and thank you for the kind review. We'd love to have you back anytime. Thanks! Michelle.

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Guest: Kari11 (Oakland, Ca)
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

Comment Text: Michelle, We want to thank you for your first-rate accommodations. The Bungalow was a perfect place to begin our move to the Bay Area. Your place is clean, classy and very comfortable. We enjoyed the patio, the view and the location worked out perfectly for us. Not only was it within walking distance of the shops and restaurants on College, it was easy to access downtown Oakland and all of Berkeley. We felt welcome and all our questions and needs were addressed promptly. I highly recommend your place as an excellent alternative to a hotel. Thanks again and we will definitely consider your place when we have company from out of town coming to visit.

Owner response:Kari - you and Jon were wonderful and we enjoyed having you as our guests. Thanks so much and best of luck with your new home!

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Guest: Katherine Corkum (Klamath Falls, OR)
Date of Stay: 07/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/13/09

Michelle- We had a great time in Rockridge. The bungalow was a perfect fit for our small family. Thanks for the pastries and milk; it was a nice, welcoming touch. We really appreciated the use of your pack and play and high chair, as I'm sure you know, it's a pain to schlep those things around. The only things we missed was a microwave and a baby gate to block the stairs. I love the decorating, very homey and stylish, not the usual hodgepodge you see in vacation rentals. As far as VRBO, I use it a lot to find vacation rentals. I thought your ad was nice and had a lot of pictures (always a plus). I also really appreciated the prompt reply. Sometimes I never hear back from inquiries I've made, which makes it hard to nail down a reservation in a hurry. The only things I would add would be a link to your website and inclusion of the rental taxes, cleaning fee, deposit. A lot of times I think I've found a great rental for a good price, then I find out the cleaning fee is $150 and it's a deal breaker, so it's nice to know that info up front. Hope this was helpful, and thanks again for letting us rent your beautiful space. Thanks again, Kat

Owner response:Thanks for the feedback Kat! We hope we hear from you again if you return to Rockridge.

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Guest: Dan46 (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/16/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

I had the pleasure of staying in Michelle's rental for a couple of weeks while the rest of my family was in town for a vacation. Very clean, well appointed and bright. It was easy to take BART into the city and College Ave was a short walk away and full of great restaurants, bars and shops. I'll definitely consider staying here again next year.

Owner response:We enjoyed having you Dan. Come back soon!

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