Location: Monte Rio, Russian River, Sonoma County, Wine Country, California, USA (Near Bohemian Grove/Beach/Golf/Restaurants/Movies/Theatre) View Map
Accommodations: Cottage, 1 Bedroom + Other (See Description), 1.25 Baths (Sleeps 4-6)
Keywords: Cottage, cabin, northern california, wine country, redwoods, pacific coast, camp, compound, bungalow, hot tub, spa, private yards,russian river, napa, sonoma, guerneville, san francisco bay area, gay friendly, LBGT, Lazy Bear, Bohemian, Duncans Mills, Occidental, Forestville, Sebastopol, Jenner
Our smallest one bedroom cottage, The Stellar Jay will sleep up to 4 people. **(6 with auxiliary sleeping cabin. See below.) Beyond the outdoor dining table and the front French door, there is a living room with a romantic electric fireplace. A leather sofa folds out into a comfortable queen size bed. Just off of the living room, there is a comfortable bathroom with shower. The living room and bedroom are separated by a fully-equipped galley kitchen. Lace curtains adorn the French doors and windows. The bedroom has a king size bed, a French entry door, and a set of French doors that open onto a private, sunny, balcony with cocktail table and chairs.
**(Need more sleeping space? There is an auxiliary sleeping cabin available as an add on to our cottages.
The sleeping cabin has a queen bed, w/c only (no shower), and is detached from our cottages.
This sleeping cabin may not be rented separately, but is available to our cottage guests as an add on. Additional charges apply. See rates)
All of our cottage have private yards, private hot tubs, private gas grills, fully equipped, granite counter kitchens, gas or electric fireplaces, premium satellite TV, WiFi, nice linens, including bathrobes, use of the common area and are 1/2 blocks away from two beautiful old restaurants and comfortable bars on the Russian River.
ABOUT MONTE RIO COTTAGES: We have just remodeled the whole compound (three sweet cottages and a sleeping cabin (Camp Serenity), a studio (the Hummingbird) and 2 one bedrooms (the Stellar Jay and the Heron).
The cottages can be rented individually or rent the entire compound. (VRBO #190238, 245198, 250195).
The 1/2 acres compound is artistically designed to let you retreat to your own vacation wonderland or gather with friends and family for social reunions. The cottages are joined by on extensive decks that are separated by many gates. You can keep your cottage private with your gates closed and locked or open all of the gates for use of the entire compound by one group. All of the cottages were built around the turn of the 1900's and have been completely renovated with 21st century amenities.
We have a two night minimum all year three day minimum for holiday and special local events.
(We offer 1 night stays, if available, on a walk in basis. No advanced reservations for -1-night.)
A security deposit and linen/cleaning fee are required.
Check for specials in the rate section, or visit our website.
Please call me for more pictures and to ask questions.
Thanks for your interest.
Janis
We are located
1/2 block from the Village Inn and
1 1/2 blocks from the Highland Dell, (two historic hotels with fine restaurants and comfortable bars that overlook the Russian River.)
We are within walking distance to:
The Bohemian Grove, (2 blocks)
The Monte Rio Beach, (5 blocks)
The Monte Rio Amphitheater
The Monte Rio Community Center
The Monte Rio Community Tennis Courts
Northwoods Golf Course (an Alister MacKenzie designed golf course), 3/4 mile east on River Rd
We are 6 miles to the Pacific Coast (at Jenner),
4 miles to Guerneville
4 miles to Duncan's Mills
6 miles to Occidental
30 minutes from Santa Rosa
1 1/4 hour to San Francisco.
We are located within driving distance of many Sonoma County wineries.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Linens Provided : Luxury Linens, oversize bath towels.
- Off Street Parking : Nice fenced common area, as well off street parking.
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer : By special arrangement. Call in advance for questions and arrangements.
- Gas Fireplace : Electric fireplace.
- Wood Fireplace : We have a community outdoor fire pit, on our wooded grounds, next to the cottages. As a courtesy, we provide the wood. Please read the rules for a fire, which is located next to the firewood. It is nice to gather around an outdoor fire, especially on those crisp, autumn nights on the river.
- Beds
- King Bed : With 600 count sheets, feather comforter and lovely balcony.
- Convertible Bed : Luxury bedding, feather bed, to cushion fold out, feather comforter.
- Entertainment
- Private Hot Tub : In privacy fenced area, so clothing is optional, personal spa, with massage jets.
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- CD Player
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : We provide a small amount of coffee, non-dairy creamer and sugar. As a courtesy, we also provide common spices, cooking oil, and flour.
- Cooking Utensils Provided : We provide a complete kitchen. There are also outdoor utensils for the gas grill.
- Refrigerator
- Microwave : The microwaves are also convection ovens, which will cook both as a microwave or as a standard oven. It allow for oven baking.
- Catering Available : The cottages are located in the California Wine Country. This area is rich with great restaurants, great chefs and great ingredients. We are happy to recommend a variety of restaurants, chefs and to tell you where to find the local fares. Sonoma County is a cornucopia of a delicious food items. If you are a cook, you will really enjoy having these great, local food ingredients at your fingertips, as well as your own kitchen to come home to.
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill : Utensil provided.
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- Communications
- Telephone
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Electric fireplace, fire pit, in common area, for evening campfires, organic veggie garden, fruit trees, black berry picking, (when in season).
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations) : Limited number of steps to access cottage.
- Kid Friendly
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters : Must include at least one responsible adult.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseshoes
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Rafting
- Shelling
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Other Activities
- We located only 1/2 block from the famous "Village Inn" and 1-1/2 blocks from the "Highland Dell". Both of these lovely hotels have very interesting histories, first class restaurants and wonderfully comfortable bars that overlook the Russian River. It is a nice option, while staying at our cottages, to have the luxury of a great meal at either of these fine inns.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
May-Sep & Holidays .. $210/nt .. $1260/wk **(optional add on cabin $80/nt,$480/wk)
Oct-Apr ........... $185/nt .. $ 1110/wk **(optional add on cabin $75/nt, $450/wk)
Spring Special:(option 1)$170/nt Fri-Sun,$155/nt Mon-Thurs,**(add on cabin $62-65)
or (option 2) stay 2 nights get 3rd night 1/2 off, or a week for $925.00
**Add on auxiliary detached sleeping cabin available. (queen bed, w/c, no shower).
**Add on cabin is available to cottage guests only & can't be rented separately.
-2-night min for advanced reservations, -1-night available on a walk in basis only
There is always a $80 Linen/Cleaning Fee and a 9% Sonoma County tax
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
-
Credit Cards Accepted:
-
-
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2007
Why the Owner Chose Monte Rio
We live across the street and we've loved the cute little compound for years. It had fallen into disrepair and when it came up for sale, we bought it, remodeled it and refurbished it. It's been a labor of love and now we have the pleasure of sharing our place with people who are making memories. It's so rewarding to read the guest book after our guests leave. So far, every entry has been positive!
The Unique Benefits at this Cottage
Our cottages are newly renovated and beautiful! We are in a redwood forest; a wooded setting, yet it is sunny all day at the cottages. The little 1/2 acre compound is fenced, and we have a wonderful common area, with a nice fire pit for evening campfires. We have a great location...15 minutes from the coast, in the middle of the California Wine Country, 5 blocks from the public beach, on the Russian River, 1/2 block from a safe, beautiful bar and restaurant that overlooks the river and we are in the Redwoods! We are 5 minutes from Northwoods Golf Course. (It was designed by Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Pebble Beach.) Monte Rio is known as "Vacation Wonderland"!
Owner's Map of Monte Rio
We have lovingly remodeled and refurbished these cottages to capture that wonderful, "vacation on the river" feel. We have lived across the street from the cottages for the past 11 years, and it still feels like we are on vacation her. We hope you'll enjoy Monte Rio, the Russian River and Monte Rio Cottages as much as we do!
Property Photos
-
- Pulling up to the Stellar Jay, at Monte Rio Cottages - Monte Rio, California Cottage with Private Hot Tub and Wi-Fi, near Monte Rio Beach
-
- Entering the yard to the stellar jay - Monte Rio, California Cottage with Private Hot Tub and Wi-Fi, near Monte Rio Beach
-
- Stellar Jay living room - Monte Rio, California Cottage with Private Hot Tub and Wi-Fi, near Monte Rio Beach
-
- view from king bed onto balcony
-
- Stellar Jay Bedroom
-
- balcony
-
- Looking from living room, through kitchen, to bedroom
-
- living room
-
- private gas grill, fruit trees (in season)
-
- Monte Rio Cottage Commons
-
- Camp Serenity - add on sleeping cabin, queen bed, w/c (no shower), added cost.
Traveler Reviews (9)
peaceful,charming, simply tranquil.
Guest: n/a
(Santa Rosa)
Date of Stay: 11/12/11
Review Submitted: 11/13/11
I came out to get away from the chaos of the city. I needed a quiet place to gather my thoughts and focus on my homework. It has been zen, I took an early am hot tub in the mist under a redwood tree. I brought things to BBQ , I turned up the thermostat and was greeted by a warm fire that illuminated the room at night.I did't leave once, it was perfect, thank you for creating this sanctuary.I can enjoy my drive back to the city feeling renewed and refreshed.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.
I needed this! Highly Recommend.
Guest: Lady of Magic
(San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11
Review Submitted: 11/11/11
Stayed for three days two weekends ago. Got a warm welcome and what a fabulous place. Recovering after an accident, I found the spa and wine tasting to be the exact prescription for me. Location was breath-taking and the amenities were wonderful. Clean, airy and lovely. I'm planning our next girl-friend reunion there as soon as possible. HIGHLY recommend!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing.
Our new "get away" place!
Guest: Lalka
(Santa Rosa)
Date of Stay: 09/16/11
Review Submitted: 11/07/11
This was our third stay at Monte Rio Cottages, but our first time in the Stellar Jay. My girlfriend and I decided on a last minute getaway and this is the cottage that was available. We really liked having a living room and a bedroom. I also liked this hot tub, and the privacy . Sweet. We had a really nice time, and being in the redwoods in the rain was really special. I am glad we went. This place is starting to become our “get away” place. We?re glad we discovered it. We be back again.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
What a nice surprise in Monte Rio!
Guest: Romka
(San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 10/27/11
Review Submitted: 11/05/11
We just returned from a wonderful stay at the Stellar Jay! Everything was wonderful, clean, welcoming and so nicely decorated! Thanks also to our great host, we accidentally locked ourselves out, and they were there in less than a minute! We will definitely stay again. Oh, and the private hot tub was heaven!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Peace and comfort
Guest: Colester
(Roseville, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11
Review Submitted: 10/21/11
I went out to the Stellar Jay after receiving a deal online for a weekend getaway and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cottage. I live in the Sacramento area and have stayed at a few cottages and inns around the area and usually the online images are a 'kind' reflection of reality. However, the Stellar Jay was very clean, and comfortable and seemed very well taken care of. While the town of Monte Rio does not have much to do, hopping in your car and driving 10-15 minutes any direction you find yourself either at the beach, or in neighboring boutique towns such as Occidental, Duncans Mills or Guerneville. If you're in need of a deep breathe, this is a great place to head to. My only caution is to vegetarians - come with some food to cook up in the cottage, or be willing to sacrifice a little with a garden burger or simple pasta at local eateries. Final note - If you are into old school, unique things to do, take in a movie at the Monte Rio Theater. Plays just one film at a time, but it's full of character and the people that run it are very friendly. It's also a quick five minute walk from the Stellar Jay.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Disappointing
Guest: roger
(San Francisco Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 08/26/11
Review Submitted: 09/08/11
Attempted to stay for one night the weekend before Labor Day 2011. Drove in saw room - thought owner (Janis) was very pleasant. Cottage was okay except for a terrible odor in the bedroom (smelled like animal urine). There was also a strong smell of latex paint in the bedroom closet. Wasn't able to reach owner so had to rent another room up the road which was half the cost, much cleaner and had a deck overlooking the Russian River. Management ignored my phone call and emails for 2 weeks before responding. I asked for a partial refund/credit. I felt the response to this was not handled very well. I would have tried the place again based on my initial good feeling from Janis (one of the owners) - but didn't feel that the issues I experienced were handled well.
Owner response:What do you do? I don't know how to respond to this, it is simply not true, but how do you tell people that? Oh, well, here's the story: On Friday, August 26th, 2011 in the mid to late afternoon, Roger called to ask for a place for 1 night. He was as the Russian River Chamber of Commerce, and they told him we sometime will rent for one night. I told him we had the Stellar Jay left for the night, and he came out to see it. He called me on his phone when he arrive (I live across the street.) I showed him the whole place, the hot tub, living room, kitchen and bedroom. He LOVED it. I told him the price for one night (I gave him a last minute discount) and he agreed. I processed the transaction, brought the receipt back and by the time I had come back, he was enjoying the place. I got a call a few minutes later from someone wanting a 2 night stay, but it was too late, I had given it to Roger for Friday night. Two days later, on Sunday, August 28th, he sent me an email that he had found a cheaper place on the river, and hadn't stayed on Friday night. He wrote that he had used the hot tub, the shower, the towels, and the kitchen, but that there was a smell that got worse when he opened the window. He then stated that he tried to notify me, but he couldn't get in touch with me. (He knew that I live across the street. And, there is a 6'X6' sign on my fence, and I am available by telephone. I did not leave the house all weekend.) He wanted a refund, even though it was two days later. I talked to my housekeepers about what they found on Saturday when they cleaned. This is what they told me: The hot tub, the towels, the robe, the shower and the kitchen had all been used. There were dirty dishes in the sink. There was no odor (I verified this and had others do the same thing.) On September 7th, after I had checked it out, I didn't think a refund was in order, and I sent Roger an email stating the following things: I didn't know he had an issue until 2 days later. He used the cottage and many of the things. I couldn't rent it to anyone else, because Roger was there and I turned down a 2 night stay from someone else. My housekeepers came and cleaned. In my email to him, as a peace offering for any perceived inconvenience, I offered him an extra night free, at any of our places, and when he still wanted money, I offered two nights, but no refund. He didn't respond to my email, instead posted this review. That's the story. I stand by my decision to not refund his money.
Recommended for:
Good place to call home for a week
Guest: Bob Taylor
(Orange county, California)
Date of Stay: 07/12/10
Review Submitted: 08/17/10
My wife and I decided to come back to where I'd spent my summers as a boy. It hasn't changed much, which is wonderful. We brought our dog and took him to the dog beach in Monte Rio and he loved it. The cottage where we stayed was really nice. It had everything we could possible need to make us comfortable and at home. The beds were great. Really comfortable. My daughter came up for 2 days, and she slept on the sofa bed. She said it was the most comfortable fold out she'd ever stayed on. Turns out is was a Tempurpedic mattress. Anyway, we had the best week. Thanks to the owners, Janis and Robin, who went out of there way to make us happy. They even left us some extra towels, just for our dog. We couldn't have been happier with our choice.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Comfortable, quiet......exactly what I needed
Guest: Paula Lynch
(Berkeley, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/13/10
Review Submitted: 08/17/10
My friends who live in Monte Rio, recommended this place and I am glad they did. We only had time for a short "staycation" in the Bay Area, and since this place is only 1 1/2 hours from Berkeley, it was perfect. We could have been on the other side of the earth. This place is set in the Redwoods, yet it is sunny all day long. It is in a quiet little neighborhood, yet right down the street from a couple of nice restaurants and bars that are on the river. (I can't remember the names of them.) We only had to walk about 1 minute to the first place. I really can't say enough about this place, the location was great, everything was immaculately clean, and we had our own private hot tub and gas grill. My only regret was that we couldn't stay longer. Monte Rio and this little cottage is a real treasure. It's like a step back in time, a nice slow pace.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Peaceful, sunny and restful
Guest: Lo
(Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 06/28/10
Review Submitted: 08/17/10
My husband and I stayed at the Stellar Jay. Everything was clean, attractive and very well thought out. I was so surprised to find that every time I looked for something that I needed, (coffee grinder, blender, sharp knives, spices, even a little sorbet maker!) it was there. Someone really has an eye for detail. The bed was comfortable, the towels were big and soft and even the little electric fireplace was a nice touch, for ambiance and heat (especially after a glass of good Sonoma County wine). In short, we loved the place, had a great time in Sonoma county, and will definitely return.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
First (9) of (9). Write a Review
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #250195
There have been visitors to this page since the counter was
last reset in .
This listing was first published here in 2009.
Date last modified - Monday, August 01, 2011
