Country Garden Cottage

• More than expected

  More than expected

  • Guest GinaS.
  • Date of stay 06/18/09
  • Review Submitted 07/08/09
  I must say this home does not feel like a rental. The owner created it for herself and every detail is finished with a great eye to balance, color, and with a peaceful spa like atmosphere. Yet it does not feel like someone elses home either...totally comfortable. An honor bar, hilarious singing karaoke mounted deer head, flowers eye high and everywhere, hot tub steaming under the stars. Oh yes, we came for all the fine wine tasting and country vistas the area offers, yet stayed home a lot because it was enough. Everything from our first contact has been simple, trustworthy and EASY, just how vacations should be.

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

  Owner response: These comments from Gina are what I strive to offer my guests; a first class environment, and hassle free, trustworthy rental arrangements. - Robin, home owner

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• Perfect Little Getaway

  Perfect Little Getaway

  • Guest Nadi
  • Date of stay 05/17/13
  • Review Submitted 06/03/13
  The Cottage far exceeded expectations. The pictures don't do it justice. The gardens are beautiful, the "cottage" is much roomier than it appears in photos, and there is just enough attention to detail to make it feel like home. Perfect for our girls' weekend. It's just a few minutes' walk from town, where we enjoyed dinner at the Vineyard Restaurant, as well as Grappolo (Pumpkin ravioli -say no more!) The highlight was renting bikes and riding to Los Olivos, such a different experience from riding around in a car. Great to enjoy a soak in the jacuzzi at the end of the day. Thanks Robin, we will be back!

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

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• Bright, spacious, well equipped in Santa Ynez

  Bright, spacious, well equipped in Santa Ynez

  • Guest Lee
  • Date of stay 03/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/08/13
  We were a group of 5 adults on an annual bicycle trip to the Santa Ynez valley and rented this wonderful house for 8 nights at the end of March. It was perfect. Clean, well maintained with excellent stereo, tv and wifi internet. Open kitchen, living, dining room plan is perfect for getting together. Large and private front and back yards equipped with barbeque, patio furniture and hot tub. Good parking and a quiet location within easy walking distance to the center of Santa Ynez. Rental arrangements through Jeannie were well handled and efficient. This is the second year we have rented though this agent/owner and both times the house has been excellent and as described on VRBO. Highly recommended.

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

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• Country Garden Cottage was great!!

  Country Garden Cottage was great!!

  • Guest Amy
  • Date of stay 01/25/13
  • Review Submitted 02/05/13
  My girlfriends and I stayed at the Country Garden Cottage for a couple of nights at the end of January. We absolutely loved the place. It was clean and inviting. The description of the property and the pictures were spot on. There were five of us and it never felt crowded. The great room is big with a big fireplace. The cotage has a very warm feeling. I slept in the master bedroom and the bed was very comfortable. Since we all love to cook, the kitchen area was perfect - lots of space without getting in each other's way. We went to El Rancho Market in Solvang to get food for dinner and the market is great. Lots of organic vegetables and fresh fish. We enjoyed the jacuzzi in the backyard at night. The cottage is close to all the little towns in the area. There are lots of wineries close by. The area is very scenic. We went to a lavender farm that was only 2 miles from the cottage. We were lucky enough to be in the area during restaurant week. We ate at the Los Olivos Cafe where I have eaten a few times before. The food is always very good. One of my friends knows the owner of a restaurant in Los Alamos called Bell Street Farm. We went for lunch and the food was really good and fresh. It is also a great place for coffee and homemade baked goods. I definitely recommend it. I would absolutely recommend this property to a friend. I can't wait to stay there again!!

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

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• Great relaxing home

  Great relaxing home

  • Guest Jennifer R.
  • Date of stay 01/19/13
  • Review Submitted 01/25/13
  We enjoyed the Country Garden Cottage this last weekend for a get together with sisters and aunts. The home is very nicely decorated in a soothing style, and it was very clean. I felt relaxed as soon as we got there. The floor plan is open, so you can visit with those in the living room if you are cooking or at the kitchen table. The kitchen is nicely updated with good quality appliances for your use. The master bedroom is very spacious and comfortable. We had everything we needed. The cottage is minutes from old Santa Ynez for nice italian food, margaritas or winetasting. Thanks Jeanie and Robin!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

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• A beautiful & welcoming retreat

  A beautiful & welcoming retreat

  • Guest Daq
  • Date of stay 08/10/12
  • Review Submitted 09/18/12
  We really enjoyed our stay at the Country Garden Cottage. The house is beautifully decorated and has all the amenities you would need, The beds were comfy and bathrooms were very roomy. The little town of Santa Ynez is just a short walk from the house, where there are many restaurants to enjoy. The only con is we stayed when it was unseasonably hot in Aug and there isn't air conditioning in the house. We did follow the rules to close the blinds during the day and open the windows at night but most of the window, especially the front, where the breeze would have come inside the house did not have screens. It did cool down a little bit during the night. But overall a very pleasant house to vacation in.

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

  Owner response: This August was hot! Closing the blinds will not keep the house cool but closing the windows does, as does our swamp cooler. A West breeze starts everyday at 5PM and west side screens are all present. Santa Ynez is known for daily temperature swings; it can be 90 during the day and 40 at night! A few open windows at night cools this insulated home down for the entire day, just remember to close them again in the AM.

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• Retired

  Retired

  • Guest Lloyd
  • Date of stay 07/01/12
  • Review Submitted 08/21/12
  The Country Garden Cottage was the pefect place for our month in Santa Ynez. The house is beautiful and well appointed. We felt at home almost immediately. We especially enjoyed the outdoor spaces and gardens. Most evenings we enjoyed the outdoor grill with the local produce and the great meats available done the road at the California Marketplace (on left and on the way to Solvang). We have never rented a vacation house like this before and would recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in this especially beautiful part of California.

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, families with young children, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Great Anniversary Weekend

  Great Anniversary Weekend

  • Guest Mitch T.
  • Date of stay 04/20/12
  • Review Submitted 07/08/12
  Actually stayed here in 2011, VRBO won't let me go back that far. The house had a quiet elegance, not ostentatious at all, very welcoming and architecturally unique. The cat, named Fig, was a delight! He made us feel as if we had just come home. He was affectionate, but not clingy. A real sweetie pie. The hot tub right outside of the master bedroom was a real treat. The yard was private and we didn't feel exposed at all. The kitchen was fun to work in - the arched window to the living room was beautiful. Hardwood floors and a big dining table made us (almost!) wish we had guests to entertain. The garden - all around the house - was fabulous. Many seating areas, each facing a different view with a different group of surrounding plants - just exquisite! Nearby Figueroa Mountain is a fabulous sight. The road to it in springtime is absolutely covered in wildflowers. We were there every day. And then we'd come back to this house for a dip in the tub and a good night's sleep in the great beds. Wonderful!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

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• Perfect Race/Mother's Day Weekend Base

  Perfect Race/Mother's Day Weekend Base

  • Guest Rusty Skier
  • Date of stay 05/11/12
  • Review Submitted 05/23/12
  This was a fabulous location for celebrating the SY Half Marathon and Mother's Day. Lovely backyard setting, convenient to town, and big enough to comfortably be enjoyed by the whole family. Absolutely perfect weekend - thanks!

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

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• Anniversary girls weekend

  Anniversary girls weekend

  • Guest Teidi
  • Date of stay 09/08/11
  • Review Submitted 05/17/12
  Robin, my friends and I stayed at your cottage in September of 2011. We were on a misson to commemorate a trip we took in college. Your home was the perfect place. We stopped at the Trader Joe's in Santa Barbara and stocked up. We wanted to take advantage of the wonderful kitchen, great patio and time to just talk. We had an absolutely great time. Your home is so beautiful, private and welcoming. We spent many hours laughing in front of the fireplace and took advantage of the hot tub at night. Fig was a joy to have around and you are right, my friend who is allergic to cats had no reaction to him at all. You couldn't tell he had been in the house. Wow, I hope we are able to visit Santa Ynez again. We will certainly come back to the Country Garden Cottage.

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

  Owner response: Awww! 7 months later you send your review; how sweet of you to remember! This home is such a pleasure to share. I stay as often as possible myself. - Robin

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$350/night for Fri & Sat OR Sat & Sun. Weekdays are $300/night
$1500/week and $4500/month
2 night minimum
Cleaning fee - $100
Credit cards accepted
$50 Renters insurance
Christmas & Easter $1800/week 
Local events and other holidays rates may apply

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.