Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect Stay in Berkeley

Guest: Cathylynn (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 03/28/12 Review Submitted: 04/03/12

Had a wonderful stay in Berkeley -it felt like home immediately and the owners are wonderful-helpful, friendly, and unbelievably accomodating. The house has every amenity and more-including bacon and eggs and a great bottle of wine! we can't wait to return on our next trip to Berkeley-Thanks Bob and Margarita!

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

Very comfortable home away from home.

Guest: Paul (Panton, Vermont)
Date of Stay: 03/19/12 Review Submitted: 03/31/12

My wife and I spent a week here. The home is very handsomely outfitted. The furniture was comfortable. The entertainment system, i.e.. music and video, was very good quality (unfortunately still 200 channels and nothing on). The kitchen was well set up and there were plenty of spices and condiments to supplement your meal preparation. I think it unfortunate that more rentals don't leave items like herbs and spices available. It's always a drag to have to buy them when you'll only use a little and have to leave it. We met Bob and he was very welcoming and helped us map out the way to the restaurants and Tilden Park where we spent a lot of time walking. We found the home comfortable, clean, and quiet. Also, this neighborhood is lovely with handsome , very personal landscapes. We would be glad to stay here again.

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

Absolutely perfect

Guest: a & e (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 03/09/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

We spent five wonderful nights in "our" Berkeley bungalow. It instantly felt like our home. It was blissfully quiet, but just a quick walk to shopping and restaurants, and a 30-minute Bart ride into the city. We are very fussy clean-types and the little house met our standards, which is not an easy feat. Also, for those who think it is important (like us), we give a big thumbs up to the wonderful water pressure in the shower. Finally, Bob couldn't have been more helpful and accomodating. We only wish we had more time to pick his brain about where to go and what to do. Hopefully, on our next stay, as we will definitely be back.

Owner response:We are glad you liked it and we hope you come again! bob and margarita

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

Ideal North Berkeley Rental

Guest: Aussie Traveller (Sydney, Australia)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/22/11

This house lives up to it's rave reviews. We stayed in October with my father, so it was perfect for an extended family as we had plenty of room with different spaces. The kitchen was stocked with everything you could possibly need. We were able to cater for a big family formal dinner and have plenty of dishes and glassware. The house is beautifully decorated and maintained. The area is quiet but still only a short walk to Solano Ave.

Owner response:We are glad you enjoyed our home and we hope you'll come again! bob + margarita

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

Perfect Rental in Every Way

Guest: Anna (Kensington, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/06/11

Robert, Thank you for the wonderful rental experience my family had while they were visiting. They enjoyed your home so much that I almost think they would rather stay at your home than ours! They all, especially my father, really appreciated the extra touches, such as the wine and snacks. And my mother, who has exceptionally high standards, gushed about the neatness of your home, the neatly folded towels in the closet, and the beautiful bedding. Thank you again. We'll definitely touch base with you in the future should we have another opportunity to rent a home in the Berkeley area.

Owner response:We are glad your family enjoyed their stay in our home and we hope they return! Margarita and Bob

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

May 2011 Graduation week

Guest: Barbara (Hillsdale NJ)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

We had a wonderful time staying here during a graduation week in May. The house was clean, airy and so comfortable. Hospitality was great -- from the welcoming bottle of wine, bread and cheese to the offers of information on local attractions! A very convenient location as we walked to local stores to buy our dinner each day. Wonderful neighborhood -- we'll be back (I hope.) The Dunns

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Overall excellence

Guest: Hank (Key Biscayne, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/20/11 Review Submitted: 04/28/11

My wife and I stayed in the house for a glorious week in April 2011, and we fell in love with the place. We felt truly at home and super comfortable. The owners have thought about everything a guest might want or need, right down to multiple outlets where you need them and a desk in each bedroom. The house was immaculate and clearly is a place the owners love and care for. We had guests to dinner several nights, and all of them raved about the house. We hope to return to this house again and again. Note: Guests are asked to remove their shoes while in the house. The beautiful hardwood floors show why this is a good idea.

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

Loved it.

Guest: Coco (Santa Cruz)
Date of Stay: 01/09/11 Review Submitted: 02/19/11

Dear Patti, We wanted to thank you for the fantastic time we had during the month we spent in your wonderful guest house. It was so much fun being able to walk to all the shops and restaurants on Solano Avenue, and then relax in our sanctuary. The french bakery around the corner - sublime! I especially loved lounging on the sectional sofa on the deck, and my husband raved about the island kitchen. And we loved the princess bed - so comfortable. I'm a travel writer, and have visited a lot of places, and this house is special and may be featured in one of my articles - thank you again for the very comfortable - and romantic - time we enjoyed in your home. Sincerely, Colette

Owner response:Colette did not stay at our house. We were not renting it out during that time period. Our home is located close to Solano Avenue also and everything she says about the neighborhood is correct... Anyway please correct this. I'm sure Patti will be happy with this review!

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A truly lovely home

Guest: Christine from New York (Berkeley CA (previously New York))
Date of Stay: 01/01/10 Review Submitted: 06/06/10

I had the good fortune to rent Bob and Margarita's home for three months as my family was transitioning from New York to Berkeley. It provided a wonderful entree into a great North Berkeley neighborhood, where we now live. The house is comfortable and very nicely appointed. It really is conveniently located to a great deal of what Berkeley offers, especially if you happen to have kids. And the terrific hospitality of Bob and Margarita make it feel like home away from home.

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

Guest: Kevin Bundy (Berkeley, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/09/09 Review Submitted: 11/09/09

We had a wonderful time in this lovely North Berkeley house. My girlfriend and I were waiting to move into a new apartment and my parents were coming to town for a visit. On short notice, Bob and his family went out of their way to make the house available and we were delighted to find every amenity including an electric keyboard, a very nice stove, and an extra bicycle that my father used to get around town. We know Berkeley well, and highly recommend Bob's rental as a great way to experience Berkeley at its best.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/30/09 Review Submitted: 10/30/09

We really enjoyed our stay in Berkeley. The house is great and the location couldn't be better - just a shory walk to Chez Panisse or Solano ave.

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Guest: Sam23 (Simsbury, CT)
Date of Stay: 10/15/09 Review Submitted: 10/15/09

My wife and I were in Berkeley to visit our son who is in grad school at UC. Your lovely home was an ideal place to stay because of its great location but mostly because your friendly hospitality. Surely we'll coming back on our next trip to Berkeley.

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Guest: Matthew McCusker (Dublin, Ireland)
Date of Stay: 10/06/09 Review Submitted: 10/05/09

As the first comment put it, "a real home away from home". Everything you need is there. You're only a short walk away from shops and some lovely restaurants. The BART is also very close so it's a great base for seeing the city. Bob was wonderful throughout with helpful advice and tips. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and I think you will too.

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Guest: Joan Marks (Santa Monica CA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/09 Review Submitted: 10/01/09

My husband and I stayed a week in Bob and Margarita's home and found it to be a home away from home. It is beautifully furnished, well equipped, and perfectly located for short walks to coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants. Our children and grandchildren live in Oakland and San Francisco and the house is close enough to the bridges to make seeing them easy. We look forward to coming back and seeing our wonderful host and hostess, Bob and Margarita.

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Guest: Jim Gevlin (Stuyvesant, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/03/09 Review Submitted: 08/03/09

A real find. House is beautiful - spotless; great furnishings; beautifully decorated. Great kitchen with tons of spices, etc. Bob, the owner, prompt to respond, generous, and thoughtful. The neighborhood is wonderful - high-end supermarket 3 blocks away as well as great bookstore. Gyms nearby welcome day visitors for small fee (I recommend the Y - small drive - but the one on Solana is okay, too. Restaurants look good but I can't report - family duties took us out of neighborhood. All of my VRBO's have so far been good - but this is the best.

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Guest: Gereon Meyer (Berlin, Germany)
Date of Stay: 07/26/09 Review Submitted: 07/26/09

Dear Bob and Margarita, We had a great time at your beautiful Berkeley house. It is well equipped and offers all amenities one might think of. The location is close to UC Berkeley campus, the Monterey grocery market and to a nice French bakery on Solano Avenue. Also, we enjoyed listening to your great collection of music CDs. Thank you very much. we will come back next year. Gereon and family

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