Vacation Rentals by Owner

An Amazining House and a Great Place for a Getaway

Guest: Drew (San Jose)
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 12/15/11

Several of my old college friends and I (and our wives) get together for an annual pre-Christmas weekend getaway. The group of 8 of us has rented many vacation homes together, and the "Celebrity Villa" is absolutely at the top of the list. For as amazing as this house is, the nightly rate is a great deal. The large high-caliber kitchen worked out great for 4 guys making a massive feast. The location is ideal. It's a quiet neighborhood, but near enough to make getting to Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Napa all very nice day trips. We had a phenomenal time. While it is true that ATT service was pretty spotty, there is wi-fi, which (if you have an iPhone on ATT) allows you to send iMessages, so this drawback didn't impact us at all. Now for the negative stuff: I read several other posts about it being "well stocked", and for the most part it was...but we found that it was missing aluminum foil and soap. I can understand not having the foil, but missing bar soap (in the showers) was a minor annoyance, but the kind of annoyance that can be fixed for a couple of dollars. So yeah, that the sum of things this house is 3 bars of soap away from being absolutely perfect...and I suspect that was just an oversight by the cleaning crew...so when you rent this place there probably will be soap, and you will have a 100% perfect experience. I completely recommend this house! If you are picking the location for a group getaway, choose this house, and your friends will all THANK YOU! This place is that good. You will not be disappointed and your friends will think you are a star for finding this gem of a house.

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

Great House Great Location

Guest: Jane (Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/09/11

We just came back from staying at this lovely home. We had an adult group of 7 people. All of us had lovely accomodations. The beds were very comfortable. The house is clean.The owner is very nice. The location is great! The kitchen is amazing. We stayed for 7 days and cooked several times during the week. The kitchen is well stocked. Most wineries and restaurants are withing 20 miles in any direction from the house. We all would go back. We recommend this house to anyone who wants to visit wine country. The only issue in the area is cell phone coverage. None of us could get a signal in the house. We had to go out on the front porch to get a signal. There is WIFI in the house.

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

Just what we wanted!

Guest: Kevin (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 07/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/12/11

Five couples rented this beautiful home from Anthony to celebrate my 50th birthday in July 2011. Not only is the home beautiful and spacious but in a very good location. Plenty of privacy, spacious bed rooms, great amenities including everything you need in a kitchen and outdoor grill and patio, Our guests enjoyed their rooms and the kitchen/family room easily accomodated all10 people. We had plenty of space in the dining room for a nice meal. We look forward to renting this property again. It easily could comfortably accomodate at least 12 people.

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

Spectacular!!!

Guest: Jay and Jan (Flint, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/06/11

We spent Memorial Day weekend celebrating our daughter's 30th birthday with family and friends. What a perfect home to accommodate all of our guests! After long days touring wineries, we enjoyed having dinner in by cooking in the well equipped kitchen and eating (14 of us one night!) together at the dining room table. Everyone enjoyed the hot tub and pool table. It really is a beautiful home and a stay we will be fondly remember forever. We highly recommend this property-ENJOY!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Wonderful Home

Guest: Kirk (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/18/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

Just returned from a weekend at this property with 11 adults. The place was VERY VERY well stocked with the stuff many rental properties lack (tons of nice towels, every kitchen appliance you could want, lots of dishware, DVDs, blankets, etc. As noted by the owner, cell phone reception is poor, but wifi is reliable, and the house phone provided works just fine. Owner was great, and offered to come to the place when we arrived and showed us how to use the hot tub, fire pit, grill, and other amenities - and gave us recommendations and discount coupons on local wineries. It should be noted there are only 5 actual bedrooms in this home. There is a nice, large, entertainment area upstairs with a pull out bed that is fine - but you walk through this room to get to the other three bedrooms upstairs. Thanks for a great, relaxing place to stay this weekend -

Owner response:Dear Kirk. Thank you very much for visiting my villa. Your guests were very nice and I was happy to have all of you. I am sorry for confusion. Bedroom #6 private with private covered lanai-balcony. My cleaning crew will open per request or if they know size of group. I am living 5 minutes away and if you asked I coming almost no time. Thank you!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Best vacation ever! I would surely recommend...

Guest: Nancy (Fort Lauderdale Florida)
Date of Stay: 12/17/10 Review Submitted: 12/25/10

This house was splendid in every way. We spent the week before Christmas there and everything was perfect. We traveled from south Florida and arrived to this hillside retreat after a delayed and late flight. The house received us with holiday decor and the warmest and most comfortable showers and beds. Every detail of this home is special. We love to cook and the kitchen is a cook's dream. We grilled by then outside fireplace under the stars in the magnificent outdoor kitchen. We visited wineries by day and relaxed in our haven at night. We tried a few local restaurants, all cozy and lovely. Home is close enough to do day trips to San Fran. We were a small group, my husband our two grown children and my son's girlfriend. Easily, the home could accommodate more guests and for us it was perfect for togetherness and yet ample privacy. We enjoyed the jacuzzi, the many fireplaces and overall ambiance. Thank you to the home 's owners...you were great to work with and so welcoming... As the saying goes," it is not where you are for the holidays rather who you are with".... For us it was both. We all work really hard all year and this was a perfect gift to all of us, sharing the magic of the holiday season In an ideal setting with our cherished loved ones. Merry Christmas to all and hug the ones you love! you

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

Worthy of Architectural Digest

Guest: Pam T. (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

I spent a ridiculous number of hours of research every large home in all of the Napa and Sonoma valleys looking for a nice place in the wine country for four very discerning couples where no one would have to feel they were relegated to the equivalent of a kid's room. This home certainly filled that requirement. As mentioned above, it has two master suites along with three very large bedrooms upstairs. Two of the upstairs bedrooms share a bath, 'Jack-and-Jill' style, but no one would feel slighted for staying in any of the bedrooms. Yes, this house REALLY is every bit as good as the pictures you see here suggest -- and better. The owners are professional interior decorators with impeccable taste. I took more photos of the decor and architectural details of this house than I did of the wine country in general. Beyond that the house itself is beautiful, the accommodation is extremely well thought out. Olga and Anatoliy (aka "Anthony") have truly tried to think of all of the things you would have at home and need would here. The kitchen is fully set up for cooking and entertaining. There are a wide variety of cooking spices and staples such as ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise for you to use. They also have coffee and a nice selection of teas. You get to unwrap a fresh kitchen sponge. The bathrooms have quality bath gels, shampoos and conditions and high quality hair dryers. The bedding is plush. There are extra large towels to take out to the big whirlpool spa. The propane tank for the fire pit is full. There are nice afghans to wrap up in while watching either of the two big screen TV's. There are plenty of movies, in different genres, to watch if you don't like what's on cable. Local calls are free. Yes, the free wireless connection may not be lightning fast but you aren't staying in Silicon Valley, you're staying in Sonoma Valley with lots hills and open land, so what do you expect? We also appreciated that the owners also have notebooks of flyers from the local wineries and restaurant menus and even a few tasting coupons. I look forward to staying here again. I can pretend that it's my own home, straight out of Architectural Digest...

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

Looking forward to our next stay!

Guest: ErinAnto (Belmont, MA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

This villa exceeded our expectations! The listing on this property is spot on and even better in person. The house/bathrooms/kitchen was immaculate upon our arrival. The spacious layout was perfect for our group of 8 and had all the amenities (and then some) that were promised. This was the perfect place to come back to after a day of visiting the vineyards to prepare a nice meal and relax by the fire. The property is close to many of the wineries, some great restaurants and a reasonable ride to downtown Napa/Sonoma. I would definitely recommend having a car when staying at this property. Some recommendations include Willi's Wine Bar, the town of Healdsburg and St. Helena (wineries, nice downtown area and outdoor activities), and The Girl and the Fig Restaurant in Sonoma. The owner came by on our first day to check in and make sure we knew where everything was, how to work the appliances and make sure we were comfortable. He made sure we had internet access and were aware that we could use the landline because the cell phone service in the area isn't so great for many carriers. I would recommend this property to anyone and we are actually looking forward to the possibility of staying at the villa next year!

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

This place is absolutely AMAZING!!!

Guest: venken18 (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 05/10/10 Review Submitted: 05/18/10

I cannot stop raving about this house rental and I would recommend to absolutely everyone!! First, the house is as beautiful as it looks in the photos. Every single room is beautifully decorated and extremely comfortable. However beyond being one of the most beautiful houses I have had the pleasure of staying in, what sold me on this place was the service. Unlike most rentals, this house had a lot of homey touches like shower gel and shave gel in the showers, baskets full of bath salts and lotions for your use, spices in the kitchen, movies and games in the living room, and a fully stocked kitchen cabinet. Even better, the owner was very available and willing to help - on Monday night we discovered a small ant problem. He brought out an exterminator Tuesday morning. We had an excellent time and I look forward to coming back. If you are visiting wine country with a large group of people and don't mind being a little further from the vineyards - I HIGHLY recommend this house!!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway.

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TO REMEMBER!

Guest: laroycefun (St.Louis Missouri)
Date of Stay: 04/17/10 Review Submitted: 04/21/10

I just returned from a 4 night stay at this beautiful property where 11 of us resided and a total of 13 visited comfortably as we celebrated the 50th birthday of a beloved girlfriend! The pictures shown here cannot not accurately capture the ambiance and setting of this property. The owner paid great attention to every detail down to providing a plunger (if needed) in one of the restrooms and an electric corkscrew! The home is beautifully furnished and clean and contained all of the appliances and utensils (equipment) we needed to meet our needs. There were no disappointments for our party though there are only "gentle" suggestions of "minor" improvements that will be mentioned by the coordinator of our party. I would definitely recommend this facility that could easily accomodate 14 people. I would definitely return to this facility and would make inquiry of "perks" for return visitors? The owner was also responsive to phone calls and provided thorough information on the facility. The description of this listing is accurate; the property was clean with minor outdoor maintenance needs; the owner provided excellent customer service; I have already recommended this property to friends and relatives and the local wineries and Napa Valley were easily accessible by car as well as a grocery store and Whole Foods Market! This is a property that should only be rented by those who have no problem cleaning up after themselves as there is no cook or maid service and none were needed by our party!

Owner response:Thank you very much Adrienne and all your friends.

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

An absolutely stunning property and nice host!

Guest: George T. (Japan)
Date of Stay: 03/09/10 Review Submitted: 03/30/10

This property is as advertised:just an incredibly wonderful place! No disappointment with anything at all. Everything is top-notch, from a cutting edge rice cooker to the great BBQ grill. The spa is really nice, but it is "under the stars". The rooms are unbelievable: spacious and well-laid out, with great color-coordinated furnishings. The fireplaces provided remarkable warmth, even though there are windows galore that would normally radiate heat outside. The sofas are more comfortable than most beds. Even though the surroundings are really rural, it is only a few minute's of driving to supermarkets, Trader Joe's, Costco, and shopping centers. The owner was most generous with his time and consideration, and responded almost instantaneously to whatever we had requested, and went out of his way considerably to ensure that we had an enjoyable stay. Altogether, a property that deserves at least a week's stay. Please do note that cell phones may not be in range here, unless one goes about a half a mile outside. Also, the drive-way is steep, so one has to exercise some caution when pulling out. But these are really, really minor things. Full and unreserved recommendation: However many stars are given to great homes, this property would get them all!

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

Jewel of Sonoma County!

Guest: JoeB100 (San Rafael, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 04/05/10

This house was fabulous! We loved being so close to so many things. We were in Healdsburg Wine Tasting within 10 minutes, or downtown Santa Rosa having dinner within 5. Not that we needed to worry about going out to dinner with the great Kitchen and all the wonderful amenities in the house. Thank you for a Fantastic Get Away!

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

Guest: Joe
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 04/05/10

This house was fabulous! We loved being so close to so many things. We were in Healdsburg Wine Tasting within 10 minutes, or downtown Santa Rosa having dinner within 5. Not that we needed to worry about going out to dinner with the great Kitchen and all the wonderful amenities in the house. Thank you for a Fantastic Get Away!

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Guest: Pete & Lillian (Sunnyvale, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/23/09 Review Submitted: 12/23/09

We stayed in this magnificent house over Thanksgiving, there were 11 in our party and the house was plenty large enough. We rent many houses and by far this was the highest quality house we have ever been in, the photographs really don't do it justice. The back patio area provided an excellent place to all get together, some around the fire and some in the jacuzzi ... nice!!! If you want to treat yourself, this is a great place to start. Pete & Lillian

Owner response:Thank you Pete & Lilian!! All you family were great! I enjoyed meet and communicate with you. God bless you all!

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Getaway for 12

Guest: TomandWayne (Julian, Ca)
Date of Stay: 12/22/09 Review Submitted: 02/02/10

The home was nice, clean and well stocked. There was very poor cell phone service (dead zone) and the home wireless system often would drop it's signel. The walls were very thin and you could hear what was being said in the next room. When the toilet was flushed upstairs you thought there was a major leak in the room underneath it. The owners seemed a little rough. They did not communicate well both before and after our stay to the point we were not sure we had the home until we arrived. It was odd that we were required to strip our beds when we left. It took a month before we recieve our deposit back. Overall the place was nice but I do not feel that it was worth the amount of money we paid. I do not think I would stay there again.

Owner response:Yes, the cell phone service poor (for ATT and T-mobile) great for Sprint and OK Verizon, but I offer free long distance land line. Wireless system signal is Great-only can be problem outside 0.5mile away. The outside walls-6-8inches thick (everything per California building code-plumbing too). The group pays second 50% of rent-a week before arrival with “bad” check, and I let them in (without payment), -I was OK, almost 3 hours later-got credit card payment which was approved next day-no problem -I trust people. I required from my guests-do not strip beds-I’ll take care of it. It was some damaged items and a lot of cleaning work-I tried to communicate with guests,but got no cooperation-and I said-no problem and return deposit back. About future stay-it is your choice, I not sure about my too.

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Guest: Andy 7 (New York, New York)
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 12/02/09

I have been renting vacation homes for a long time, but this is by far and away the BEST I have ever stayed at. We were warmly welcomed by the owner with wine and cheese to enjoy at our leisure, but the house is the real prize. Everything is top of the line...Viking, Thermadore, granite, 4 remote control gas fireplaces. The house is huge and perfect. Wine country is right there. Any issues at all the owner was at your beckon call. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. We'll be back. This house IS the real deal.

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Guest: julesrulz (Beaverton, OR USA)
Date of Stay: 11/06/09 Review Submitted: 11/06/09

10 of us stayed at this home and we were more than surprised how awesome it was. The pictures on the website do not do justice. We had so much room and it was open and very clean and lots to do. Not too far from Napa Valley (20 min) and worth the drive. Very quiet neighborhood. The backyard with the firepit and hot tub was a highlight!!!! We met the owners and they were so nice and helpful. Really appreciate the wine/cheese welcome gift. The only problem was we didn't stay long enough. Can't say enough about this house...we WILL be back!

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INCREDIBLE HOME!!!

Guest: julesrulz (Beaverton, OR USA)
Date of Stay: 10/23/09 Review Submitted: 11/02/09

10 of us stayed at this home and we were more than surprised how awesome it was. The pictures on the website do not do justice. We had so much room and it was open and very clean and lots to do. Not too far from Napa Valley (20 min) and worth the drive. Very quiet neighborhood. The backyard with the firepit and hot tub was a highlight!!!! We met the owners and they were so nice and helpful. Really appreciate the wine/cheese welcome gift. The only problem was we didn't stay long enough. Can't say enough about this house...we WILL be back!

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

Guest: Susan173 (Louisville, KY)
Date of Stay: 10/21/09 Review Submitted: 10/21/09

Our extended family of 10 just celebrated our mother's 80th birthday in this beautiful home. Our stay was off to a fun start enjoying the wine and cheese supplied by Anatoliy while sitting around the firepit and fireplace in the private backyard. The house is spacious, was spotless and accomodated our family well. The location was a perfect base for touring the wineries, the Russian River Valley and the redwoods. I would recommend this house to anyone!

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Guest: Christi O'Connor (-)
Date of Stay: 10/04/09 Review Submitted: 10/04/09

"As a public personality who values privacy as much as beautiful accommodations, I highly recommend this gorgeous palace-like Villa. Quiet and personal in location, it is exquisite in interior and exterior design. From its majestic columns and royal architecture that greet you at the front door to the intricacy of each flawlessly decorated interior room, this get away home is nothing short of breathtaking. Only a short distance from the finest of Sonoma and Napa vineyards and A-list entertainment, it definately lives up to its name."

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Great house for a get together!

Guest: Alyx ( Denver)
Date of Stay: 10/02/09 Review Submitted: 10/14/09

This house worked out fabulously for our group of 12. The outdoor kitchen and table with firepit where the perfect place to hang out, have a great meal and enjoy the wine we purchased! The house is extremely comfortable and has all of the amenities you could possibly need. Very spacious and well appointed. The outdoor spa is large and very fancy! The location ended up being perfect for a wine expedition of the Russian River Valley area. We will definitely recommend this house to our friends, and hope to be back ourselves very soon!

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Great house for a get together!

Guest: Alyx ( Denver)
Date of Stay: 10/02/09 Review Submitted: 10/12/09

This house worked out fabulously for our group of 12. The outdoor kitchen and table with firepit where the perfect place to hang out, have a great meal and enjoy the wine we purchased! The house is extremely comfortable and has all of the amenities you could possibly need. Very spacious and well appointed. The outdoor spa is large and very fancy! The location ended up being perfect for a wine expedition of the Russian River Valley area. We will definitely recommend this house to our friends, and hope to be back ourselves very soon!

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway.

Guest: Ron Fisher (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/09 Review Submitted: 09/10/09

Staying at the Chateau Du Vin was like being back in the warm rolling hills of Tuscany, an absolute gem in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. Stepping through the front doors and seeing columns and marble floors were a dream comes true. The marble master bathroom was; well let’s just say I never wanted to leave a place of sheer wonder. But we did have a show to attend at the Wells Fargo Center, which I must say was only a couple minutes from paradise. The Villa is not just a place to stay it is truly an experience, and a must see if not stay. Sincerely and good will, thank you

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Guest: Alex38 (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/06/09 Review Submitted: 09/06/09

My fiancee and I just love the feel of this truly distinctive home, and the owners made sure our stay was a real romantic retreat. The place was impeccably prepared for our arrival, and the decor...honsetly, the photos don't do it justice. The long hallways, with archways opening into the myriad beautifully decorated rooms made us feel like roaylty living in a castle; that feeling was reinforced the whole time by the smallest touches: the gilded comforter covers, the bedside table statuette reproductions of classics, marble bathrooms, you get the picture. Thank you, Olga and Anthony...you guys are amazing!

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Guest: Marina Ustinova (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/27/09 Review Submitted: 08/27/09

“ ..This house is a beautiful place for retreat center. It is filled with beauty and peace. I like the supportive environment where luxury meet harmony of nature and adventure meet with discipline.Being here could help to get closer to spiritual self…”

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Guest: Marina Ustinova
Date of Stay: 08/27/09 Review Submitted: 08/26/09

“ ..This house is a beautiful place for retreat center. It is filled with beauty and peace. I like the supportive environment where luxury meet harmony of nature and adventure meet with discipline.Being here could help to get closer to spiritual self…”

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