Perfect Setting

Guest: Cam & Joan (White Rock, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/02/11 Review Submitted: 03/21/11

My wife and I spent the month of January in this lovely home. The house was ideal for our needs with a fully equipped kitchen, very comfortable bed, and fireplace for those cool evenings to enjoy a fire, conversation or a quiet time for reflection. The outdoors are spacious, providing beautiful sunrises and sunsets as well as an opportunity for bird watching as well as spotting roadrunners and other critters of the desert; all while sitting at an outdoor table and chairs. The owner was always available to answers questions or to offer helpful tips about other scenic areas around Joshua Tree. We were fortunate to be there when the Harrison House, across the street was hosting a concert for an intimate audience. Anyone staying here should be sure to inquire about possible concerts ...you will be treated to muscians and music of quality while meeting many of the local residents in the area. As we were in the area to hike, primarily, we could not have had a more delightful home away from home.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Comfortable house in a great location

Guest: Mark P. (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/10/10 Review Submitted: 10/24/10

I rented this house for four and a half weeks in September and October 2010. I found it extremely comfortable, well equipped, and conveniently located. Everything works, nothing's broken, and the place is recently painted and well maintained. Hidden advantages: A porch on the west side of the house that stays cool and shady all morning; a quiet neighborhood; higher elevation (about 2600 ft.) which means it's a little cooler; plenty of space and privacy. It's very peaceful to sit outside after sunset, and on a moonless night the stargazing is great, as Joshua Tree town is a few miles away. The boundary of Joshua Tree National Park is a quarter-mile away at the top of the street, and while there are no actual trails in the vicinity, it's easy to walk into the park and find yourself among cactus, big boulders, and great views. A five-minute drive from "downtown" Joshua Tree with restaurants and shops; a twelve-minute drive from downtown Twentynine Palms. I highly recommend this house for short or long stays.

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

a lovely spot in a lovely little town

Guest: blueshorelark (jt)
Date of Stay: 06/01/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

I have not stayed in this property but have stayed (and currently live) in 2 of the owner's other properties that are 1) next door to this property and 2) across the street from this property. I want to just correct a couple of bits of misinformation from the last review, first and foremost, this is definitely not a busy street- far from it 2) here in the desert, there are bound to be things that small children can injure themselves on- these include but are not limited to cactus, fire ants, other critters, and yes, sharp objects will make there way in this windswept but beautiful landscape. It doesn't seem reasonable that a property owner could remove all those hazards. Lastly, I know the owner to be very kind and responsive to questions and concerns, and know she would do whatever was necessary to ensure a happy and comfortable stay. This is a great house in a lovely spot, you will enjoy it!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

not a great experience experience

Guest: nealg (New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 03/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/07/10

Though the location of this rental is good and the overall description of the house is accurate, my family encountered a few major detractors, including: 1) on our first day we were unable to access the house and had to wait 3 hours in the heat with our toddlers because the key wasn't where the caretaker said it would be 2) we spent 2 hours our first day going around the property picking up broken glass and pieces of sharp objects that were strewn in the major walking areas so our toddlers could play outside 3) we had to rig our own curtains (mind you the mojave is probably one of the sunniest places in the U.S.) b/c none were up in one of the two bedrooms - this necessitated a call to the manager 4) there were no 'home / area instructions' or 'welcome book' - i.e. where to take the garbage to - this necessitated a call to the manager 5) the house is located on a road that has people excessively speeding in their cars up and down it - this was very nerve wracking with kids 6) though says it sleeps 6 - though were only 2 sets of towels when we arrived; this necessitated another call to the manager This is the 3rd home we have rented for a vacation via VRBO and the only one that truly did not meet our expectations. I would not recommend this rental to friends or family.

Owner response:Oh dear… sometimes the stars are crossed and things just go wrong! This was one of those dreaded collisions between a miscommunication with the cleaning staff and a family with twin toddlers. The comfort and satisfaction of my guests is of utmost importance and I take full responsibility for the problems they encountered upon arrival. I made a personal visit to them to apologize and everything seemed to be fine by day 2 of their 16 day stay-- until they had to, on short notice, leave two days early and I was not able to re-book the house and, therefore, refund any monies. This is not a location with much traffic—barely one car passes per hour, nor is there excessive debris. However, there is no fenced area and it being a large acreage of natural desert, perhaps not appropriate for small very active children.

Recommended for:

Charming Little Hacienda

Guest: Heathere Lee (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 03/14/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

A wonderful little house incredibly convenient to Joshua Tree State Park, on a quiet residential street. The house was clean, cozy and very comfortable, with lots of privacy due to large lots. The owner, Eva, was gracious and welcoming, and very helpful with information about local restaurants, etc. An excellent value for the price - I am recommending it to friends and would definitely stay there again myself!

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