Vacation Rentals by Owner

Glen Rock Buds

Guest: Scott G (Houston, TX (but from Glen Rock, NJ))
Date of Stay: 03/04/12 Review Submitted: 03/08/12

This Austin/Craftsman-style home was beyond all expectations for our entire group of friends. I had seen the property before my group of friends had arrived and was blown away. Upon arrival, we all commented how the architecture and attention to detail both inside and out were extremely well done and solid, but also comfortable without being over-the-top. There were many great spaces to spend time with friends and family. I would stay there again in a heartbeat. Actually, I would live there. If you want to experience Austin at its very best, this is the place. Close to everything, yet peaceful and secluded overlooking Zilker Park and downtown. Plus, the owners couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. Stop looking – this is the one.

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

Spacious house and great location!

Guest: susan w (houston, tx)
Date of Stay: 10/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We were in Austin for my son's wedding and I wanted 9 of us to stay together. This was IT! Close to town and close to highways, we found the location to be perfect for all the wedding activities. Several of us appreciated how close to Starbucks and Whole Foods we were! The house is exactly as pictured. Three stories - the first floor had a nice kitchen though it wasn't as well stocked as some other VBROs - missing trashbags, dishsoap, can openers, toaster, etc but we were fine. The second floor was home to 2 bedrooms, each with their own bathroom and a beautiful master with amazing master bathroom. The third floor had a bedroom with a steam shower and another complete living room. Internet was available throughout the house. There was also a huge garage apartment in back and plenty of parking for our family. The courtyard was beautiful and we enjoyed the eclectic neighborhood as well. The owner was very responsive and we found everything in the house to be good working order. The house was perfect for us on our busy weekend!

Owner response:This house gets the nicest guests also. The kitchen will have all the items mentioned TODAY! Thank you for suggestions on how to make the house more accomodating.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Wedding Weekend

Guest: Neil C. (New York, New York)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

My brother and I rented the house for the weekend of our brother's marriage. It was the perfect base camp for the weekend's festivities. The description of the house was spot on and the house was in great shape. The house has everything you need for a relaxing, fun-filled weekend with your family or group of close friends. The rooms are all very well-appointed with wonderful style and detail. The master bathroom is worth a stay all by itself. The neighborhood is one of the better ones in Austin, with Barton Springs and quite a few great restaurants/coffee shops/bars just a few steps away. Last of all, the owner was incredibly helpful and responsive, answering emails and calls within minutes. I strongly recommend this property.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Beyond Expectations!

Guest: Mike (Amarillo, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/19/11 Review Submitted: 07/01/11

Several members of our extended family descended on Austin a month ago to proudly attend my daughter’s graduation from the University of Texas at Austin. Your house was the family headquarters during the stay and what a great choice we made! The house is beautiful and comfortable from the front walk to the guest apartment over the garage. Your attention to detail was “top drawer” and I am pretty critical about detail. Ten people slept comfortably in this oasis within the urban hustle and bustle of Austin. Being a little over a block away from a major street with plenty of action was incredible and very convenient. My wife and I wanted this special time for our daughter to be memorable and staying in this house helped us do exactly that.

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

Perfect Long Weekend for Large Family

Guest: KKB (Arlington, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/05/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

We recently stayed in this gorgeous house for a long weekend to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday and mother's day. What a perfect choice! We slept very comfortably with 9 adults and 3 children... there is plenty of room to spread out. Location was great - we walked to Barton Springs Pool (there's a "secret short cut" across the street from the sculpture garden which takes you down the hill and across Robert E. Lee to the Springs), walked down the street to the numerous bars and restaurants along Barton Springs Rd/Lamar, and walked down to Lady Bird Lake Trail and several of the retail shops nearby. But we also spent much of our time taking advantage of the back porch area of the house... lots of grilling and lounging and enjoying the peaceful back yard. We had a personal chef come to the house one night for a cooking class, and the kitchen's gourmet appliances and large size accommodated us perfectly. The owner Eduardo is great to work with and is extremely helpful. I highly recommend this house to anyone looking for a great vacation home in Austin!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Amazing place to stay, wonderfully appointed, fantastic sanctuary – highly recommended!

Guest: Ian (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/18/11

We stayed in this lovely Barton Heights/Zilker home during our time at SXSW interactive, and we could not have been more pleased with the experience. The house – as good as it looks in the pictures on this site – is even better in person, and the owner is beyond helpful and accommodating. Situated in a beautiful neighborhood that is at once secluded and quiet and surprisingly convenient, the house served as a welcome sanctuary from the craziness of the conference. The large, well-appointed kitchen and outdoor grill provided an ideal venue for cooking with a large group. The inner yard and covered deck is just the perfect place to relax. Being so close to the walking/biking/running paths of Zilker Park and along Barton Creek was a real highlight. Though there are buses that provide an easy link to downtown and the convention center area, we mostly walked – it was so incredibly pleasant to stroll along the river. If you are a paddling fan, or just want to get out out on the water for a bit, you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and more small watercraft an easy walk from the house. I really can't even express how great it was to stay in this comfortable, well-cared-for, and generous house. I hope to have another chance to stay here in the future.

Owner response:This house attracts wonderful guests. It brings such great pleasure to have people enjoy this place. I will sell the house some day and I will miss all the wonderful interactions I've had with beautiful people looking for a beautiful place to stay. Eduardo

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

Wonderful Austin Home

Guest: Chris (Denver)
Date of Stay: 03/03/11 Review Submitted: 03/07/11

This house is amazing! Wonderfully built and nestled right above Zilker Park, it's a great place to spend time with friends/family. It's on a very quite, secluded street and in close proximity to all Austin amenities. The owner, Eduardo, thought about every detail when constructing this house. I would highly recommend a stay here for your next trip to Austin. We were a party of ten and felt completely comfortable and relaxed. It's truly an amazing property.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Beautiful Home, wonderful Host - we had our wedding here

Guest: Melissa (Austin)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 02/28/11

I couldn't say more good things about this place. We had a beautiful, private wedding the back yard here and had our family stay in the house. Eduardo, the owner was so accommodating! He really went above and beyond to be a great host. The house is really fun - the main house has 3 floors and some cool bathrooms! The master bed has a huge jacuzzi tub and the coolest shower we have ever seen. The top floor has a steam room/shower combo - also super cool! There is also a small guest house in the back. There is a large grill outside and a stereo system that goes through the house and outdoors in the back. The location is also perfect. You can walk to dinner or take about a mile walk into the city. It's up on a hill and overlooks Zilker Park. I highly recommend this place!

Owner response:My entry into the vacation rental world was because I thought it sinful not to share this extraordinary house. I never considered the wonderful feeling I get when the house makes people so happy. I am grateful to Melissa for choosing the house for her most auspicious time of life . . . a wedding ceremony.

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

Guest: Lynn
Date of Stay: 12/27/10 Review Submitted: 02/22/11

The house was fabulous! Lots of wonderful space, and city views, especially the "space tower" Christmas tree! The upstairs, which is where I thought my brother would stay, was not even used, and it was great space....baby Henry slept in the room w/us, and his parents were in the other king bed room...our children from Utah stayed in the apt. Thanks for all and the house is perfectly appointed. We had a very special time, and the house was perfectly lovely & generous space for us!

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Far exceeds any possible expectation

Guest: washburn (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/10/10 Review Submitted: 12/15/10

My now-husband and I, as well as our family and a few friends had the opportunity to stay at the Barton house this past weekend and we were simply stunned. To begin with, the house is beautiful. Well appointed, lots of storage if one is able to stay there longer than a few short days. Balconies, decks, and porches galore to relax on. A separate apartment above the garage. A master bathroom that, quite literally, made my jaw drop. Top notch appliances to cook with, large televisions if you want to throw a movie on in the evening. All of our evenings were spent either on the back deck or playing cards in the living room. I cannot say enough good things about this house - the photos do not do it justice. It was much larger than the photos had led me to believe. We're pretty laid back individuals, but there was much to do for those more gregarious than us - Ziliker Park, Barton Springs Pool and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden an easy walk away, downtown was mere moments further, but with easy highway access to all parts of Austin. At the same time, it felt secluded, in a quiet neighbourhood where the loudest noise was the breeze through the trees. (It would be a good house to rent for those doing a destination wedding at Umlauf, too!) The owner of the house was simply superb - handling any and every situation with a grace and calm I can only aspire to. I really hope to be able to stay at this house in future, and given the compliments we received on it from the few people who came over to visit with us, I know we may have to book early.

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

Guest: Sally
Date of Stay: 11/04/10 Review Submitted: 11/16/10

We had the most wonderful time in Austin! The wedding was fabulous and fun. Your house is so warm and comfortable home for our bridesmaids and groomsmen to ready themselves for the wedding. We all enjoyed our stay! Sincerely, Sally and Charlie

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Excellent! It doesn't get better than this!!!

Guest: lynxalb00 (austin texas)
Date of Stay: 10/28/10 Review Submitted: 11/22/10

This is a first class home. The property was immaculate. The back yard is a perfect size and the outdoor patio is amazing. We spent a ton of our time lounging on the back porch. The interior of the house is beautiful, well taken care of, and was very clean. The beds were super comfy and there was plenty of space. Anyone who is interested in a home on Homeaway, this one won't let you down. All the pictures are accurate. The location is great and the neighborhood was safe. I would recommend this house to anyone. It's hard to put into words how a house could bring so much happiness and joy. I choose this house for my wedding weekend and had some of my family members stay here. This house was so comfortable and had such a relaxing aurora to it. In the description of this house, it should emphasize how homey this house truly is. Everyone who was at the house felt so at ease and at home. I couldn't imagine a better place to have made all our memories during this special weekend. It truly was a priceless experience. The best part of this whole experience was meeting the owner. He is a crucial part to making you feel welcomed. It's evident to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He was so kind to my family and helped me with any questions that I had prior to our arrival. Home is where the heart is, even if it's a rental house!

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

AN EXCEPTIONAL VISIT!

Guest: Baja Mama (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Date of Stay: 08/12/10 Review Submitted: 10/03/10

This was definately 5 star! This was the best VRBO experience ever! We stayed at this property for approx 45 days -- it was TERRIFIC. Everything is very peaceful, well appointmented, nothing loud....it is the best relaxing / napping house. It does has it's moments in using the amazing stereo system throughout the house, having a glass of wine on the back deck....bbq'ing and have a beer. We had those too! And you can't pass up taking a bath in the master...This property is in the heart of Austin and everything is 2 minutes away. If you want to be in the Austin "groove" this is the house. The floorplan is ideal for groups. Everybody has their space and the garage apt was a bonus! Especially for my Mother!! Management was MORE than attentative to our very minor needs. You are guaranteed a great stay at this property!! As vacation renters we are fortunate to have this property on the VRBO list!!

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

Guest: Megan
Date of Stay: 05/06/10 Review Submitted: 05/16/10

We loved the house!! It is a beautiful, comfortable home and we felt very lucky to be able to stay there for the weekend. Usually we are out and about the entire time we are in Austin, but the house was so relaxing that we spent a lot of time out on the back patio! I lived in Austin while I was at UT but never went to this neighborhood - what a gem. Also - I can't thank you all enough for bringing over a new table for the back yard. You really went above and beyond. We did get a lot of use out of it over the weekend!

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Guest: Clay
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 03/31/10

The stay was great and we had a wonderful time! The house was really nice and very comfortable.

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Guest: Karen
Date of Stay: 03/18/10 Review Submitted: 03/17/10

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and it worked perfectly for our pre-wedding preparations. It was a beautiful beginning to what turned out to be the most spectacular weekend we could have imagined. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to stay again someday.

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Serenity With Amenities -- The Perfect Stay

Guest: Web Developer (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 03/30/10

We rented this stunning property during SXSW 2010 and couldn't have made a better choice. I barely know where to start. For one thing, the location is ideal -- a mere 5 minute drive or 40 minute walk to the convention center or 6th Street. (But even if you never make it into town, the Barton Springs area bubbles with great food, bars, cafes, and parks.) Yet the house, perched as it is on a cliff overlooking a sculpture garden, is a model of solace and quietude. So bucolic and peaceful were the environs that dragging ourselves into the conferences became something of a chore. And nestled into this serenity, like a swan drifting lazily in a lake, is a beautiful three-story Craftsman house so lovely and well-appointed you'll wonder what you did to deserve it. There is a chef's kitchen, complete with dual ovens, espresso machine, and professional-grade gas range. The furniture is tasteful and comfortable, the beds deep and lavish. The grassy atrium-style backyard, with metal-roofed breezeway and sculptural well, became the perfect spot for us to recount the day's agenda. What most merits calling-out here is the design. Everything in the house was chosen with a designer's eye -- nothing is out of place, every detail a blend of mid-century Craftsman linearity and earth-conscious tactile beauty: woods, stones, jute, textiles, iridescent tiles. The floor plan provides for maximum privacy. Our fairly large group was never bouncing off each other, as has happened before at other properties. The separate apartment over the two-car garage is as tastefully appointed as the main house, and large enough to serve as its own satellite entertaining wing. The master bedroom suite, with its jetted tub, walk-in wet room, and sun-drenched private meditation area, will surely have your group flipping coins. Other quick notes: The management is beyond accommodating. There is enough parking for more than 4 cars. The coffee place at the bottom of the hill has excellent breakfast tacos. The Wifi signal is a bit weak in the garage apartment, but otherwise good. There are 80+ cable channels and several huge flatscreens, though why you'd want to watch TV in a place like this is a mystery. In two words: highly recommended.

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

Guest: Elliott
Date of Stay: 03/09/10 Review Submitted: 03/08/10

Our group loved staying at the wonderful house on Barton Springs. From the open space to the great location, the entire experience was an A+. Management was easy to work with and very professional. Two thumbs up for anyone looking for a great rental in Austin, TX.

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Guest: Jessica
Date of Stay: 12/30/09 Review Submitted: 12/29/09

I have arrived at the property -- spectacular!!! I'm really looking forward to the next few days.

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Guest: Dianne
Date of Stay: 11/27/09 Review Submitted: 11/26/09

Just wanted to let you know what a lovely time we had in Austin and what a wonderful home to spend Thanksgiving! If we return to Austin (which is very likely) I will be contacting you again. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Guest: Hilary
Date of Stay: 11/16/09 Review Submitted: 11/15/09

We had a wonderful stay in the house, thank you for giving us an early check in and late check out. The house is so beautifully crafted with a great location. It’s quiet and truly a pleasure to be in. My out of town guests were thrilled with it and we all wanted to live in it forever.

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