Vacation Rentals by Owner

Home away from Home

Guest: Ray & Jean Musser (Selinsgrove PA)
Date of Stay: 02/01/12 Review Submitted: 03/16/12

We certainly enjoyed our stay for several years during the month of February at your beautiful "home away from home". So much more than we expected from the pictures, but it would be impossible to show everything that it has to offer. It is spacious, and yet we spent most of our time in the sunroom overlooking the beautiful lake,. Everything is immaculate, the decor is beautiful, and it was equipped with everything that you would need. Enjoyed talking with Tom and sorry that we never had the opportunity to meet you in person. But if we needed anything, you were just a phone call away. Hope we can return in the future. THANKS

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

Lake House

Guest: John (Inez Ky)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

My wife and mother-in-law spent the month of January in this wonderful Lake House and found it better than advertised by owner. It is quiet, plenty of wildlife and just very relaxing house to spend time at. The owner was always just a email away and very responsive to any question that came up. The location is great to go in any direction you choose. If the house is big enough for you to spend a month with your mother-in-law that in its self explain how great this Lake House truely is. It is just a great vacation home.

Owner response:Thanks John for your kind comments. You, your wife and Mother in Law are welcome back anytime!!

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

What a Privilege

Guest: N/A (Burlington, Wisconsin: Midwest)
Date of Stay: 06/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/02/11

Truth in Advertising. Everything promised and then some. Immaculate and all in perfect working order. Fully equipped with all that we needed for our June visit. We had plenty of room to roam, relax and enjoy all the views from each beautifully decorated, homey and comfortable room. We were pleasantly surprised with the pink stroller, toys, balls and large play area in the garage which thrilled and kept busy our very busy 19 month old granddaughter. Swinging on the swing, watching the 'fishies' swim or just going for a walk she enjoyed it. She also loved watching the squirrels scurrying around the backyard woods just a short distance from the large picture windows. When not just relaxing, sipping our coffee in the furniture on the pier, we caught fish, watched the fishermen in boats working the shoreline, watched eagles soar in the steady breeze off the lake and an assortment of birds flying or sunning themselves on the pier (including one friendly cormorant who sunned even while we sipped!). With the long handled basket picker kept in the garage we were able to reach the deliciously sweet grapefruit which our granddaughter was happy to help put in the bucket. Some grapefruit we ate (no sugar needed!) and some we juiced with the juicer from the kitchen cupboard. Restful, peaceful and with so much to offer inside and out this home has it all and we are grateful to the Lord and to Mr. Tom Jones for the privilege of our stay and for the memories we'll always cherish of this special home away from home. The Curt Leibner family

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

Lovely Home on Lake Eustis

Guest: Sandie (Hobe Sound, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/10/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

Our family spent almost a week at the Lake House. It was truly everything as described by the owner - very clean and lots of room. We brought two boats and spent our time exploring the various Lakes. If you have the opportunity don't miss the Lake Dora canal. It is Nature at it's best! We enjoyed relaxing in the Sun Room. Neighbor, Gary, was most helpful. The grounds are beautiful and the view spectacular. Thank you Tom for sharing with our family!

Owner response:Sandie, thank you for your kind remarks. You guys are welcome back anytime!

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

Wonderful Time

Guest: Bruce W. (Tampa, Fl.)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

The home was as advertised. It has a beatiful view of the lake, is well maintained and clean. The videos of the inside and outside were great in giving the feel for what to expect. The house was very clean and in great shape. Very nice neighbors too. We hope to come back soon!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful experience

Guest: Daryl & Karen (Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/07/11

The owner's description of the property doesn't really do it justice. It is a beautiful, meticulously maintained vacation home. The owners are very nice and exceedingly helpful when necessary. I would recommend this property to anyone I know without hesitation. Nearby Al's Landing is a great restaurant where you can watch seaplanes come and go. The lake is gorgeous and the backyard, while open, feels very private. While we were there hawks were nesting in the grand live oaks. Overall a wonderful location.

Recommended for:Pet owners

Great House!! Exceptionally clean and "livable".

Guest: Jim & Pat (South Bend, IN)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

Thanks, Tom, for accommodating our rather "last minute" request to stay at your Lake House. Pat just keeps on and on about "what a comfortable place to stay on vacation" -- she especially appreciated the one-floor plan as she has some trouble with stairs. Your photos are "spot on", and no one will be disappointed when they arrive. We appreciate the little extra things you do for your "visitors" -- plenty of soaps, paper towels, tissues, etc.-- many times the first thing we have to do on checking in is go to the local market for all those types of things. The yard is great, even in January --- especially since there was a foot of snow over our entire yard in Indiana when we left two days before! Your neighbors, Gary and Carol, were helpful with suggestions on places to eat, sights to see, etc. -- and Gary even let me try a little fishing from his dock on the canal. Hope we can "do business with you" in the future!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful Lake Front Vacation

Guest: Susan (Greensboro, NC)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

We loved our stay at this home. It was so great to look out across green grass to the view of the lake from almost every vantage point in the house. The view includes large oak trees with Spanish moss and palm trees in the back yard framing the lake. It's an hour's drive to Orlando. We drove down one day to spend a day at Disney World but were really glad we chose to stay in this more peaceful place. It was less than an hour to Ocala National Forest where we rented a canoe and floated on crystal clear creek. We enjoyed some great restaurants in Mt. Dora and Eustis, two charming small towns on the edge of the lakes of the same name. The house was all that it was described to be. We would love to stay there again.

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

Perfect Peaceful & Quiet Home with lots of nature

Guest: Elizabeth (Stuart, FL )
Date of Stay: 11/05/10 Review Submitted: 12/06/10

Hi Tom, We had a wonderful time at your home. We loved it so much we would like to possibly rent your home again in May. It was the perfect place to get some peace and quiet. I especially loved all of the cypress, live oaks and pine trees :-) Have a FANTASTIC day! Elizabeth

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

The quintessential lake front experience.

Guest: The Ross Family (Naples, Florida)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/26/10

In a word: WOW! This beautiful home is quite possibly the quintessential lake front experience; private and peaceful, comfortable and convenient. I would recommend this home without reservation. Five stars from beginning to end. We can’t wait to come back.

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

Guest: Pat and Bob Scalice (Gloucester, Ma)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/13/10

Hi Tom, Thank you for allowing us to enjoy your wonderful corner of Florida for the month of February. We found the home exactly as described and in very good condition. Nothing was lacking. We especially enjoyed coffee and sunrises in the Florida room, Herons and Egrets fishing for their breakfast, tangerines and grapefruits, a boatride with neighbors on Lake Eustis, and a special warmth that pervaded the home. We went to an Art show and Music festival, golfed chamnpionship courses, a vineyard, and top of the Citrus Tower. Some of our friends and family visited and similarly enjoyed the home and area. (Please note, we call your place a home, not a house.) We saw many properties that one day could be our home. Should conditons permit we would consider staying at 12448 Insim again. Thanks, Bob and Pat.

Recommended for:

Guest: Shirley Redpath
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/15/10

12/29/2009 Hi Tom, First off, thank you so much for sharing your lovely home with us. It was the perfect place for spreading out, relaxing, and enjoying Christmas with the family. Thanks, too, for the festive touches-we put our presents under the tree on Christmas morning, just like home. But the real hit was the juicer-Tim reckons he has worn it out already!! Every morning he picked fruit and presented us with freshly squeezed juice to enjoy as we watched the sun rising over the lake. We found the house to be very comfortable and well equipped. You left us three keys we're leaving 2 here & will use the third to lock up behind us. We will put it XXXXXXXXX. Best wishes for a great 2010! Tim, Bruce, Shirley & Nancy

Recommended for:

Guest: Shirley Redpath
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/15/10

1/15/2010 Your cheque arrived today, thank you very much. In many ways I find it hard to believe that the mail is still getting through over here-I haven't been able to get ou of my drive since we arrived back in England because the roads around here are so icy. This has been a very unusual winter for the U.K. as it has been for many other places in the world. Everyone kept telling us when we were in Florida that it never gets as cold as it was while we were there! I was very disappointed that you and I never had the opportunity to actually meet, having become such good "email" pals. However, we enjoyed your house, and I've attached a few pictures that might give future visitors an idea of how "Christmas friendly" it is (the third picture shows the family well into their brussel sprout races with little windup toys that came in our Christmas crackers!) I'm sad to say that we had no unusual encounters with wildlife. We never saw alligators until we visited the Snake Valley National Park, although we saw lots of very interesting birds on our cruise of the Dora Canal. I wish you every success with the future rental of the property-I know everyone will love it, as it is not only beautiful and relaxing living space, it is also very well positioned for visiting many interesting attractions in Florida. All the best, Shirley

Recommended for:

Beyond Expectations

Guest: Ken, Christine and Toby (Wisconsin )
Date of Stay: 05/01/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

Hello Tom, we just had a wonderful "opportunity" to spend the month of April at your beautiful Lake Eustis lakefront home. We are from an area in Wisconsin that has many lakes and we did not realize the similiarties in beauty along with the size of the lakes. We were extremely impressed with the house and enjoyed our mornings with coffee in the lakefront sunroom as the sun rose over the lake. Everything was exactly as described and shown in the advertised pictures and description from the furnishings, landscapping, flowers in bloom, and abundant fruit from the trees outside. Neighbors (Gary) were friendly and helpful also. In fact, we were so impressed with the beauty of the area that we purchased a winter place in neighboring Mt. Dora. We would recommend your place to anyone who desires a truely wonderful Florida vacation retreat.

Owner response:Thank you Ken. Glad you enjoyed it. We are disappointed you're not going to be staying again next year but we are happy you're joining us as neighbors. Welcome. Let's get together when you're down and we are up for dinner on the water! Tom

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