Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great place on the Medina RIver

Guest: Christine D.
Date of Stay: 04/02/12 Review Submitted: 04/06/12

If you're looking for a great place in Hill county, you've found it! Stumbled upon the listing over the internet - the location was perfect for what we had in mind - 5 days in Texas. Easy drive from the San Antonio airport. Settled in and had dinner in town at Brick, a sweet little place back in Bandera. Next day we had a beautiful drive to Lost Maples and spent the better part of the day hiking and swimming. Had a great coffee on the way in in Core and visited the library there on our way back. We bought some floaties at the Dollar store in Bandera and the boys had a blast in the river as we could tell from the delirious shouting reaching up to us on the deck. Now we are in our hotel in Austin and missing the sprawling house, the visiting peacocks, and the sense that we are staying at our Grandma's where things are just slightly off kilter (Willie said the shower only reached to his navel in the annex but luckily my other guy is just 5 feet!) but oh so wonderful, full of love and happy memories. Spent mornings sipping coffee on the porch listening to the river, the evenings had a full moon spilling across the lawn. If you like to cook,the kitchen is well-stocked. For us with two teenagers, having a kitchen is a great plus as is the extra room. If you're looking for a place that your family can relax and enjoy themselves, right in the middle of some wonderful scenery and close to ther places to explore in Hill country, you've come to the right place.

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Our stay at the Bandera House on Highland Drive

Guest: Tonya S.
Date of Stay: 03/29/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

I just wanted to send you a quick note to say "Thank you" for allowing us to rent your Bandera house this past weekend. The main house and the guest house were perfect for our small group and we really enjoyed staying there. I like the way you have both of the cottages decorated. It made us feel right at home. We can't wait to visit again! My favorite part of the trip was waking up every morning and sitting outside to drink coffee while enjoying nature. There were so many deer in the yard. There is also a beautiful peacock that met us every afternoon as the sun started to go down. He would just sit on the back corner of the roof almost like he was waiting on someone to come home. This is not something we get to enjoy very often in Baytown. We left some extra supplies for whoever rents it next (Toilet paper in the guest cottage; a new package of paper plates, coffee creamer, and coffee filters in the main house) Thanks again for allowing us to stay in your house. We will definitely refer our friends and family to you for their future Bandera trips. Sincerely, Dominic & Tonya Stewart Chris Fisher Robert & Stacie Rountree

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Beautiful, Rustin, Romantic and Fun

Guest: Vanessa H.
Date of Stay: 02/04/12 Review Submitted: 02/09/12

My husband and I and our 2 awesome pooches wanted to take a little weekend vacation away from the city. We chose to go to Bandera, The Cowboy Capitol of the World, for some fun and yeeehawwin! We were pleasantly surprised. :-) The cabin is beautiful, it's like time stood still in Texas. The cabin is built with materials that the land offers; limestone, cedar, oak, etc.... it's cozy but spacious and has a wonderful country charm to it. We spent the early mornings sitting by the fireplace, then headed out to Hill State Natural Area for some bike riding, came back to the cabin and just relaxed by the river. We had such a relaxing and wonderful experience and will be back. Thank you for the much needed relax time :-)

Owner response:These sweet people went to the Bandera river house with the right attitude.......they wanted "country" and "rustic", not a condo on a golf course or thrills-a-minute entertainment! A little wine, a good book, some binoculars to watch the creatures, somebody fun to talk to when the spirit moves......doesn't get much more relaxing than that :)

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Great Time with Family

Guest: Gabe (Austin)
Date of Stay: 01/20/12 Review Submitted: 01/23/12

We had a blast! My family and I (all 7 of us) had a wonderful time exploring the river, roasting marshmallows, and seeing all the wildlife. My 4 year old and 7 year old even went swimming.....in January! We rode into Bandera for the day on Saturday and did some shopping and saw the old west gun fights. The cabin was just what we were looking for, cozy and rustic, it was clean and the beds were super comfortable. We spent every night around the out door fire place enjoying the stars and sounds of the river. We will definitely be coming back this summer.

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

A warning

Guest: Debbie O.
Date of Stay: 06/26/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

I grew up spending my summers in a tent at camp in Maine or in cabins on Twin Lakes in northwestern Conn., so I know and love rustic places. But my family did not enjoy this rustic rental because it was filthy and obviously is never cleaned. The icebox was disgusting and the dirt and gargage left by other renters was everywhere, under beds, left in closets. I also think that not having a working shower and toilet in the main house bathroom is unexcusable. It's a shame that such a charming place has to endure such neglect. Debbie O'Brien

Owner response:Wow. It hurts to read things like this because the place is normally neither "filthy" nor "disgusting" nor "neglected". We have a hardworking caretaker who does a great job ordinarily, although as I've said before one of the reasons our rent is so reasonable is that it's more a shared home than a professionally-maintained hotel. Guests are expected to clean up after themselves. If housekeeper Randi arrives with only 3 hours to turn the place around, and the folks who just departed left a horrible mess, she sometimes can't pull off the level of success we would all wish for. All I can say is, Ms. Debbie's experience is not the norm, and we feel badly that it happened. Two weeks later, I received a frantic note from someone who had read this review online, and was having second thoughts about coming. But she did decide to keep her reservation, and sent me this note from her iPhone: "We got here around 5 and everything looked clean. We don't have any complaints. (The review doesn't match our observations.) I walked down to the river and that was quite an adventure!! I'm sure it's half the walk on high water years. We are all enthralled with the charm and rusticness of the place. Do you know when it was built? Enjoying ourselves in Bandera!! We will definitly come back here. Thanks, Denise" So, dear guests, I am sorry. You didn't deserve such a negative experience. I wish Bandera could have worked its magic on you. Sent from my iPhone

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Great time

Guest: Jerry (Laredo,Tx.)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/20/11

All 3 couples had a great time, the peace and quiet was great,the view was good ,we will go back for sure.

Recommended for:Age 55+

a great family vacation

Guest: Jon (Arlington, TX)
Date of Stay: 11/21/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

A wonderful cabin in a great location! We had our family of 5 (plus a small dog) for Thanksgiving week at this great vacation spot. As noted in the information, it is a bit rustic but we found that to be part of the charm. The cabin is certainly clean and in good condition. Some of the amenities have their quirks (a 35 year old microwave with instruction that make you feel like you are about to launch missiles - that was a surprise!) but with the right sense of humor and adventure, those became part of the family fun and make for stories that we are still having fun relating. The river was a little chilly but we all swam (including the dog) every day. The waterfall is a great picture spot and my boys swam over and behind it. We also canoed quite a bit. We had a great time. Thank you for sharing your cabin.

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

Time Stood Still

Guest: Jay-Are (New Braunfels TX)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 03/11/10

Cathy, I can not thank you enough for saving this past weekend. I had planned a nice little camping get away for my wife and some of her friends when rain cancelled that. I called you on a Friday evening, around 7:30 and explained my situation and that i would only need a place for one night. I guess the stars were in line, cause as it worked out, the place was available, and only for that night. So, the five of set out to Bandera TX for a weekend to remember. Upon arriving at this little nestled secret in was apparent that we had came to a place where time hadn't touched. We were all in amazement as to how old this place was, it was like traveling back in time....but please do not let that fool you. This place is beyond relaxing.........its more like an escape. Every square inch of this place has history. We had no problems with any thing there at all. No circuit breakers popped, all the plumbing worked great, and loads of hot water. Now, go out back and take a little stroll down to the river and be ready to fall in love. The views of this crystal clear river are simply breath taking. The water was a little cold, but after taking a little stroll up river to see the falls, i just had to get it. Cold? yes! Amazing? Beyond!! We had a fantastic time and can not wait to return this summer to be able to really relax in the river. Again, Cathy, thanks so much for letting us enjoy this piece of history, our only regret is not being able to stay longer. To anyone thinking of coming here, understand, this is a piece of timeless history.....so start a fire, set back, relax, and take a journey back in time......you'll love it.

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

Great getaway!

Guest: Had a Blast (Corpus Christi, tx)
Date of Stay: 08/16/09 Review Submitted: 08/26/09

My family and I had a great time out here. Just what the kids needed before heading back to school. The guest house had no a/c, but most of the time was spent swimming in the water holes or grilling. At night time though, it is very cool and comfortable with the windows open. We are in a drought, and the river is low, but there are a couple of water holes deep enough to swim in and even jump off of a rope with. We had a blast in the water, as we spent most of the time out there. Its a nice little walk, but it is beautiful, with large trees giving off shade. At night time, we all sat around the picnic table and observed the deer in the yard. Overall , we had an awsome time and would love to go back.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Another Great Stay!

Guest: Beautiful Week (Brownsville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/26/09 Review Submitted: 08/04/09

We enjoyed another great stay this summer at the Bandera House! The river was a little low, but we still spent many hours exploring and playing. Most evenings we simply grilled outside and watched the deer. We love the rustic and quirky house! It was a beautiful week. Thank you!

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

Barely Habitable

Guest: YIKES! (Stillwater, Oklahoma US)
Date of Stay: 07/15/09 Review Submitted: 07/28/09

Our experience was very much like that of "Female Sherry": we found that the place needed some serious attention. The day before we drove to Bandera, Cathy informed us that the shower in the main house should not be used. When we got there, we found that the toilets had serious limitations. The "Annex" is not air conditioned, and that means that in summer heat, no matter what the myth is about the Hill Country being cooler, no one can sleep in it. A hundred-dollar window unit would have gone a long way in making the Annex livable. The kitchen in the main cabin was grimy. We had reserved the place for a week, but fled after one night. -- Perhaps this could be made into a charming vacation cabin if the owners invested a little money and elbow grease, but as it now stands I would encourage people to look elsewhere.

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Fantastic river getaway

Guest: Frequent Flyers from FL (Safety Harbor, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/14/09 Review Submitted: 07/02/09

While visiting my sister in the Texas Hill Country, she recommended a rustic, river getaway. She had sent me the website and many photos so I felt like I knew the place before we arrived for a two night retreat. What I didn't expect was the overall tranquility I felt getting away from home and the phones, computers and the overall hectic-ness of life. The house had everything we needed and was very comfortable. We, my sister and her husband, my 14 year old son and I had a blast in the river. The waterfall and the rope swing was all the entertainment we needed for daytime. We talked and play games in the evening. We definitely plan to return.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

When can we come back?

Guest: MariMoore (San Marcos, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/14/09 Review Submitted: 06/28/09

We totally loved the place! Brought visiting family and explored every nook and cranny of this much loved old house. Quaint and shabby chic-- which made us realize how nice it is to "make do" and get away from our ordered lives surrounded by too much stuff. We were very comfortable and enjoyed nightly dinners al fresco on the picnic table, followed by bocce ball on the front lawn. Nothing wrong with the upkeep that prevented us from being comfortable or enjoying our stay. The river, complete with waterfall and rope swing, was spectacular, we had a blast. This old-fashioned house was just as peaceful and charming as we had expected, but the river and the setting was far more than we expected! We can't wait to go back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway.

Wonderful vacation!

Guest: Laurie G. (Spring, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/07/09 Review Submitted: 06/16/09

We had a wonderful time on the river! The house was great, we loved the atmosphere. The annex was clean and spacious and perfect for the grandparents. It was really nice to have comfortable king beds to sleep on. The oven was a little moody (don't plan on baking cinnamon rolls for breakfast), Everyone enjoyed the beautiful waterfall lagoon - what a special place. We bought a fishing pole and caught (and released) fish from the landing. It was truly a relaxing, peaceful, perfect vacation spot. The week was spent floating, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, cave exploring, hiking and bird watching. There were 3 little quails that visited the yard daily. We headed up to 11th Street for steak night and enjoyed watching the dancing. Thank you for sharing your slice of paradise, we look forward to visiting again!

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

Very, very, Rustic-Needs lots of attention & maint

Guest: Female-Sherry (Huntsville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/05/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/09

When arrived at the house, the yrad was not up-kept, the back deck was not blown off, piles of leaves gathered not allowing proper drainage of rain water, good heaven for coperheads and other snakes. The house inside does need cleaning and dusting. Shower in main house does not drain properly, by the time you are finished showering the shower is almost over flowing. Floor in front of shower in guest gouse rotten? Vines growing threw window screens in guest house. When rains, water puddles in the living room by the front door. This place could be a really great experience if it were paid a little more attention to. Need to put a leadrope beside the rock walk way down to the water. This is a dangerous trip down to the water for everyone. I will say this place had great atmosphere. It would be ashamed to let this place go to waste, it does have great potential. Please replace or do away with the several layes of carpet in bathroom and fix hole behind the mirror. This is more like a camp house instead of a vacation rental house. Rustic really isn't the word for the place, camp house would be more appropriate. Pics on the internet is not exactly truthful and does not go with the rental property. Loved Cathy, she's very likable but please put some money into this place and make it a little more enjoyable for your guest. Oh, and it's not a four bedroom, pleae do not advertise it as so. I guess if you are looking for something inexpensive and split the rent with four people maybe it worth it. The old saying, you get what you pay for, is true in this case. But if I did not have soemone to share the rent with this place would not have been worth the price. Was disappointed in the upkeep period! Sherry

Owner response:As always, we are sorry when anyone is unhappy with our beloved house. We spend all the money and effort on it that we can, but it is no palace and not intended to be. That said, most of Sherry's complaints related to the fact that she came right at the end of May.....right before the monthly yardperson, and right before the yearly maintenance week that always happens in early June. All was fixed, actually, before she sent in this review. Except for peeling paint! We've done some of that recently, but the rest will happen in stages. Re bedrooms, there are in fact 3 with doors on them, and 1 that is a sunroom with four twins and no privacy. Anyway, by June 7 it was ready for the summer, looking vastly better, and Sherry, we hope you'll come back someday. We are so sorry that you were disappointed.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Bandera house

Guest: amyrvw (Buda)
Date of Stay: 05/03/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

What a wonderful place! My husband and I took our 2 and 4 year old children to this magical little cabin. The kids had the most amazing time exploring every inch of the grounds. We had our breakfast with the deer every morning and spent most of the day down by the water. With nothing more than a basic cane pole and some leftover hot dog, my 4 year old caught over a dozen fish:) We will be coming back every year. This place is truly special and the owner is a real gem. It is not a 5 star hotel and does not claim to be. Perfectly quaint and quirky. My kids will remember playing in the water and watching the wildlife. They could care less about the funny shower....me too.

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

We Hope To Go Back

Guest: ShoshandTosh (London, England)
Date of Stay: 04/03/09 Review Submitted: 04/17/09

You are either utterly charmed by this place, or you are not. We most decidely fell into the first category. It is quirky indeed, but we loved the eccentricities, most of which reminded us of being back here in England (our real home). We had several people stay with us at various times during our stay and all, to a person, embraced the uniqueness of this house. The children were in heaven, whilst the adults spent hours sitting around talking outside or inside by the roaring fire (on one unseasonably chilly night). The river down below kept us amply entertained (we swam, we ambled along its banks, we looked for turtles) along with the many deer who sprung past the house each day. The only disappointment for us was that there is a TV in the house! Fortunately we never even plugged it in (didn't need to -- kids didn't ask even once, or even seem to notice it). The quirks extend to things like plumbing, finding the property the first time, and even the booking process, but do persevere because this property is completely worth it. I think someone else said "5 star luxury it ain't" and that is true but it has a magic that I would prefer anyday. Also, the town of Bandera is so lovely -- be sure to visit the Frontier Times Museum and tell the lady who runs it "hello" from us. She was possibly as charming as the house!! P.s. The age range in our party was 20 months old to 66 yrs old. MAYBE the wee one was a bit too wee (we were told this but did ignore it and it wasn't a problem, per se, but he was a lot of work compared to say, the 3 yr old, which is probably the optimum minimum age)

Owner response:aw shucks. I promise we did not armtwist these English visitors to say such glowing things! I was nervous that the place wouldn't be "fancy enough" for them......so their unsolicited comments were a delightful surprise. Most laid-back easygoing people do love our house; it's the OCD less flexible types who sometimes stumble :) Cathy

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

Relaxing Getaway

Guest: young again (sweeny, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/22/08 Review Submitted: 08/24/08

We loved the place, Cathy. It was like staying at Grandma's house when I was young. It is a totally getaway from it all place. The river is wonderful and don't be afraid to stay at the house because of the lack of air conditioners. It was cold at night and you have to grab a blanket and during the day it was not bad at all. If you are a city slicker you might not like it because you can actually hear the night life, but we loved it. We hope to stay again and have told everyone about it. We hated to leave and come back to "the real world" as my husband put it. My grandson is addicted to the electronic world, but he stayed busy with things outside and it was nice to see him learn to play with things that were not electronic like we use to when we were growing up.Thanks again Cathy!!!

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

Can't get any better than this

Guest: cowpatti (Needville Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/17/08 Review Submitted: 09/02/08

We spent a wonderful week in motorcycling in Bandera and surrounding areas and this cabin was the icing on the cake. The rustic feel and atmosphere was perfect. We enjoyed sitting on the front porch watching the deer graze and the visiting cats playing in the yard just as much as we enjoyed the back deck. The river was perfect for wading and we even found some deep areas for swimming. The water was crystal clear and cold. The house was cozy and comfortable. We did not sleep in the guest house and felt it was alittle too hot, even at night with the fans going. But after all, we were there in the hottest part of the year, August. Nothing about this home disappointed us and we are looking forward to a return visit. Many thanks to Cathy for her hospitality.

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

cabin get away

Guest: Nana/Boo (Fairchild,Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/10/08 Review Submitted: 08/19/08

Man if you don't like this place in the Hill Country you are not going to like nothing.This little cabin was so neat,there were 5 of us that stayed a whole week,we brought our motorcycles and rode the hill country all week. The cabin was GREAT plenty of room for us all to relax on the patio,or down by the river.If you are going into town you have got to eat at O.S.T. great food. The clubs are very good also 11st Cowboy Bar,Bandera Sallon,and the Longhorn just outside of town.The Apple house in Madenia is very good also. Again this little cabin was just great for a good little get away Thanks very much Cathy and we all hope to see you ,and your littlt hide-away again very soon.

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

A Wonderful Adventure!

Guest: Beautiful Week (Brownsville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/03/08 Review Submitted: 08/08/08

This is our first visit to the Bandera House, and it will not be our last! The river is fantastic, and there are quite a few "holes" near the cabin. The waterfall is a blast, but I suggest going over feet-first if you are going to be brave! The description of the cabin was very accurate, and we have had great fun with the rustic elements. Everyday has been an adventure and we can't wait to come back!

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

Anniversary Weekend

Guest: Bobbi_R (Houston)
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/03/08

The Bandera house is fantastic. We didn't want to leave. The cabin itself is so charming and the climate is so pleasant even in August. We had the river all to ourselves every time we went down to swim (very romantic) and nights on the porch were more relaxing than we could have imagined. We saw lots of deer, a few bats flying through out on their nightly mosquito hunt and fireflies...I hadn't seen those since I was a kid. We found a favorite rock to sit on in the river where we sat and watched all kinds of fish swim near us in the water...it was so clear. We also had a great time in town. We ate at OST and Brick's River Cafe and would recommend both. The weekend we were there was Market Day on the square and we found some fun souvenirs there and at the local shops. Everyone was very friendly. We definitely want to return, only for a longer stay next time.

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

Riverfront Hideaway Peaceful Hill Country

Guest: Houston Girl (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/17/08 Review Submitted: 07/22/08

We had a wonderful time last week! The house was wonderful with all of it's vintage charm and character. We had no problems with anything our entire trip. The deer came out every monring and evening it was so peacful to sit out under the big tree with a cup of coffee and watch the hummingbirds and deer! The river was a little low but it was so perfect for our little boys. They had so much fun trying to cath tadpoles with there nets and the waterfall 5 houses up was a sight to see. We sat there and enjoyed that spot for a while it was so peaceful. I can't wait for our next trip up there!!!

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

Didn't want to go home!!

Guest: Missing Bandera (Katy)
Date of Stay: 07/09/08 Review Submitted: 07/26/08

We really enjoyed the stay. We were invited by a friend of ours and my parents came too. The kids had a blast. We found a rope swing and swimming holes. It is so relaxing and peaceful. Total serenity. It is a rustic charming house. We were so disappointed to have to go home. There are several grills in the yard to choose from, the deer come out all day long, enjoyed getting up in the morning and sitting along the rock patio and watching the hummingbirds and critters. We found a spot on the property along the river to sit our chairs and talk and enjoy swimming and atmosphere. I could go on and on. We will definitely try to return next year! My only complaint which is not about the house but that the river was so low this summer that we could not tube or kyak but we got our share of fun. It made our summer. Love the house! Hope you continue to rent the house for years to come!

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

Creepy not Rustic

Guest: Sandwarrior (Baytown, Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/15/08 Review Submitted: 06/19/08

This place is an absolute wreck. Dirty linens, no AC in the "guest" house. Broken down living area furniture, broken outdoor furniture. Shower won't drain. No curtains on the bedroom windows. Bug infested due to the lack of weather stripping on the doors. Many of the windows won't close completely or lock. Floor and ceiling cracked. Very old TV with pitiful reception of 2 local UHF channels cheap cd, VCR. Refrigerator nasty, coffe pot not functional. Avoid at all costs. Creepy not rustic.

Owner response:We arrived right after this guest departed, and she's largely right. Our caretaker had been MIA since early June and no one knew, plus serious abuse had occurred since we our last April visit. It took hours to scrub, clean, detox, replace broken things and pushed-out screens, etc etc. The "dirty linens" were left by some prior renter as we don't provide linens (guests bring their own). That said and heartfelt apologies offered, future renters make note: this is not a squeaky-new modern house. Those cracks have been there since we bought it 27 years ago. House and contents are vintage, and that's why it's affordable despite its large size, beautiful view, unique architecture, and awesome riverfront location. If it were newly updated we would charge 3 times as much! Let our "don't have's" be clear: there is no phone, no TV reception, no internet, no maid service, and in 2 of the 4 bedrooms no AC. (The Hill Country is cooler and drier than the rest of the state, and even with no AC you might find yourself reaching for a blanket in the night :) If you can't live without TV, bring your own DVD player....we do have a TV/VCR...and have a film festival. If you have to have blackout curtains and bolted windows, you won't find them here....for us, the remote private location and perfectly adequate screened windows provide all the security we care about. Open windows with the breeze blowing through reminds us of our Hill Country childhoods, and if that means an occasional cricket in the house, fine ...though regular pest control means it is not "bug infested". Anyway, since our regular lives are tightly sealed, climate controlled, and ruled by electronics, for vacation we crave Grandma's house. This place is all about good friends and conversation, fishing and splashing in the river, playing games, occasional adventures, slowing down to relax, and watching the stars.....not HDTV and computers and Ralph Lauren sheets. If you love older buildings and the Hill Country, and will promise to respect this beloved place, we look forward to your call.

Recommended for:

Bandera House

Guest: vett1999 (Magnolia, Texas USA)
Date of Stay: 04/03/08 Review Submitted: 07/07/08

Our stay in the Hill Country was exactly what we expected.The house was perfect, we loved the house and very impressed with the upkeep of it, the description "old house with quirks and character" is why we choose it and we were not dissapointed. The view of the river from the house was spectacular. The rustic feel of the house is awesome. We love the serinity of the country. I loved sitting under that big tree drinking my coffee in the morning and watching the deer walk across the yard. You don't see that in the big city. We had the best time, and we will be coming back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What A Great Week

Guest: Schuyler (Manvel, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/25/08

Kathy, Just wanted to say thanks for letting us stay at your house. Everything was perfect. If we could have stayed another week we could have seen all the cypress trees with leaves. The small ones budded out, but the big ones were just starting to during the week. Along the banks of the river the ferns were coming to life uncurling there foliage. I'll bet in the summer they are beautiful. We put out a humming bird feeder on Monday when I saw a hummer on the back patio. We had four or five of them fighting over it all end of the week. I also put out a bird feeder for the cardinals and many small birds in the area. Veeery relaxing. The water in the river was a little chilly, but not enough to keep us from tubing. I could go on and on about the beauty of the place, it was everything your pictures showed and more. My oldest boy was having TV withdrawals which was great. He loved the tubing and the waterfall. There was something for everyone. Again we had a great time. Thanks for the use of you place!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Bandera Riverfront Stone House

Guest: Trooper (Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/26/08

We love this property and have visited every year for over ten years. It is very family and pet friendly. The river is different every year and is always fun. There is lots of room for outdoor and indoor games. The house is rustic and typical of the Hill Country. This getaway may not be for anyone expecting an upscale hotel but is even more fun.

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

Riverside Retreat, Bandera, Tx

Guest: vacationer (Iowa)
Date of Stay: 04/01/07 Review Submitted: 06/05/07

The river location was interesting but we would not recommend this proterty to others. The house was very unclean and both the house and the proterty appeared not to have been given attention in some time. Also beware of dealing with an aging, tempramental septic system not mentioned until you actually get there. We had a very disappointing stay.

Owner response:The septic problems were temporary and "no big deal" to fix. We hated the fact that these people were inconvenienced. Occasional housekeeper problems are a more vexing thing when you're long-distance homeowners like us. Most of the time, our housekeepers are perfectly fine and competent; however, if you require hotel-quality cleanliness, perfection, and consistency, this is may not be the ideal place for your country vacation. In fact, one of the reasons that the house is so reasonable is that guests are asked to do their own housekeeping, and our ladies just do the things that guests miss.

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