Vacation Rentals by Owner

April in Carneros

Guest: Egavas6 CSW (Rocky River, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 04/21/12 Review Submitted: 05/09/12

The Cypress Ladder House was everything it was advertised to be. Location in Kenwood was perfect for travel to both Sonoma wineries, and NAPA wineries. We even took a trip up North to Anderson Valley a short 2 1/2 hour drive in some beautiful country. The beds, deck and hot tub were exactly as advertised. In a word sensational. The kitchen, while appointed with several great appliances did lack a few basic items like a good chef knife, and large cutting board both of which would have made our stay just that much better. We did pick up a nice knife in Sonoma on the square at a cute little kitchen store. We are foodies and loved heading into Glen Ellen to the great grocery there (same owners as the Sonoma Market). Terrific selection of fresh meats and seafoods. The cheese selection is incredible. Finding FIGONE'S Olive Oil shop was a treasure also. We would suggest you hit the tasting rooms at both Kenwood, and Kunde for great affordable wines. So many other great places, we need to return for another visit as we missed several in our short one week stay. The garage is set up perfectly with laundry and room to park your bikes, if you would like to cycle to any of the many wineries within the few miles around here.Thanks Rob for opening your wonderful vacation home to us, the perfect get away for two couples.

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

Incredibly Delightful!

Guest: KHT (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/18/12 Review Submitted: 05/08/12

This is such a perfect getaway place for the Sonoma wine country. We were looking for a place to stay in Sonoma, but close enough to get to Napa for a day of our trip. The Ladder House was perfect, and so was the owner. We were unfamiliar with the Glen Ellen and Sonoma wineries, so the owner took his time to ask about our interests. He shared what he knew about the area and based upon our interests, made several incredible recommendations for wineries, activities and hikes in the area. We did several of his recommendations and they were great. We called him once on our initial arrival and he got back to us immediately. The owner loves the area and it was clear to us by the extra time and attention he took, that he truly wanted us to have a getaway that was personally enjoyable to us. The place was well appointed, clean, everything we needed in the kitchen, and yes, the beds are incredibly cozy! We will come here next year with another couple, since the two king bedrooms and two separate bathrooms is the perfect setup.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Great Kenwood Retreat

Guest: Ann (Little falls, Minnesota 56345)
Date of Stay: 04/10/12 Review Submitted: 04/18/12

We had a wonderful week at Cypress Ladder House. It is perfect for two couples. The king sized beds are so comfortable and the two complete bathrooms were great! We enjoyed grilling dinner each night, sitting in the hottub and visiting in a cozy living room. We loved being in Kenwood, enjoyed visiting local wineries and had a great meal at Cafe Citti. Rob, the owner, was very helpful with any questions and suggested some local things to do. Check out Chateau St. Jean for great cabs and the tour and wine tasting at Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen. Both were great spots. We would definitely recommend a stay at Cypress Ladder House!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect 4 Day Weekend

Guest: Tracy G. (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 04/05/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

This house is amazing! I came here with my husband and in-laws. The house was beautiful and very well kept. Everything is new! We loved being close to all the wineries and did actually walk to several one day. The 15 minute drive to Sonoma is also great. The hot tub was a dream especially after the day of walking to the wineries. The beds were extremely comfortable and the kitchen was great for cooking in so we didn’t have to eat out each night. This was our first trip to wine country and Rob, the owner, was very helpful putting together a rather detailed list of suggestions for wineries / restaurants & local activities including where to stop on the way up from San Francisco. He even set up a couple of reservations for us for wine tasting and pairing. We're looking forward to returning again in the future.

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

sleeps a max of 4!!! don't be fooled!!

Guest: dawnee (westlake village)
Date of Stay: 03/21/12 Review Submitted: 05/04/12

This property sleeps a max of "4" people!! NOT the 4-6 it claims!!! I rented this for a "5th" annual Girls Wine Trip for 5 people!! We arrived to find 2 bedrooms and a living room with a love seat and 2 chairs!! When I spoke with the owner he told me to drive about 15 miles to a Target or Walwart and purchase a "quality blow-up mattress" and he would" reimburse me later". Even the kitchen table only seats 4 people!! Our entire trip was compromised because of the living arrangements. I have asked the owner several times compensate us for this inconvenience and he has ignore all of my emails!! oh one more item.... our security deposit was late on being refunded...

Owner response:As the owner of Cypress Ladder House, I want nothing less than to have every single guest completely happy with their stay at our property. It is personally disappointing that I was unable satisfy this guest, as I had made many attempts to speak with her via telephone, both during and after her stay. With no return phone calls, I made the decision to do what I could and make monetary compensation by not charging for the five person rate (she booked and paid at the four person rate), and by not charging against her security deposit for the additional cleaning, extra garbage can disposal and damage costs charged to me by my cleaners and repairman for the condition the home was found in when the five women departed. It is also disappointing that many of the comments in this review are inaccurate and misleading. We take great pride in being able to share our passion and experiences in Sonoma wine country with our guests so that they may have an experience tailored to their own interests and tastes in wine, and I am truly disappointed this was not realized with this reviewer.

Recommended for:

Great Early Birthday Loved It!

Guest: T from Texas (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 03/28/12

Perfect get away for 2 couples to enjoy a spacious 2 bedroom house with both rooms equal (so no one couple feels like they are getting the small end of the stick). Beautifully located near the action but secluded enough to relax and enjoy the hot tub. We will definitely be back and thanks to the owner and his recommendations we had a lovely time.

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

visiting Ca wine country.

Guest: ND gang (Casselton North Dakota)
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

This is our 4th VRBO listing that we have chosen to live in while on a vacation getaway. We thourghly enjoyed your wine country home,hot tub, quiet, no traffic, just a really nice place to hang out and unwind. Planning another trip into that region later in 2013 maybe just before harvest time. The ND gang

Recommended for:Age 55+

Wonderful time in Kenwood

Guest: Rachel (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 02/29/12 Review Submitted: 03/24/12

My husband and I spent 4 nights in this super-clean and well-appointed house. Our host, Rob, thought of every detail to make us feel comfortable and cared for, including setting up a special tasting at nearby Mayo Winery. The location is so close to wineries and restaurants, but when you arrive at this lovely property you feel totally secluded. The kitchen is well-stocked; provisions included cereal, starbucks coffee, Benziger oil and balsamic vinegar, etc., and of course that wonderful bottle of wine! Enjoyed the hot tub and the privacy. We would definitely stay here again!

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

Total Relaxation!

Guest: Greg Grillo (Washington)
Date of Stay: 10/19/11 Review Submitted: 11/01/11

We spent 5 perfect days and nights in the heart of the Sonoma Valley with the Ladder House as our home base. The house worked perfectly for 2 couples with a quiet residential street location and maximum privacy. The hot tub on the deck, the bbq for grilling, the super comfy king beds, the outside table and chairs for lounging, the mini Mac entertainment system, and the well-stocked kitchen all added to the relaxation. Nothing is far away either. We loved Ledson Winery, and highly recommend spending time there. The Grilled Meat platter at Doce Lunas restaurant (2 minutes away) is unbelievable too. A couple activity highlights included bikes rented out of Sonoma Plaza and a self guided 20 mile ride through the quiet vineyards and into several wineries, and the Canopy tours just outside Occidental with zip lines through the redwoods. It was just about an hour there, and a neat activity to break up days at the wineries. We went to Napa last year and enjoyed it, but Sonoma has a different pace and less people and is perfect if you want to really relax. We would recommend the Ladder House especially for 2 couples who enjoy being together but still having a little space.

Recommended for:

Needed a weekend getaway and chose the right place

Guest: Levahj (Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 09/16/11 Review Submitted: 10/27/11

My wife and I were in great need of a weekend away from the kids. We grabbed another couple who wanted a weeked away as well and stayed at the Ladder House and had a great time. Pictures are pretty well desciptive of the house. 2 bdrms and very comfortable for two couples. I personally enjoy hot tubs after a long day, and it was quite nice jumping in after a long day of walking and wine tasting. Personally did not have much expereince in the Alexander Valley - always seemed to end up in Napa in previous trips - but was pleasantly surprised at the Wineries and just how many were walking distance to the House. Would definately stay here again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Lovely Break

Guest: Prisca (Joplin, MO)
Date of Stay: 08/31/11 Review Submitted: 09/08/11

This was absolutely the perfect house for two couples to retreat. The location enabled us to visit Napa one day, stay in the Sonoma area another day and easily head out to Windsor locales. Every morning we headed out for either a hike or horseback ride - something active before lounging at wineries all afternoon. It was so close to state parks that it made that easy. The house was well appointed and the stereo was really the best thing as we hooked up our iPod and had exactly the ambiance we wanted. The beds were amazing like everyone else says and that makes for a very relaxing stay. The transactions getting it all reserved and paid for was sooooo hassle free. We would stay again. Thanks!

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place, great time

Guest: Malcolm (Walnut Creek)
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

The Cypress Ladderhouse proved to be a great place to stay as well as a great location. We had a fabulous weekend.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Excellent stay!

Guest: Jane (San Carlos)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/13/11

We enjoyed our stay at Cypress Ladder very much. The house is very comfortable and well maintained. The location is fantastic and within easy walking distance to many wineries, we especially liked Landmark and Kunde vineyards. The owners are great to deal with and we certainly hope to return to this property in the future.

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

Perfect Location

Guest: Polly T. (Corona del Mar, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

Absolutely loved this house! It's decorated flawlessly, the location is perfect, the beds are SO comfortable and the jacuzzi is the perfect way to end a strenuous day of wine tasting while sampling one of that day's purchases.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Really Nice Wine Country Cottage

Guest: Katie (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

This is a wonderful wine county home, with some of the best views you will every get! Perfect location to everything, walking to many great wineries, short drive to: Sonoma, Napa, Healdsburg, Russian River winery's, Redwoods, Ocean, San Francisco. The owners keep the place very clean and in great condition. Wonderful bedding the best you can get! Great beds! Both bedrooms have king beds with great matresses. A must if you are traveling as two couples! Acutally asked them for the matress model so we can purchase one. You will get a great night sleep! Very quiet and beautiful location. The owners were so wonderful to work with. They sent us a whole wine tasting tour plan based on our favorite types of wines and it was spot on. We love all their suggestions. They go the extra mile to make everything perfect! We will be back!

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

Best time ever & best vacation rental, we'll be back!

Guest: Jenny (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/27/11

Just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed our stay at the Ladder House so very much. My husband and I and my sister and her husband really enjoyed the whole experience. The house was so cozy, furnished so exquisitely, and we were pleased to find that it was so complete - everything necessary to plan and cook a romantic dinner! We enjoyed the Mayo Zin the first night, for which we thank you. The grounds in front and back were so gorgeous and so well manicured that we really did feel like we were visiting yet another fine winery. We also really appreciated your many suggestions on places to visit and restaurants to eat at. We particularly enjoyed the Citti Cafe and the Mayo Wine and Food Pairing in Kenwood. We loved the tour at Benziger and the lovely Ledson Castle and wines. I think we managed to visit at least fifteen wineries and/or vineyards during the time we had in Kenwood. Our thanks again for having such a nice home and location for our trip to the wine country. We are already starting to plan our next wine country get-away and and the Ladder House is definitely our choice to stay again.

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

Just Loved it, could not ask for more.

Guest: Jon (Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 08/13/10 Review Submitted: 10/31/10

First have to say that Kenwood is one of the best locations in Wine Country, great wineries, restaurants & rolling vineyards everywhere. The Ladder House was located at the end of a dead-end street, very peaceful and private. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous, great for picture taking. Inside is just perfect, even better than the picures. All rooms are decorated with excellent detail. And they really have the corner on the the king bed master bedrooms. No other place we could find had two king beds and two bathrooms at this price level. Another couple, my wife and I stayed here for a week in Aug and just loved it. First time staying at a vacation rental and now won't ever stay at a hotel again if there is a vacation rental option. The owner was great to work with also. We had a couple of questions about the Mac PC based entertainment system and he was readily available and pleasant to work with on the phone. Five plus stars.

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

Summer Days in Kenwood

Guest: emjayjay (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 07/25/10

My sister and I got a couple friends together & celebrated her birthday in Kenwood and this cottage was PERFECT for us. Two king beds, great full baths along with very clean & functional living room, kitchen and awesome deck/patio. Great landscaping background for pictures nestled at the end of a dead end street which made it so peaceful! Wasn't sure how to take the advertising of 'walking distance' but truly close & easy! I have told many other friends about this and would look to spend time here again.

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

Happy Man! ...and Wife :)

Guest: 9erfaithful (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/27/10

Just thinking about the Ladder House puts a smile on my face! As a man large in stature, there is nothing more painful than the smile you have to put on your face when the Mother of your Children and the best wife you could possibly ask for wants to get away to the wine country! What that always means is a romantic get away to a "quaint" bed and breakfast inn. This of course is a small room with a small shower and a small bed :) This trip, however, changed my outlook forever! A treat from start to finish. The owner was very pleasant, the drive was beautiful, and the Ladder house was exactly as portrayed. The entire house was immaculate and the decor was beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed our complimentary bottle of wine (and many others) in the hot tub on the porch right outside the master bedroom (and yes...a king size bed!) The property location was great(maticulous grounds). We enjoyed wine tasting at several wineries (the grounds at Chateau St Jean are beautiful and the staff at VJB were delighful) . We now have a favorite restaurant in Kenwood by the name of Doce Lunas! Service, music and menu were all top notch. We will definitely book the Ladder House again. This time we may be adventurous and bring our bikes and kids for a family outing.

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

Great stay at the Ladder House

Guest: Jim (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/10

My wife and I spent two very enjoyable days at the Ladder House in late June 2010. The house was comfortable and had recently been renovated with the best of materials. It was neat and clean, nicely decorated and everything we needed was there from coffee (an essential) to a washer & dryer (a luxury). The grounds were beautiful and we enjoyed quiet mornings and evenings on the deck in the back yard. All of the communications with the owner went smoothly and we were greeted with a fine bottle of wine and a book with recommendations for things to do and see. We particularly enjoyed the wine and food pairing at the Mayo Reserve Room which is just down the street. Since we were staying at the Ladder House, we received a discount and were treated like family! I highly recommend the Ladder House and the Kenwood/Sonoma area for long week end getaway.

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

Wonderful!!

Guest: Kami (Dublin, California)
Date of Stay: 03/26/10 Review Submitted: 03/28/11

The stay was wonderful!! Wines were beautiful!! House was cozy, clean, comfortable, and the beds.......Zzzzzzzz!!! Just awesome! We loved it and will be booking again with you soon for May!!

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