Vacation Rentals by Owner

Amazing stay!

Guest: Becki P. (Raymondville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/15/12 Review Submitted: 03/25/12

We had been searching for a large home to stay over the weekend of my sister's wedding. We found this beautiful home and immediately got in contact with Colette . She made everything very simple and was a joy to work with in every aspect. We received any and all information from her in a very timely manner and we didn't have any problems. The house was perfect for us because it was close to the church and everything else in Austin in general. The rooms were spacious and everyone was very comfortable .We loved that we had our own space and were still able to spend time together in the large living room . At the end of our stay we were sad to go but are already planning our next stay!:)

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

Amazing home & amazing owner

Guest: Becki P. (Raymondville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/15/12 Review Submitted: 03/25/12

We had been searching for a large home to stay over the weekend of my sister's wedding. We found this beautiful home and immediately got in contact with Colette . She made everything very simple and was a joy to work with in every aspect. We received any and all information from her in a very timely manner and we didn't have any problems. The house was perfect for us because it was close to the church and everything else in Austin in general. The rooms were spacious and everyone was very comfortable .We loved that we had our own space and were still able to spend time together in the large living room . At the end of our stay we were sad to go but are already planning our next stay!:)

Recommended for:

Amazing home & amazing owner

Guest: Becki P. (Raymondville, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/15/12 Review Submitted: 03/25/12

We had been searching for a large home to stay over the weekend of my sister's wedding. We found this beautiful home and immediately got in contact with Colette . She made everything very simple and was a joy to work with in every aspect. We received any and all information from her in a very timely manner and we didn't have any problems. The house was perfect for us because it was close to the church and everything else in Austin in general. The rooms were spacious and everyone was very comfortable .We loved that we had our own space and were still able to spend time together in the large living room . At the end of our stay we were sad to go but are already planning our next stay!:)

Recommended for:

Beautiful home, excellent stay

Guest: PN (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 02/22/12 Review Submitted: 02/28/12

We rented this beautiful home and two others in the neighborhood for our group of 18. This home was the hub. Many nice spaces within home. Our host, Colette, could not have been more accommodating. We plan on coming back next year for another cycling/golf/music trip. Austin can't be beat!

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

Casa Grande is very special

Guest: Dave (Austin,TX)
Date of Stay: 04/28/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

We hosted a friends reunion late in April and the house was perfect in every way. First, Colette is a caring and fair owner. She will do her part to make your stay pleasant. The house has something for everyone and is in outstanding condition. It is clean and well appointed. We had a small birthday BBQ and the deck was so comfortable and enjoyable for this event. The location is ideal for seeing Austin. Many many things, including Zilker Park, are within walking distance. You will be happy here.

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

Beautiful Austin Getaway

Guest: Katie (Bakersfield, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

We recently rented casa grande for the New Year's Eve weekend and it completely exceeded our expectations. The house was absolutely gorgeous and was very clean and well-maintained. Colette was so nice and easy to work with. There is absolutely nothing negative I could possibly say about this house and I hope someday I have the chance to stay there again!

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

FABULOUS!

Guest: Kate (Rochester Hills Michigan)
Date of Stay: 10/13/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

When coming to Austin for our son's wedding, I was looking for a house that would accommodate the extended family and also be comfortable. Colette's house certainly fills that bill! Everyone had their own room and bath...this led to privacy when one needed it. However, the numerous gathering places, inside and outside the house were great! It has something for everyone, and Colette is a joy to work with, couldn't ask for a better person to rent from. She even helped us find a place to get our car repaired. I would not hesitate to rent from her again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

It Will Be Hard to Beat This Place

Guest: JoshFM (Laramie, Wyoming)
Date of Stay: 10/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/19/10

First, the bad news: It is already booked for Austin City Limits Festival 2011. Darn! We are a group of youngish (30-something) couples who were looking for the ideal location for walking to and from Zilker Park during the ACL music festival. This it about the spot best you can find for a large group of festivarians from out of town. But that is just the beginning of all the great Austin features this beautiful and unique home provides. Easily walk to Barton Springs pool via a nice little trail at the end of Linscomb. Step out onto the back deck in the morning and you can practically smell the coffee brewing and breakfast scrambling as the warm scents waft up the hill from the many sweet coffee houses and eateries down on Barton Springs Road. The ladies walked to SoCo for some shopping from the home. Another group walked downtown to a club and back for a late-night aftershow. And we made a trip or two to Thom's Market to stock up and cook our own meals in the spacious kitchen. Green Mesquite BBQ. Flipnotics Coffee. Barton Springs Bike Rentals. Chuy's! Everything you need or want is within a very short distance--walk, bike, bus, or if you must, taxi. That said, we were very reluctant to leave the house! The place is so seductive, you'll want to just lounge around on the hammock or deck or yoga room and listen to the birds. Perhaps most important, you will get a superb night's sleep in this very quiet neighborhood. We heard no complaints about the beds--all cozy. There are two great master suites here. I call dibs on the one upstairs for our next visit. Luxury! I only wish it could be for ACL 2011. Collette, thank you so much for your warm hospitality!

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

As Advertised & More

Guest: PeteL (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 09/29/10

Great house. Plenty of space as house has several wings. Lots of bedrooms, and very comfortable. In good & improving area. Cheap cab ride to downtown. Owner very hospitable. Highly recommend.

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

Family Wedding Getaway

Guest: Jeremy (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/06/10

Though we live in Austin, we wanted a house that could hold both of our immediate families for a week of wedding stuff so we wouldn't have to go the hotel route. This house was perfect. There were enough bedrooms that everyone could have their own space and plenty of communal room between the living/dining/den. The outside deck and fireplace were perfect for late evening gatherings. It was also a perfect gathering spot for family dropping into town, those that wanted to park and walk down to the Zilker/Barton Springs area. The house itself is fabulous. One of those gems that the pictures don't do justice. This isn't a rental house, it's a family's house that has been lovingly added onto throughout the years and still feels like it would be home if they lived there. The house was very clean upon arrival and everything was in good working order. The owner is very friendly, very communicative, and lives in the same neighborhood. Any questions we had while searching, after signing a contract, or surrounding/during our stay were taken care of very quickly. We would recommend this property over any other properties we've encountered. This house was one of the key items that made our wedding weekend as wonderful as it was.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners.

Awesome Place

Guest: Monica (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/13/10 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

My girlfriends and I spent the weekend at the Garner house for a bachelorette party. The house was cozy and roomy. The house is very cute and we absolutely loved the open kitchen and living area. The house is superb overall and I would recommend it to anyone!

Recommended for:Girls getaway

Bachelorette Party

Guest: Alli (Houston)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

This house was absolutely incredible!!! We just had a bachelorette party here and I couldn't have asked for anything better! There were 13 of us, and we all slept comfortably! The indoor hot tub was definitely an added bonus to this wonderful house. The pictures don't do it justice. Every single one of the girls has asked me to plan another girls' weekend here for next summer! Colette was amazing to work with, and the cat did come around, but never tried to enter the house... We had zero hiccups throughout the weekend, and I would 100% recommend this house to any potential renters. Thank you so much Colette and God bless!!!!!

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

Great place for a group

Guest: Alex (NYC)
Date of Stay: 07/29/10 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

Rented the place this summer. Great place for a group of guys or girls especially if you want to be close to downtown. Plenty of room, close to downtown, close to outdoor activities, great deck for hanging out.

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

Very spacious house in great location. Perfect as long as you're not allergic to cats.

Guest: Stanford Girls' Weekend (Dallas, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/22/10 Review Submitted: 08/11/10

This house was perfect for our girls' reunion in Austin. The huge floor plan gave all of eight of us plenty of space and there was never a wait for the bathrooms. We particularly enjoyed the master bathroom with its roomy shower and giant, gentle showerhead. The deck in the backyard was the perfect place to lounge before going to dinner, and the speaker system throughout the house made for a lively atmosphere (supplemented by the house's impressive CD collection from many genres). The description and photos posted here give an accurate depiction of the property. In terms of location, the house is in a great location-a very safe neighborhood with lots of trees and a very natural feel, and there is plenty of space to park your cars. The house was within walking distance of Bartons Springs and also many delicious places to eat. (For future travelers, be sure to stop by Flip Happy Crepes, Odd Duck, and Gourdoughs-all three were delicious.) There were only a few minor issues that prevented us from giving the house a 5-star review. We saw at least three cockroaches when we were there, but that's to be expected, given the climate and location of the house. More importantly was the issue of the cat. One of the girls started to become very congested upon arriving and exploring the house. Upon reading the instructions left by Colette, we discovered that a cat formerly occupied the house and although it now lives across the street, it still thinks it lives there. Well, this was a problem because three of the girls were severely allergic to cats (and one of those girls also has cystic fibrosis). We quickly had to grab some allergy medicine from a nearby drug store, but one of the girls still felt pretty crummy throughout the weekend when she was in the house. Additionally, the cat showed up and tried to enter the house once when we opened the front door. The instructions upon arriving at the house were the very first we had heard about the cat. Had we known previously about the cat, we probably would have chosen a different rental. Other than these minor issues, Colette was very responsive and prompt in all communications and this house was a great find. I would highly recommend it for a large group that is traveling to Austin, as long as nobody has any cat allergies.

Owner response:I am so sorry the last guest had a less than 5 star experience as i take great pride in my home and sharing it with selected guests. I was aghast to read the 'cockroach' line although frankly i think she was mistaken. I am from Philadelphia where we have cockroaches and although they exist in Texas, my guess is a few water bugs made their way into the house. They are large unsightly flying insects that resemble huge cockroaches and seek shelter from rain inside homes. I instantly called a local organic pest service and had the house treated. As far as the kitty goes, we do have a neighborhood kitty that occasionally tries to come in the house. I have not yet heard of a guest who let him in, however. Austin in plagued with pollens (ragweed, cedar, oak, mold, redbud, grasses). It's the music capital of the world but it's also an allergy capital of the world. My guess is that one of the guests had an allergic response to an environmental allergen and tagged it on the kitty. Regardless, I am so sorry to have anything less than an outstanding review. I would invite the reviewing guest back again and try to serve her better next time with air purifiers and ozone filters. She was an awesome guest and left the house impeccably. Many thanks for the feedback.

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

Awesome Little Palace

Guest: Rob and Eva (Dallas, TX. )
Date of Stay: 06/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/28/10

This small palace just south of the river and a mile from Congress is awesome. The pictures don't do justice to the home at all. Very large with a "to die for" master bed and bathroom, could just keep you in during your stay by itself. Perfect for a family, or for a couple of couples or for a guys or gals weekend, we much enjoyed the feel of the home, the layout, and the area. The neighborhood is really cool with mid century moderns and redone cottages, very safe - we took several walks and enjoyed the friendly neighbors. The great room was very cool for gathering the family up before dinner, and we all enjoyed the huge kitchen with the island. Colette has the place stocked well with movies and an amazing CD collection - and a really great stereo that can be played all over the house or in only the room you are in. Regarding Colette, she was a great hostess and we appreciated her timeliness and quickness to get back to us with any additional request. We will definitely be back.

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: J. Warner1 (Calgary, AB)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/13/10

I’ve been to Austin several times now, but my most recent trip was the first visit with a larger group. Seven of us rented this house, and I daresay it was perfect for our week-long stay. Have you ever received an unexpected upgrade to a suite at an upscale hotel, and when you unlock the door and enter you automatically high-five your traveling companion? Well, magnify that feeling by ten, and that’s how our gang felt upon entering this rental – everyone scattered in various directions, ooh-ing and aah-ing. The fact that I found this on VRBO and made the booking has made me something of a hero amongst these friends, and when we parted ways at the end of the week, several of them insisted they want me to book all their vacations. I only wish there were homes of such quality, in such a desirable location, everywhere I travel.

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Guest: Molly21 (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 02/08/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

I celebrated my birthday here and we had a great time. Perfect house for a large group-the kitchen/dining/living area can accommodate lots of people. Most of the bedrooms are far enough away from the main living areas that those that go to bed early or sleep late won't be disturbed. I would book this house again if I had another large group of people coming from out of town.

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Guest: Craig
Date of Stay: 01/22/10 Review Submitted: 01/21/10

House is great. Way bigger than the pics make it look.

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Guest: Lucy
Date of Stay: 01/03/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

The house was grand!!!!! Loved every minute.

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

We had a great week. It was a wonderful setting to enjoy the holidays. We brought in a small live tree and put garland over the fireplace.

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