Reviews for Coupeville Vacation Rental - VRBO 318147 - 2 BR Whidbey Island Cottage in WA, Holly Hock Haven Cottage 400 Ft Penn Cove/Saratoga Waterfront

Amazing Cottage and Location

Guest Pat and Jerry
Date of stay 03/30/13
Review Submitted 04/10/13

We shared the cottage with my sister, our daughter, and two grand-kids! While there we had very low tides which encouraged plenty of walking on the beach looking for agates and sea critters plus sunny weather - couldn't have been better! We all gathered around the fireplace or fire pit every night, plenty of wood was supplied (along with kindling). The downstairs bedroom had the most amazing view from the bed - we raised the french door shades every morning and watched the sunrise over Saratoga Pass. The cottage was charming, well equipped and very clean. We visited Fort Casey, Admiralty Head lighthouse, Rosario Beach, Deception Pass, and Coupeville, all within a short drive from the cottage! We hope to come and enjoy again!

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

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Here we go again!

Guest Leah, John, Britt and 2 Hounds.
Date of stay 01/23/13
Review Submitted 02/06/13

So this was our (approx.) 7th time back, in 3 years. Not sure. That doesn't really matter. The "Holly Hock Haven" is about as relaxing as you can get. If you want to unwind and get away from it all this is the destination for you. A tip for you guys reading this, your wife will love it! Waterfront! Seals! Sea Otters! Eagles! All right out the back door, the kitchen door and front door. Nice big fireplace to relax by. Kitchen fully equipped to create a great meal with an amazing veiw, and a nice BBQ on the back deck to grill on. Nice firepit in the front yard. Sandy beach for walks. Great restuarants in town. Grocery store 10 minutes away. So on and so on! So please don't plan a trip here......because it's getting booked up and harder to find an open time to book. Thanks Colleen and Rudy, what a great place to "Relax"! And we are going back for New Years 2013. Enjoy and safe travels everybody.

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

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Wonderful return visit

Guest Jacquey
Date of stay 09/14/12
Review Submitted 10/14/12

Spent 13 nights at the end of September. Can't say enough about the great location: waterfront at the end of a rural road. Very pet friendly; our 4 lb. chihuahua loved to lie by himself on the beach; other dog loved hunting! The weather was unbelievable for the time of year. Another couple joined us for 6 nights. The house is well set up for two couples. Rudy & Colleen came out one day & Rudy showed us how to dig for clams. Had a clam feast happy hour!! Loved to have a wood fire inside in the evenings. Had a wiener roast in the fire pit one afternoon as well. Good location for touring about on Whidbey Island. Looking forward to return visit next year!

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

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A perfect retreat!

Guest James & Kathleen
Date of stay 07/07/12
Review Submitted 08/27/12

My husband, our goldendoodle Dahlia and I enjoyed a week at Hollyhock last month. When we got there, we were instantly charmed by the owner, given a tour of the house/property and were left to enjoy the gorgeous surroundings and historic cottage. The kitchen is well equipped. The house originally decorated. The gardens were in full bloom and so very beautiful. Sitting on a point, with water views everywhere, we felt that we had a ton of privacy during our stay. And because the beach is private, Dahlia got to run off leash all week. She was one happy pup! If you want a great getaway that is peaceful and helps you shake off stress from urban living, this is the place to go. Coupville is, by the way, a darling town to boot.

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

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second time just as sweet

Guest lovetotravel
Date of stay 06/01/12
Review Submitted 08/30/12

hard to believe there are no current reviews....then again...let's keep this a secret! this year, we stayed 2 weeks...one with the family and one was a girlie retreat...just love this place..so comfortable and the location is just superb...Colleen and Rudy are the best hosts...already booked for next year...Whidbey is such a great sized island...variety of destinations that are all wonderful yet not having to spend half a day getting there....Toby's for a great local ale...counting the days until we return

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

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How do we spell retreat? H-O-L-L-Y H-O-C-K H-A-V-E-N

Guest jackie
Date of stay 11/15/11
Review Submitted 11/17/11

Thank you so very much Colleen for giving the Board of Trustees for the Island County Historical Society the use of your charming cottage for a five hour “retreat” today. In that time nine of us were able to gather to conduct meaningful business in an atmosphere that made us all feel absolutely at home. When day-dreaming, we each saw ourselves and our visiting families on vacation at the cottage at the end of Snakelum Point. We were also awed by the care you took in restoring a well aged cottage and your excellent taste in fixtures and furnishings. We move and decree and unanimously agree that Holly Hock Haven is ideal for a retreat and a great place to think about for future use. A community is made better by its people and Coupeville is damn lucky to have folks like you and Rudy. Yours in history, Jackie Feusier, Secretary, ICHS BOT Dear Colleen, Thank you so much for the use of your totally wonderful, nautical and comfortable beach cottage for our museum board day retreat. I love the beach and all things "beachy". I took relaxing walks down both sides of the beautiful beach. What a view, what peace, and what a great day we had at your beach cottage! Again, thank you so much for letting us enjoy your perfect beach cottage get away! Sincerely Peggy Darst Townsdin Thank you Coleen and Rudy for sharing your wonderful Hollyhock Haven with us, for our board retreat. We all felt at home in a peaceful and very cozy place. There are no words to describe the view and surrounding natural beauty. I will surely recommend a visit to anyone looking for a special place to meet, celebrate, or just relax. Gratefully, Rick Castellano Hi Colleen, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what a wonderful job you have done? creating such a peaceful and welcoming place. None of us wanted to leave, it was so relaxing and cozy. I have told three of my friends of this wonderful place and they are all interested in finding out more info, so they too can enjoy a get away with husbands and sisters and family. Thank you so very much, Sincerely, Laura McDonald, Vice president, ICHS BOT

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

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Absolutely Awesome!!!

Guest Lisa
Date of stay 10/08/11
Review Submitted 10/24/11

I spent a week here with my mother in mid-October and the cottage is lovely. It is decorated very nicely, well stocked (i.e. pots and pans, dishes, towels, soap etc) and the outside fire pit - so cool. And the view - I have been to many places around the world and, while while each spot has its own beauty, nothing beats the view out the kitchen window of this cottage. To sit and have your morning coffee while watching the birds fly by and the sea lion play. Incredible. Highly recommend this cottage for a get away trip. Thank you Colleen and Rudy!!

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

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Wonderful location

Guest Jacquey
Date of stay 10/04/11
Review Submitted 10/10/11

Spent four nights at the beginning of Oct. What a specatular home!! So beautifully decorated keeping in mind the age of the home! All the living can be done on one floor if just two people. Very dog friendly & was great to just open e door to let them out! ( they are well behaved, of course, and don't wander too far). There are french doors everywhere as well as windows. While prepping meals you can watch seals, fishing boats, etc. out the window. The fireplace is great with cool evenings with plenty of wood. Looking forward to a return visit!!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Location, location, location

Guest lovetotravel
Date of stay 06/02/11
Review Submitted 06/18/11

This is the perfect place for a vacation on Whidbey Island....located centrally allows you to do day trips without the need to get up at the crack of dawn...we went to Heart Lake up near Anacortes, Fort Casey, Ebey, Oak Harbor and Langley...one night we drove to the Port Townsend ferry, parked our car at ferry dock (free) rode the ferry and had a lovely dinner at Mezaluna right on waterfront. Took the last ferry back and back to cottage in no time. The location of the cottage itself is the real prize. We loved waking to the early sunrise, watching the sunset and sleeping in golden silence free from "town" noises. Sitting out on the point allows you to experience walking waaaay out during low tide to look for sand dollars, starfish, clams, and all kinds of things. When the tide returns in the evening and you are inside the cottage, it feels as if you are on a houseboat. Fabulous. We loved seeing our resident seal (s) morning and evenings. An adolescent bald eagle liked to perch on one of the seawall posts out the kitchen door. The cottage is just a perfect blend of new construction/modern amenities and old charm. Very comfortable furnishings...loved having the bedroom window open to hear the sea and get the chilly breeze. Just perfect for families, people of all ages. Colleen hit a homerun having the Nemo night light, children's DVDs and fixings for s'mores using the new fire pit. Our 4 year old grandson was in heaven and so were we. We played frisbee, soccer and baseball in the yard. Walked the beach, waded in the water and took a forest hike that began just off the main turnoff. We thought Coupeville was extremely charming and everyone we met were very very friendly. Of course the cinnamon rolls at Knead and Feed were a must. William, owner of the Espresso on the wharf, was delightful and he bakes scones daily. A gourmet foodie store next to Christopher's restaurant is a must shop stop. Yum. Front Street Grill was our go to place with the grandson. Oh, one evening the Salty Sailors were practicing on the wharf-fun to stay and listen to them. Such wonderful memories!

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

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As lovely as it looks!

Guest Eva
Date of stay 05/22/11
Review Submitted 06/02/11

We just planned a last minute trip to Whidbey Island and were lucky enough to have 5 nights at the cottage. It really is right on the point and extremely private, it is also just as cute as it looks in the photos! The cottage is clean, bright and beautiful with the type of attention to detail that we really enjoy in a house. Everything was very high quality and modern, but with a great retro cottage style. My husband was fascinated by the wood burning stove, but I was glad to have a modern stove to cook on! We loved seeing the eagles, bunnies, birds, otter, sea lion, gulls, etc as we sat in the many indoor and outdoor spaces perfect for nature viewing. We slept in the downstairs bedroom with the curtains open so that we could wake to the morning light and great view. The weather was mixed, but we had one absolutely stunning morning sky that was well worth the early wake up! A fire pit in the front garden was finished when we arrived so we were the first to try it. We enjoyed a roaring fire and a glass of wine until the last light left the sky. This will be a great feature for families with kids to make s'mores, etc! We also loved the claw foot tub upstairs. It was extremely relaxing to sit in the tub, look out at the view and hear the sound of the ocean. The only minor complaint about the cottage would be that the hand held shower head in the downstairs shower was frustrating. It does make it easy for all heights to get showered, but with the head hooked to the wall it was at a bad height for either of us. Certainly not a big deal though! We loved our stay and would gladly go again. My only real problem with our time there was that we didn't have enough time just to sit and relax at the house! There are no many great places to see and things to do nearby that it is tempting to be out and about all day. In Coupeville we especially loved the food and ambiance at Knead and Feed and my husband loved the lattes at the friendly coffee place at the end of wharf. I really enjoyed the lilac scented soap at Whidbey Soap Company in Langley, and the lilac bush outside the cottage! One day we went whale watching with Island Adventures in Anacortes and saw a small group of Orcas off the Canadian coast - very exciting! Luckily we stayed in Port Townsend the night before we came to the cottage or we would have been tempted to take the (very close and convenient) ferry over there for a day. Thanks Colleen for sharing your lovely cottage with us!!

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

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Wanting to keep this a secret!

Guest Lynn
Date of stay 05/19/11
Review Submitted 05/28/11

This was the perfect location for a girls' getaway weekend! The pictures do not do the location justice, truly. It was absolutely breathtaking, being surrounded on three sides with the water, waking to the sunrise over Mt. Baker. We had a record low tide and spent hours walking the beach and exploring. The wildlife was amazing and I found my self getting lost looking out the windows. Colleen was a gracious hostess and has done a fantastic job decorating. She has created a clean, bright, welcoming and comfortable environment, perfect for relaxing. It is also so quiet, which coming from the city was great! I can't wait to bring my family back! This is my 4th time renting from VBRO, and the best experience yet.

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

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Loved it!

Guest Sharon
Date of stay 04/18/11
Review Submitted 04/26/11

My husband and I loved our time at Holly Hock Haven Cottage! The place is just awesome with every window in the house providing a great view of the water. We loved the port hole windows. Each day I was there I told my husband how much I loved the cottage. The rooms are decorated with so many interesting things to look at and Colleen has provided a great selection of books and magazines so don't worry about bringing your own. She also provides some good cd's and dvd's. We lucked out and had sunny weather for the whole trip but it was cold so we didn't get to hang out on the back deck as much I would have liked. Despite the cold and wind, my hubby managed to grill a couple of great meals for us though! There are plenty of cooking utensils and dishes galore. There is a small grocery store in town but we did drive over to Oak Harbor to find some additional things we wanted. The restaurants in Coupeville are great. Loved Christopher's so much we went twice for dinner. During our stay we saw eagles, rabbits, deer, quail and one morning there was an otter that decided to come explore around the house! Saw seals in the water too. It was a great place to get away from it all and just enjoy being together. As I sit here in my cubicle at work, I sure wish I was back in the cottage, curled up on the couch, with a warm fire and listening to the sound of the water and birds that make Holly Hock live up to it's name - it's definitely a haven!

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

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Holly Hock Haven or Heaven? :0)

Guest Vicki
Date of stay 04/05/11
Review Submitted 04/09/11

This unique cottage was everything they described and more. All the personal touches the view and the pleasure of our daughter and son in law made this a wonderful place to get away for awhile. Colleen makes you feel so very comfortable and at home from the second you meet her. This will definitley be a place we return to.....in a couple months actually! Everything furnished with such great detail to make it a warm and cozy retreat.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Loved it!

Guest shoes
Date of stay 04/03/11
Review Submitted 04/15/11

My wife and I had a wonderful time at this place. It was very clean, comfortable and well appointed. The decor and art was fun to look at and enjoy. We saw lots of different wildlife on our walks on the beach, which we mostly had to ourselves. It was cold so we had a fire going almost all the time. plenty of wood was provided for our stay. Colleen was a pleasure to meet and deal with and obviously has an eye for detail. We would love to stay again sometime.

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

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Cozy & Relaxing

Guest Alyson
Date of stay 02/11/11
Review Submitted 02/15/11

Such a sweet little cottage! Just an adorable spot to relax and watch the wildlife nearby. We saw lots of bald eagles, seals and tons of other birds. We walked the beach during the day and enjoyed the fire at night. The cottage is so cozy with so many beautiful details. We just loved our weekend stay and can't wait to return.

Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

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1 word. "Awesome"

Guest Leah, John, Britt and 2 Hounds.
Date of stay 01/27/11
Review Submitted 02/02/11

I'm like the other poster, do you say what an awesome place with risk of it booking up and you can't get in anymore. Oh well, here's what we thought. We were there for Xmas 2010 as well as for my wife's Birthday at the end of January 2011. Both trips were awesome without a doubt. Very comfortable stay. Nice big fireplace to warm up in front of after a walk on the beach. And it is right on the edge of the water. Amazing veiws from almost every window, especially the kitchen. We walked to Long point and there were bald eagles very where, couldn't count them all. Collen and Rudy have got something very special here with this Cottage. You will not be sorry you went for a holiday to the "Holly Hock Haven Cottage". We'll be back soon. Thanks Collen and Rudy.

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

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Can't wait to go back!

Guest anne
Date of stay 11/20/10
Review Submitted 01/04/11

Clean and relaxing! Wonderful view from every window. Comfortable beds. Great kitchen. Great beach walk. A fireplace to warm you afterwards. Nice little town with good shops and restaurants. Friendly residents. Highly recommend!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Hollyhock Haven

Guest Ken and Laurie
Date of stay 11/12/10
Review Submitted 11/15/10

In a word, it's perfect. Colleen and Rudy have created a real Haven and we are all lucky they are sharing it with us. We've stayed there twice and plan to return frequently. Though we live only 1 1/2 hours away, we feel like we've had a luxury vacation after a couple of days there. Coupeville is fun to explore as well with cute shops, friendly people, interesting artisans, and great food---try mussels at Christopher's (it's always our first stop there), and cinnamon rolls at Knead and Feed! Then walk off the calories on the beach surrounding the cottage or at beautiful Eby's Landing. Or launch your kayak at the house and enjoy a paddle. Our dogs love it there too and after running the beach are content to curl up by the fire...as are we!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Enchanting Cottage

Guest salmonbbq
Date of stay 11/10/10
Review Submitted 11/18/10

I'm sure every Reviewer for this cottage comes to a cross road. Do I share how great this place is at the risk of not being able to go again because its all booked up? or do I stay quiet and hope not too many people find out about this place. So.... as long as you leave me a few days in mid November for my family and I to keep enjoying this cottage read on..... Otherwise..... Well keep reading anyways. After all, nothing is worth having unless you can share it. I sit and think, wow that was an amazing place with views I could never imagine in a location I would have thought impossible to find a Cabin like this. Colleen and Rudy have done an amazing job turning this into the most charming waterfront and I do mean water front, gem. Where else could I find a cabin like this? It could only happen if you somehow managed to find yourself stepping into a cottage in an enchanted story book. The renovation has clearly been done meticulously and with some exacting eyes. The best time to enjoy this place would be any time of year except maybe the middle of November.... and sometime in March….. and we might want to go at …….……..you get the picture.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Perfect inside and out!

Guest Happy Campers
Date of stay 11/01/10
Review Submitted 11/08/10

We totally enjoyed our stay at the cottage. It was spotless. Very well thought out with guests comfort in mind. Owner's were a joy! And what a spectacular location, water on 3 sides, bird sanctuary to the back. What's not to love?!!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Our great beach house vacation

Guest Julie & Lowell
Date of stay 10/19/10
Review Submitted 11/04/10

We call this inviting cottage 'our' beach house after spending three glorious October sunny days here with our son, daughter-in-law and 3 year old grandson. This cottage with its 270 degree view of water is in tip top shape, completely redone two years ago. Some of our favorite activities include walking the beach/flying a kite launching a kayak steps from the patio fixing Penn Cove mussels at the kitchen sink with a spectacular view grilling salmon with wonderful view of the mountains sitting by a toasty fire, watching the orange sky at sunrise in bed and the sunset on the patio venturing into nearby Coupeville for occasional lunches and shops including a good bookstore, ice cream shop and toy store biking the island photographing classic barns in Eddy's preserve and beyond We strongly recommend this place!

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Haven is right!

Guest Tracie
Date of stay 10/16/10
Review Submitted 10/20/10

This is the best place we have ever stayed. We stayed a weekend in October 2010 with my husband, his mom and sis and our tow dogs. Secluded, quiet and fantastic views. We stayed two nights. but wished it was more. The house itself, was a labor of love for Colleen and the love shows. Beautifully decorated with everything you would need and of top quality. Tons of towels, extra blankets, and if you forgot it Colleen probably has it. A wonderful hostess. Our dogs had a blast running on the beach and a neighbor dog, Salty, came over and showed them how to swim. This would be a great place for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. Very romantic.l

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Holly Hock Haven Cottage 400 Ft Penn Cove/Saratoga Waterfront [#318147] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (22)

Amazing Cottage and Location

Amazing Cottage and Location

Here we go again!

Here we go again!

Wonderful return visit

Wonderful return visit

A perfect retreat!

A perfect retreat!

second time just as sweet

second time just as sweet

How do we spell retreat? H-O-L-L-Y H-O-C-K H-A-V-E-N

How do we spell retreat? H-O-L-L-Y H-O-C-K H-A-V-E-N

Absolutely Awesome!!!

Absolutely Awesome!!!

Wonderful location

Wonderful location

Location, location, location

Location, location, location

As lovely as it looks!

As lovely as it looks!

Wanting to keep this a secret!

Wanting to keep this a secret!

Loved it!

Loved it!

Holly Hock Haven or Heaven? :0)

Holly Hock Haven or Heaven? :0)

Loved it!

Loved it!

Cozy & Relaxing

Cozy & Relaxing

1 word. "Awesome"

1 word. "Awesome"

Can't wait to go back!

Can't wait to go back!

Hollyhock Haven

Hollyhock Haven

Enchanting Cottage

Enchanting Cottage

Perfect inside and out!

Perfect inside and out!

Our great beach house vacation

Our great beach house vacation

Haven is right!

Haven is right!