Vacation Rentals by Owner

Duncan St Retreat Stay in a 2 Bedroom Flat in Sunny Noe Valley [#336015] | View Property

Noe Valley
Condo, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath (Sleeps 4-6)
$165/nt-$175/nt
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Traveler Reviews (14)

• Sunny Noe Valley

  Sunny Noe Valley

  • Guest Three Monkeys
  • Date of stay 04/08/13
  • Review Submitted 04/16/13
  The listing description was accurate. The photos accurately reflected the appearance and amenities. The property was clean and well maintained. Perfect flat in a perfect place. Rae and Mike were so nice and helpful. There were three women on this trip. The jack-n-jill bathroom was very handy. The kitchen had everything we needed, including enough room to have a little dinner party. The front room was cozy (that is not code for "small") with an electric fire place. The closets were large and there were loads of hangers. The coffee shop on the corner has great coffee. By playing our cards right (that is being there at a little after 4 in the afternoon) we were able to park on the same block as the flat each evening. There is unrestricted parking within a few blocks. It's best not to have a car in the City. The mass transit is great.. But, we drove here so we made the best of the situation. The street car stop is within a block. There are little mom and pop stores nearby. The Whole Foods is about half a mile away and is on the same street as a variety of shops. The flat was quiet. We could sit on the landing on the east side and have our coffee in the sun. Just lovely. We are coming back next year, but we're flying. I recommend this flat highly. I hope all who stay will have as lovely a time as we did.

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

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• Awesome rental; awesome owners!

  Awesome rental; awesome owners!

  • Guest Zonies
  • Date of stay 10/13/12
  • Review Submitted 01/10/13
  The photos of this property don't do it justice; it feels more spacious than it looks. :) It is a very comfortable and relaxing place to come back to at the end of a long day of checking out San Francisco. Rae and her son Jamie are very kind and helpful. Jamie was very informative when we arrived explaining everything we needed to know about the house, nearby stores and restaurants, and transportation. He was very kind and available for questions if we had any. The apartment was well supplied for the comfort of guests and felt very much like home. The washer and dryer were a nice bonus so we could pack a little lighter and wash what we had with us. I am happy to recommend the Duncan Street Retreat for anyone wanting a great SF experience.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

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• Perfect for Us

  Perfect for Us

  • Guest Deb J.
  • Date of stay 09/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/09/12
  Exactly what we had hoped for. The flat is comfortable, homey and quiet and has all the necessary amenities, including a lovely deck off the bedroom, eat-in kitchen and washer-dryer. Even an electric fireplace and a nice selection of books in the shelves along with the big screen TV and Wi-Fi. We found Noe Valley to be a delightful neighborhood, with lots of appealing eateries, groceries and coffee nearby. The excellent J-line Muni is just around the corner, so it's easy to get to other parts of the city. Rae and Jamie were a pleasure, and we would definitely try to return next time we're in town.

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

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• A real home away from home!

  A real home away from home!

  • Guest Nam
  • Date of stay 04/07/12
  • Review Submitted 06/08/12
  My family (husband, 2 kids and I) had a wonderful stay at the Duncan St. Retreat. We were in the Bay area for a long working holiday and wanted something comfortable, homey and easily accessible. The apt met all our requirements and more. Noe Valley is a wonderful place to stay - a stone's throw away from great restaurants, shopping, beautiful places to visit and all within an easy commute - thanks to the J-train! The apartment has these little nooks that make it really cosy, the kitchen is stocked with everything you might need and the little backyard is a special place to catch some sun! Rae was always available for any issues (hardly any), and made sure we had a comfortable stay. I would highly recommend this apartment to anyone looking to stay in San Francisco.

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

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• What a Find! This Hidden Gem in Noe Valley

  What a Find! This Hidden Gem in Noe Valley

  • Guest Cath
  • Date of stay 01/17/12
  • Review Submitted 02/02/12
  I grew up in Noe Valley and thought I knew it well. But the Duncan Street Retreat was a delightful surprise! Tucked behind a streetside property and facing an inner treed courtyard, it is quintessentially (movie perfect) San Francisco. It is not what you'd call luxurious, but the kitchen is truly spacious, the decor homey, and all of the beds really comfortable.[Caveat: beds are doubles and twins - no queen, unfortunately.] Four adults showering each day and we never ran out of hot water - even with the dishwasher running! The two balconies and the courtyard provide quiet outdoor space front and back. We appreciated having Wi-Fi and a large desk area, an electric fireplace, a large TV and entertainment unit, and laundry facilities. Bonus! we were treated to a bit of classical music, live from the musicians upstairs. Duncan Street Retreat is so well-located. Noe Valley has a reputation for the best weather in town. Easy transport takes you everywhere in The City via the Muni one short block away - we got to the Embarcadero and CalTrain in less than 30 min. If it's a freeway you want, Hwy 280 heading south and the Bayshore Freeway leading east are just minutes from here and it's an easy cross-town drive to Hwy. 1 heading north. Church St.has cafes and restaurants for every palate. Besides lunching at a few different cafes and shopping at Chuck's corner store for snacks during our stay, we ate at Toast diner, Pomello's organic, Eric's chinese, and a Thai restaurant, . But make reservations - we got turned away from a popular Italian restaurant on 30th St. one night. Don't miss LoveJoy's Tea Room for High Tea - my favourite - a few blocks north on Church! 24th Street's boutiques, several more ethnic restaurants and Whole Foods, as well as Safeway and Walgreens on Mission Street, banks at both, are within walking distance. Do I sound like a travel agent? No, I'm just proud of the neighbourhood I grew up in and know it well! So why did we stay at Rae's? Well, my mother passed away and I come from a large family, so we needed space nearby St. Paul's (of Sister Act fame). Duncan Street truly became our retreat for the week. I could not have asked for more kindness and consideration in this situation than what Rae and her son Jamie provided. They are very thoughtful, too, in how they have supplied the apartment for the comfort of their guests. I am happy to recommend the Duncan Street Retreat for families or friends wanting a great SF experience.

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

  Owner response: I'm so glad that Duncan St Retreat met your needs and expectations. We really try to make our place homey, comfy and relaxing. After a busy day visiting family, friends or taking in the sights, coming "home" is always a nice feeling. Thank you for passing on our info to your family and friends. I hope to welcome them to Duncan St Retreat in the future.

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• a great place for a family!

  a great place for a family!

  • Guest Bostonfamily
  • Date of stay 01/12/12
  • Review Submitted 01/19/12
  What a great location and the apartment was clean and cozy - just perfect for our family! Thank you for Rae for making our trip hassle free!

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

  Owner response: So glad your stay was great. Please come back for another visit!

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• Holiday Stay 2011/12

  Holiday Stay 2011/12

  • Guest Bonie joanifer
  • Date of stay 12/23/11
  • Review Submitted 01/11/12
  Our stay over the holidays with our 2 toddlers was wonderful! The rental is cozy and the kitchen is delightful. The kids room with 2 single beds was perfect. The owner, Rae, left a double stroller there and a guard rail for the youngest and was more than accomodating since the first phone call. The place had everything we needed and is in a prime location, with easy public transit, delicious restaurants and the cutest boutique shops we'd ever seen. We would definitely visit again. Thanks Rae and Jamie!

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

  Owner response: I'm so glad that you had a wonderful holiday in San Francisco. We look forward to having you as a guest in the future. Rae

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• Great Birthday Week!

  Great Birthday Week!

  • Guest Laura
  • Date of stay 07/13/11
  • Review Submitted 09/01/11
  I seriously want to thank you so much! I had a blast in San Francisco. I stayed at this great place from July 13- July 18. We originally had 4 people which would have fit just right but in the end only my friend and I went. I definitely recommend you to stay here! I can't wait to go back to San Fran and hopefully stay here again! It was so conveniently close to everything. Try the Thai place down the street... delicious and look in her travelers basket... you will not be disappointed. :)

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

  Owner response: I'm so glad that you had a great birthday! You worked so hard planning in advance. We hope to see you again at Duncan St Retreat!

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• Lovely apartment in a great location

  Lovely apartment in a great location

  • Guest Sue
  • Date of stay 06/25/11
  • Review Submitted 07/28/11
  My husband and I stayed here with our 4.5 year old in late June. The apartment was perfect - lots of space, a good sized kitchen table for having friends and family for dinner, very quiet since it is set back from the street, noise doesn't travel within the apartment, half a block from the J Church line and really good restaurants (to eat in or, as we did, take out). We'd definitely stay here again. Rae was very informative about the rental and the area, and she even got a bed rail so that our son wouldn't fall out of bed!

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

  Owner response: I am so glad you enjoyed your stay in San Francisco. We look forward to seeing you again at Duncan St. Retreat!

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

• Excelling vacation rental in Noe

  Excelling vacation rental in Noe

  • Guest MartySF
  • Date of stay 06/16/11
  • Review Submitted 06/16/12
  We rented this for our family coming in from Tennessee on June 8,2011. The place was great for our needs. Great location in Noe Valley, very clean and had everything that our family needed. We met Rae and Michael and they were extremely helpful and nice. Would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a great lodging option in Noe.

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• Great Value, Ample Space & Comfortable Accomodations

  Great Value, Ample Space & Comfortable Accomodations

  • Guest Pete
  • Date of stay 06/10/11
  • Review Submitted 06/22/11
  I stayed for a week with my family in June, 2011. This was a huge improvement over staying at a similarly priced hotel. For 4 adults and a baby, having two separate bedrooms, a comfortable living area and a complete kitchen was a great experience. The SF public transportation lines are literally a 3 minute walk from the condo, so the whole city is within easy reach. The condo itself is clean and modern, and the owners are friendly and accommodating. I recommend this condo to anyone looking for a quality alternative to a hotel in San Francisco.

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

  Owner response: Thanks Pete! I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come back when your travels bring you back to San Francisco. Rae

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

• Clean, Cozy, Charming and Comfortable

  Clean, Cozy, Charming and Comfortable

  • Guest Patty
  • Date of stay 04/19/11
  • Review Submitted 05/09/11
  My family and I stayed at this wonderful flat Easter week, 2011. The flat is tucked in the back of the property and so it is very quiet. We thought that the charming location and views of other flats and gardens gave it a very European feel. Even though the flat is in the back of the property, it is bright and airy and we had wonderful views each morning of the sky so that we knew instantly we had another sunny day in San Francisco. The flat was sparkling clean when we arrived, all our needs had been anticipated (including an iron) and after a long travel day we collapsed into very comfortable beds, including the bed in the pull out sofa. One night after a particularly energetic sightseeing day, we were happy to return to the flat, turn on the "fireplace," watch the SF Giants on the "awesome" TV (that comes from my grandchildren) and order food from one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. Another evening when it was warm, we sat outside and had a glass of wine while discussing our wonderful day. We all agreed that "hanging" out together in the flat was one of the highlights of our vacation in San Francisco. The owners were very accommodating in terms of getting the keys to us in an expedient manner and even sent my computer charger to me priority mail which I had left in a plug in the kitchen. I can recommend this spot without hesitation and would love to stay there again sometime.

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

  Owner response: I am so glad that you enjoyed your stay in SF and that our home-away-from-home met all your expectations. I hope your travels will bring you back to San Francisco.

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• Great vacation stay in Noe Valley

  Great vacation stay in Noe Valley

  • Guest Diane & Roger
  • Date of stay 04/09/11
  • Review Submitted 04/26/11
  I was stationed at Treasure Island many years ago as a sailor. I have often told my wife that I thought that San Francisco was a beautiful city. She has often expressed interest in seeing why Tony Bennett left his heart there. When the opportunity arose to see San Francisco again I was a little dubious at first, however when I saw the beautiful home that we would be staying in, I was much more relaxed. The house has a very complete kitchen (Rae is a chef) which allowed us to prepare some of our own meals. The kitchen is very roomy. There was a desk for us to set up our laptop and small office without taking up room on the table or counters. Everything is there to prepare any meal! Outside is a small deck and patio where we could enjoy our morning coffee. Rae and Michael have anticipated every need - all we had to bring were our clothes! The Safeway was just a short walk away and we used the maps that Rae had provided to guide us there. They had several canvas bags for us to use, and even a shopping cart in the laundry room if we had needed it. There are directions to every part of the City and guides and brochures to all of the attractions that S.F. has to offer (There are many!). We didn’t miss our car at all - in fact it was much less hassle without it. We could get on the MUNI J-Line only a block and a half from our door, giving us access to the fabulous public transportation system. It’s a straight shot with no transfers to the Embarcadero at Market Street in only a pleasant 20 minute ride. We definitely got our money’s worth from our 7 day MUNI Pass (also available for 1 & 3 days), which allowed us to hop on and off all the buses, light rail cars and cable cars as much as we wanted. They run so frequently that we sometimes jumped on to ride only a couple blocks if our feet were sore! After a busy day it was a pleasure to return “home” where we could relax with a little televised entertainment and a glass of wine in front of the glow of the electric fireplace, and then crawl into the comfortable bed for much needed sleep. Noe Valley is a very nice neighborhood and it really is “sunny” and friendly - so much nicer to live among “the natives” than in a big hotel. Just a short walk to 24th street will put you into a very active street with at least 50 interesting shops, bars and eateries. You could almost spend a week within walking distance of this house and not take it all in. We highly recommend a stay at Rae's clean, cozy Duncan St Retreat

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your review. I'm so glad that you had an enjoyable stay and hope that you will consider Duncan St Retreat again in the future. Mike and Rae, Owners.

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• Comfortable Spacious and Convenient

  Comfortable Spacious and Convenient

  • Guest Sarah
  • Date of stay 03/04/11
  • Review Submitted 05/22/11
  My family and I stayed at this property in March 2011 and very much enjoyed our stay. This is a MUCH better option than a tiny, expensive hotel room in the city. We had no trouble finding parking in the neighborhood and found the flat large enough for our family to be very comfortable. Its so nice to have private space and a kitchen when traveling with kids. The flat was clean and attractively decorated. Plan on getting there before it's dark - the flat is set back from the street and tricky to get to in the dark. Also, the shower mechanism is hard to figure out. A little sign with directions would be welcome. Overall a great experience. We plan to stay again when we next visit San Franciso.

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your comments. You were our very first guests! Since your stay, we have put in motion/light sensors in the courtyard and a tip sheet that includes how to operate the tricky shower head. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to a return visit by you to Duncan Street Retreat! Regards, Rae & Mike

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