Vacation Rentals by Owner

Spring Break

Guest: Letty (Round Rock)
Date of Stay: 03/11/12 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

This was our first trip to DC. What an amazing experience! I can honestly say that staying at Mary's house was part of that experience. It was great to have such a wonderful place to come home to after a long day of walking and sight-seeing. It is comfortable, roomy and more than what the pictures show. My husband loved sitting outside in the evenings. I would recommend this apartment to anyone. The bonus is Mary's thoughtfulness and kindness to help with information prior to our trip. It put me at ease and helped me know what to do once I got to the big city. Thank you Mary for your help!!

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

GREAT Washington D.C. Home Base

Guest: Family from SW Florida (Bonita Springs, FL)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We had a fabulous experience renting the Dupont Circle Penthouse. It was beyond our expectations - and by far, the nicest VRBO rental we have ever stayed in (and we typically rent one per year for our family of 4). Even more comfortable and nicer than the pictures could portray. A short walk from the Metro, great restaurants, the Park, grocery. I don't believe I would want to spend a week in D.C. any other way. The owner went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable and we did not need anything, nor did we have any questions. There is even a local caretaker who checked in on us as well. Five stars!! Bravo! Beautiful Home! We can't wait to plan a return trip.

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

What a treat!

Guest: Doug (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

The terrace patio at Mary's was the perfect place to watch the sunset and reflect on the days events. we stayed for a week in May and the accommodations exceeded our expectations. Conveniently located, nicely decorated, and extremely comfortable. Thank you so much Mary for opening your home up to us! We would recommend this place to anybody looking for a place to stay in DC. Doug and Holly

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

Views and Decor

Guest: ebcmbc (New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 05/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/04/11

Imagine large decks with views of DC cupolas, comfy outdoor furnishings, and quiet in a big city-- this was a perfect space for us to visit with friends, and enjoy our evening cocktails. The indoor spaces exceeded our expectations as well. The kitchen is cheery and well-equipped. The dining room is spacious. The living room area is inviting and luxurious. I love beautiful dishes and glassware, and Mary's collection is so tasteful and extensive--I found it hard to believe that we were in a rental condo. The folk art made me smile and the use of color just added to the enjoyment of being in each room. We used to live in DC, so the centrality of the location, using the subway, and walking to so many places was just as great as we thought it would be. This is vertical living. Think of the many stairs as exercise! A great condo to rent!

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

UNIQUE AND EXTRAORDINARY APPARTMENT

Guest: John & Jeanne (Newberg, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 05/02/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Some friends of ours stayed in Mary's place a couple of years ago and suggested we contact her for our planned trip to DC. Mary set us up for the first two weeks in May and we had a fantastic time. Her appartment was about 8-10 minutes walk from the Dupont Circle Metro and the whole area gave an impression of cleanliness and security. The appartment has lots of unique art, many books and wonderful fireplace to take off some evening chill. It was quite comfortable and the outside deck offered a relaxing area to rest weary tourist feet. Mary's agent, Bill, was helpful and with Mary out of town offered us his help if we had any problems with the unit. We would highly recommend Mary's unit for a central location to tour Washington DC. We would stay at Mary's place again in a heart beat. Incidentally, there are many great ethnic and regional restaurants only a short walking distance. There was no problem being without a car; however, we did rent one at Union Station for a day trip to Gettysburg (also, highly recommended).

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

Excellent spacious and well appointed

Guest: Niamh (Ireland)
Date of Stay: 02/02/11 Review Submitted: 03/16/11

I stayed at this property during February 2011 and was delighted with the experience. Overall the apartment is very comfortable and well appointed. The photos on the site gave a good indication of the features but did not do justice to space available particularly in the dining and living areas. The latter in particular was well utilised by our group and many hours were spent relaxing in front of the fire after a long day. The three levels, with the living area separating the two sleeping provided great privacy for all. We also got a chance to use the deck during some warm weather and I envy those who get to relax there during the summer months on what is essentially a second large living space. The facilities provided were excellent with plenty of linen and crockery etc. The neighbourhood was full of character and felt very safe. The location is very convenient with Dupont Circle and the metro nearby as we had been expected. We also enjoyed exploring the other hotspots nearby including Adams Morgan, 17th street and U street, all within 10 mins. There are also some great restaurants adjacent on 18th. Mary the owner couldn’t have been more helpful and very much added to the ‘home away from home’ experience. I would have no hesitation in recommending the property and would love to visit again.

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

Just what we had hoped for

Guest: Louis (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10

Its always great when your expectations are exceeded. We were two couples in our party - one from New Hampshire and one from California. Neither couple had been to DC in twenty years and all our research was done over the internet. The property was great and its location was walkable to almost everywhere. A five minute walk due North takes you into the ketchy and fun Adams Morgan neighborhood. A five minute walk due South takes you to the more trendy Dupont Circle area. Ten minutes to the East is Logan Circle and the "U" Street district. The immediate area of the apartment has little shops, restaurants and a restaurant / rooftop bar called Lauriol Plaza. Its all safe as well. The apartment was clean,airy, bright and had a great layout. Its in a great old four story brownstone building. It felt a little like a European apt., which makes sense as the gracious owner, Mary, is from Europe. The apt. takes up the top three floors with a bedroom on the first and third floors and the kitchen, dining room and living room on the middle floor. This gave each couple plenty of privacy, but also a great living situation for meals, TV and relaxing. There are two rooftop decks off the middle floor which was great for relaxing or napping after sightseeing all day. We had such a great time in DC and will be back. We will definitely stay at Mary's place again. She was so easy to deal with and made us feel at home in her home.

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

Wonderful location and the nicest owner ever!!!

Guest: sliphy1 (Outer Banks, NC, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Our stay could not have been any better. The owner was a delight to deal with. The location is easy to get to and easy to get from to any destination in DC. If your are looking for a centrally located place to stay...this is it! The outdoor space was wonderful. We may have been lucky, but the weather was great and the outdoor space made it better. We do not make it to the city very often, so it is easy to forget how vibrant and busy it is. Just a wonderful experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for the city experience or just to stay and enjoy the property. Thank you!!!

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

Wonderful vacation

Guest: Angel R. (Round Rock, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Our family of four enjoyed our stay at Mary’s home very much. The house is spacious, exquisitely decorated, and conveniently located. The Washington subway, grocery stores, and great restaurants are all within walking distance. We also made time once to enjoy dinner in the terrace to wind down after a long day visiting landmarks. Mary and Bill were extremely helpful answering our questions and making sure we had everything we needed for our stay. If we go back to Washington we would definitely stay here again

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

very good stay at this property

Guest: gxb (california)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/10

Mary is quite trusting as she has opened her home to me and my family. No question, restaurants by this house are close by and the neighborhood is quite walkable. A 15 min cab ride got us to the Mall and the pickup stand is the nearby gas station, really, There are plenty of guidebooks, architecture books and some intriguing artwork for your enjoyment. I'd stay here again. G Bell

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

Charming, unique, excellent home base for all DC has to offer

Guest: Barbara R. (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 04/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/05/10

My sister, boyfriend and I stayed at this fabulous row house for the last two weeks in April. It became home, mostly because Mary has decorated it as her home, including fabulous artwork, a fully equipped kitchen with enough place settings to entertain half of Congress! Add to that a stunning view of the Washington Monument from the living room, who could ask for more? Unless, of course, you’d like to sit on one of two decks and enjoy a twilight cocktail before tripping off to a myriad of fun neighborhood eateries. Kitty corner to the place is the Lauriol Plaza, pretty decent and well-priced Mexican food. Directly across the street from that is Larry’s Lounge – a quirky neighborhood bar that represents some of the demographics. If “doing DC” again, our vote would be to come back and stay at Mary’s – a charming lady we’d all like to know better.

Owner response:Dear Barbara, I am delighted to hear that staying in my eclectic apartment contributed to the enjoyment of your Washington visit. It’ll be here for your when you “do DC” again.

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

Guest: J Walker (Columbia, MO)
Date of Stay: 02/22/10 Review Submitted: 02/22/10

Our family of four stayed in Mary's place March 2009 last year for a week during spring break and had a wonderful time. We had a great experience renting her accomadations and are looking for one this year in California because of this terrific experience. Restaurants, riding the metro, and driving in the city was easy from this location. I know this is a little slow for us to get posted. Also, your friend who helped while you were out of the country did an excellent job since this was our first time to try the VRBO. Thanks one year later!

Recommended for:

Guest: Marianne Rieux (Fort Collins/CO)
Date of Stay: 11/03/09 Review Submitted: 11/03/09

My two friends and I spent a terrific two weeks in Washington in early January 2009. The bustle of the inaugural festivities kept us energized for the first four or five days, and then after the crowds left, we enjoyed the absence of summertime waiting lines in museums and galleries. Even theater tickets were easy to come by. To get about, we would hop on the Metro (not far from Mary's) or flag cabs. After all of the outings we had the pleasure of coming home to Mary’s beautiful, penthouse apartment. It felt like 'home': an open kitchen and dining room clearly designed for cooking, serving, talking and dining together in a lovely setting; comfy, large beds and bedrooms imaginatively arranged; and light, airy spaces and views of cityscapes and rooftops. Then there was the ambiance of the folk art, the paintings and the books. In the evenings we would turn on the easy-to-light gas fireplace in the living room and sit around it. In all – Mary’s great taste, careful attention to detail and thoughtful provision of everything a guest could want or need made the place a real delight. I can’t say enough about it or its conveniences (many of which are listed in other guest’s comments). I plan to return to D.C. in the winter of 2010, and can’t imagine staying anywhere else.

Recommended for:

Guest: Joan McNamara (San Diego, California)
Date of Stay: 10/25/09 Review Submitted: 10/25/09

My friend Maura and I spent two wonderful weeks in Washington, D.C. We saw all the sights and even met Bo. Staying at Mary's place in the Dupont Circle area made for an absolutely spectacular trip. What a great place to wake up in and come home to. She provides everything anyone could want or need. Her penthouse was so interesting and comfortable, it was sometimes hard to leave! I highly recommend it to anyone who treasures a very special place to call home while on vacation.

Recommended for:

Guest: Joseph Caramucci (San Rafael, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/02/09 Review Submitted: 08/02/09

Mary's place is a WOW! We took our granddaughter to show her Washington, D.C. This young lady has never lived in a "city". The experience of staying in this property and seeing DC will not be forgotten by her. What a great neighborhood! As the other visitors have stated the layout and location is perfect. Great space and decorating Mary has done it right. You can really see the thought and effort that Mary has put into making this house a home. The food and service at Lariol was outstanding and very reasonable. We plan to return to enjoy this great place.

Recommended for:

Guest: Roger Bernard (Medford, OR)
Date of Stay: 07/02/09 Review Submitted: 07/02/09

Excellent accommodations for two couples who thoroughly enjoyed their stay. The proximity to the Metro and the neighborhood restaurants were especially helpful. The apartment was as protrayed. Would definitely stay there again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/03/09 Review Submitted: 06/03/09

My wife I and another couple spent a fabulous week at Mary's apartment in early May, 2009. We loved it. The layout affords convenience and privacy, the furnishings are tasteful and comfortable, and the artwork delightful. The location is unbeatable, in a neighborhood of mansions-turned embassies, on a charming, tree-lined street of well-cared for, 100-year-old homes, within a few minutes walk of several excellent restaurants, and the Dupont Circle metro station. Pleasant, forty minute strolls take you to the White House, the National Mall and Georgetown. Fantastic! (Note of caution to the physically challenged: there are a lot of stairs - but its well worth the effort.)

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/05/08 Review Submitted: 12/05/08

Four of us stayed in Mary's apartment this past spring and had a marvellous time. It's spacious and the bedrooms are nicely separated from one another so that you have lots of privacy. The gardens and decks are superb!

Recommended for:

Guest: Daniel16 (-)
Date of Stay: 12/05/08 Review Submitted: 12/05/08

I stayed in Mary's townhouse for a conference in the fall. We had a group of 4 which worked extremely comfortably over the two townhouse floor plan. The short walk to the metro every morning was pleasant and crisp. There are local bussinesses down every street with great food and coffeehouses on the block. I've stayed at short term rentals several times and the owner and caretaker were the most available, helpfull, and friendly people I have dealt with. The townhouse is perfect for entertaining with a very open floor plan, open roof deck. The eclectic, charming, and humorous art collection made the space wonderful to explore and experience after wandering home the two blocks from Dupont. I would definitely recommend staying at this location.

Recommended for:

Guest: Linda, Ray & Miriam (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 11/10/08 Review Submitted: 11/10/08

Mary...I just wanted to thank you again for sharing your wonderful home through VRBO! Ray and I had the most wonderful time. Miriam did, too. I thought the stairs might bother her, but she trooped up and down them in good spirits. She did let Ray and I make the short walk to the Safeway where we found everything we needed for the light meals we cooked at "home". We enjoyed to walks, the weather was just perfect, the air brisk and the leaves were turning colors. You were right about visiting in October, lots less people and traffic. It was great to curl up on the sofa in front of the fireplace and wind down after full days of seeing the sights. The bedrooms and baths were perfect for us...we didn't step on each other's toes the whole week. We never waited more than a minute or two to catch a cab right outside your door...amazing to me...the new taxi rate system had kicked into place so we knew just about what to expect for the fares and they were fair. Lauriol Plaza had excellent food. We also tried a little place within walking distance called Dupont Italian Kitchen and they had wonderful pizza and the lasagna was awesome. It was a real treat to have you meet us at the top of the entryway every evening. I have pictures. When I get them downloaded I'll send you a couple. A special thanks to Bill for checking on us and for printing our return flight boarding passes for us. Mary, I know someday we'll come back to DC and if you're still sharing you're wonderful home, I know where we'll stay!! :) Linda

Recommended for:

Guest: Carol and friends (DeBary, FL)
Date of Stay: 05/24/08 Review Submitted: 05/24/08

What a great location! Wonderful neighborhood - walking distance to the underground. We tried several of the recommended local places for breakfast and dinner and were not disappointed. The flat is lovely with plenty of room to spread out and the outside deck was great to have a glass of wine and take in the view.

Recommended for:

Guest: Chad & Sheila Beutin (Milwaukee, WI)
Date of Stay: 05/17/08 Review Submitted: 05/17/08

What a wonderful place to stay! Mary has made special touches to the apartment...lots of books and comfy places to relax. After enjoying everything the city had to offer, it was so nice to come "home". We stayed with another couple and never felt more comfortable. The bedrooms are on different floors and we never heard our "roomies". Plenty of closet space. (and so well arranged!) The kitchen was used for a couple of home-cooked meals. We really liked how well stocked the kitchen was. It was very nice to have the basics needed, then replace any item used up. The location is great...close to the metro, grocery store, restaurants. (Lauriol restaurant across the street had the best mexican food we ever tasted!) You better believe when we get back to DC, we will stay here again!

Recommended for:

Guest: Fay Earley (Boone, NC )
Date of Stay: 05/16/08 Review Submitted: 05/16/08

Mary's beautiful and comfortable penthouse was a highlight of our trip to Washington DC. We shared this lovely rowhouse with another couple and found it to be perfect for relaxing and visiting after a day of sightseeing. It's a great location: safe neighborhood, close to excellent restaurants, easy walking distance to the Metro. Mary's attention to detail, both in her lovely home and in the rental arrangements, made our trip go smoothly. We recommend this property to others and would love to return ourselves.

Recommended for:

Guest: Mason Turner (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 05/16/08 Review Submitted: 05/16/08

What a wonderful experience! From the beginning to the end, Mary made sure that all the i's were dotted and t's crossed to make our stay at this beautiful apartment flawless. The location is one of the best in the city, and the apartment is spacious, comfortable and beautifully decorated, all at a very, very fair price. I would definitely return here on all my trips back to DC. The roof deck, in particular, was a highlight!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/30/07 Review Submitted: 11/30/07

What a wonderful penthouse. Two couples shared it for four nights. We liked the fact that the sleeping rooms were very far apart. Seemed very private. We loved the location and all of the wonderful artwork. Mary did a wonderful and through job of making us welcome. The ultimate compliment is that we would do it again!!!!! Jim

Recommended for:

Guest: Sheila Fuller (Colorado Springs, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/23/07 Review Submitted: 11/23/07

It's difficult to improve on the description provided for this rental on the VRBO website. I can't imagine a better place to stay. The location with its convenience to the Metro was an original selling point but we quickly discovered it was also perfect for anyone who enjoys walking. EVERYTHING we needed was within walking distance. The Penthouse itself is gorgeous, well furnished and comfortable. After a long day of seeing the sights we'd relax in front of the fire and take advantage of all the books provided by the owner. The kitchen is well appointed and the grocery stores convenient for anyone who likes to stay in and cook plus several good, nearby restaurants when we needed a change of pace. Loved the master bedroom, bath and the soaking tub. Finally, communicating with the owner was a joy. She went out of her way to answer any and all questions and, since this was my first experience at renting someone's home, I had a lot of them.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/22/07 Review Submitted: 11/22/07

Hi Mary, Good to hear from you. We certainly enjoyed our stay in your lovely townhome. Plenty of space, excellent location, and convenient food shopping and eating locations so close by. Having the parking space was also most helpful. We enjoyed your many personal things around the home, the artwork and all the furnishings. We look forward to staying in your home once again. Best regards from beautiful Hawaii!

Recommended for:

Guest: Peggy Supplee (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 11/19/07 Review Submitted: 11/19/07

Our stay at 1769 T Street was great. We enjoyed eating our meals on the great deck. The house was delightful and was very guest friendly. We walked and took public transportation, which was very easy. Our time went to fast and this is a place were we will return. Thank you Mary!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Danelle & Michael Feist (Terrace, B.C. Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/17/07 Review Submitted: 11/17/07

We stayed at this lovely home with another couple. The way the rooms are set up it was completely comfortable for the four of us. Public transportation and taxis make a car unnecessary, the restaurants in the area are wonderful. I didn't know I was going to love Washington D.C. as much as I do and staying in this home had a lot to do with it. Lovely, charming, comfortable and convenient. It has it all!

Recommended for:

Guest: Bob C. (Victoria, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/17/07 Review Submitted: 11/17/07

I know this is really great accommodation for vacation or business visitors who don't want hotel style facilities when travelling. The two of us with our 14 year old daughter stayed here for a vacation during the first 2 weeks of August in 2007. This time of year, the weather in Washington was very hot but the apartment was always cool and the outdoor patio was also a wonderful place to relax in the early mornings. The apartment was very clean and comfortable and we felt very safe here as well. The location in Washington, DC could not have been better for us. This apartment is within walking distance of Dupont Circle and the Metro station, or a bus was only steps away, which connects to just about anywhere. (We did not have a car) Like most tourists, we spent the two weeks visiting many of the popular Smithsonian sites, including Arlington and countless other Art museums as well. There is great shopping in nearby Georgetown for our 14 year old!; and this is definitely the city of great restaurants including, what we felt was one of the best for dinner just steps away from this apartment neat Dupont Circle. If you want apartment style accommodation, this is definitely it. I know we will be back to explore this city again and this wonderful accomodation will definitely be our first choice. Bob...Anne....Julia in Victoria, BC

Recommended for:

Guest: Connie Jones (Boise, ID)
Date of Stay: 11/16/07 Review Submitted: 11/16/07

My husband and I and another couple spent four days in Maria's penthouse. It's a lovely place in a very nice neighborhood. Her home is full of art and feels like a well-lived in and loved home. It was very clean and well-equiped. I would caution anyone who has difficulty with stairs to reconsider this rental, however. There are about 8 steps from the sidewalk, then a flight to the front door. There is a bedroom and bath on this level; but you go up one more flight to the living room, dining and kitchen. Our bedroom and bath was another flight up. The rooftop deck is on the living room level. There is no real view; but it's very pleasant. We walked about four blocks to DuPont Circle and the subway. There are many restaurants in the area, including across the street. We would definately stay here again.

Recommended for: