Reviews for Sandpoint Vacation Rental - VRBO 48815 - 4 BR ID House, Gold Mtn Retreat

Great home away from home

Guest Debbie
Date of stay 12/28/12
Review Submitted 01/07/13

We recently rented GMR while visiting our son who attends school in the area. It is quite roomy and comfortable and would be ideal for a larger family or two families to share. We are a family of 5 and also brought our dog. There was more than enough room. We stayed for three nights and some of our family members never left the house. It was cozy, inviting and well equipped. It has a finished basement that would be suitable for a small family and also doubles as a game room with pool, foosball,and darts in the garage. The hot tub outside the basement area was a nice way to enjoy the beautiful snowy view of the lake. It was a little challenging getting there in the heavy snow, but we bought chains for our Suburban and were very happy. It is very secluded, but the owners live nearby if you need anything. We hope to return and stay for a longer period.

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

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Julie M.

Guest Julie M.
Date of stay 09/07/12
Review Submitted 09/17/12

We had a soccer tournament in town the weekend of September 7th. We couldn't find a hotel room due to the fact that the tournament had a record number of teams sign up. I started looking for other options and came across Gold Mountain Retreat! I am so happy I did. What a beautiful place! The house was immaculate, views are gorgeous and ammenities perfect. The price was very reasonable. In fact we split it between two families and it made it cheaper than staying in the hotel. Our soccer team ended up making it to the finals and we called the owner to see if it would be alright to stay a little longer in the day. They were extremely cooperative and friendly. I would definitely stay here again and reccommend it to anyone. Thanks so much! By the way, the girls took 2nd! Not a bad weekend.

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

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A wonderfully unique experience and place to stay

Guest Bill G.
Date of stay 06/30/12
Review Submitted 07/21/12

From the time you pull off the main road and begin the rustic, scenic, drive up the mountain, you know that this is something special. It is. The information in the listing very accurately reflects the house. The pictures don't capture just how large and neat the house is and just how wonderful the view is. We rented the Gold Mountain Retreat for a family reunion. We needed a place where 4 different families could come together and have a place to be together while also having enough space to not be cramped. This was the place. There are 4 very nice separate bedrooms and several fold out couch's if you need additional sleeping spaces. The retreat is everything you would want in a vacation rental. The retreat is very clean, well maintained, wonderfully decorated, with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, bicycles, hot tub, deck overlooking the lake and mountains, fireplace in the living area, recreation room downstairs and more. There are numerous walking, hiking, running, biking, skiing roads and trails you can pick from. Four of our favorite things that we did while there was visit downtown Sandpoint, hiking at the top of Schwietzer Mountain, spending a couple of days at the Sandpoint City Beach, and taking the history tour of Lake Pend Orielle on a tour boat leaving from the marina. The owners are nearby and were VERY and QUICKLY responsive when we had a couple of questions during the week. If you are going to the Sandpoint area, I would strongly encourage you to consider this property if you want something within 10-15 minutes from Sandpoint but also want to enjoy the scenary and quiet. If so, it doesn't get any better than this. Our family loved our time there and it would not be a hard sell to convince them to return to the Gold Mountain Retreat for our next family reunion. A totally wonderful experience.

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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Heavenly Peace, Soul-Soothing View

Guest Larry
Date of stay 03/16/12
Review Submitted 03/20/12

I took my partner to Gold Mountain Retreat to celebrate her 59th birthday over the weekend of March 16, 2012. I wanted to make it the best birthday of her life, and afterward she told me it was. We found this retreat simply stunning. It is impeccably maintained, warm, charming, and comfortable, with every convenience attended to, cozy details everywhere you turn. The place just glows with care and love. The real grace note for me was the incredible view of lake and mountains. We were treated to a lovely spring snow, and in the morning the view was monochromatic in grays and radiant silvers. It was like a gelatin silver photograph, except the scene was ALIVE and filled with drama, constantly shifting from one moment to the next. There was "news" in that beautiful prospect, very good, soul-lifting news indeed. Sunset was bathed in rouge, magenta, gold, purple deepening into blackness against which icy stars came out through windows of clouds. It always took a real act of will for me to pull myself away from that view, and I could never stay away for long. For our field trial English Cocker spaniel, the grace note was the intoxicating scents in the quiet woods surrounding the cabin. He almost forgave me for not having a shotgun. We had some happy, tail-wagging walks. Noting that one guest recommended bringing bottled water because of a metallic taste in the water, I did. We didn't use the bottled water, however, because we found the ice cold tap water delicious--fresh, sweet and pure. I was tempted to bottle some of it and take it home. Whatever caused the metallic taste seems to have been cleared up. I agree that the road in can be a challenge in muddy March when we visited. Our Volvo Cross Country handled it without difficulty, but did almost get stuck in the last short pitch to the house when we came home from dinner Friday night. A two-wheel-drive car wouldn't have made it, and the ruts we left will need repair. Still, I consider the road part of GMR's charm, because this is a place you choose for quiet luxury and beauty away from the hurley-burley of the world below. I can't recommend GMR highly enough. You're pretty close to heaven up there, and it's hard to leave. If you're looking for a great meal out, I recommend 41 South. If you want a beautiful floral arrangement for your sweetheart, give Nicole at Petal Talk a call. We had an unforgettable visit. We'll be back.

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

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Beautiful, Comfortable, Cozy Cabin

Guest Brooke
Date of stay 07/13/11
Review Submitted 07/19/11

Gold Mtn. Retreat was excellent! The description was very accurate. Able to sleep alot of people comfortably in beds. We found it very clean and with all the amenities as described. The owners were extremely helpful and courteous and only a phone call away if needed. I would definately recommend this to a friend or family member and we hope to rent it again in the near future. Our family enjoyed doing activites at the private beach area, Silverwood Amusement Park, and Schwitzer Mtn. Ski Resort. We enjoyed the remote location and especially the beautiful view. We found lots of hiking trails close by and loved the different wildlife we saw. The cabin was kid friendly and a great family setting. We also enjoyed the games, videos, hot tub, and jetted tub that were at the cabin. The water did have a bit of a sulfer taste, so we did take in our own drinking water. Overall we had a great experience at the Gold Mtn. Retreat!

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

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Nice Summer Getaway

Guest Jeff
Date of stay 07/16/10
Review Submitted 07/22/10

My wife, two kids, dog, and I recently spent five nights at this secluded home. We had a very restful time, as the house is very remotely located. We used the house primarily as our home base in between trips to their private beach and doing other activities in the area. The house is very well equipped. They have several comfy beds, three bathrooms, a pool table, foosball, darts, bikes, every kitchen gadget you can think of, and even binoculars to enjoy the amazing view. Add to this the fact that they're pet friendly, and you have a definite winner. We were a little disappointed that the hot tub wasn't in working order, but it was summer, so not a huge deal. There are a couple of things you might want to consider about this house before you head up there. First, the road to the house is mostly dirt/gravel, and not well maintained. We had to drive over weeds that were almost two feet high to get to the house. We have a Subaru, so had no problems at all, but this road would be pretty hard on a standard passenger car. Second, bring bottled water. The well water here is really metallic tasting, even using the water filter that is provided. Other than that, this is a very peaceful place to spend a few days or even longer.

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