Vacation Rentals by Owner

Lovely Stay at Grandma's Cottage

Guest: Lynette (Lake Forest, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

We loved our stay at Grandma's Cottage. The cottage is really cute, very clean and very nicely appointed with a lovely cottage garden. Very picturesque. We were very pleased. The only negative we have to report is that it is not air conditioned. This probably isn't a problem 90% of the time, but our week there was very hot so A/C would have been great. There are fans though which helped alot. The owner lives across the street and was very helpful with suggestions of what to see and do. She also had some beach stuff she allowed us to use. That was very nice of her and convenient for us. This is a very quiet area - in a good way, not too sleepy, but definitely not hustle bustle. It is only 10 minutes from Suttons Bay and about 15 mi from Traverse City. The cottage is just across the street from the Bay, and had a great firepit on the shore. The shore is sandy and stoney - so water shoes are a good idea to bring - we didn't have them and managed fine tho. The water is so beautiful and safe for little ones since it is calm and quite shallow for a long way out. Kayaking was perfect! The location is great - an easy drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes and Leland (both a must!). Lots of trout in Lake Leelanau so go to Fishtown and charter a fishing boat. The owner also accomodated our schedule. We we not able to stay there a full week, so she prorated our rental fee. All in all, we loved Grandma's Cottage and the Suttons Bay area. We will definitely come back!

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

July 2011

Guest: Suzie Z (Normal, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

My husband and I truly enjoyed our stay at this adorable home. The location was perfect as a base from which we explored neighboring towns that included Glen Arbor, Frankfort, Leland, Northport, Charlevoix and Petoskey. It was extremely quiet and peaceful, even though our vacation coincided with the Cherry Festival and Independence Day. The beach across the street was so convenient and nearly deserted; we enjoyed several walks along the shore. The home itself was cozy and clean and suited our needs. A note that may be of importance to some; there is no air conditioning-we certainly didn't need it during the first week of July as the temperature never rose above 83 degrees, and the water is from a well; also not a concern for us, but may be for others. The owner, Shelly, lives across the street and was available to help with information on the area. Grandma's Cottage is a perfect choice if you want to feel at home while vacationing in Northern Michigan.

Owner response:Thank you for choosing Grandma's Cottage. It's so nice to hear how much you enjoyed long walks along the sandy shoreline. The cottage is well insulated, with Andersen windows, and there are ceiling fans in the sleeping areas, as well as a window fan upstairs for good ventilation. When the weather is hot, a cooling Southerly breeze comes across the bay, and when the weather is cold, the cottage is protected from North winds by the woods behind. This provides a wonderful moderate micro-climate, with the sunny days and cool evenings. We hope you will visit again.

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

Comfortable but Disappointing

Guest: Vacationers (Midwest)
Date of Stay: 06/05/11 Review Submitted: 06/17/11

The cottage itself is darling, well appointed, and very clean. Ask for updated date stamped pictures of the grounds (especially the front yard and the beach front area) as, let's just say, it didn't look like the pictures here. We also found the privacy to be limited as there's a shed on the property that was often visited by the owner and various workmen.

Owner response:Grandma's Cottage has been rented by dozens of couples and families each year for the past six years. Our track-record is impeccable, with many repeat visitors. The property is in excellent condition, and meticulously maintained. A big wind storm blew down the sign located out at the street. We hired a workman to take the sign down, take it to his shop for welding, and then replace it in the original location. It seems that THIS renter was unhappy with the fact that this repair was done, despite saying that she "didn't mind at all", when asked if it was OK for the repair man to take the sign down. (this took 1/2 hour) Email me for "real time" photos, I will send them to you from my cell phone, showing what flowers are currently blooming in the beautiful cottage garden, as well as photos of the beach, which is wonderful in every season. If you are another property owner, email me for the name of this renter.

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Baygorgus

Guest: Allen (Jenison Mi)
Date of Stay: 06/30/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

Great place to stay, my wife and I enjoyed our time. Good location and the met our expectations

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/17/08 Review Submitted: 02/17/08

Baywatch is the perfect home base for exploring Leelanau. We had the opportunity to stay here from September to February, while house-hunting. It gave us time to get to know the area, while living very comfortably. Hearing the waves at night and spotting an occasional deer in the woods is so relaxing. Having all of the amenities, including coffee maker, dishwasher, microwave, etc. made it feel like home. This property is very well maintained and the owners are terrific.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/16/08

Baywatch is the perfect home base for exploring Leelanau. We had the opportunity to stay here from September to February, while house-hunting. It gave us time to get to know the area, while living very comfortably. Hearing the waves at night and spotting an occasional deer in the woods is so relaxing. Having all of the amenities, including coffee maker, dishwasher, microwave, etc. made it feel like home. This property is very well maintained and the owners are terrific.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/16/08 Review Submitted: 01/16/08

We enjoyed our 2007 trip even more than 2006. We are looking forward to 2008!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/15/08

We enjoyed our 2007 trip even more than 2006. We are looking forward to 2008!

Owner response:Thank you, BayWatch Cottage has several "repeat" visitors, we look forward to seeing you this summer! Shelly and Dave

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/18/07 Review Submitted: 07/18/07

We had an amazing vacation here at the cottage! Just as described, it was clean and neat with a nice kitchen and comfy beds. We loved the beautiful views out to the blue-green bay from all the front windows. We especially enjoyed the shady front porch, swing and lovely garden. The beach is child friendly, too, and just across the street. Thank you for one of our best vacations ever.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/17/07

We had an amazing vacation here at the cottage! Just as described, it was clean and neat with a nice kitchen and comfy beds. We loved the beautiful views out to the blue-green bay from all the front windows. We especially enjoyed the shady front porch, swing and lovely garden. The beach is child friendly, too, and just across the street. Thank you for one of our best vacations ever.

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Guest: Doug and Kirsten Carr
Date of Stay: 08/13/06 Review Submitted: 08/12/06

Shelly and Dave, We really had a great time. Thanks again for helping out with suggestions and everything else. You are great hosts. keep up the good work. Doug, Kirsten, Asher, & Joey

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Guest: Doug and Kirsten Carr
Date of Stay: 08/13/06 Review Submitted: 08/12/06

Shelly and Dave, We really had a great time. Thanks again for helping out with suggestions and everything else. You are great hosts. keep up the good work. Doug, Kirsten, Asher, & Joey

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/02/05 Review Submitted: 09/02/05

This little bit of heaven was an absolute delight. The cottage is perfect and the view is wonderful. Thank you Shelly & Dave for a great vacation.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/05 Review Submitted: 09/01/05

This little bit of heaven was an absolute delight. The cottage is perfect and the view is wonderful. Thank you Shelly & Dave for a great vacation.

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Guest: withheld
Date of Stay: 08/26/05 Review Submitted: 08/25/05

Comment Text: What a great place. We absolutley loved it. It was very private and the view was spectacular. We were made to feel right at home and the information provided was excellent. Thanks for making our vacation as good as it was.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/06/05 Review Submitted: 08/06/05

We are so glad that we found your cottage. The location was perfect for what we were looking for. It was clean, comfortable,quiet and has a wonderful view of the lake.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/05 Review Submitted: 08/05/05

We are so glad that we found your cottage. The location was perfect for what we were looking for. It was clean, comfortable,quiet and has a wonderful view of the lake.

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Guest: Tom & Megan
Date of Stay: 07/23/05 Review Submitted: 07/22/05

Shelly & Dave, Thanks for a lovely vacation. The house is perfect & we had a great time. Tom & Megan

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Guest: owner
Date of Stay: 05/27/05 Review Submitted: 05/26/05

This is a new rental property, we hope that our guests will find it clean, comfortable, and affordable. We welcome your comments and input, and will strive to make your vacation pleasant and memorable. thanks, shelly and dave

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