Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great house

Guest: family traveler (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/27/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

Stayed here in a group of 4 couples and 6 kids and we all were comfortable and had a great time. The kitchen was relatively well stocked and any questions were quickly answered by the owner. The internet connection is a bit spotty, but you are there to get away from it all, so it doesn't matter. Highly recommend.

Recommended for:Families with young children

Passing The Test

Guest: JayLo (New York City Area)
Date of Stay: 10/28/11 Review Submitted: 11/15/11

Our family celebrated my mother's 85th birthday in Alford the same weekend as the surprise October storm descended upon us. Like a couple of million New Englanders, we lost power for 14 hours during the weekend. But the fireplaces kept us warm, the gas stove worked throughout, we had water, and the house stayed remarkably warm. Sunday morning the power came back on, a neighbor came by to plow out the driveway, and all in all we had a merry old time. I've stayed in a lot of rentals, and this house gets a gold star for where you want to stay when the weather gods aren't smiling.

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

Perfect getaway!

Guest: Lori (Ottsville, PA)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11 Review Submitted: 11/02/11

This house was perfect for our college reunion/get-together! We had 4 families with children ranging from 9 yrs. old to 8 months. The house was cozy and the property was perfect for a hike, walking along the stream, or just taking in the foliage. The indoor gymnasium was a huge hit with all the kids. Plenty for the kids to do while the adults could hang out and catch up! We hope to return next year!

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

Great house

Guest: Shifferobe (Leominster, MA)
Date of Stay: 09/23/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

Amazing property in the Berkshires. Perfect for large groups. The gym in the barn is as amazing as it looks. The house is gorgeous with a lot of land and relativley secluded from civilization.

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Great place

Guest: jim (cambridge, ma)
Date of Stay: 04/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

The people in my party had a very good experience. The owner was very easy to talk to from the first contact to the follow-up afterwards, very smooth transactions as well; directions and instructions and everything necessary is provided by the owner. The house is a LOT larger than the impression from the pictures. Not ultra-modern, not too old, it's just right; warm and cozy even for a large group of people; perfect place for a gathering. The stove/range is really big and nice. Large property, nice river on the property, might even catch a glimpse of some deer like we did. We got a lot of use out of the indoor basketball court, with a stereo system I should add, great for full court games for adults, just as enjoyable for children, although we didnt bring any. Overall excellent experience.

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

Hidden gem perfect for large groups

Guest: Andrew (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/23/11

We rented this property for a weekend getaway of 4 couples with toddlers and it was perfect. The house, with its renovated old farmhouse charm was easily able to accomodate everyone with a few empty bedrooms to spare. The master suite is beautiful, and two bedrooms have very cool loft areas perfect for older kids. The living room is large and the dining room table comfortably sat 8+. The kitchen is also beautiful with a large central island and breakfast table. But the gem of the rental is the outdoor space. A crystal clear stream rushes past the driveway into an equally clear pond, then down to the Green River--it was too cold for swimming in March, but in the summer this would be amazing. And the gym in the barn was perfect for toddlers and adults to run around or shoot hoops in--a perfect back-up plan for a rainy day. Most of the property is wooded and it feels very secluded, in a nice cozy way. The house was clean and well-cared for. The pictures undersell this rental--it is more fabulous than it appears. Great Barrington is a pretty 10 minute drive away, and good hiking is also 15-20 min away. Mike was very helpful and professional in answering all questions and helping out. He went above and beyond our expectations when we forgot a bag of our son's toys and he had them Fed-ex'd to us within 2 days! Would definitely recommend this property to friends and look forward to renting it again.

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

Unique, Excellent, Private and Perfect

Guest: Tom (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/11

Just got back from a weekend at Sweet Pea Farm. Obviously there is the barn which should really speak for itself. Not many rental homes have such a unique and special place to play around right on the property. Perfect in case the weather turns nasty. The barn was heated very well, had exhaust and industrial sized fans and a sound system which were were able to plug our iPod into. There were plenty of nice clean beds to sleep in and the fantastic kitchen was an absolute treat. Wonderful windows everyone looking onto the beautiful secluded property. WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK. Also, no troubles at all with cleanliness or ease of dealing with the owners.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Family Christmas

Guest: Jane (Naugatuck Ct.)
Date of Stay: 12/17/10 Review Submitted: 12/28/10

This is the 3rd year that we rented the house for our Christmas gathering. It has fast become our family tradition. My sisters, brothers and I along with our families come to Alford, meeting at the farm for a long weekend celebration. The land is breathtaking, the house is rustic,the atmosphere charming and the memories priceless. The only drawback is that our family is growing.Don't suppose you would consider adding another wing?

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners.

Dirty

Guest: K (NY)
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 10/30/10

I recently stayed at the house for a girl's weekend and found the house dirty. The shower curtains were moldy, there was about a half a roll of toilet paper in one bathroom. None in the rest of the many bathrooms. Dust bunnies everywhere and mystery sticky stuff all over a set of cabinets. There was food in the fridge from previous renters which is gross. There was also signs of an animal in the kitchen which visited during the night to eat some of our food. Garbage was found behind radiators in the bathroom. Most of the bathrooms need some serious updating. There was no curtain in one bathroom which was not aproblem until it was dark. The floors were definitely not cleaned before we came. Disappointing to say the least.

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Nice and Private

Guest: Bob (Winsted, CT)
Date of Stay: 09/23/10 Review Submitted: 10/07/10

I rented this home for the weekend of Sept 25. The home comfortably accommodated 8 adults allowing each of us our own space. The grounds were well maintained allowing space for picnicing, fishing and outdoor sports. The basketball court was well lit and we were able to play volleyball in the gym. The house hosts great entertaining with the kitchen, dining room and living room. The kitchen was well equipped and easy to work in. The dining table seated 8 comfortably. The bedrooms were spacious. I would highly recommend this house for your group or family.

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

This place is family heaven! Escape from it all heaven"!

Guest: Volleyballguy (West Hartford, CT)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 09/23/10

We are three familes strong; fourteen people in all. The kids (ages 13 through 22) had an incredible time this past Labor Day weekend, The adults loved being together and watching the kids interact, play basketball in the full-sized gym and sit and watch movies all snuggled up in the living room. This place has bathrooms galore. Plenty of privacy for everyone. The kitchen was another great gathering place. We took turns making meals on the six-burner viking stove while everyone els just kind of hung-around. Finally, the grounds are beautiful. There is a small pond just outside the door and accross the driveway. Four of our boys even went for a dip and reported that the water is cold and is crystal clear, but the bottom is kind of leafy and mucky. Forty yards down the driveway there is a very pretty private bridge with a pretty stony-lined river below. If I had to come up with one thing I did not like about this home I guess it would be that the Wi-Fi internet is quite slow. Other than that, everything else was great.

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

Winter and summer fun

Guest: Cindy (NYC, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/29/10 Review Submitted: 09/06/10

I recently stayed at the farm house for the second time this year. I had such a nice time while skiing in the spring, while staying at this large but cozy home that I just had to visit again.I found it very clean and well stocked with the necessary amenities. I would highly recommend this beautiful location and wonderful house. Cindy

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

We loved Sweet Pea Farm!

Guest: girls3 (Rockville, Maryland)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/03/10

Our 3 generation family (with 4 age six or less) and dog spent a week in the glorious Berkshires. House is spacious with plenty of areas for little ones to set up their trains or puzzles; well equipped kitchen and good linens and beds. Setting is beautiful, peaceful and interesting. We had 3 rainy days but no one complained. With the full-size indoor basketball court and lots of varied attractions in the area, no one got bored. Country store 3 miles away with basics and Great Barrington 6 miles away with restaurants, shopping and entertainment, we had a ball! Four year old grandson announced to his mother when they got home, that he wanted to go back to the farm and spend the rest of his life there. Yes, the web connection is slooooow but today mine at home dropped out for an hour or so. This farm was clearly used as a vacation place for a family with teenagers, and it works for all ages. We had good greek food, mexican food and pizza within 15 minutes or so. Went to 3 different parks in region. NO COMPLAINTS.

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

A place everyone wants to return to!

Guest: doc (Rockville, Maryland)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

Our 3 generation family (including 4 children 6 and under and our dog) spent a great vacation week at the farmhouse. Beautiful surroundings, spacious and comfortable house and amenities including the basketball court in the barn, let everyone relax. Clearly the owners have done things for their own enjoyment, and it works well for others. Well located near restaurants and shopping in Great Barrington and surroundings, and convenient to Berkshire attractions. Our four year old grandson said it best "I want to live there for the rest of my life".

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

Disappointing

Guest: Jackie (waterbury, ct)
Date of Stay: 07/13/10 Review Submitted: 08/23/10

My family and I rented this property for the duration of one week in July and upon our arrival, we drove past the "cleaning service" coming out of the driveway. Apparently someone was a little last minute in tidying up after the previous renters and did a rushed job because we promptly had to do our own cleaning of the place. All the floors were sticky and were covered in a layer of dirt, which became especially evident when walking in bare feet. There were fresh blood stains on some of the mattress pads that clearly had not even been noticed by the owner or attempted to be washed clean. We scrubbed clean the basketball court - one of the property's leading attractions - as it was covered in splattered juice and beer. We also had to replace about half the light bulbs in the house, on our own dime, because they were out, including 3 right in the kitchen. Many of the cooking pots needed to be *re*-washed before use, and in the basement was an unplugged refrigerator filled with rotting food and a foul stench. Fortunately for the owner, we were happy to overlook these shortcomings, believing the place to be laid back and enjoyable anyway, and we didn't complain. And I would have loved to write a very positive review because we wound up having a great week. But shame on us because we got blamed for the stained mattresses (thanks a lot, housekeeping, for not doing your job well enough with the last renters) and claimed that the house was left in a condition "unsuitable according to the terms of the contract". Apparently what he was referring to was that we left a few tissues in the upstairs bathroom garbage, which doesn't meet the "take out all trash" requirement, and that the house was not left in a "broom swept" condition which is completely false, as we left the floors (and whole house, for that matter) in a much better condition than we found them. These *facts* he learned from his housekeeping staff, not from first hand experience, as the owner rarely visits the property. So know, if you're still planning on renting this place, know that you are not supposed to leave ANY work for the cleaning staff, lest they have to spend more than half a day cleaning this 4,000 + square foot house. Did I mention the cleaning staff is the owner's teenage daughter?

Owner response: I am very disappointed to see this tenets negative response. It seems to be in reaction to my not returning there full security deposit, which is a very unusual situation in the 6 years we have been renting the house out. I didn't hear a single complaint from this tenet until I informed them that I had to replace 3 sets sheets that were soiled (appeared to be blood)so bad that they could not be cleaned. And replace a table that was being stored in the lower barn. It was removed and left out in the weather (wear it was ruined by rain.) The actual renter of the property who I spoke to acknowledged the Table was his fault and was not sure what happen with the sheets. They fail to mention that they had a large wedding on the property with a lot of guests - this can sometimes lead to problems unknown by the occupants. I had a nice conversation with the actual renter whom seemed satisfied with the outcome. The author of the complaint is his mother, who seemed by his account, to be insulted by the notion that the sheets had been damaged by there party. It is unfortunate that she feels she the needs to write a bad review in response to there issues. Sincerely Mike Adams

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Alford Farmhouse

Guest: Grandmom Sue (Alford, MA)
Date of Stay: 04/02/10 Review Submitted: 04/12/10

Our family used the Farmhouse to house families with young children during a reunion at the beginning of April. Everyone fell in love with the beautiful house and amazing grounds. The large kitchen and dining room were especially appreciated. The house was comfortable for all 16 people. The basketball court was a plus for kids and adults alike. The property was clean and well maintained. We hope to rent this property again next year! Sue Arkans

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