Vacation Rentals by Owner

A+++++

Guest: Sharon G.
Date of Stay: 05/10/12 Review Submitted: 05/13/12

We just returned today from a wonderful stay at the Rustic Cottage. Oftentimes pictures make rooms look more spacious than they really are - I would have to say in this case the opposite is true. The rooms were very spacious, the house was extremely clean and well kept, the game tables in the basement were added fun, the surroundings were peaceful, the deck was delightful. There was a Food Lion 8 minutes away for stocking up on food. Dianne was extremely prompt in answering any questions I had, and very graciously allowed me to change my mind twice about bringing our pet. I highly recommend this house!! Thanks Dianne - it was great! :-)

Owner response:We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at The Rustic Cottage. We try to give all our guests "red carpet treatment". Everyone loves the basement gameroom and the surroundings are very peaceful. We hope to see again! Dianne

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Lovely lake cabin

Guest: Alison R. (-)
Date of Stay: 04/06/12 Review Submitted: 04/15/12

The owner was very accommodating in allowing us a last minute rental and in arranging for us to arrive the next day. The cabin was spotless, with an ample supply of sheets and towels. The setting was beautiful, right next to the lake with its own jetty. The children really enjoyed the games room and we also went out each day on the pedalo, and the children swam in the lake ( they had their shortie wetsuits on mind you!) The weather co-operated wonderfully and we were able to visit the surrounding area. One suggestion is that there was only enough cutlery for 1 place setting each (for 6 of us) with 1 fork short, which meant for a lot of washing up, so more cutlery might be a good idea. Other than that very minor point it was great, good value for money, and we really appreciated the visit and would highly recommend to others.

Owner response:Thank you for the kind review. We try hard to please all of our guests. While we have no idea what happened to the missing fork, we have purchased a brand new set of silverware. Everyone seems to enjoy the game room and pedal boat. We hope you get to come gain. We love having guests like you. Dianne

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

All that and more

Guest: Love to rent cabins (Salem, Va)
Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/19/12

We found this place to be all that it promised and more! Looked just like the pics on line. Clean, decorated just the right amount without being cluttered or hard to clean and maintain, wonderful little "cabin touches". Kitchen very well stocked. Furniture in living area did not feel or appear grungy and comfortable to relax on. Beds comfy and I liked having the option to use the sheets, wash, and put away. Grill was reliable, and gas there in a back up tank. House and land were easily negotiable by my elderly parents who were with us. Owner was great to work with us for a last minute rental. Don't want to make it sound tooo good in case you want to use it the same weekend we will, cause we definitely plan to return!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Wonderful House

Guest: Hannah (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 03/06/12 Review Submitted: 03/12/12

Hi Dianne, I couldn't speak more highly of your lovely home. Thank you so much for renting it out! The view was amazing, and the house was wonderful. I'll look through our pictures and try to find some good ones to post!

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Exactly what we needed

Guest: Miljo (Upstate NY)
Date of Stay: 02/20/12 Review Submitted: 02/26/12

The place was perfect for us. It had everything you could possibly need from the kitchen to the game room down stairs. Which by the way was a big hit with our family! Thank you so much Dianne for the use of your place and for the quick responses to our questions. It truly was a memorable week that my family truly enjoyed and my mom too! I would recommend this place to anyone.

Owner response:Thank you for coming. I know it was a LONG way from upstate New York. Yes, our basement gameroom has been a hit with all our guests. Hopefully, you will visit us again. Dianne

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

Lovely Lake Getaway

Guest: LL (SC)
Date of Stay: 02/18/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

This home was the perfect choice for our weekend away. We had four adults and four children--plenty of space for all! And the kids lived in the game room. It was lovely to have some quiet adult time upstairs. The owner was fantastic about our last-minute booking, answering all emails promptly and even recommending some local restaurants. The home was clean and had everything we needed. The kitchen was very well stocked. The view was beautiful, and we got to enjoy the lake on a warm day, and then see the trees covered in snow. Grocery stores and restaurants are very close by. We would definitely recommend this property to other families.

Owner response:Thank you for coming to beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. We try to answer all guests questions in a timely manner and help everyone have the best getaway or vacation possible. Hope to see you again!!

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

Delightful Snow

Guest: Laura (North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 02/18/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

We had a wonderful time, and the snow was a delight...what a beautiful sight to see it falling over the lake! Thank you again!

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Coming Back This Summer

Guest: Mariela (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

Thank you so much! We had a great time(New Years Weekend). Already making plans to come back in the summer!!!

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The Rustic Cottage

Guest: Ann G.
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 12/29/11

We had an absolute wonderful time! The house was even nicer than pictured and the lake views are beautiful. We used the house for a family Christmas get together on one day of our trip and there were 20 people there at one time. There was more than enough room for everyone to visit and the kids throroughly enjoyed the game room all day, which worked out wonderfully because it was cold and rainy all day. Absolutely a wonderful property to stay in at any time of the year. We will definitely return, hopefully this time in the summer so we can use the lake and the paddle boat!

Owner response:Thank you for coming and spending your Christmas holiday with us. We are delighted that your family enjoyed their get-together for one day of your trip. Everyone that comes seems to enjoy the basement gameroom with the pool table, ping pong, air hockey, and fooz ball tables. We look forward to hosting you again in the summer!!

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Great Thanksgiving!

Guest: Lindsey (Arlington, VA )
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 12/20/11

We had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving here. The weather was perfect and we really enjoyed watching the sunset from the deck, and even took the paddle boat out for a bit. We also had a blast in the game room - played a lot of pool and ping pong! The one small improvement we would make would be coat hangers - there were only two for the whole house! Thanks for a wonderful stay!

Owner response:Thanks for your comments, Lindsey. Coat hangers seem to grow legs and walk away...but we will get some more put in all the closets. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to hosting you again. Dianne

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Cozy Little Cottage

Guest: Pete & Yulia (Leesburg, VA )
Date of Stay: 11/11/11 Review Submitted: 12/22/11

Thank you so much! We had a great time here. It is a very nice cottage. The nature is beautiful. I'd like to thank you for your thoughtfulness when it comes to your guests. There are some little details that felt nice to have: Flashlights, kitchen gadgets. The design is very nice, too. (I mean the interior design). The paddle boat was lots of fun. The game room is fun. The books, puzzles, kids' books, banana letter game were a nice touch. We would like to come back in summer. And we will surely share information about this cozy little cottage with our family and friends. Thanks!

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What A Sweet Cottage

Guest: Swilla (Charlottesville, VA )
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/22/11

What a sweet cottage! Even though we can't swim and boat etc...it has been exceptionally lovely with the fall colors, mountain views, and sunlit lake. We missed the chili festival because...really...why would anyone want to leave such a quaint little cove. Looking forward to the the warm fire tonight.

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Martinsville Race Weekend

Guest: Cathy
Date of Stay: 10/28/11 Review Submitted: 11/01/11

We had a wonderful time! Your home had everything we could possibly want or need and the location was great. We are already talking about renting for next summer. Thank you. (Lansdale, PA)

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Wonderful Honeymoon

Guest: Meem
Date of Stay: 10/10/11 Review Submitted: 10/17/11

Thank you for letting us stay at your wonderful home! We enjoyed the visit, and especially appreciated the paddle boat and all the games downstairs. Thank you! Nick & M (Tobyhanna, PA)

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Pre-Deployment Family Get Together

Guest: Carole (New Bern, NC)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/20/11

We had a lovely weekend with our family at you lake house. We always like to get together before we ship one off to deployment (this is our family's 8th war deployment and hopefully our last). It was a very relaxing weekend. The pool table was very busy! Our granddaughter liked the paddleboat. Everyone would like to return for a longer stay so maybe we will be back at the end of this deployment. I also told my boss about our stay. He is think about getting together with his grown children for a fishing vacation. Thank you. Carole (New Bern, NC)

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Fabulous for a Family Getaway

Guest: Julie (Bowling Green, KY)
Date of Stay: 10/03/11 Review Submitted: 10/07/11

We had a fabulous time at "The Rustic Cottage" and enjoyed every minute! Looking forward to being back again next year!

Owner response:We are so glad you had such a good time and we look forward to hosting you again next year. Thanks for coming! Dianne

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

Perfect Place To Relax

Guest: Chris
Date of Stay: 09/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/04/11

Dianne, Thank you once again for everything!!! It was a perfect place to relax... The boys and I had a great time and enjoyed your wonderful place... We did the laundry and made sure the house was cleaned and free of any trash. Thank you once again, Chris (Newport News, VA)

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Cabin Was Great!

Guest: Mary
Date of Stay: 09/11/11 Review Submitted: 09/15/11

Your cabin is great. We were able to relax and have an enjoyable time. (Fredericksburg, VA)

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The Water Was Wonderful!!

Guest: Becky
Date of Stay: 08/28/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

The water was wonderful!! Our grandchildren spent all their time in the water. We had a great time. Thanks for the opportunity. (Petersburg, VA)

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YouTube Video of Great Time at SML

Guest: Bob
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

Dianne...we had a great time and posted a youtube video of our dog, Sawyer, enjoying Smith Mountain Lake. The video has been posted on your Facebook Page - The Rustic Cottage. Thanks, Bob (Alexandria, VA)

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Rented Two Lake Houses

Guest: Jim & Joyce (Cary, North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/21/11

Hi Dianne and Fred, All 22 of us had a wonderful time and the concensus is that we will definitely do Smith Mountain again. The house on Lakewood and yours were easily accessable from dock to dock. The paddle boat was a great taxi and got used consistently rather than walk or drive, however, the younger ones swam back and forth a lot. Lakewood house had a great covered dock and it held the entire older generation while the young ones swam and dove to their hearts content. Your place is a great vacation cottage,and we truly enjoyed our stay. Our son with 5 children and one on the way thinks your place would be perfect for his family by themselves, sometime in the coming years, for a dream vacation. Thanks so much! Joyce (Cary, North Carolina)

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Enjoyable Stay

Guest: Jon
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/29/11

Just wanted you to know that we enjoyed our stay at the Rustic Cottage. (Warrenton, VA)

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Guest: Jon
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/11/11

We just got here and we are already having so much fun! We got here, threw on our bathing suits, and jumped into the water. We came here last year and HAD to come back again this year. It is a great place to come and relax. (Newport News, VA)

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Guest: Angelina
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

We had such a great time. Your cabin was perfect. Loved the wooded setting and the dock. Rented a boat and went watersksiing, tubing, fishing. SML is a beautiful area and we are already talking about coming back again next summer at the same time. Hopefully your cabin will be available again.

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Guest: Angelina
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

We had such a great time. Your cabin was perfect. Loved the wooded setting and the dock. Rented a boat and went watersksiing, tubing, fishing. SML is a beautiful area and we are already talking about coming back again next summer at the same time. Hopefully your cabin will be available again.

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Guest: Cayti
Date of Stay: 05/18/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

We LOVED everything about our stay here, literally everything! The game room, the lake, the bedrooms, the little boat...EVERYTHING!! We came here with my family, my Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, my 2 brothers, and my sister. My siblings and I went in the lake everyday. Thank you very much!! It was awesome. :)

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Guest: Mitchell
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

We enjoyed our stay. The games in the basement are nice and we enjoyed the paddle boat and the lake. It is a good size house in a great location. (Portsmouth, VA)

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Guest: Melody
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 05/02/11

We washed and dried the sheets and towels and folded them before leaving. We enjoyed your beautiful home. Thanks again. (Roanoke, VA)

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Guest: Rachael
Date of Stay: 04/25/11 Review Submitted: 05/02/11

We enjoyed our stay. You have a very nice house on the lake. Thank you again. (Florence, SC)

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Coming Back Next Spring

Guest: Mike & Amber (Ruther Glen, VA )
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/20/11

I just wanted to follow up after our stay in your vacation rental. Everyone had a good time and the place was what we expected based on the website. All in all, it was a fine house. My family enjoyed our stay. We would certainly stay again and hopefully we will do this trip again next spring. Until then, thank you and God bless.

Owner response:We are so glad that you and your family had a good time at The Rustic Cottage. We hope you enjoyed our newly remodeled kitchen and look forward to hosting you again next spring. Thanks for coming. Dianne & Fred

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Guest: Michael & Amber
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/20/11

I just wanted to follow up after our stay in your vacation rental. Everyone had a good time and the place was what we expected based on the website. All in all, it was a fine house. My family enjoyed our stay. We would certainly stay again and hopefully we will do this trip again next spring. Until then, thank you and God bless. (Ruther Glen, VA)

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Relaxing Stay

Guest: Catherine
Date of Stay: 12/31/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/11

We all enjoyed our relaxing stay at your cabin. Catherine (Fayetteville, NC)

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Relaxing Stay

Guest: Catherine
Date of Stay: 12/31/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/11

We all had a relaxing stay at your cabin! Catherine, Fayetteville, NC

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Great Time

Guest: Tammy
Date of Stay: 10/21/10 Review Submitted: 11/16/10

We had a great time at the rustic cottage. We had great weather and the trees were so colorful. Only wish the fish were biting! Maybe next time. We had a great time and would to come back again! Thank you for letting us stay at your SML home. Tammy (Angier, NC)

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Great Time

Guest: Tammy Langston
Date of Stay: 10/21/10 Review Submitted: 11/16/10

We had a great time at the rustic cottage. We had great weather and the trees were so colorful...only wish the fish were biting. Maybe next time! We had a great time and would love to come back again! Thank you for letting us stay at your SML home. Tammy (Angier, NC)

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We had a blast!

Guest: Kerri
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/06/10

Thank you! We had a blast. We will definitely be back. (Crozet, Va)

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Great Time!

Guest: Wayne
Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 09/06/10

We had a great time. The house had everything we needed and the location was great. We will definitely consider coming back again next year. (Newport News, VA)

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Perfect Location

Guest: Nancy Johnson
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

This location was a halfway point between our Rhode Island and Illinois family. The cottage was great. We found ourselves in the lake several hours a day to escape the heat. We all had fun in the game room - mostly playing pool. The accommodations were perfect for our group of 8. Our first trip to SML will be remembered.

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Thanks for Sharing

Guest: Kilroy's
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

Thank you for sharing your cottage. We enjoyed the lake and the wonderful view. (Shepherdstown, WV)

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Wonderful Family Reunion

Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

We had a wonderful family reunion, thank you! Your house was perfect. All we needed were some fish biting but other than that we had a great time. The water was a perfect temperature, the deck was wonderful, we had some great pool and ping pong games. thanks for everything. Thanks again. Nancy

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Wonderful Family Reunion

Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

We had a wonderful family reunion, thank you! Your house was perfect. All we needed were some fish biting but other than that we had a great time. The water was a perfect temperature, the deck was wonderful, we had some great pool and ping pong games. Thanks for everything. Thanks again. Nancy

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Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

We had a wonderful family reunion, thank you! Your house was perfect. All we needed were some fish biting but other than that we had a great time. The water was a perfect temperature, the deck was wonderful, we had some great pool and ping pong games. thanks for everything. Thanks again. Nancy

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Perfect Location

Guest: Johnson
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

This location was a halfway point between our Rhode Island and Illinois families. The cottage was great. We found ourselves in the lake several hours a day to escape the heat. We all had fun in the game room - mostly playing pool. The accomodations were perfect for our group of 8. Our first trip to SML will be remembered.

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Fun With Friends

Guest: Jaela
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

I came here with my friend and her family. It was super duper fun. We rented a boat and went tubing. We swam in the lake a lot. All of the kids played downstairs and the weather was fantastic. It did storm the last 2 nights, but oh well, I am pretty sure the whole family had fun. Jaela, Emily, & Corlin

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Thanks for Sharing

Guest: Kilroy's
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

Thank you for sharing your cottage. We enjoyed the lake and the wonderful view. (Shepherdstown, WV)

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Incredible Satisfaction

Guest: Jonathan Walker
Date of Stay: 07/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

I found you at Home Away on the internet simply by choosing the home with the most reviews. Just reading a few, I knew it was right, and now I know it was righter than right. This was my first visit to SML and your accomodations were exactly the dream I had of it, made real. Thank you kindly for the incredible satisfaction and all you offer those of us who visit, hopefully, again and again! Cheers, Jonathan (Newport News, Va)

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Incredible Satisfaction

Guest: Jonathan Walker
Date of Stay: 07/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

I found you at Home Away on the internet simply by choosing the home with the most reviews. Just reading a few, I knew it was right, and now I know it was righter than right. This was my first visit to SML and your accommodations were exactly the dream I had of it, made real. Thank you kindly for the incredible satisfaction and all you offer those of us who visit, hopefully, again and again! Cheers, Jonathan from Newport News, VA

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The Rustic Cottage

Guest: Jon (Newport News, VA)
Date of Stay: 07/05/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

As I indicated in the "real" guestbook, this home and the vacation it offered me and my family far exceeded my expectaions, which were hopeful and high to begin with. We rented a boat from Parrot's Cove for the stay and it was easy in / easy out once I figured out which cove we were staying in (from the water they are not easily distinguished and the rentals do not have GPS). Kudos to the game room and the ample supplies of kitchen and linens which makes vacationing so much easier.

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

Wonderful Vacation

Guest: Jackie & Dave
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/04/10

Wonderful Vacation!

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Wonderful Vacation

Guest: Jackie & Dave Bethke
Date of Stay: 06/24/10 Review Submitted: 07/04/10

Wonderful Vacation!

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