Vacation Rentals by Owner

January Jam

Guest: LazyC (San Francisco, California)
Date of Stay: 01/03/12 Review Submitted: 02/06/12

My group stayed here after New Years and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The 2 hot tubs were crystal clear, and so was the parking area, as the snow was no where to be seen! Even though we had no snow, we did have a great time. The house is really two houses divided by a stairway in-between that leads to the hot tubs also. There is room for lots of people in both tubs, and the bigger one was the choice of most of us because it had more room to get in and out than the other one. The other spa was slightly smaller, and did have a private deck, even though it was not such a big deck, it was ample. Gas cooking was a pleasure, and there were two separate kitchens, and both had gas ranges. The beds were all fairly firm, and most of the linens were new, and so were the towels. The satellite TVs were good with the bay area stations, and lots of choices, even though the TVs in each house all had to be on the same program. We did not mind and left the lower house for the children and they liked having their own space. The wood stoves were a nice touch, and so was the peace and quiet of being on a street with little or no traffic. Tahoe City was a great place to dine and shop, and it was only a few miles away. The whole trip was fun, and we plan on returning to the Tahoe Area for the summer, because we love the area!

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

Private Party from S F

Guest: DS (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11 Review Submitted: 11/13/11

Thanks for all the fun we had at your wonderful get away, we enjoyed the outside nature and also the intimate encounters to be had with all the space. Our group especially liked all the trails, and the all day sun. Beautiful weather for October, all was A plus!

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

Family from the Bay Area

Guest: nan (Woodside, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

NOT A MANSION The property is two houses poorly joined together by a long stairwell. Not good for young children. There were BATS living in one bedroom,and bat fecal matter. When called the owner responded to this by bringing a net and putting a towel in a hole!!! All family members left with bug bites or rashes from the poor interior enviornment. The driveway is very steep and difficult to walk up or park cars. Two dead squirrels were in the fenced in area for pets.

Owner response:Your group was very nice, and am a bit surprised by the review that was sent. first off, 99 percent of my guest get all their money back for the security deposit. When you called complained about how you did not burn up the barbecue, I was flexible and even sympathetic and offered to negotiate on the amount you would get refunded. Then the maids told me one of the blenders was missing and only the stand was there. I explained this to you in the letter I sent along with photos of the barbecue which was damaged when your group forgot it along with the corn burning inside of it. Someone tried to clean it up, but when I came and saw ashes below the deck, I knew something was wrong, and checked the inside which would not ignite anymore. This is when I noticed the burners were cracked, and notified you. It cost me well over the 100 dollars that I deducted. As far as the bats are concerned, when you leave the door open at night, wild creatures can enter the bedroom, as I cautioned your friends when I came the next morning. The fecal mater from the bats or whatever came through the open door was only created by your group not closing the outside doors at night. Same goes for any bug bites. The driveway is not that steep, I saw Lexus and Porshes up there when I came over, and lots of guests previously with Lincolns and other luxury cars did not complain. Finally, you son in law called me while I was out of town, and verbally threatened me and told me he was coming back to Lake Tahoe next week if he did not get his money back. I can only assume you had no idea and all for the 100 dollars that I ducted from your security deposit. Not only am I disappointed with the outcome, all the guest I talked to loved the place. We strive to make every guest happy and for you to send such a false review can only make me think maybe you cannot afford all the fancy cars that you showed up in. As far as your son in law goes, any more threatening phone calls will force me to file a restraint order against him.

Recommended for:

Fun in April with snow and sun

Guest: SF Sue (Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

We stayed at The Secluded Tahoe Mansion and could not believe how peaceful it was. There were only the sounds of silence here the two spas were fantastic and always a big welcome after skiing all day and attending to the sore muscles. The layout was fantastic as the group we were with was diversified and some of the group wanted to go to bed early the others stayed in the upper portion of the house that had complete privacy from the lower part of the house. The dining room was ample, and we found that putting some extra guests in the kitchen was the right approach as there is a butcher block with bar stools that seated four more. The gas ranges worked flawlessly and having two work areas for the kitchen gave everyone room. The big screen TV worked well also and we watched the San Francisco stations that had all the important info which was pertinent to us. The town of Tahoe City is close and some of the group walked to the bus stop and got to town in less than 15 minutes from leaving the house. The Ski shuttle also stopped at the top of Dollar Hill and we took that also to save on gas. The two furnaces worked good and all the beds seemed firm and there were many pillow top mattresses and all the pillows were fresh. The 5 bathrooms made having time for a shower easy and there were more than enough towels to go around for the spa users, and plenty of extra towels for the shower. Having 2 washers and dryers was a great benefit, and the location of each laundry room was central to where the bedrooms were. The bar was fully equipped with wine glasses and also plenty of tumblers for drinks as well as a vast supply of shooter glasses. The barbecue off the dining room made serving dinner very easy and no fuss. The 7 11 market is less than a half mile away and the Tahoe Nordic Ski center and lodge was walking distant. They rent skis and also snowshoes. There are also lots of kids sizes and the people there are very helpful and friendly. We miss being at Tahoe and will look forward to someday returning to the Secluded Tahoe Mansion again.

Owner response:I appreciate it when I get reviews like yours and am so glad your group enjoyed your stay!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Solitude and Snow

Guest: Sammy of Miami (Reno)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/10/11

We stayed at the Secluded Tahoe Mansion, and we thoroughly enjoyed our Stay! The house was fairly large and spread out, and it was easy to get lost with all the different rooms and the place has a great southern exposure in one part of the house, mainly the great room with cross country skiing within our view. Early morning sun shines into the front of the house and the house is situated so there is total privacy without closing the blinds. The two spas were very clean and well maintained; same goes for the entire house. The two separate kitchens is a good idea as some of the group were vegans and they had no worries preparing their dishes as did we on the big barbecue off the dining room deck which is near the other kitchen. We played cards on the poker table, and there are also other games including a bumper pool table in the lower house. Kitchens were well equipped as well as the bathrooms with plenty of towels and the bedrooms all with extra bedding. We brought our golden retriever also and he loved the snow which was at least 10 feet deep in spots. The kids set up a sled run that ran from the top of the property to the street. The street is really a court, and there was no traffic to worry about, except for the snow removal which showed up daily due to the snowstorm. There are several supermarkets in Tahoe City which is 3 miles away, and many different restaurants there also. Ski and snow board rentals are also in Tahoe City with many boutique shops and gift shops also. The one thing none of our group will forget is how quiet the house is with no traffic noises, and the beauty of the snow right out the backyard of the house. There is a ski area that host cross country skiers with groomed trails and ski rentals within walking distance. The owner made us feel right at home and was available to answer questions and the internet and electronic systems all worked very good. Parking was only on the street due to all the snow, but the snow removal service came by daily and cleared our way out to the main street. Everyone had a good time and we emailed the owner and thanked him for such a good time.

Owner response:Thank you for the great review, we try and make things as comfortable as possible.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, pet owners.

Enchanted Stay in January

Guest: Sal from Cal (Santa Cruz)
Date of Stay: 01/14/11 Review Submitted: 04/04/11

We stayed at Tahoe many times, and this house was very nice considering all details. There is actually 2 different houses that are connected by a central staircase that is completely enclosed. The best part for us was we decided to invite a few extra guests and the house has room for 22 to 24 people and with just 16 of us it was a slam dunk.. The Tahoe Nordic ski center is right close by and having the ski rentals there was just what we needed. We did not have to drive at all and the people there are so hospitable. They have snow shoe rentals also so it was really great for the older people who came with us. The house was very clean, all appliances worked well, and having the 3 different wood stoves was very country. The owner of the property was very helpful and always available by telephone as we needed to contact him about extra cars and where to park them. The driveway is very long and quite steep, and the winter snow covered it with many feet. The parking area in front of the house was ample, and we had a very wonderful time. The two spas were also working great, and we enjoyed our privacy

Owner response:Thanks for the review, and come back anytime!

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

Not a Mansion...

Guest: Ron (Applegate, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/23/10 Review Submitted: 12/15/10

We stayed for a week at Thanksgiving, 2010; there were nine of us. We all had our own bedroom, although they were quite small; one mattress in the upper house was quite uncomfortable. The furniture in both houses was quite dated. The recliners in the upper house would not un-recline; you had to get help to get out. There are 52 steps from roadway to the upper house; 25 from roadway to lower house. These steps were not cleared of snow when we arrived; nor was the snow ever cleared while we were there. The enclosed part of the steps from lower house to upper house were random; different heights, different spacing making if very difficult to carry things up. The enclosure is a joke in that you can see under the steps to the outdoors which was dimly lit. The cookstove and oven in upper house did not have any vent fan and tended to set off the smoke detector alarm. The spas never got above 90 degrees. The fire wood supplied is too long for the stoves. We have been having Thanksgiving family reunions for 20 years and have rented many homes over the years; this is the first time that we have written a negative review. This home would be best described as a sorority or fraternity house.

Owner response:I am reading the review and it is nothing like the letter I received that stated on how much you enjoyed the house. I think that if I would have given you your deposit back you might be more truthful about the accomadations. The turkey fryer you used could have caught the rear deck on fire and I am thankful that you moved it. Unfortunately when you moved it over and beyond the deck you left it right on top of the driveway and when the turkey grease spilled or was dumped, it made such a terrible mess that there were many dogs and other critters digging through the snow looking for the source. Not only did it cost more than the security deposit that you left, the grease was tracked through the upper portion of the house all over the stone floors and also the carpets that were in the living room and kitchen at the upper kitchen. The worse part was you tried to hide the mess by burrying snow on top of it. As far as the review goes most furniture in the house is high end leather and also fairly new. The leather 3 piece set in the lower part of the house is barely a year old. The double leather recliner reclines when you put pressure on it and pull the lever. The spas need to be covered when not in use to get into the 100s, there is so much firewood that you were either too lazy to get another log or got a piece that was intended for the large firepit out in the back yard. The covered stairs that go all the way to the street are meant to be enclosed enough to keep the snow out and they do that job quite well. I make it a responsibility to make all guests happy and comfortable, and had I not been there to personally see the grease damage, I am sure the maids would have not noticed. Your responsibility as a tennant was not fulfilled when you left such a terrible mess and almost denied doing it until I sent you the pictures of the neighborhood dogs cleaning up your greasy mess!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Springtime at the Lake

Guest: Granny from the Bay (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 06/04/10 Review Submitted: 06/11/10

We had a delightful Spring Vacation at Beautiful Lake Tahoe. The weather did not co-operate and we spent most of the time indoors, but also did have time to hike out the back yard which goes for many miles in the woods and wilderness. The house was described very well in the different web sites we went to, and even though there was quite a few of us we could get away from each other into the many sections of this nice home. Each bedroom had a TV, but we ended up watching the big screen in the upper house. The speakers added to the effect and the raised ceiling gives good acoustics. There were two gas barbecues, and both were large and fairly new, one off the dining room, and the other located on the rear deck. The two separate kitchens made preparing large meals quite easy, and with the spas located mid way between the houses, there was ample room for the kids to burn off the energy, and also ride their bikes around the woods out back. There is a 7-11 close by the house, and Tahoe City is right down the hill a few miles from the house. The wild life was everywhere, from squirrels to chipmunks and raccoons and blue jays, and there was even a sighting of a porcupine! There was ample bedding and towels for everyone, and even though we did not swim in Tahoe, we spent a lot of time in the two spas. All in all we enjoyed our stay, and appreciate the owners accommodating us at such short notice, and also for letting us check in early!

Owner response:Thank you for your nice review, we strive to make all guest comfortable and have a great time

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

A fun week in the mountains

Guest: ski bum krysti (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 04/24/10 Review Submitted: 05/24/10

We recently stayed at the Secluded Tahoe Mansion, and are repeat customers that are very satisfied with what we found. There was a lot of nice furniture added and it is very high end including many leather couches and sofa beds as well as many other flat screen TVs and lots of new pillow top beds as well as new linens and drapery. The house is really two houses connected by a common stairway which is covered, and has access to the two large hot tubs, as well as the long driveway and parking area and two separate fenced yards. This arrangement was perfect as the adults could turn the kids loose and have some time to ourselves. The kids loved the entertainment area in the lower house, and with the large hot tub out the rear bedrooms, they were constantly having fun on the big deck area. We brought our dog that had her own fenced yard with a covered deck to stay on and be near the children. This home is perfect for young children as they can wander everywhere, and there is no traffic as the house is on a cull de sac. Out the rear of the house is a large meadow where you can walk for miles on marked trails which are a ski area. There was still some snow in April, and we made use of the sleds that were provided by the owner. The upper house area is definitely a dazzler with a big dining room area that has a bar which has wine and beverage glasses as well as martini shakers and other goodies. The rock floors are a nice touch as the place always looked clean even though there were a lot of kids running in and out. The big plasma flat screen worked really well, and we enjoyed watching all the San Francisco channels as well as many movie channels. We even had a barbecue in the sun on the rear deck, and made a nice campfire out in the big fire pit located at the end of the driveway. We had pizza delivered from close by, and did enjoy dining out at Jakes and Wolfdales. It was truly a romantic get a way, and already we are planning on returning again, as that is all the kids talked about when we left the nice mountain retreat

Owner response:Thanks for the nice review, we strive to make all our guests happy

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

Hidden Paradise in the Mountains

Guest: Santa Fe Ski Nut (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 04/12/10 Review Submitted: 04/23/10

My family stayed at your beautiful complex, and must admit it was a lot more than we expected. First off was the fact that there were two separate areas to congregate. The outdoor spas were very intimate and private, and having two separate spas was a definite plus. We were able to ski right out the back door, and loved the fire pit in the back yard. The open space out back was incredible, and I can imagine how many people hiked or skied out into complete solitude. The house was spotless, and with all the different areas to get together, we made use of all the space. The kids enjoyed sledding right in the front yard, and we were even sunbathing out the rear deck in between the spring storms. Having all the wood to use for the wood burning stoves was nice also as even though the house had forced air heating, the wood burning stoves set their own ambience. The electronics were very sophisticated with the huge plasma TV in the upper living room that had surround sound that literally shook the floor on some of the movies we watched. With all the couches and recliners the whole group of us was able to meet in the great room to watch our ski videos we did on the large plasma screen. We will always keep this house in mind as it was special for all of us and the price was even better!

Owner response:Thanks for the nice review, I am always trying to make the place comfortable for all.

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

not really a "Mansion"

Guest: papawolf (San Franciso)
Date of Stay: 03/11/05 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

My friends and I stayed here over the winter. It does have a lot of rooms with beds to sleep in but the layout is very inconvenient. The reason I don't think this house is a "Mansion" as described is because the layout suggests that at one time it was two seperate houses that are now connected to each other, but the job was done very poorly. If you want to get from one house to the other you have to either walk through an outside patio area covered in snow, or up a long, unheated stairwell. Getting around the house can be a pain. The description of the kitchen amenities is accurate but its only because there are two seperate kitchens that are divided by the long stairwell I described. There is not enough seating for everyone in the living room to watch a movie. Parking can be an issue if you have too many cars. Two of our cars got $55 tickets because they were in the way of the snow plow. This house is great if all you are looking for is a place to sleep, but if you plan on hanging out there or entertaining then I would find a different house. I was unimpressed given the price.

Owner response:Thanks for the review, unfortunately all people cannot be happy, especially when parking in the winter and you show up with twenty cars, and block traffic for other homes in the area. I strive to make every guest happy, but when you park more cars in the area than it can accomadate you have to pay the price. Also, most guests like the split housing area so they can have their own space.

Recommended for: