Retreat Group Visit

Guest: Tin Man 84' (Lacey, WA)
Date of Stay: 09/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

The group enjoyed the weekend stay very much. The cottage had all odf the amenities and was very roomy and comfortable. The scenary was breathtaking. We relaxed, fished off of the deck, and grilled alot. Our expectations were exceeded in every way. I highly recommend the cottage to others. You will not be disappointed.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Charming hide-a-way

Guest: Ed (Seattle, Washington)
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/25/11

Descending the stairs to this waterfront cabin takes one away from the cares and concerns of everyday life. The fully furnished and tastefully decorated cottage is the prefect place to relax and let the rhythm of the wind and the tide wash away your mental cobwebs. You can take a walk on the isolated beach, at low tide, or just sit on the deck and watch the sunset turn Mount Rainier pink. I am looking forward to my next visit.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+.

Wonderful Waterfront Experience

Guest: Tami (Silver Spring, MD)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11 Review Submitted: 09/22/11

We had an amazing time at this house. The steep steps down (could pose a challenge to those with limited mobility) were perfect for us - providing even more of a feeling of escaping and 'being away from it all'. The house itself sits above the water, at high tide it gives the feeling of being on a house boat. The view from the large deck is both breathtaking and completely relaxing - listening to the waves lapping on the shore and watching fish jump feet away from the dock. Couldn't imagine a better place to stay on Vashon Island!!

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

We won't be back

Guest: dancyn (okanogan, wa)
Date of Stay: 09/04/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

We have yearly get togethers with friends from out of state and have rented alot of houses over the years for that purpose. We are flexible, down to earth folks, but found this a disagreeable vacation home. We knew about the 120 steps, though "steep" is putting it mildly, the treads were also very narrow and hazardous, and that is the only way to get baggage and food items to the house. Even our spry, athletic dog was hesitant. The layout was very poor. The bedrooms are all up a very narrow and somewhat rickety spiral staircase. It was difficult to get up and down, and a real challenge with any baggage. The bathroom upstairs, (which consists of a bidet to urinate and an incinerator toilet for feces) is in one of the bedrooms, so to use the facilities in the night you either have to enter someone's bedroom or negotiate the spiral staircase to the downstairs bathroom. Likewise for showering. The refrigerator was falling apart and not clean. It also froze much of our food over the 4 days we were there. The kitchen cabinetry was falling apart, the dishwasher did a terrible job with the dishes (even following the "special" instructions) and many of them already on the shelf had to be washed by hand before they could be used. We couldn't use the drip coffee maker because there were no filters, we couldn't use the teapot to boil water because it had rust in the bottom. We brought makings for some blended beverages, but the blender was old and dysfunctional, spewing contents out of the broken cover. There were "rules" posted all over the place with duct tape, and they had obviously been there for a long time because the paper was discolored and torn. They also had additonal fees that were not included in the posted rate, so ask about that. It is true the view is nice and you are right on the water, but you can't really stroll around on the beach because of the close proximity of other residences. We were all in agreement, we expected better for the money.

Owner response:I am very surprised by the response of this guest as we have had many guests throughout the summer who have loved the beach retreat. The stairs to the house are steep and uneven, but we are very clear with people in explaining this, along with the fact that all things need to be taken down those stairs since the parking is above. The spiral staircase is not rickety and is clearly visible in photos on the website. The fact that the 3 bedrooms are on the 2nd floor is also clear if you read the website carefully. The bathroom upstairs is in the master bedroom, but the house is a vacation home and with large groups, there is the reality of not having the privacy you would in a hotel. The refrig is old, but functions fine and has its own thermostat so people can change the temperature to their liking. We did not know the blender was broken and will replace it. We have a fairly new dishwasher but it is not as functional as its advertising said when we bought it, so I have noted that for people. The coffee filter must have been accidentally thrown away as it was one of the washable ones and we will replace it as well. As for the fees, they are all clearly posted on the website.

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Great find/wonderful location and amenities

Guest: Bev (Seattle, WA /Penedo. Portugal)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/11/10

This darling beach house is right on the water. When the tide is in, and the water under the house, it is like a spacious houseboat. I looked straight at Mount Ranier the entire 3 days, as the weather couldn't have been better. I fished off the deck, and actually had fresh silver salmon one night. Other people were crabbing out on boats, and getting their limits! The deck is great for sunning and hanging out, and I used the outdoor shower for rinsing off the saltwater. At night we cooked some smores in the outdoor fireplace. The kitchen is well stocked, the decor just right - stained glass with bleached knotty pine, and original art. I definitely will come back to this special retreat.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

Guest: Joel (-)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

The beach retreat is so peaceful...we caught salmon and barbecued it right on the deck. When the weather was sunny and clear, it felt like we could touch Mt. Rainier. And on the rainy days, it was fun to see the clouds engulf the mountain. We would love to come to the beach retreat again some day! The stairs are a bit of a challenge, but it made us stay down at the beach and enjoy it that much more!

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