Vacation Rentals by Owner

So perfect it' hard to leave

Guest: Bodie (Idaho Falls, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 04/15/12 Review Submitted: 05/25/12

The worst thing about our rental experience was the day we had to leave our new friends and vacation home. From the time we drove into our private entry gate and saw this gorgeous Mediterranean style place, we immediately knew we could call it home for the next 30 days. We had made a great decision. The pictures posted on the web site did not do justice to this gleaming beauty. The entire property is fenced, and allowed Bodie, our 10 pound Maltese/Yorkie to run the manor without parental worries. We have traveled extensively, and rented many vacation homes, yet this is one of the most comfortable places we’ve stayed. If we wanted to take the day off from the kitchen, the proximity of the house was convenient (and walking distance) to terrific Santa Ynez village restaurants, bars, coffee shops and wineries. Since Rosi and Colin have lived here for many years, they were able to make excellent suggestions on places to go, do and see. They are perfect hosts who are as visible or invisible as you desire. Because we love to cook, we brought along much of our own kitchen utensils and equipment, but did not need to use them. The kitchen was well stocked with more than the ubiquitous blender and coffee pot; they had thought of extras such as a coffee grinder, food processor, table linens and more. The luxurious bed linens and towels rival a four star hotel and most importantly; we had plenty of hot water for all the showers for our frequent overnight guests. Our private patio with its own gas grill and table was perfect for morning coffee times, or evening wine down times. What can I say about the glorious pool and spa? A short 30 minute wait to heat the spa and begin soaking cares away. Big decisions had to be made whether to drink white or red wine, and what to nosh on poolside. We were provided beach towels, umbrellas and lounge chairs, and occasionally graced with Cabana service bringing extra treats for us to enjoy! Rosi and Colin have thought of everything to make you feel comfortable while visiting their guest house, and if you had a need, ask…it magically would appear. Writing all the great things about this property is risky, since it could limit availability to schedule our next holiday here.

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

The best

Guest: Northern visitor (Alaska )
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

My husband and I spent Jan -> mid-March at Colin and Rosi's special spot in Santa Ynez. We'll be back, so you know that in our book this was a special experience. What made it memorable? Rosi and Colin, the guest house itself, the grounds, Santa Ynez and the other valley communities, the weather, and the fact that our hosts also welcomed our dogs, who were in dog heaven! Having our hosts as neighbors was a boon in so many ways. They find the perfect balance between making guests feel welcome, being available to answer questions and make suggestions for exploring the area, and not being intrusive. They went out of their way to give us a hand with our two dogs, as I arrived with an ankle fractured en route, and was in no way able to walk a dog for the first month of our visit. Their readiness to lend a hand in such unexpected circumstances was so appreciated....As to the guest house: we found it comfortable and easy to live in. Even in late winter we caught the sun on the patio or over in the pool grounds. The location was ideal -- at the far side of Santa Ynez, and almost 'out in the country,' yet within walking distance of Santa Ynez' downtown district. Our daily walks (as I recuperated!) took us along properties where horses, alpacas, llamas, cows, ostriches, and other creatures grazed. Charming! Now, for our next visit valley winery visits are already at the top of our list!

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

A great place for rest and relaxation!

Guest: CDNmade (Ottawa, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/10/11 Review Submitted: 02/05/12

Colin and Rosi, thank you once again for the wonderful stay in your guest home. The house is everything indicated on the website and your extra touches, as others have said, make the house a home away from home. You are gracious, generous and incredibly thoughtful. We loved our time in Santa Ynez, the comfort of your home, your encouragement to use the spa, recommendations for golf and dining, your welcome of our visiting family, and assistance with wayward luggage and deliveries. We look forward to seeing you again this December (and hope our rave reviews won't make it more difficult to book in the future!).

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

Awesome time.

Guest: Eva (New Orleans)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/23/12

My husband and I had a great time. A very clean, easy living, walk to town, wonderful views, pet friendly home. Rosi and Colin are the best host, they go out their way to help with anything you might need. Skinny dipping is out, cause you just know if the cayoties are watching. Tot ziens.

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

Great Place

Guest: Jude (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/24/12

We rented the property for 2 months and had a wonderful time. The property was as it appeared on the web site. The property was clean and well maintained, which included the pool and the hot tub. We really enjoyed the owners, Colin and Rosi, we became good friends during our stay and would certainly stay there again in addition to telling friends/relatives about it. We are golfers, so the course at Solvang was very handy and a great course.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

The Perfect Place!

Guest: Lisa (Ketchum, ID)
Date of Stay: 03/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/09/11

Oh my, where to begin? This little guest house (attached) was perfect for our 2-month stay in Santa Ynez. Neat and clean with comfy beds and linens; a well-stocked kitchen; complete laundry; sunny patio; we couldn't have asked for more. Colin & Rosi are the quintessential hosts, as available and helpful as you need and as invisible and discreet as you might want; and they actually seemed to LOVE having our two big dogs around! TONS to do in this area, and even properties nearby where you can board horses, as we did. We hiked, biked, rode horseback, went to wineries, visited Santa Barbara, Palm Desert and LA, and had a lovely time. The only problem with giving this good a review is that it might be booked next time we want to use it!

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

Wish We Never Had to Leave

Guest: Wish I Were in Santa Ynez Now (Indianapolis, IN/USA)
Date of Stay: 12/01/10 Review Submitted: 01/17/11

To say that Colin and Rosi are accommodating and gracious hosts is perhaps the understatement of the century. Wish you had a blanket to curl up in while watching TV? Rosi had several to us in minutes. A minor plumbing problem? Colin would put any plumber to shame with how quickly he fixed it. Not sure where to store your bicycle for the month that you're staying in the guest house? Help yourself, they said, to our storage building next to the pool. Unseasonable rainstorms? Rosi bakes us an apple pie because she felt badly that we had to deal with such inclement conditions. Expecting a package to be delivered? No problem, Rosi signs for it and has it waiting at our door. Need help finding a ranch where your kids can go horseback riding? Rosi has a suggestion and a phone number. Looking to do things other than wine tours/tastings? They give us a list of off-the-tourist path activities that you won't find in the tourist magazines and guides. You're probably noticing a trend at this point. Our family (including our two adorable but yappy dogs) spent a month at the Cooper's guest house during the Christmas/New Year's holidays and couldn't have been happier with the accommodations. Comfortable and homey; quiet, peaceful area surrounded by extraordinary natural beauty; wireless Internet (sit outside on the patio, watch the sun come up over the mountains, check your emails...bet you can't do that from an office cubicle); walking distance to "downtown" Santa Ynez and short drives to Solvang and Los Olivos; perfectly located for the 30-minute drive into Santa Barbara; our own entrance and driveway...ahhh, it feels nice to just write about this property after our experience there. No need to belabor the point, I think you get the picture. If you plan to spend any extended period of time in the SY Valley, forget about a hotel. Reserve this rental home. It's a tremendous value compared to any tiny hotel room in Solvang or surrounding communities, and especially to other rental homes nearby. With two bedrooms that comfortably accommodate 4 (we had five at various points in the visit), the return on investment is great, but the experience of staying at this home with such amazing hosts is priceless. We have traveled extensively throughout the world and always enjoy meeting new people along the way. Without a doubt, Colin and Rosi are among the nicest and most genuine people we've met and we're honored to now call them friends.

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

have traveled !!! you want REST over top owners great local food shoping vineyards.....

Guest: stephen (stratford ct)
Date of Stay: 09/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/15/10

never being in the area before and the first time exposure we could have been in Tuscany or heaven Best Zen feeling on vacation.... ps this property is for People who are looking for a very different but Home away from Home

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You're My Rooftop!

Guest: Carolyn8 (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

We had the pleasure of staying at Colin and Rosi’s guest house for a month and it could be the month that has changed my life. It was enough time to fall in love with the area and made me want to move there permanently. "You're my rooftop" and other beautiful sounds of Santa Ynez local musicians still ring in our ears and bring us joy every day. The patio was always inviting and relaxing, the location could not be more ideal, and Colin and Rosi do everything to make your stay comfortable and worthwhile. They even installed a brand new barbecue although the weather made us too relaxed to even cook for ourselves. We adored the place!

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

Wonderful hosts / beautiful house

Guest: Gabriela and Marco (Schoenenbuch, Switzerland)
Date of Stay: 09/27/09 Review Submitted: 10/14/09

Beautiful, very clean house with a lot of love put into the decoration. The pool area is enormous and includes a huge pool, a spa and a cozy pool house. The owner, Rosi and Colin, are very warm, courteous and friendly and made us feel home. They provided an exellent service and asked several times, if all our needs were satisfied. Colin even taught our boys how to play golf and they really enjoyed it. The landscape of Santa Ynez Valley is unique and we felt like having returned to the wild,wild west. We would definitely recommend this property to our friends and relatives. We had such a wonderful stay, thanks to Rosi and Colin, and hope that we will return some day. Thank you Rosi and Colin!

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

Guest: Alex Speros (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 07/08/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

I have stayed at Colin's and Rosi's beautiful home for a period of three months each year the last two years. I can't wait to do it again in 2010. The rental is immaculate. The bicycle riding is unparalleled right out the front door. Colin and Rosi are the perfect hosts and have gone out of there way to make each stay perfect. This is truly a home away from home for me and my fiance. If you have the opportunity to visit the Santa Ynez Valley Colin's and Rosi's rental makes a perfect home base. After a day of bicycle riding, wine tasting or site seeing nothing beats having a barbecue on the private patio looking at the gorgeous view and drinking that special bottle of wine. This vacation home is what makes VRBO so great. The village of Santa Ynez is only a 10 minute walk and has great restaurants, wine tastings and shopping (even an independent drugstore where they recognize you after a single visit). An all around great value and experience.

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Guest: Joanne Schwartz (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/09 Review Submitted: 05/06/09

My boyfriend and I have stayed with Colin and Rosi several times at different times of the year. From the very first time that we stayed here, we felt so at home! It's a super comfortable guest house and the Coopers take great care of you with personal touches like beautiful towels and bedding and a fully stocked kitchen for cooking. It's also an incredibly central location to all of the wineries and restaurants in this area. This is our home away from home.

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Guest: Deborah Sollima (Redondo Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/29/09 Review Submitted: 04/29/09

I have had the pleasure of staying at this wonderful property a number of times now. It is such a treat to be in a home that makes you feel like you're at home. A huge part of that feeling are the wonderful owners, Colin and Rosi. The added bonus for me is being able to take my two big dogs with me to stay. The lovely scenery, quiet accommodations and wonderful weather make it an ideal place to stay year round. It is also easily accessible and centrally located to a lot of fun things in and around the Santa Ynez Valley. The house is immaulate and decorated with such warmth and love. Anyonone who chooses to stay here is in for a real treat.

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Guest: Stacey, Jill & Amara Rezin (Aberdeen, Scotland U.K.)
Date of Stay: 04/27/09 Review Submitted: 04/27/09

My wife and i with my two year old daughter attended a family wedding in Santa Ynez in July 08. We were extremely satisfied with the house and the pool which were both well maintained and reflected exactly what was advertised, spectacular accomodation in a great area. Colin and Rosie made us feel very welcome and we would have no hesitation in renting the property again, only regret was not taking the golf clubs with me to take Colin up on his offer!

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Guest: Viola Hackenberger (Berlin, Germany)
Date of Stay: 04/27/09 Review Submitted: 04/26/09

I do love that place ! It is a must for people who look for a decent house, very nice furnished and light and who like to have their privacy on one hand but also houseowners like Colin and Rosie who would care for every little thing they need and be also there for a short morning or evening chat. The pool is perfect, not to talk about the whirl pool. We do love this place and think there is no better house to stay in if you come to Santa Ynez Valley for a vacation. Viola Hackenberger, Berlin

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/26/09 Review Submitted: 04/26/09

We were attending a 40th wedding anniversary in Santa Ynez with aniother couple. The house was great for the 4 people. It was a very hot weekend (110F). The house stayed very cool and the pool was aa big relief. We would rent this place again if the need arose. Colin and Rosie were great hosts.

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Guest: Jack & Pat Hoffman (Sun Valley, ID)
Date of Stay: 04/25/09 Review Submitted: 04/25/09

Last fall, 2008, we stayed at this property for two weeks while we were looking for a home in the Santa Ynez Valley. The property was very clean and well maintained. The owner was eager to meet all of our needs. In fact, the owner even intoduced me to some of his golfing friends when we played golf at a local course. The location permitted us easy access to all of the surrounding areas. We had a marvelous stay at this location and highly recommend this property to anybody wishing to find a marvelous "home away from home" vacation rental. Sincerely, Jack & Pat Hoffman

Owner response:We enjoyed your visit very much, and we are still amazed that you were able to find and purchase a home in the Valley in only 2 weeks, instead of in the 2 months that you expected it to take, and had planned to stay with us. We are so pleased that you loved Santa Ynez as much as we do. Congratulations.

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