Vacation Rentals by Owner

Full of character and charm!

Guest: Family of 5 (Plainsboro, NJ)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/25/11

This charming and beautiful cottage makes you feel instantly at home. Tucked away and overlooking a pond with wild flowers blooming, it was truly a fairy tale experience. The kitchen is stocked with every appliance you need, the linen closet full, and the wood stove worked like a charm for a surprisingly chilly April night. Ideally located near grocery stores, main street, and the ferry, one can still leave behind all hub bub and chaos, either secluded back at home or when walking on a nearby trail. We were pleasantly surprised to be met with a stellar book and magazine collection, a wide variety of board games, and high speed internet (for those few moments you do want to connect with the outside world!) Ben was attentive, always accessible by phone, even checking in to see how our everything was after we first arrived and reminding us to bring a flashlight. It was a truly wonderful experience, sure to be enjoyed by all. Do note however that we received almost zero cellphone reception at the cottage and other parts of the island. The land line was available for local and long distance calls, but those tethered to their blackberry's should watch out - you truly get away from it all here! We enjoyed the cottage immensely as well as its immediate surroundings and we were able to take walks and small hikes nearby. While it took us a while to find the house on Friday night when it was dark, we quickly became familiar with the area.

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

Beautiful cottage, however...

Guest: wildwood (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/12/10 Review Submitted: 07/20/10

The house was as described for the most part and does look like the pictures, a beautiful cottage. You can not beat the location, if you enjoy seclusion. We did enjoy exploring the island and the owner was very pleasant to deal with. The house is very private, overlooks a gorgeous pond that teams with life; water lilies, dragon flies and you will hear bull frogs at night. If you choose to stay here I would definitely recommend bringing a car to the island, the house is quite a distance off a dirt/sand road, in the woods. With that being said, some things you need to know about the house is that it does not have air conditioning and could use some cleaning and maintenance. There was some kind of fungus growing in the kitchen window screen. We found garbage outside on the deck that we cleaned up ourselves. There were ants in the kitchen. When we arrived there was hair in the sheets and we had to wash the linens. There were dirty towels stowed in the bottom of the linen closet that we also had to wash. I guess the house cleaner missed the sheets and dirty towels. It might not have been his regular cleaning person that cleaned before our visit, which may have contributed to some of our difficulties. Also, there was only one washcloth, so you may want to bring extras or you have to do laundry every day, like we did. There are two washcloths there now, as I bought one and left it there. The bathrooms were lacking toilet paper on arrival, which the owner did quickly resolved. My biggest complaint was the beds were very uncomfortable and hard, and the linens had holes in them, not quite as advertised. The owner also needs to update the information that the house includes a beach pass to Pilot Hill Beach and not Lamberts Cove. We ended up leaving a day early as our time was not comfortable there, due to the record heat and the hard beds. Most of these issues were minor bumps in the road, but in retrospect, I think I would have preferred to stay at a nice hotel in Edgartown and given up a bit of seclusion. But overall, we are glad we went, it was our first time to Martha's Vineyard and we did enjoy our time on the island.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Yum

Guest: maia (washington, dc)
Date of Stay: 07/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/26/10

We loved our stay here. The house exceeded our expectations of a beautiful and interesting old-fashioned new england cottage. (It's better than the photos, always a pleasant surprise.) The surroundings are a nature-lover's dream, especially the wisteria-covered trellises in back. How peaceful to wake up and look out at tendrils, and osprey over the pond, and to hear bull frogs at night. We adults loved it, and our children loved it with its various mysteries and nooks. It's walkable to the beach, and other nearby beaches are terrific too after hours. There are also two great swimming holes (ponds) nearby. Nearby, albeit a short drive, is the excellent State Street Restaurant, and Fiddlehead Market and Allie's General Store for food. Definitely clean. Frankly, I'd like to move the whole house to our property in Maine, sans perhaps the other outdoor structures which we didn't use. If you want old-fashioned Vineyard (with all the modern amenities), go for this.

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

Wonderful property with tons of character

Guest: DC Family (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 08/02/09 Review Submitted: 08/18/09

We recently had the pleasure of staying at this wonderful property for two weeks this summer. The location is great -- you feel a world away (all the cottages are very private), but are a quick car or bike ride to town. The owner is one of the easiest people I have ever dealt with when renting a house and went above and beyond to make sure our stay was truly special. The house itself has tons of charm -- we loved all the special touches, especially the wood carvings, and it is very well thought out. The property also has flexibility if you are not sure how many will be in your party -- the owner doesn't rent out the other cottages and they are there if you need them (but you are not paying for them if you don't). We would definitely rent it again -- it is really a unique and special place.

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

Loved every detail!!

Guest: Rebekah L. (Baltimore MD)
Date of Stay: 04/05/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/09

We were lucky enough to rent the main house on this property for a few days in April at the last minute. The owner was incredibly friendly, helpful, and very responsive via email. This is an amazing house and location for anyone who wants some peace and quiet, while still being close to the action of Vineyard Haven. Set down a long winding road, it feels very isolated, yet it's just a five minute drive to downtown, and the ferry. The house itself, and the history of it, were captivating. There are such amazing details throughout that it was hard to ever want to leave! The kitchen was fantastic and totally well equipped. The bathrooms looked like they were out of a magazine with the wood walls and claw foot tubs. Beds were comfortable and the linens were great. The living room has a great wood burning stove, and very nice furnishings, and you can sit and look at the pond all day (we were there when it was cold!). The deck off of the living room looked seemed fantastic for al fresco dining when it's warmer. I am trying to figure out when we could bring our children back here, because between the pond, the rec barn, and the sleeping loft, they would love it there. It is a really beautiful property, and I can't wait to go back.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/09

Hi Ben, Your house was the perfect getaway for us teachers during the winter break. We slept late (such a luxury), ate on the back deck because it was that nice out, hung out by the fire, and took long walks on the beaches and surrounding trails. It looked magical one night when it started to softly snow. We were all around the fire playing a board game and we flicked on the light to the back deck only to notice huge snowflakes in the light. It was so peaceful! It was a perfect trip. We all appreciated the wonderful accommodations. We hope to return next winter!

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Guest: S.I.
Date of Stay: 09/12/06 Review Submitted: 09/11/06

Hi Ben, We're sadly home from your magical house...[the door knobs! the hidden doors! the wisteria vine! the fireplace with a heart!] We had great weather and the yard looked amazing. The gardener did a great job trimming and everything looked lovely. The house was perfect for the dinner, candle light everywhere, no bugs, warm air and lots of love floating around. The next day the breeze was out of the south and we had a wonderful sail and wedding aboard the Shenandoah. Your house provided the needed respite from the craziness and a place for the family to be together. Thanks so much. I'll forward shots of the yard as soon as I download them. It was quite beautiful. Thanks again, everyone wants to return next year.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/19/06

We stayed at the cottage for a week in mid-June and wished we had booked for longer. The setting is idyllic and even more beautiful than the photographs suggest. The deck overlooking the pond is marvellous, and even though the cottage is described as rustic, it lacks nothing. The large variety of birds to be seen around the property actually prompted me to buy a birdwatching guide - another excuse to sit on the deck. The owner could not have been more helpful, even calling us to make sure everything was in order and giving us useful tips on where to go and what to see. You could never regret choosing this beautiful cottage for your vacation.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/09/06

Our family lived on Martha's Vineyard for eight years before moving to California. We miss the island SO much, and try to return each year for a visit. For the last two years we have had the great pleasure of staying at Ben's house. I can honestly say that this homestead is a perfect Vineyard sanctuary! The house is rustic & charming and sits within a magical, natural setting . . . it is truly a special place. A perfect location for getting around the island, too. We have already marked our calendar for next year!

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Guest: K.H.
Date of Stay: 06/21/06 Review Submitted: 06/20/06

Hi Ben, Thank you for sharing your home with us!! We had a wonderful vacation and hope to return next year!! Your home induces such relaxation and comfort with all the sounds of nature that "SLEEPY HOLLOW" is our choice for a name. Enjoy your summer. Thanks again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/06 Review Submitted: 06/21/06

Our family just spent a week in the enchanted cottage in Tisbury. We found it hard to pack up in the afternoon and head to the beach because we were so comfortable and relaxed. You could spend the whole day sitting on the large porch facing the pond and listening to the sounds of nature.

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Guest: J.M. and A.B.
Date of Stay: 04/21/06 Review Submitted: 04/20/06

Ben: Greetings from Flat Bottom Pond! Our week has flown by. We have very much enjoyed our special time here on the island, and at this amazing house. It has been a great time of doing some things, and nothing...Highlights from our week have included watching the Gravity Races out at Aquinnah last weekend, coming across deer, wild turkey, osprey and other critters in our wanderings, finding stretches of beach and all the little nooks and crannies of this place. Your house has performed admirably--well equipped, comfortable, and a great place to start and end each day here. Before I gush on about it too much, allow me to ask if there is anything we can do/get before we head out first thing tomorrow? Our time here has also set us thinking. It appears we have been at least mildly bitten by the Island bug. Today we are going to browse a couple of places for sale! I'll keep you posted. If you have any pointers, let us know! We'll be in touch. Thanks again.

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Guest: O.S. and L.L.
Date of Stay: 11/21/05 Review Submitted: 11/20/05

Hi Ben, Just wanted to send you a message to say THANK YOU for letting us rent your most WONDERFUL home. We had just a most perfect weekend and it was a really great b-day gift for me. I could not have asked for it to have been more wonderful than it was!!!!!!!! What an incredible home and surrounding. The more we go to the island the more we fall in love with it. If you are still holding a "name the house" contest, I have many names to offer and suggest but would like to comment that it already is great as is and if it is to be named, it should be from you. The house has a real soulfulness. I think you should give it the name that you feel most connected to with it. Lastly, my very silly way of saying thanks: I wrote a Haiku for your home: shooting stars abound reflections of island peace on flat bottom pond Anyway, L. and I loved being there and hope we can stay again. Happy Thanksgiving! (sorry so lengthy a message!) P.S. We drank some of your vodka so we left you some of our sake.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/04 Review Submitted: 07/18/04

The house is described as "whimsical", which it is, but more than that it is an incredibly special and unique place and space. Picture a wonderful dirt road past split-rail fences that leads to the most charming house overlooking your own pond. And that's just the arrival. The house is bright and charming and clean and beautiful and captivating. It is THE country cottage!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/04 Review Submitted: 02/26/04

I've stayed at Ben's house twice, both times have been in winter. And both times we've had snow and have loved to get a fire going in the bedroom or in the woodstove in the living room and watch the snow falling through the windows and skylights. The house feels like a cabin and is nestled in the woods so that you feel surrounded by trees. But the pond creates a big, open space so you also get a long view. It's a wonderful place to stay and feels very secluded. Vineyard Haven is nearby for buying food and the like. I highly recommend it.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/03 Review Submitted: 08/25/03

I have been vacationing on the Vineyard for the past several years and have never had a better experience with a rental home or with a homeowner. The interior of the home is a vacation in itself. The blend of vibrant and sedate colors, the attention to decorative details, and the hint of playfulness that can be found throughtout this arhictecturally unique home offer as much for the senses as the sand and sky. Clearly no expense or effort of imagination was spared in outfittng and decorating this home. The pond and grounds on which the home lies offer a tranquility and solitude that has been difficult to find in recent summers on the Vineyard. At the same time, the home is situated such that you have quick access to beaches, restuarants, shopping, etc. In making our arrangements to rent the home I found the homeowner to be nothing short of a delight to deal with. The homeowner goes out of his way to provide info meant to help you enjoy your Island experience, via e-mail and via the informational binder you can find in the home. The only reservation I have in recommending this home is the fact that I don't want the word to get out such that I have trouble booking in the future!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/03 Review Submitted: 08/25/03

My family spent a wonderful week on the Vineyard at Ben's house. It is a spectacular location. The house itself was immaculate and had every ammenity we could want. If you are looking for a private yet conveniently situated house with a beautiful view, this is the place! We reccomend it highly and would return again without a doubt.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/03 Review Submitted: 06/15/03

We have vacationed here off-season for the past 3 years, and have loved it! The house is very unusual and filled with character. The setting is completely private and peaceful. You can barely see the closest neighbor- and they are across the pond. The kitchen is well stocked, and the house is spotless and comfortable. Beautiful nature trails are at your doorstep. Very highly recommended!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/03 Review Submitted: 05/31/03

As a longtime Vineyard visitor (30+ years), I can honestly say that this is one of the most beautiful locations in which I've ever stayed! The pond is pristine, the accomodations high-quality and the isolation divine! Far enough away to feel like there's no one within miles but close enough to town to get there quickly and easily. Highly recommended.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/03 Review Submitted: 05/20/03

These are the most extroidinary cottages! Convenient,artistic,comfortable! Ambiance plus! You will remember this vacation forever! If it's for the family or just for 2, it's a definite 10! Highly recommended! K

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