Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value!
Perfectly located in the heart of downtown Saint Joseph. Don't settle for a cramped hotel room. Let Kismet Cottage be your home away from home! Walk to Silver Beach, Downtown & Everything St. Joseph has to offer! Get away to our CLEAN and comfortable, "Kismet Cottage" home. Cozy enough for 2, comfortable for up to 7. Charming, vintage, updated, 1,000+ square foot, 2 story. 3 bedrooms featuring cotton sheets and feather pillows Fully equipped kitchen. Clean bathrooms. Main floor laundry. Kick back on the inviting 23' brick screen porch with vintage bamboo couch and chairs. Cozy yard with patio, gas BBQ, picnic table, glider rockers and charm. You won't want to leave. If you are a beach bum, paddle boarder, wine lover, craft beer consumer, shopper, festival goer, foodie, music lover, art lover, crafter, fisherman, boater, golfer, antiquer, walker, lighthouse fan, chocolate lover, volleyball player, skateboarder or fun-seeker, this area has it all. Take a ride on our full size Carousel or splash in our interactive fountain! Laugh yourself silly at State Street Stuff, voted best gift store in SW Michigan. For your convenience, Kismet Cottage is stocked with local area menus, activity guides and brochures. Saint Joseph is the perfect vacation town. Park your car and stroll the brick streets lined with Mom 'n Pop stores, boutiques, museums, antiques, kids activities, cafes, waterfront dining and eateries! Clean, disinfected & comfortable! Contact me about weeks that may be available even if my calendar shows otherwise. Book early! If the week you are hoping for is already booked, contact me anyway. Our guests LOVE us! We are the MOST popular cottage in Saint Joseph! I start booking for summer a YEAR in advance! Book early! Once you discover Kismet Cottage we know you'll want to return again and again! Your home away from home!! After a long day enjoying all Saint Joseph has to offer, Kismet Cottage will be a welcome refuge. Watch a movie. Play a game. Have a BBQ. Relax on the brick enclosed screen porch. "When you enter some vacation rentals you feel as though you have been deceived. The Kismet Cottage is not one of those. It is a charming little house in downtown St. Joseph, MI with three bedrooms and lots of comfy beds! The owner definitely takes a lot of pride in this vacation rental by the way the house feels and looks when you enter it...." (guest review). Choose Kismet Cottage... because maybe it was meant to be. Welcome home!: All the comforts of home including: WiFi, Cable TV, washer, dryer, dishwasher, stove, microwave, garbage disposal, pots, pans, bake ware, dishes, utensils, toaster, coffee pot, newer furnace with central air, outdoor gas BBQ, inviting patio & patio furniture with gliders and table, radios, alarm clocks, Smart TV , throwback VCR with movie library, music, games, books, puzzles. Complimentary popcorn and beverages including COFFEE!. 3 bedrooms sleep up to 7 with 1 King bed, 1 Queen bed, 1 full and 2 twins. This area has something for everyone! Park your car!: Located on Broad St, 1&1/2 blocks away from the light at Main st. that crosses over into downtown. 2&1/2 blocks from the stairs down to the train station, Silver Beach, the Carousel, Curious Kids Museum Annex, Compass Rose Fountain & World's Largest Kaleidoscope. Relax at Silver Beach, voted one of the top ten beaches in America by Parents Magazine. Let the kids Splash in our interactive outdoor fountain! Experience an outdoor concert, Antique show or Farmers Market. Hike a lake shore path or wander out to 2 historic Lighthouses. Take in an art gallery or artist studio. Explore the children's museum. Shop for clothes, toys, books, furniture, antiques and more. Walk to State Street Stuff, a one-of-a-kind Novelty and Pop Culture department store, since 2012! (Don't miss the original five and dime) Bring your boat. Indulge in fine or casual dining, chocolate and cafes. Enjoy the nightlife, festivals and events. Or... Take a short drive and explore nearby Benton Harbor, Union Pier, New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Coloma, South Haven, Van Buren State Park, Blueberry Picking, Wineries, Breweries and more!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Similar properties
2 bdr historic house located one block/walking distance to downtown St. Joe!
Downtown Saint Joseph
2 bdr historic house located one block/walking distance to downtown St. Joe!
Cleaning fees may be added up to your sec. deposit
default
Events
No events allowed
default
Pets
No pets allowed
default
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items and remove leftover food and drinks
Lock the doors
Please send us a text once you have departed. Check-out time is 10 a.m.
Please wash all dishes and clean up any kitchen messes.
Please return all toys and games, with all of their pieces, to their original location.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Must sign and agree to the rules in a paper rental contract, which will be mailed after the reservation is complete.
Housekeeping fee is for basic cleaning, change of bedding. Guests must clean up ALL their own messes.
No pets or strangers you have met are allowed in the house. No outside guests. Anybody entering the house must be approved by the owner.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 321378
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Saint Joseph
Located on a lake, this cottage is in Downtown Saint Joseph, a neighbourhood in Saint Joseph. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Silver Beach. FuzzyButz Pet Bakery and Margaret B. Upton Arboretum are also worth visiting. Windsurfing and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.
South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 41 min drive
Restaurants
Java City Cafe, Lakeland HealthCare - 3 min drive
Silver Beach Pizza - 5 min walk
Clementines Too - 9 min walk
Silver Harbor Brewing Company - 2 min walk
Azul Tequila - 6 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value!?
As of 6 Jun 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value! on 20 Sept 2026 start from £178, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value!?
Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Downtown St. Joe! Walk to BEACH & EVERYTHING! Clean & Comfortable! Best Value! located?
Located in Downtown Saint Joseph, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of St. Joseph Today and Silver Beach. Lake Michigan is 0.5 mi (0.8 km) away. St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Station is only a 4-minute walk.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a great extended weekend and would definitely come again. Perfect location, within walking distance to downtown with so much to do and see. This is a great foodie town if you are into that. Bike friendly as well. House was clean and welcoming. Host was very responsive and helpful. Would love to come again in the summer so we can enjoy the beach.
We had a great time staying here and the beds were very comfortable. There was coffee/tea, and all the shampoo and soaps were provided. Would recommend to anyone visiting Michigan.
Great location and central to everything we wanted to do- can walk to plenty of restaurants etc. House is clean and comfortable. Perfect for a long weekend.
House was comfortable with an outstanding downtown location.
Ross B.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Sept 2023
Thanks for the great review Ross! I'm not sure why I am just now seeing some of these reviews from last fall. Since your stay, We have replaced the flooring on the main floor and recovered the cushions on the porch furniture! We hope you will visit us again in the future!
We had a lovely weekend, weather was perfect, we were able to walk everywhere we wanted to go. Cindy gave us some great recommendations for shopping and restaurants and kept in touch with us during our stay.
Penny F.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Sept 2024
Thanks Penny! I'm glad you had a great stay! I hope you will visit again in the future.
Conveniently located to the beach and downtown. Enjoyed the many restaurants and the farmers market. Love Lake Michigan and the beautiful sunsets. Property clean and well maintained.
Perfect location
Comfortable set up
Chatted with owner phone a day or two before we got there.
She gave us many ideas of fun things to do a great restaurants to try out
She was very knowledgeable about the area and very proud of her town
Cindy A.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Sept 2023
Thanks Cindy! I'm glad you had a great stay! I hope you will visit again in the summer months, when you can enjoy our award winning beach!
It was refreshing and relaxing getting out of the city and checking out a quaint little town. There were so many things to see and do. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable. Lots of air flow and fans provided. It was nice having multiple bathrooms for multiple people. We had a lovely time.
We stayed for a week at Kismet Cottage. The location is very convenient for trips to the beach and downtown shopping. The home is older, but it was very clean. The beds were very comfortable and the owner responded quickly to questions. We hope to visit again soon.
We had a great time at this house. It is an old house, but so charming and very clean. The beds were super comfy and the bathrooms and kitchen had everything you would need. Cindy was easy to communicate with. The house is located downtown and you can easily walk into town. We drove only because it was a little cooler, weather wise, but it was a 2 min drive and there is tons of free parking in town. We would definitely stay here again.
Great cottage walking distance to downtown St Joe’s!
We truly enjoyed our stay at Kismet Cottage! My family of 4 stayed for a week and felt right at home. The location is great for being outside of the busyness of main street but close enough to walk to restaurants and what St. Joes has to offer. The cottage is quaint and met our needs as a home base. Check in was easy and the house was very tidy and clean. Thanks Cindy for creating such a great place to stay!
Alexandra F.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Sept 2023
Thanks Alex! I'm so glad you had an awesome stay! I hope you will visit again in the future. Wherever you go, safe travels!
This place had everything we needed- Cindy was very gracious and made us feel welcome. Was great to be able to walk to all the restaurants and shopping. We use VRBO regularly, and this was one of the cleanest places we’ve ever stayed.
One caveat- it is an older home, so not a great choice if someone in your group has mobility issues.
Janet M.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
About the host
Hosted by Cindy Barinholtz
I grew up in Evanston, Illinois just 2 hours from St. Joseph. I discovered the area about 14 years ago and fell in love with it. I have traveled around the country and never found all the attributes that St. Joseph has to offer. I have owned Kismet Cottage for 13 years now and 6 years ago opened a fun novelty gift shop in downtown St. Joseph, State Street Stuff. For the last three years we have been voted best gift shop in southwest Michigan! We also have been featured in the new documentary film, "Uncle Fun, you're the one!" Featuring Fun stores around the country.
Why they chose this property
After searching for several years for the perfect St. Joseph Cottage we chose this property for a variety of reasons. We Love the location, just a block and a half from downtown. We wanted to be up the bluff, so as not to have to deal with sand in the cottage. This property had all the charm of the 100 year old cottage that it is, but has been totally updated in all the important areas.
What makes this property unique
We LOVE the 23' enclosed screen porch! There is a porch swing, couch and 2 chairs. It is the perfect spot to sit outside and watch the world go by. We also loved that the bedrooms are big enough to accommodate a King & Queen size beds!
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests