The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation

Photo gallery for The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation

A covered porch with two Adirondack chairs facing a view of a lake and shoreline.
A dining area with a round table, white chairs, and a blue rug. There is a staircase with a fish mural on the wall.
A modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a coffee maker, and a dining area with a round table and chairs.
Room
A modern living room with a sofa, coffee table, and TV. There is a dining area with chairs and a table. The room has wooden flooring and a kitchen in the background.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Top rated beach location
    Discover paradise at this top rated beach location.

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Massages in spa
  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Branford, CT
  • Place, Stony Creek Brewery
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Stony Creek - Thimble Islands Historic District
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Foote Memorial Park Tennis Center
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Branford

Located in Branford, this cottage is on the beach. Foote Memorial Park Tennis Center and Stony Creek Brewery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Shoreline Trolley Museum and Lighthouse Point Carousel. Travelling with kids? Consider Guilford Art Center, or check out an event or a game at Connecticut Sportsplex. With kayaking, power boating and fishing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
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Map
Branford, CT

What's nearby

  • Stony Creek Brewery - 7 min drive - 5.3 km
  • Stony Creek - Thimble Islands Historic District - 7 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Foote Memorial Park Tennis Center - 8 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Branford Supply Pond - 9 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Branford Hills Plaza Shopping Center - 10 min drive - 8.8 km

Getting around

  • Branford Station - 11 min drive
  • New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Branhaven Plaza - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Chipotle Mexican Grill - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Dream Location for Your Perfect Vacation located?

Nestled on the beach, this Branford cottage is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Foote Memorial Park Tennis Center and 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Stony Creek Brewery. Double Beach and Branford Supply Pond are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
The cabin was right on the waterfront….very nice and peaceful….Birdwatching and collecting shells is a nice distraction from the hustle and bustle of every day…The unit was olds but nicely provisioned….The biggest drawback was the beds…king size beds were 2 twin mattresses put together and were very uncomfortable….
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun, 2026
Appreciate the feedback and happy to say I updated the downstairs bed to a queen with new oversized mattress and doubled up upstairs making it much softer. Appreciate you taking the time to provide the info.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great stay in a cottage in Connecticut

beautiful quiet spot on the beach, great place to stay.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sunset at Branford

Nostalgic beach cottage is a great getaways, outdoor view is expansive.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful view!

The cottage has the most wonderful views! We loved our stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was great.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was just a wonderful place to stay. The location is incredible, right on the water, with the sunset views exactly as advertised. The house itself has a very pleasant beach-house feel, and was comfortable, beautifully kept, and very well air-conditioned which we certainly appreciated. It was also remarkably quiet and private, especially considering how many other homes are nearby.There is a beach literally at the foot of the house, and we took the little boat out into the bay. There were also paddle boards, beach chairs, towels, and really everything we could have hoped for. And just a short walk up the street is a beautiful private beach, so there was no shortage of sand and sun.One evening we saw the most extraordinary sunset, with rays of sunlight streaming through the clouds and spreading out over the water like a crown. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.The house was extremely well equipped—we never found ourselves wishing something had been provided—and the host was friendly and very responsive. A beautiful, comfortable, peaceful place, and a lovely experience all around.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute, Cozy Cottage on the Beach

Perfect for a small family. The community is lovely and sunsets are beautiful!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

This home is in a quiet, relaxing private neighborhood. Perfect size home for a small family to enjoy. The beach is more the type to wade around and adventure on the rocks/play in the sand during low tide, not to lay out in the sun and swim in.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New Year guests

We all were so impressed by the coziness & beauty of place! Our friends want to rent it in future!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Aug, 2023
Thank you so much for choosing us for your stay. We can’t wait to host your friends.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

Absolutely beautiful! We enjoyed everything about our stay. Quite neighborhood , great for a early morning walk. Delicious local restaurants , Lenny’s and Dockside. Wednesday evening antique car show on the Common. Followed by Ashley’s Ice Cream.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice

Great little cottage for small family's. Beachfront amazing views of the sunset , fun to collect shells and relaxing vibes. Had a great time with my husband who is from the area and enjoyed this little cottage very much. Relaxing and clean , comfortable as well. The owners responded very quickly and were very helpful.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Harvard/Yale Weekend

It is my son's senior year at Yale and he is captain of the cheer team. We came up to watch the Harvard/Yale game. The cottage was a perfect place for us. It had great views for our morning coffee and afternoon wine. The host was super helpful and nice. I would highly recommend staying here.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet cozy cottage

The cottage is right on the water and the outdoor area is lovely. The inside is very cute -- all beach-themed decor, well maintained, and very clean, but is definitely on the cozy side. Our teenager liked having her private bedroom downstairs; the only suggestion I would make is that the adults would have loved a little more storage space for our stuff.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Beach Cottage

The best part of this house is it’s location on the beach. We loved waking up and having coffee in the rocking chairs on the porch. We paddleboarded from our backyard and the kids explored the shore. The house was clean and had all the details covered. Everything went really well and the owner was east to communicate with. We’d love to stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it!

This is wonderful cozy house, with ample room for us to hang out and play games in the evenings. We spent much of the day rocking on the porch chairs and paddling around the water in the two-person kayak and the paddleboard. We are glad we brought binoculars so we could see the shorebirds (cormorants, egrets, a dedicated gull sitting on a nest). We'd love to go back, and we highly recommend it!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely Stunning!!!

What can I say. The pictures do the ocean views of this place no justice. This listing felt like home and was so well appointed. We felt no need to leave for anything but more supplies for creature comforts. Even though it rained two of the four days of our stay...we were so pleasantly suprised by the calming sound of the rain on the ocean and the cool breeze that drifted through the windows. Branford holds all the quaint peace a seaside town can possibly offer. We found it very difficult to leave.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Spring Weekend Getaway

Beautiful, historic cottage on the Connecticut shore. We enjoyed our recent weekend away to Branford. The weather was rainy and chilly, but the house was cozy and comfortable for our group of 4. As a duplex, the home is fairly small and would be a tight fit for many more adults (or even teens). The highlight of the house for us was the abundant hangout space in the living room. One thing to note, the home is located in a beautiful, old shore neighborhood and there is not a very direct route in or out from Branford proper - plan to allow extra travel time.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Aug, 2023
Thank you so much Sara-Ann. You were a pleasure to host, we hope you come again ❤️
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Setting

The setting is magical and the host was extremely kind and helpful. We enjoyed every moment of our stay in the Branford area. The only thing to note is that the stairs are small and steep. My 85 year old mother was unable to access the upstairs. Fortunately the downstairs bedroom was comfortable and had a lovely view. We took a video of the upstairs so she could see the how the upstairs was decorated.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family stat

Needed a short stay to connect with family. House was fine, but bed in master was very creaky and woke us up with every turn. Also, check-in instructions never mentioned the lock box or its location. Directions for check out mentioned not stepping the beds or putting everything in hamper. Clarification would have been helpful. Great location though.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

Owner’s communication clear and prompt. Very accommodating. The home is newly updated and decorated and very comfortable. The location is very close to New Haven but you feel like you are in paradise on the waterfront. Lovely beachy location with lots of nature. We may have been the first renters so there are a few little things the owners most likely have not gotten to yet such as shades in the bedrooms and real ceramic coffee mugs would be nice. These are little suggestions as over all one of the cleanest and quaintest Vrbo we have rented. Also location location location … right on the sound. Thank you we had a lovely Thanksgiving in Sunset Cottage.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Aug, 2023
Thank you so much for the kind words and in trusting us with your holiday. Your feedback is perfect and appreciated. The new mugs have come in handy. We hope to see you again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Waterfront Escape

We couldn't recommend this property enough. First off, the neighborhood is gorgeous, and the house itself was out of this world. The property in nestled right on the shore line, and the view from the side porch is as picturesque as can be. Beautiful sunsets on a clear night, and the stars are abundant once that sun dips below the horizon. The house was roomy, mind you, it was just my wife and I but still had plenty of room for another couple or two, but lets face it, with that yard and those views, there's really no need to be inside. Plenty of quality restaurants near by, however we did venture into New Haven which is only about a 25 min drive away. Totally worth it for the pizza, restaurants and nightlife. All in all, wonderful property, we cant wait to go back.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
The view is to die for, best I've seen on the CT. shoreline. My friends and I were disappointed at the size of the property as it says duplex but it's really one-half a house without the large deck pictured on one of the photos. It does have a small deck on the left to sit and watch the sunsets. The stairs to the second floor are very narrow and not good for elders and the large full bathroom is on the first floor separate from the 2 main bedrooms upstairs. There is a very small half bath upstairs. It could use some bureaus in 2 of the bedrooms instead of the under bed drawers which are hard to use for seniors and the queen beds could use some new mattresses which the owner has indicated he plans to buy. The beach is rocky as described but good swimming anyway. In spite of these suggestions we worked with the owner to solve problems and had a great time. We only didn't rate five stars to warn others of these issues. The area in the town and Branford is one of the best in CT. and my favorite for fabulous views, shoreline amenities, restaurants and activities.
Nightime View from the Porch
Free Jazz on the Branford green
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay because the waterfront location and views are beautiful, but there were several differences between the listing and what we experienced. The cover photo features the neighboring unit’s deck, while our rental had the smaller deck on the opposite side. Although the listing mentions it’s a duplex, that wasn’t immediately obvious from the photos, so clearer pictures showing exactly which outdoor spaces belong to each unit would help set expectations. We also arrived after the 3:00 p.m. check-in time while the cleaners were still there and had to ask if my senior parents could come inside. The dishwasher was also still full of clean dishes for us to unload. Inside, some furniture differs from the listing photos, and one of the advertised king beds was actually two twin mattresses pushed together. While the home sleeps six, the dining table seats four and the living room seating is limited, so larger groups may find the common areas cramped. Overall, it’s a beautiful waterfront location, but for the price we paid, we expected the listing to more accurately reflect the property and for the home to be fully ready at check-in.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had such a lovely stay. Great setup for the kids to enjoy swimming during high tide and enjoy adventuring for fish and crabs during low tide. Golden hour was absolutely perfect! Thanks so much.
Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay. Unique property with an unbelievable view and location. Can’t wait to return. Thanks for hosting Gil!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
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