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Short Beach Coastal Cottage

Photo gallery for Short Beach Coastal Cottage

A sandy beach with a dock and sailboats.
A sandy beach with calm water, a swan, and houses in the background.
A marina with several sailboats docked.
Aerial view
Cottage is on Inlet

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Top rated beach location
    Discover paradise at this top rated beach location.
  • Steps from the shore
    Top-rated for its nearby beach, ideal for sunbathing and swimming.
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
Branford, CT
  • Place, Farm River State Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Yale University
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Hammonasset Beach State Park
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Airport, New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Short Beach Coastal Cottage

This charming beach cottage is sun filled, 500 ft to Sandy beach & located in the Short Beach community of Branford. It has a mixture of old world charm with new amenities. The perfect place for you to experience all the things New England has to offer. Relax along the sandy shores, take a swim or explore Long Island Sound in kayaks (2) or on bikes (2) which are provided. Excellent for walking, 2 miles of continuous sidewalks along the shore. Located on a quite inlet w/ sandy Bay beach, beautiful sun rises, all less than 500ft from the cottage as well as Yale Corinthian Yacht Club (Yale Sailing). Large open living space, great for family gatherings. Two excellent restaurants within walking distance. 45 minutes to Mohegan Sun Casino or 50 minutes to Foxwoods Casino. Many local breweries within town, 5.5 miles to YNHH & Yale University and approximately 15 miles to Quinnipiac University. So many things to do or just relax at home away from home!!

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
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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 and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING of any kind.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3342226vb
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Branford

Located in Branford, this cottage is near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Farm River State Park and West Rock Ridge State Park, while Shoreline Trolley Museum and Pardee Morris House are cultural highlights. Lighthouse Point Carousel and Schubert Performing Arts Center are also worth visiting. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and cycling nearby.
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Map
Branford, CT

What's nearby

  • Farm River State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Yale University - 11 min drive - 12.3 km
  • Hammonasset Beach State Park - 22 min drive - 30.2 km
  • Quinnipiac University - 25 min drive - 29.4 km
  • Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater - 36 min drive - 44.5 km

Getting around

  • Branford Station - 9 min drive
  • New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Branhaven Plaza - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Twin Pines Diner - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Deli - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Nickys Place - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Short Beach Coastal Cottage pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at Short Beach Coastal Cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Short Beach Coastal Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Short Beach Coastal Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Short Beach Coastal Cottage located?

Situated near the beach, this cottage is within 2 miles (3 km) of Farm River State Park, Double Beach and Shoreline Trolley Museum. Branford Hills Plaza Shopping Center and East Haven Town Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, exactly as advertised. Perfect for us while in the area for a wedding.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Jun, 2026
Ann and spouse were great guests; always welcome back!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved everything about our stay. Catherine and Ken are perfect hosts and the cottage is thoughtfully appointed with everything we needed for our 2 week stay. Can't wait to come back next year!
Stayed 17 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Oct, 2025
Diane and Jack, Thank you for being our guests at the cottage and we look forward to seeing you next summer! Best to you, Ken and Catherine
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anna K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful area. Very clean home.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Oct, 2025
Thank you choosing to stay with your us!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joanne H.

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

Short stay in a wonderful cottage

The cottage is really well equipped, comfortable, and convenient to many things we needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Grandson visit.

Location and cleanliness of property was great.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Apr, 2025
Happy you were pleased with your stay! Appreciate the feedback!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Branford Cottage

Nice cottage just a short distance away from the water. Hosts very nice!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas J.

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

Cozy Getaway

The house was clean and in a great location in Branford (Short Beach). Owner was responsive with any questions I had and provided a binder with great activities and locations to visit during our stay. 10 out of 10, would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia V.

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

Hometown visit

Really great to spend time in a beautiful place where I was lucky to grow up. Our cottage was like our home for 3 weeks and hosts nearby for any questions. Friends who came to visit also loved it. .
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug, 2024
Awesome guests! Pleasant and friendly, took care of the cottage during their stay. Would welcome Patti and Michael back anytime!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tara W.

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

Gem!

This cottage was delightful!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anthony G.

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

Wonderful place to stay!

The house was very comfortable, updated, and clean. The location was convenient our son's home and the surrounding area. The street is quiet and located within walking distance to a local beach. Catherine and Ken, the owners, were very accommodating to a concern we had. We would definitely stay here again, if the opportunity arose, and we would positively recommend to others to stay at this home when visiting Branford.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan S.

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

Great charm and loving care

It was really evident that the hosts enjoy this project. Very nice people and everything was tip top.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Sept, 2024
Pleasant and friendly guests! cottage was in great shape upon their departure, no worries for other hosts!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sean M.

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

Short beach experience

A beautiful house, great location. Things close by to do, eat, or whatever. Also a comfortable place to do nothing. Most likely going to try to stay here again next year
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Daniel R.

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

Hidden Gem

The cottage was clean, well furnished and in the Short Beach community. Very close to beautiful coves connected to Long Island Sound. Excellent!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denise W.

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

Birthday weekend

Great cottage. Clean, comfortable and cozy. It had everything we needed. We wanted to try a new place that we had never been to and to do the Thimble Islands cruise. Rosso Vino restaurant was good. Food was delicious!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

William E H.

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

Peaceful

The house is sweet. Clean, well kept. Thank you for having us.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
We are very happy you enjoyed your stay! Come back!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jogie M.

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

Perfect family gathering place

The beach cottage was perfect for our family. We were in Connecticut for a graduation ceremony with family coming from 3 different states. We were only 10-15 min from the university, had access to many restaurants and were able to relax and spend time together in a cozy,very well furnished and beautifully decorated home. It’s a lovely area to stroll around and a short walk to the beach. We sincerely recommended staying here, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Richard G.

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

Quinnipiac University Graduation Retreat

Catherine & Ken provided our family with a beautiful home away from home beach side retreat while celebrating our daughter’s graduation week! The home was beautifully appointed for travelers seeking comfort, thoughtfulness, and convenience as the priority. Our hosts provided us with the gift of time well spent minus any worries. We are truly grateful for our hosts. Notably, Cat has The Best Junk Drawer ever!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen N.

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

Branford stay

The house is lovely, comfortable, and well-equipped. The location is charming and the area was a delight to explore. There were Osprey flying right over the house taking fish to the nest. We enjoyed the trails and the quiet. I grew up in SE CT, so I'm used to a beautiful coast, but this area is impressive. My niece and I had a lovely stay. Thank you to our host.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jun, 2023
Karen, so happy you enjoyed your stay and found the area a delight to explore! You are welcome and thank you for being such wonderful guests! Best, Catherine
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane D.

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

A Coastal Haven with Warm Hospitality

Our two-week stay at this Branford cottage was nothing short of perfection. Nestled near Long Island Sound, the location offers a short walk to the neighborhood beach and a serene atmosphere. The cottage itself is cozy and well-appointed, providing all the comforts of home. What truly sets this rental apart are the gracious hosts. Their warmth and attentiveness ensured we felt welcome throughout our stay. Their adorable dogs, Elsie and Cookie, added an extra layer of charm to the experience. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or a base to explore the Connecticut shoreline, this cottage is an ideal choice. We're already dreaming of our next visit!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug, 2024
Jack and Diane we miss you already!! Whenever our guests leave, we miss them!? We love hosting and meeting new people and always want guests to feel welcome and relaxed. We hope to see you again and look forward to all our guests taking home wonderful memories! Many blessings! Ken, Cat, Cookie and Elsie!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melissa M.

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

Relaxing and Cozy

As soon as we stepped through the door of this home, it was clear how our stay was going to be. This home was cozy, bright, clean, well stocked and all around relaxing! Due to circumstances out of control of the owner and community the beach down the street was closed, but that didn’t take away from the beauty of the community and it gave us a chance to explore and find a public beach only 20 minutes away. I couldn’t recommend this home enough for someone that is looking to relax, unwind and reconnect with family and/or friends!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alvin N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and great location..near a local neighborhood beach and some great restaurants. The beach chairs and toys also came in clutch for us! The owner was also very responsive when we noted a couple of small maintenance issues. Thanks so much for having us!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Jun, 2026
Alvin and his family were lovely guests, very friendly, Pleasant and easy with communicatio. Great family and would love to host them again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sharon D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very comfortable clean unit.. well equipped kitchen.. a few skillets need replacing.. grill works great but grate needs replacing or use foil!! Overall it’s a great unit!! Will definitely consider for future visits w our Grandkids!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jun, 2026
Sharon, thank you for giving feedback and alerting us on the need to replace the skillets and grill grates. We will replace promptly. We appreciate your business and having you and your husband as guests! Ken and Cat

About the host

Hosted by Catherine Lane

Host profile image
My husband, Ken and I, are born and raised in Branford and love our life in this beach side town. Ken was raised here on the property which has been in his family since the 1940’s. We have raised our children here and now sharing this wonderful place with our grandchildren. We continue to savor each sunrise, practice gratitude, and find joy in making new memories with each day that passes!! We relish in how lucky we are to be able to continue our life’s journey in such a beautiful beachside community. We look forward to sharing our lovely cottage and beachside neighborhoods with all our traveling guests. We hope all those who visit and rest here take a little piece of this beautiful area with them along with some lasting memories !❤️

Languages:

English

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