Starved Rock & Ottawa Retreat Amazing Getaway Home

We loved the beauty and comfort of this well cared for home. The kitchen was well stocked with pans etc and spices for cooking. The freezer did run a bit warm so our ice cream was soft.

Since I went through booking.com to secure the reservation, I was not able to speak with or send any messages to the host about where I had left the dog fee $$. So that was uncomfortable to know that if I had an emergency and needed to reach them, I couldn't. I would love to visit this rental again but may go through VRBO when I book it next time.

Everything was updated and clean.

The modern ceiling lights are VERY bright.

The kitchen was very well equipped with lots of dishes. They use refillable soaps, shampoos, & lotion bottles. It was a lovely place, & PERFECT for going to Starved Rock State Park! We also loved the historical town square!

Comfy and cozy, suited our needs. Loved that we could bring our dog along with us!

Was a bit smaller and tighter than I anticipated.

the area and the $150 refund of the cleaning fee, because I cleaned the place.

This place was very dirty. Our feet were black from the floors, gnats, spiders and flies in the house. I had constant contact with the owner, however we kept being told the place would be cleaned. She offered a refund if we left immediately , knowing we had family coming at 3pm. A lot of childish banter, if I said something was not good, she would say something about our dogs. I kept all text messages and the the email response on the inquiry about the dogs. Our pets are well behaved and we clean the yard instantly when used. I ended up buying cleaning supplies to mop the floor, had to wash all the bedding before we could sleep. 1st night no sleep until 4am. I sent a message regarding our dogs, the listing says "charges may apply" no information until we complained about the how dirty the house was, she said I see you have 4 dogs that will be 60 a dog. I was NOT paying a dime more for that place. We had family that offered for us to stay with them. So we had a place to go, but felt like we should not be pushed out of a place for their mistakes. They had a camera front and back of the house. She then blamed booking.com for not charging us for the dogs, which in my email stated we had 4 small dogs. The email was replied to before we went saying they looked forward to hosting us, no comment regarding fees. The front of the house was full of spiders, the front screen door did not have anything to stop it from flying completely open, I fell going in the door, apparently that is why they put the key pad on the back, they didn't trust the front door.The yard was not mowed, we had bees flying at us in the deck, must have been a nest underneath. We lived in the neighborhood prior, and wanted to be close to old friends. The photos are very deceiving. The house was cheaply rebuilt after the 2017 tornado, which is why the doors fit incorrectly and the windows etc are not square. It was a very stressful 4 days.

Place was bright, cheery and very clean. Beds were comfortable and the overall experience was very pleasant. Well worth it - highly recommended!

No complaints

Everything was great, location, amenities, and mattresses were amazing. We had small children and there was a small fenced in area so they could run and play. Quiet and safe.

Rug/s in the bathroom. Floor was slippery after a shower (even with the exhaust fan on). I used a beach towel I travel with to put down so I wouldn't slip and fall.

The property was modernly renovated and tastefully decorated, and clean! It's in a walkable quiet neighborhood where we enjoyed strolling with our dog, and the enclosed deck was particularly pleasant for relaxing with our furry friend. We found the cutest restaurant walking through the neighborhood..”Casa Mia” it was such a nice surprise for a unique dining experience, but came to find out they will be closing in February …but the staff said may keep it open as Martini Bar serving apps? It was a short drive to downtown Ottawa, with cute shops and plenty of restaurants to choose from! Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park were a quick 15 min drive! Really good location!

There wasn’t much we didn’t like. It would of been nice to have some sort of fan /ceiling fan.

The house was so cozy and it was a home away from home.

Loved it