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BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub!

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Exterior
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Interior
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.4 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 12279 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Hot Tub
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub!

BEST Saugatuck location on the beautiful Oval Beach Road, this classic hundred-year-old summer cottage with modern amenities and guest cabin is a rare gem! Surrounded by woods, walking trails and steps from the Kalamazoo River, Saugatuck chain ferry, and a mere 1/2 mile down the road from the fabulous Oval Beach, it truly doesn't get better!

Spanning three floors, there are four bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the main house. A huge wrap-around screen porch offers tree-top views of the river and town, and a hot tub to relax in at the end of the day. A large living/dining area with a cozy wood burning stove and country antiques add to Oval Beach Cottage’s warmth and charm. This is a great house for entertaining! Plenty of space to be together and plenty of space to spread out. Oval Beach Cottage also has parking for five cars.

Acorn Guest Cottage:
Just up a wooded path is the guest cottage, Acorn, a cozy one-room log cabin with king bed, barn-beam cathedral ceilings, fireplace, full kitchen and bath, and a deck high up in the tree-tops. This is truly a delightful spot!

FEATURES:

Sleeps 12
4 Bedrooms in main cottage (queen, 2 twins, 1 full, 2 twin + 1 full)
Guest house: King bed
2 Fully equipped kitchens
Microwave/dishwasher/disposal
3 full bathrooms, 1 half bath
Wood stove
Fireplace
Gas BBQ Grill
Picnic table
Beach towels
Stereo with CD player
Private Hot tub
Fabulous wrap around screened porch
4 TVs & DVD's
Washer/Dryer
Ceiling fans
Free Wifi
Satellite TV
Air conditioning in bedrooms
Parking for five cars


Keywords: Beach House with Guest Cottage

Property manager

Mark Phillips

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 3,000 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Oval Beach Walk Beach Ferry River. Hot Tub Fireplace big Porch
Oval Beach Walk Beach Ferry River. Hot Tub Fireplace big Porch
Walk to Beach Ferry River. Hot Tub Fireplace
Walk to beach ferry river. Hot tub fireplace.
Walk to beach, ferry & river. Hot tub, fireplace. Cottage
Walk to beach, ferry & river. Hot tub, fireplace. Saugatuck

About the neighborhood

Map
MI, Saugatuck

What's nearby

  • Butler Street - 10 min walk
  • Oval Beach - 13 min walk
  • Saugatuck Center For the Arts - 15 min walk
  • Silver Lake - 11 min drive
  • Saugatuck Dunes State Park - 17 min drive

Getting around

  • Holland Station - 22 min drive
  • Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Butler - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Uncommon Coffee Roasters - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪The Southerner - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Pennyroyal Cafe & Provisions - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The BARge - ‬10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub!?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Kalamazoo Lake and Lake Michigan. Saugatuck Chain Ferry and Kalamazoo River are just steps away.

BEST LOCATION! Walk To Oval Beach & Chain Ferry. Huge screen porch & hot tub! Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 50 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 68 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Peter S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Too short of a stay
This house is in a perfect location for oval beach and hiking. The chain ferry was no longer operating as it was after Labor Day but if you visit during the season it is right across the street! Perfect for getting into town without a car. The house sleeps a lot of guests and has everything one needs for a great vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

2/10 Terrible

Renie T.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Outdated and Smells
This property listing is very misleading. The houses are old which would be fine if they were well kept - they are not. Walking through the door you're immediately assaulted by the smell of mold/mildew that never goes away through our 3 night stay. One shower worked, dirty linens were replaced after a text and call to the manager, but the tree house should just be closed up. It's truly not fit for a vacation. Even if you sold it as a rustic experience the smell of mildew and mold is unbearable. It's located at the end of the beach access road which made it easy to get to the beach but God forbid you step into road, people fly down it so that wasn't fun to navigate but not the property's fault. The town is too small for the amount of holiday traffic, both on door and car, but has a bus that helps. Restaurants were ALL overcowded and overpriced. Again, not using this to rate the property, just would have been nice to know in advance. Speaking exclusively of the property, it's like spending the night with your 85 year old aunt who can't maintain the property. Absolutely beware, we got bit by bugs in the sheets, dirty linens, and - I cannot stress this enough - the smell was horrible and unrelenting. Our family of 8 spent as little time there as possible.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thys T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique and quaint property
Wonderful time in this quaint and well located property. Certaintly takes you back to your childhood days staying with grandma, in a positive way...crooked floors, antique furniture and lots of memories all around...! Very spacious with the large downstairs bedroom, 3 upstairs and separate "bunkie" up the hill. Kids had a blast. Beautiful Oval Beach over the hill (short drive with beach gear), energetic climb up to Mt Baldhead and short drive across the bridge to the joys of the shops and eateries in Saugatuck. Unfortunately the chain ferry is seasonal (partly due to staff shortages) and we never got to experience it while there. Also, no longer AC in the house but the fans did help us cope with some extremely hot days. The Saugatuck Dunes Rides and sunset cruise on Star of Saugatuck paddlewheel boat were highlights and day trips to Holland and South Haven also well worth it. Great golf at Hawkshead. Great time all around
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family stay
Lovely old cottage that fit all 11 of us. One thing to be aware of is that the bedroom with 3 beds(perfect for kids!) is on ground floor and the other bedrooms are 2 floors up. You will feel like you're in the woods but you are just across the river from a bustling section of Saugatuck, and you might hear a bit of partying on the weekends! It is about 3/4 of a mile to Oval Beach on the slightly busy road right in front of the house or you can take a slightly longer walk through the woods to get there. There is a bit of a yard for kids to play in, but it is a hilly yard, so not much room for running around . But that yard is visited by deer and chipmunks and birds! All in all, a lovely place to be. Yo
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melissa M., MILFORD

Liked: Cleanliness
There was a Crooked House!
There was a crooked, charming old house that we stayed in during a vacation in Saugatauck. We lost a few game pieces from the uneven floors and tables but it just gave us more to laugh about! This cozy house with a detached tree house cabin (with the best bed ever) makes you want to go back in time when wicker furniture and rocking chairs were the best seats in the house.Great location. So glad we stayed here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Margaret C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing trip into the past
We had a fabulous stay at this quirky old home. As other reviews have mentioned, there are a lots of stairs and the floors aren't level. If you want a modern "hotel" environment, this isn't the house for you. But if you want to feel like you're staying in an updated version of your grandparents lake house, you'll love your time here. The wraparound screened porch is a relaxing getaway all on its own, and the hot tub was a bonus! We were there in the fall so open windows and ceiling fans kept us nice and cool. The house was a little musty when we arrived, but once we inhabited the place that went away. We didn't use the little cabin up the hill. We were disappointed that the chain ferry just down the street was closed for the season when we were there but it was an easy drive to get to the places across the river. And we loved the short walk to climb the steps to Mount Baldy.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marilyn A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place for a family reunion
Over our two week stay we hosted groups ranging in size from 6 to 10 and never felt crowded. The main house is very comfortable and the screened porch was a great. The kitchen is well-furnished, although the stove is VERY small. The location has easy access to Saugatuck via the chain ferry. Oval Beach is beautiful and just a short drive away. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marla L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location, spacious, well-supplied property
My adult children and their significant others (8 total persons) from across the U.S. joined my husband and me for a wonderful week at this property in Saugatuck. The property is well-supplied with everything you need for a relaxing week: the kitchen has plenty of dishware and cookware, there are stacks of bath towels and beach towels, the bedding is new. All bedrooms and most living spaces have ceiling fans, which were much appreciated when we stayed during a heat wave! When we weren't out exploring Saugatuck, my family's favorite places to hang out were on the rockers on the screened-in porch or in the hot tub. The location is great--steps away from the historic chain-ferry to take you across the river to an assortment of restaurants, or, in the other direction, a short walk to Oval Beach. The property owner is very responsive to questions about anything that arises. I've already recommended this property to members of my extended family!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location!
This was charming old house with a wonderful location for beach and trail access. There was plenty of room for everyone and the porch was lovely. Being so close to the chain ferry was great - we used it to get to the downtown on every day that the ferry was running. The owner was very responsive to any requests. Would highly recommend this property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lisa T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique
Saw a lot of wildlife, he Ed at location to town, river and lake
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emily B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lots of character!
Super clean, very responsive owner and a great porch with hot tub!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Timothy D.

Liked: Cleanliness
MDW Saugatuck
- Awesome location right next to the chain ferry and Oval beach. Very easy to get around. - very clean house, and was the perfect size for our group - Very easy guidance on check in and check out Overall 10/10. Unbeatable location.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patricia H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best location in Saugatuck!
We stayed at Oval Beach cottage for 5 nights over our daughter's wedding weekend in Saugatuck. The house is old and while a little quirky with a lot of stairs; it is charming, clean and the location is fantastic! We had 12 total with plenty of space. The front porch gives great views and the beach is just down the road for gorgeous sunsets. I would totally stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Grace B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Getaway
Rented Mark’s property for my 30th birthday celebration with friends. It was great. Tons of room for everyone to spread out. Close enough to town but felt very private and was a short walk to some beautiful hiking trails & the beach. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

6/10 Okay

Patricia B., Indianapolis. USA

Not for people with mobility issues or breathing problems
The property manager is off site and very responsive, but there are some issues that we had to address that he considered minor inconveniences. The property is very old, built on a sandy hillside, and as such, we had not anticipated the number of steep steps that you must walk up to get to the main door. The pictures only show the first set of stairs that go to the lower level where there is a bedroom, a shower and the washer/dryer. All floors are seriously slanted in every room. All bedrooms are accessed via very slanted stairs or in the lower level that has no handrails. The outdoor stair lights we were told are on a timer, but the timer had them on during the day…not at night. The rooms are damp with an overwhelming musty smell. The lamps are very old (but they worked) and the lampshades are yellowed and stained. The couches in the living area are broken down and uncomfortable. The beds were comfortable but rest on the slanted floors. Some rooms had window AC units but one is at floor level and blocked by the bed. Box fans were in most rooms and were all on when we arrived as well as all doors open to the outside we assume to manage the musty smell. There was no soap for the showers and the three bathrooms had minuscule amounts of liquid soap in the dispensers. We had to buy soap at the grocery store. Instructions said we had to launder the towels but when we loaded them on our last morning in the facility, we found the laundry detergent container empty. The key would not work in the door locks because of corrosion. I bought 3 in 1 oil to loosen the lock so it would operate properly. I saw a review that indicated that this was for younger renters as they also mentioned the outdoor stairs and slanted creaking floors, but the lack of proper outdoor lighting and no handrails to the lower level should have been mentioned. I was in a VRBO unit last September in South Haven Michigan and it was fabulous, so I assumed it would be the same caliber. I was wrong to assume.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ellen W., Oro Valley, AZ USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Extremely comfortable. We could all spread out. Went to the beach alot. Loved the hous and Acorn!
Easy to rent through VRBO. We had no problems. Loved the cabin decor!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca and Zach C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful property in a wonderful location. Plenty of room for everyone. Awesome location.
Wonderful property in a wonderful location. Plenty of room for everyone. Awesome !
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Debra L.

Liked: Cleanliness
The area was absolutely beautiful
I would recommend this home for a young family, not elderly friendly due to all the steps and the slanted floors and stairs
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ben S.

Liked: Cleanliness
A Dune with a view
The first reaction to the house will be "Wow, this is an old house." However, I have been familiar with this house from driving by it on the way to Oval Beach for years so knew what we'd rented. If you are looking for new "brass and glass" construction, this is not your property. Rent something else. Now for the good bit.... The location can't be beaten. The local hiking trails pass right behind the property. The beach is maybe half a mile away. The wrap around screened porch is fantastic. The Chain Ferry dock is about 100 yards as the crow flies. The Mt. Baldhead steps and public dock for launching canoes and kayaks is maybe 500 feet away. The home is quite comfortable, and the quirky antique furniture just completes the atmosphere. The next door neighbor is really nice. If into paddling, you can launch into the Kalamazoo River from several upstream launching ramps (suggest the one just above the Express Yourself Art Barn) and paddle home (about 1 1/2 hours). We had two questions for the owner during our stay: he's friendly and responded instantly both times with the information. The home has window air conditioners, however, the breeze on the dune was plenty of cooling, so we never turned any on. We would definitely rent again.

10/10 Excellent

Ben C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Property and Stay!
Great stay with plenty of room for our family. Well stocked kitchen. Beautiful screened in porch. Fantastic location near the chain ferry and Oval Beach with ample parking. Good wifi too as I had to spend a day working.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sharyn A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for a girls' weekend!
We had a lovely stay at this property and highly recommend it to others. Both the house and cabin ooze charm, and everything is so well appointed that we truly felt like cherished guests. Beds were comfortable. Everything was very clean. The photos of this place just don't do it justice. You do have to climb a lot of stairs and navigate sloped floors, but that added to the fun for us. We spent most of our time enjoying the live music from the riverfront that we could hear well from the porch. Everything was so great, we barely left the house! Truly fabulous place! We will definitely be back!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nicole M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Delightful getaway
We will definitely look forward to staying here again.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Rebekah C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Saugatuck
This property is in a great location for Saugatuck activities. We were close to everything we wanted to do. The property had plenty of room for our family to enjoy each other. The property is old but has a lot of character.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Susanne S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Saugatuck best l Michigan town
Charming beautiful well stocked kitchen .many great meals were created there.the cottage was a step back in time we enjoyed every minute.

10/10 Excellent

Faye L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyed our weekend
This is a fantastic location and a super rustic, charming property.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020