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Reviews of Secluded Lake Retreat

Secluded Lake Retreat
Dowling, MI

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 108 out of 123 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 123 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 123 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 123 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 123 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cooper N., Indianapolis, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Memorial Day Weekend
Stayed here with some friends and our dogs. Great stay. Was very relaxing and we had a blast swimming in the lake and wearing the dogs out. Would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Caleb S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall Getaway
Very nice cozy place to stay with plenty to do. Beautiful property to enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Nov 2023
Thank you Caleb! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bristol Lake! Please come again!

10/10 Excellent

Loren T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake house
Had a wonderful time! I will definitely recommend this place.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Oct 2023
Thank you Loren! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bristol lake! Please come again!

10/10 Excellent

Kellie B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Lake Retreat
The property was exactly as described, nicely appointed, and clean when we arrived. Perfect lake house getaway from the city.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Oct 2023
Thank you Kellie! We are so glad you enjoyed your time at the lake! Please come again!

10/10 Excellent

Patricia N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Get-Away!!
Nice place! House was clean and had comfortable beds. The beach area was fun for the little kids. Adults enjoyed the kayaks and fishing on the lake. Beautiful views of the lake from the screened in porch. Really enjoyed our time there and would recommend…except for people who have problems climbing stairs. There’s quite a few stairs to get to the lake front. (The only drawback for some people. We were fine with it.)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Sept 2023
Thank you Patricia! We are so glad you all enjoyed your stay at the lake! We hope you come again!

10/10 Excellent

Kim S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Private getaway
Absolutley love this cottage!! Perfect location on the lake with privacy. Loved being able to rent the pontoon boat too! We did daily tours around the lake on the boat with many stops for swimming. Had the best time
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Sept 2023
Thank you Kim! I am so glad you all enjoyed your stay! I hope you come again!

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful secluded stay
The home is very well equipped and clean, the location wonderful on the lake with so much to do. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves and the owner is responsive! looking forward to staying again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leslie M., Grosse Pointe Farms, Mi. 48236

Liked: Cleanliness
Great House
A beautiful location with a great house!,VERY CLEAN!, the best equipped house we have ever rented.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charles G.

Liked: Cleanliness
2023 Family Vacation
This is the second year in a row we have stayed at this property and what a home and property it is. My kids and I love to connect here while enjoying the basement games, the beach, the hot tub and the boat! Beautiful sunrises from the screened in room starts each day off right! Thanks Ray!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Haley D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Winter Weekend Visit
The property was as expected and the view was beautiful! Hot tub was perfect for the winter weekend. Loved the screened in deck, cozy living area, games, local guide binder, and spacious bedrooms. Only a few minor negative things to note—the Keurig did not work, water filter on fridge needed to be changed, and downstairs bathroom had a musty smell. Still a great space with comfortable accommodations for a family who will be spending a lot of time on the lake during summer months!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colton G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Getaway
The house was nice with great views and Ray was accessible for any issues that arose
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nicki M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome Autumn Weekend
We were able to gather our adult children and parents for a gorgeous Fall weekend and this place made our stay simply amazing! The layout is perfect for everyone to not only be able to come together for meals and games in the kitchen/dining area and on the screened-in porch but also allowed for privacy when wanting time to rest and relax with spacious and comfortable bedrooms. The only suggestion we’d offer would be to add maybe some solar stake lights along the path down to the lake as it really does get so dark! We loved our time at this place and we all agree we’d love to return again soon!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful, peaceful retreat
We had four adults staying at this location and have to say that we had the very best time. There was ample room for all of us and it was really nice to have a full bathroom in the lower level as well. The games room was so much fun. We loved the private beach area as well. Being right on the lake was so peaceful. We would highly recommend this cottage!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rachel M., Chicago, IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful Secluded Lake House
The lake view from the house is beautiful! We had a challenging time with check-in, however, Ray and Janelle apologized and made up for the hiccup in communication. The house is a great place for a family retreat— very kid and dog friendly. We enjoyed the hot tub, fire pit, boats, and sandy beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Danielle S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Great stay! Had everything we needed for a family weekend getaway
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dawn C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing Stay
This home was beautiful, clean, spacious and peaceful. The beds were so comfortable that it was difficult to get up and go each morning. The cost of our stay, when compared to renting three rooms in a local hotel, made it even more worthwhile. And it was nice to be able to relax before all the wedding festivities. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy your home.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Roxanne G., Ada

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Cottage for a Fun Family Getaway!
Our family (total 8 people) rents a cottage somewhere in Michigan each Labor Day week every year. We all agreed that this cottage is one of the best we've rented! So many amenities to keep everyone busy.....kayaks, swim raft, fishing, air hockey, ping pong, hot tub , fire pit. We had great weather with just one rainy day, and on that day we played board games on the awesome porch which overlooks the lake. The kitchen is well stocked and organized and had all that we needed for our family meals, including an awesome large, clean grill outside. The beds were all comfy and all the linens were top notch. Normally we make it a policy to go somewhere different each Labor Day, but we all agree "we might be coming back to this cottage!"
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patricia N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice property!
Very nice clean home. Our family enjoyed the beach area & fire pit. We also enjoyed having the kayak available for our use. We rented the pontoon which added to our fun with the family. The beds were comfortable. The stairs were a little difficult for the little ones - may be an issue for older adults as well (a bit seep & hard to maneuver the rocky surface). No issues during our stay. We would definitely stay here again. Very nice!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris P., Crete, IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Pure Michigan
Hill House was perfect for our family of 7. It was clean, well equipped with all necessary amenities and secluded (yet 20 minutes from town). The beds were comfortable and there were plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to make the week fly by. We rented a pontoon boat from the host that started, ran and performed flawlessly the whole trip. We swam, fished (very few caught) and enjoyed the fire pit. We'd definitely rent this property again!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joel D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Plenty of Fun
Was wonderful for Family Summer Vacation. Brought own sailboat, and went back and forth a bit. Took excursions to Zoo, Air Museum, and The Biggest Rock Shoppe in the state. ( my one concern .. (we had NO incidents) .. I am paranoid about Poison Ivy, which is present on this property. I am afraid that an uncontrolled pet, or child, could have an unpleasant encounter. Otherwise, Beautiful Thanks
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Charles G.

Liked: Cleanliness
“The Hill House”
I took my 3 kids to this property for three nights during the week. Felt like a property we could connect as a family in a relaxing location and it was everything I hoped for. At times we felt the like was all ours, the hot tub was a hit with the kids and wow the view. Absolutely beautiful property and amazing getaway!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brad F., Huntington Woods

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect weekend getaway
This lakeside getaway was a great way to spend one of the last weekends of the summer. Beautiful view of the sunrise, days spent at lakeside fishing, boating, and playing at the secluded beach, and evenings grilling, playing in the game room and relaxing in the hot tub. Our family had an amazing time!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael M., Evergreen Park IL

Liked: Cleanliness
We made the right choice!
Nana and Papa traveling with daughter, husband and 2 young boys. The listing checked all the boxes and was spot on. We used every inch of the place. Daughters family used the lower level and enjoyed having their own space with TV, full bath, air hockey and hot tub right outside the door. We ate our meals in and made good use of the really nice gas grill. The newly installed rail along gravel steps down to the lake, was a help to all but especially appreciated by mom’s bad knee. We used all the lakefront toys, kayaks, paddle boat, swimming raft, floats, fishing and fire. Our one minor issue was was made good with a simple phone call. We would highly recommend and plan to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Terri W. W.

Family vacation
This cottage had plenty to do for all ages. I would say the only disadvantage was that house was alittle farther from the water and fire pit if you have infants and elderly people. Also not a very swimmable of a lake but beaming with for fishing.The paddle boat seemed to have issues. But over all everything was nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

tim n.

Liked: Cleanliness
Always Great!
Second time staying here.... spotless, all the amenities, high end everything. Great landscape, beautiful sunrises, and the enclosed patio is fantastic. Everything in the description is 100% true. These guys are great hosts and we had a great time! 10 stars if I could.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

hanna a.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family tkme
It was perfect for the family getaway that we were looking for
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelly G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous views
We enjoyed our stay! The host was very responsive with any questions we had and the house met all our needs. The kids enjoyed the basement game area as well as the hot tub. And the back porch was amazing! Much needed relaxing weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

James M.

Liked: Cleanliness
A great spot to relax
Reminds me of summer camp. Boats and kayaks, ping pong and puzzles, soft water and poison ivy if you get off the path. Spacious three season room with amazing view of the lake. Room for as many friends/family as you want to bring. The kitchen and grill are in great shape if you like to cook and the hot tub is always clean and ready to go. A few things are a bit rough around the edges and showing their age, but this is the charm of summer camp isn’t it? Coming back time and again (this isn’t our first stay here) to see not much has changed. Be aware, the locals really like to mow their lawns. 50 and raining in May? The minute it stops they’re mowing. 70 and raining in September? The minute it stops they’re mowing. But rest assured this is typically the only sound which breaks the quiet. Sometimes you hear kids at another property having a blast in the water (and isn’t it a joy to hear?) and sometimes you’ll hear someone open up a boat for a minute or two, but on the whole it is a peaceful place to relax.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sara W., Milwaukee

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Property, Great Host
This was an ideal location; isolated feel and space from neighbors on the lake, yet close enough to smaller towns and larger cities like Grand Rapids, if you’d like to day trip. The home is lovely and as advertised, equipped with everything you’d need. Great communication with the home’s host; prompt feedback, booking details and available, if needed.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gabriela C., Dearborn

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Friendly
We came here for a birthday getaway for the whole family. It's always good to disconnect and reconnect as a family during these trips. I booked this location because it was near the water and luckily we got to enjoy some time outdoors. I also, booked for the hot tub and that was a treat because we got to relax in the hot tub overlooking the beautiful lake. Overall, it was a great experience and the view was breathtaking in the morning as we enjoyed our cup of coffee.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Byron M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful place to enjoy a good restful time!
Lovely place to relax and have quality fun time with the family. We loved the house! it has everything you need for your stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stacey F.

Liked: Cleanliness
So Beautiful and Peaceful
We really enjoyed our stay at this beautiful home!!!! The host was amazing and everything was very enjoyable. If you bring your pets with you make sure the front door is dead bolt locked as the door front randomly opens and we almost lost a pup. The wind must have opened it or the basement door was opened which caused the front door to open. Enjoyed it all and will be back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice amenities and location
The house was well stocked and in a good location for our visit to Hastings.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cannon S., Chicago, United States

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend Getaway
Had a great time being away from everything and everyone. Nice and quiet, with lots of space, and a beautiful view.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Phil P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic communication
Owner responded almost immediately in all communications. We had a little issue with the internet, but he went above and beyond to do everything he could to fix it and ultimately made it right. Fantastic service, couldn't have asked for anything better!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Harshita R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect lake house!
Ray’s home was welcoming, with great views and right on the lake. We had a great time in the spacious house and basement - and especially the hot tub.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Autumn T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake Bristol Review
Lake Bristol was an overall good home for a family vacation. There were some issues that we found out after getting to the home with the refrigerator which the owner mentioned that it had happened before. Also, the knives in the kitchen were extremely dull and the coffee pots were always leaking. The home was amazing to have a basement that the adults could get away at night but the staircase leading down was not baby friendly but as a bonus they provided a baby gate.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Donna S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing
Property was beautiful, house was better than the pictures. It was a very nice stay
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Keri W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing weekend getaway
My Husband, 2 kids(13/14 and two pets enjoyed our stay. The house was nice and clean. It snowed or rained the whole time so we didn’t get much outside time. But it was beautiful with the snow. Having the hot tub looking out to the lake while it snowed was so nice and relaxing. We had no problems at all with the house. The host has everything written out well and easy to understand. The ping pong table/pool table made for fun competitions between kids and my Husband and I. The town is about 15 min drive where they have a few restaurants. And some cute craft shops. My only suggestion for anyone staying here is to be sure to get to the house before dark. We unfortunately had a few things come up so we got a late start heading out. Finding the house in the dark down a narrow road in the woods was a challenge. We lost signal to our navigation system being in a wooded area. But we made it and the house was great. Would love to do a summer stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ellen F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful fall weekend
The house was super clean, well kept, and comfortable, with large rooms and a great view of the lake. The two king size beds on the first floor worked well for us. The setting was charming - the house is located in a lovely, quiet country neighborhood. With the many trees on the property and across the lake still changing colors, it made for a beautiful fall weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Cleve and Angela B., Tetonia, Idaho

Liked: Cleanliness
A dream home on a nice lake
Beautiful, very nicely appointed home in a quiet location. We enjoyed kayaking and the sun porch, referenced in many reviews, was truly enjoyable. Appreciated the pet friendly status as well. Thank you for a lovely stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ella S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing getaway
Beautiful home and property! Enjoyed every moment. There is so much to to do and enjoy here but the calm and quiet was probably my favorite part. The owners were so wonderful and a pleasure to communicate with. Thank you for the wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Luke P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great views and lots to do!
We loved the game room and the availability of kayaks, which we took advantage of! The views from the screened-in deck are great and the hot tub was awesome. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Monica L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous views and total relaxation
We stayed here with some friends and our teenage kids. This house has everything... a well stocked kitchen, lots of towels and blankets, even a play pen for when our grandson came to visit! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would definitely do again!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

James M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just About Perfect
Do you miss summer camp? Ping pong, boating, fishing, fires, grilling, sunrises? Doing absolutely nothing at all in a super comfortable chair? Picking apples from the uncultivated mu-tsu tree in the front yard & making pies? Well, this is the spot for you. Just like camp, especially by end of Summer (we were here over the Autumnal Equinox), the maintenance can start to pile up just a bit. Nothing you are actually annoyed by or want to complain about, but need to be aware of to ensure you have fun & your expectations are managed. The air hockey table works, but just barely. The ping pong net can be tight if you put in the time to find the extra clamps & set them up. The pool table is great, but needs shims under the feet at one end because the room isn't level. The upstairs bathroom shower is cramped if you're over 5'10". There is poison ivy & other weeds encroaching on the path to the lake. Despite being brand new, the regulator on the grill is a bit finicky & sometimes doesn't let a full flow of LNG from the tank to the burners (just unscrew it & re-seat it & tighten it again & it is usually fine). Again, nothing which would actually annoy you, just know the house isn't brand new, most of the things in it aren't brand new, & that's ok, because you're at summer camp having a great time. Frankly, it is part of the vibe as far as I'm concerned, for a few things to be a bit rough around the edges. But the hot tub is in amazing condition & we used it often as the days & nights got colder. The three season porch was a fantastic space for sunrise coffee, puzzles & meals. The grill is new & clean & big enough to cook for lots of people -- we did a whole duck! If you have older persons in your group know the path down to the lake is extremely steep & the steps cut into the hillside probably need some updating to be reasonable drops & level. Definitely not "accessible" & probably a challenge for anyone who can't see well or has bad legs. Note the plates & bowls are not microwave safe. We ran into this issue at a previous property with the same style & when the bottom says "no microwave" they mean it. They will melt! Don't try it. There is a shed down by the dock where you can find life jackets, paddles, chairs &c. which is easy to overlook because it is a nice pale gray color which lets it disappear into the landscape. If you need something it is probably in there! All in all we had a blast & very likely will be back again.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Terri B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing Home
Our family loved the large, screened in porch with the view of the lake - especially relaxing with a cup of coffee in the morning. The little beach area was fun for the little boys as well as the air hockey table and ping pong table in the basement. Beds were comfortable with lots of variety for pillows. Kitchen was well stocked but no dishwasher or 9x13 pan. (Not a big deal, just thought it was odd - three coffee makers though! 😆) Great place for our family!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Deb M., Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness
Great waterfront retreat
We had a great time and found the house to be larger than expected! Well-stocked kitchen with any cookware or miscellaneous items you may need (but do need your own paper towel). The 3-season room and activities in the basement were awesome!!! We also really appreciated the Netflix account. The kayaks were very fun and the sandy beach was great for our 2 year old. The water is a bit murky so we recommend water shoes if you’re going swimming. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Lisa L.

Summer 2021
We really enjoyed our stay. The outside of the property however could definitely use some cleaning up. Especially the area around the hot tub and grill. Also the stairs to the beach area could also use some lighting, a bit sketchy getting down to the water. Lights would be nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Karen U.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Lake House
This house was perfect for our family with 3 adult kids. The home has a beautiful view from a large screened in porch. The kitchen is big and particularly well equipped (no dishwasher). We enjoyed using the ping pong, air hockey and pool table in the spacious basement. The lawn and beach area are perfect for family activities. There are steep steps down to the beach and quite a bit of poison ivy, so you need to be careful. The lake was relatively quiet - we spent many hours floating or in kayaks. We caught a few "keepers" and lots of small fish.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jami D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing family getaway!
Great place to get away and relax! Our family had a nice time swimming and kayaking in the lake. The sunrise on the lake was beautiful! My daughter had fun fishing off the dock. It was a very peaceful place to stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021