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Charming, Spacious House Near Lake Michigan

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Dreamy front porch to relax in and remember what summers can really be like!
Bringing nature in
Spacious, light filled cottage
You can dine at this table or play games
Lake Michigan beaches about a mile distance from cottage

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12232.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
South Haven, MI
  • Kal Haven Trail
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Michigan Maritime Museum
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • South Beach
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Benton Harbor, MI (BEH-Southwest Michigan Regional)
    ‪27 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

4 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom with tub

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

First floor bathroom

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

Upstairs bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Charming, Spacious House Near Lake Michigan

Within walking distance of everything you need in South Haven, you can park your car and not use it again during your stay. Nearest beach is South Beach, only 1.1 mile away. You can walk to both North and South beaches, downtown restaurants, antique stores, shops and movie theater or you can relax with a book on our dreamy front porch away from it all. The cottage is roomy, updated, beautifully decorated. Build a bonfire in the back yard and build memories!

Most of the rooms in the cottage are located on the first floor. These include the living room, the kitchen, the dining area, four bedrooms, two bathrooms (including the one with the claw foot tub) and the laundry room. This makes it easier for elderly people to access. The second floor houses a large bedroom with a work area, and a large an suite bathroom.

The cottage is an older home, lovely and full of character, but updated for ultimate comfort of our guests, The rooms are painted light colors, full of windows to bring light and fresh air. The furniture is comfortable but relaxed so guest don't have to worry about kicking back. The dining room has a large dinning table that can comfortably seat over 12 people so families and friends can linger over breakfast pancakes and coffee or with glasses of wine in the evenings.

Walls are lined with maps and nature inspired art, bookshelves are overflowing with books for our guests to enjoy.

The cottage can accommodate smaller or large groups of guests. The bedrooms are tucked in, so everyone can find privacy, but common areas are open and large so families can watch movies together on the large TV in the living room, or play board games in the dinning room.

The three large bathrooms are updated and comfortable, two bathrooms with showers and one with an antique claw-foot tub for those who love to spend time soaking and pampering themselves.

This cottage is over a hundred years old, and reminiscent in style of old European cottages. It reminds me of my grandfather's farmhouse on the Danube where I spent my summers as a young girl and I tried to bring the decor that lives in my memories from those tranquil times. The windows are covered in gauzy lace curtains, walls decorated with botanical and landscape watercolors, kitchen items mismatched and bookshelves stocked with books for every taste. Every attempt is made to bring a feeling of a simpler, kinder, more peaceful time.

The backyard is perfect for spending time playing games, grilling on the large deck, building bonfires in the fire-pit and telling stories into the night.

The guests have access to the entire interior of the house as well as the front porch furnished with a dinning table and chairs and lounging wicker furniture.. The back deck has a large table, chairs and a barbecue grill. The enormous back yard is ideal for games of soccer, football or for kids to explore. Also memorable will be fires you will build in the evenings and sing songs, tell spooky stories or roast s'mores!

Our home is part of a wonderful neighborhood, and we are very respectful of our neighbors. We do not allow loud drinking parties and late night revelries. I hope this is something that our guests will respect.

The house is located on a quiet, shady, tree lined street. It is a short walk from the downtown area, the North and South beach, the children's park and the KalHaven trail.

It is a beautifully situated neighborhood, close to everything you'd wish to access while on holiday, but quiet and peaceful so that you feel away from everyday life.

You can walk everywhere in town. If you wish to venture further and explore surrounding towns, go antiquing, golfing, or wondering through the wonderful artistic communities and the countryside nearby, you can drive as all highways are withing easy access. Welcome to our home!

Please Note: City of South Haven asks that guests are aware “per the City’s zoning ordinance, no fireworks shall be used on the premises of a dwelling unit registered under the Short-Term Rental Ordinance when it is occupied by anyone other than the owner. The fines have also increased to a maximum penalty of $1000.”

Property manager

Liliana
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Lovely park just steps alay from cottage.
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Events

No events allowed
No late night drinking parties allowed.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Be respectful of our home and property especially if you bring pets. They need to be well behaved, cause no disturbance and no damage.
Be respectful of our neighbors. Do not make loud noise late at night.
No drinking and noisy revelries allowed.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No late night drinking parties allowed.
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 and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

South Haven

Located in South Haven, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the beach. Michigan Maritime Museum and Michigan Flywheelers Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include The Fun Park and Kids Place Park. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating and sledging.
Map
South Haven, MI

What's nearby

  • Kal Haven Trail - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • South Haven Center for the Arts - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Michigan Maritime Museum - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • North Beach - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • South Beach - 4 min drive - 2.1 km

Getting around

  • Bangor Station - 14 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Biggby Coffee - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Burger King - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬9 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming, Spacious House Near Lake Michigan pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Charming, Spacious House Near Lake Michigan?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming, Spacious House Near Lake Michigan?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming, Spacious House Near Lake Michigan located?

This family-friendly South Haven holiday home is located on the beach, within 1 mi (2 km) of Kal Haven Trail and Lake Michigan. Michigan Maritime Museum and South Haven Center for the Arts are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.6

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. 29 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 34 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ryan V.

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

Nice Stay in South Haven!

The location of the home is great! It was an easy walk downtown to restaurants and shops. The home offered plenty of space, but could use some updates. All in all, a good trip!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

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

South Haven Home

Comfortable house within walking distance to downtown South Haven. Nice roomy home with shaded back yard, fire pit and deck.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dennis F.

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

Very nice

A nice little home walking distance to everything South Haven has to offer. The listing accurately represents that some of the bedrooms are small, but there's enough room to sleep. Common areas are comfy, and there's everything you need. Loved the location, and loved South Haven.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roseann H.

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

Wedding stay

Everything was wonderful we really enjoyed the house plus the being able to have a bonfire with wood included. It was perfect!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael M., Prospect Heights, IL

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

South Haven Rental House

Very charming home with 3 bathrooms and 5 bedrooms. Fire pit, large shaded front porch, gas grill, spacious deck and parking for at least 5 vehicles. Walking distance to downtown South Haven with a 7-minute drive to the beaches.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Mary W., Northville,USA

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

Vacation in South Haven

The property was very clean but a lot older than I thought it would be. The beds were very comfortable and the kitchen was well stocked. Liliana was easy to contact with any problems we had which weren’t many. It was my first time in South Haven and I truly had a wonderful time.
Stayed 20 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beth K.

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

Great location

Nice older home with lots of sleeping space for our family. Short walk to downtown for eating, shopping, and farmer’s market. Played games on the front porch, and enjoyed the backyard fire pit. Washer and dryer flipped a circuit, but it was quickly fixed. Can’t use the outlet in small bedroom with 2 twin beds unless the light is on, so no fan or charging phone at night. Overall a nice stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Peggy T.

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

Lovely week in South Haven

This was our first trip to South Haven and we had a wonderful time! The cottage was perfect for our family which included me, my husband, two adult sons, daughter in law and two toddler grand daughters. The layout worked well since our son's family could utilize the back half of the house for their sleeping area A door could be closed after the girls went to bed so we didn't bother them with games or conversatons. I believe the owners have thought of everything we might need with a nicely stocked kitchen, bathroom supplies, books, games and even blankets for snuggling in the living room. The spaces were all extremely clean. We easily walked to town for restaurants and shops. The beach was walkable too, however, we did drive one car down to transport the umbrellas, coolers, etc. We would love to vacation in South Haven again and would stay in this cottage if it was available.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Deborah F.

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

8 out of 10

The house was very clean but old. Neighborhood is quiet and nice. It is a little further than I expected to downtown or the beach, about a mile each way, so you aren't going to go back and forth much. The bunk beds are in a converted hallway area without much privacy, and the bedrooms are small, but it suited our group of 8 adults just fine. We didn't use the bunk beds. I struggled to contact the hostess thru VRBO. She contacted me, but when I tried to reply the link would take me to VRBO's home page, not to the property. In general, we had a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Paul W.

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

4 day weekend

Nice quite little home, just a short walk to downtown South Haven
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathy R.

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

Great home

Good location. Easy walk to town. Very clean and plenty of space for everyone. Wonderful owners. We would return.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christina M.

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

Cozy home near the lake

My friends and I had a lovely weekend getaway to the lake in South Haven at this cute and cozy home. The house was clean and sweetly decorated with ample outdoor space for nights around the fire pit and group dinners both on the front and back porches (loved using the grill!). Lilliana is a wonderful host who answered all of my questions promptly and completely before we checked in. This house is a bit more cramped than particularly spacious as the description notes. The bedroom with bunk beds is more of a hallway that connects two parts of the house so you have to walk through this bedroom to get to the kitchen. There is less privacy in the bunk room so it might be better for kids to sleep in. All in all, though, we enjoyed our stay immensely! The house is clearly well-maintained, cleaned thoroughly between guests, and the host provided amenities (bath towels, cookware, wi-fi) to make our stay very comfortable. Thanks for the lovely stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

julie z., Chicago

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

Great house in a great location

The house was as described. The location was terrific as we walked to town daily. Large backyard with a lovely deck and a fire pit with plenty of wood. Liliana was a pleasure to work with. She got back to us immediately with a few questions we had. We would definitely rent here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mike K.

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

A great spot for a family with little kids

We had a great stay here. Our group consisted of five adults (including two couples) and two 5-year-olds. Here are the positives: There was plenty of sleeping room for everybody. The dining room features a table big enough to seat a large group. The back deck and the fire pit area are both very nice. We utilized the grill on the back deck a few times. The house is in a very good location. It's a 10 minute walk into downtown South Haven. Our kids loved the park just up the block . They played basketball and baseball and jumped around on the playground equipment in the park every day during our stay. The house was very clean, except for an overlooked mess left over on the floor of the front porch. I messaged our host, and it was taken care of within a few hours. Checking in and out was an easy process. The negative: The kitchen and the living room area are both a little small. Our group felt a little cramped in those areas. Overall, the house worked very well for our group. It's a great place to stay if you have young children.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Viren S.

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

Wonderful time and a wonderful host

Liliana is a wonderful host. She was available for any questions thru the VRBO app immediately and resolved any issues she could right away. The blender wasn't working and she had it replaced within a couple of hours. The listing was accurate and we loved it. I would suggest some better chairs around the fire pit, but otherwise it was amazing! Side note - the hot water was incredibly reliable and fast, to the point where it felt like it was better than some 5 star hotel.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

4/10 Poor

Donald M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Nice older home that needs attention

We booked this property for a family reunion and thought that the space, bedrooms and amenities would be a perfect fit for our stay. Unfortunately the home is suffering from neglect or at least attention to detail. Virtually every room had issues including electrical, plumbing, and cleanliness. There were also safety issues that need addressed immediately.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly T.

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

Family vacation

We all enjoyed our stay . The house was clean & looked exactly like the photos
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

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

family vacation

Great location and nice house
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This house has everything you will need. Liliana is a great host and her response time is incredible.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Karen S., Indianapolis, IN

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

Charming home

Plenty of space in a nice, quiet area of South Haven. Wonderful experience.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Paula W.

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

Quiet neighborhood, close to down town

This is a wonderful location if you're looking for some peace and quiet. We walked into downtown twice a day, grilled at night, and used the fire pit in the back yard. Very enjoyable!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Yan L.

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

Good location

Good location if you want to go to the beach. Owner is very nice and take care of your request very promptly.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kristin S.

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

Perfect weekend getaway

Rented this home with a group of 7 girls, there was more than enough space for sleeping, getting ready, and lounging. Liliana was accommodating and responsive throughout the entire process! Highlights were definitely the front porch and back deck to enjoy the Michigan summer weather.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kathy A.

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

Fabulous time in South Haven

It was a great experience
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Emily M.

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

Great place!

We very much enjoyed our stay. It was very clean. Great location. The kids loved the backyard, the fire pit. I loved reading on the front porch. I did some early morn in g walks to a nearby cemetery. So peaceful.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

About the host

Hosted by Liliana

Host profile image
I am a graphic and web designer living in Michigan. I love my family and friends, art, books and travel. I love diversity and various cultures of our world.

I grew up in a large European family where hosting is an essential part of our culture. I have always kept my house and my heart open to other people, welcomed them with a beautiful home, delicious food and delightful company.

I would like to open my home to you. Please come and visit.

Why they chose this property

This old, comfortable, rambling cottage reminded me as soon as I saw it of my grandparent's charming European cottage, a magical place where I spent my childhood summers.

What makes this property unique

The cottage is within walking distance of everything that you'll want to do in South Haven: the beaches for swimming, downtown for entertainment, hiking, playing, cinema, antiquing.

Yet, it is also tucked in, in a quiet neighborhood, on a sleepy street, away from the noise and bustle of the tourist area, so you won't feel like a visitor, but a resident of a sleepy town from a previous age.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests