This is a beautiful property that was perfect for our family vacation. With seven adults, three kids, and two dogs, there was plenty of space for everyone. The lake was fantastic -- lots of fish, and great opportunities for swimming and boating. The property is accurately described, and Vic and Leny are excellent homeowners who are always available to answer questions. We are looking forward to a return stay at this special place!
First, the positive: the location of this house is wonderful. It sits right on a pristine lake, and there are lovely views from the living / dining space in particular. There is ample space within the home for a large family vacation and the kitchen is extremely well-equipped.There were a couple expectations which we had due to the property listing that were not met. The owner addressed each, except for an extra pack and play, which we ourselves ended up having to rent and pay for.The biggest issue was the homeâs electrical system which was especially problematic due to the warm weather. Each room has a window AC - some of them very outdated, moldy, and musty smelling - and at the hottest part of the day, if multiple units were in use, the circuit breakers would trip and we would lose electricity. The first time this happened, despite having some resourceful people with us, we couldnât figure it out ourselves because many breakers were unlabeled on the circuit breaker, which led to us needing an electrician. The owner sent one promptly who taught us how to fix the issue ourselves going forward. However, the owner later became quite unpleasant about our electrical issues, saying that it was our job to fix them, that hiring an electrician was costly, etc. These exchanges really soured our experience, and as a result we will not be booking this property again - we would not feel welcome.
We had a great time at the property. It has the best location on Lake Buel with an incredible view over the lake towards the sunset. The description was accurate.
We had a wonderful week on Lake Buel! The home was spacious, comfortable and spotlessly clean! Even in an intense heat wave, the house was cool and the water was refreshing. There was lots to do in the area!
Our family of 11 spent a very enjoyable week together at this lovely, comfortable, well-furnished and well-stocked roomy home. It's a place for kids to swim and fish from the dock; for relaxed reading on easy chairs, for snoozing in hammocks; for family-style meals (or family games) at a long table overlooking the lake; for easy access to hiking, biking, and much more. We hope to be back.
Million dollar view, outdoor spaces, and large comfortable home. Highly recommend. Quirky things worth noting - none of which lowered our 5 star ratings. Not supplied - spices, condiments, oils etc for cooking. Laundry soap. Bath soap. Room air conditioning units are excellent, but master suite has no window to the outside otherwise. Hosts were available and welcoming.
Wonderful setting for active families of different ages. Home is comfortable and our group of 7 adults and 3 young children shared a great week together making delicious meals in the well equipped kitchen, exploring the Great Barrington/ Stockbridge area, a performance at Jacobâs Pillow, family music concerts in the lawn in Great Barrington, hours of swimming, paddle boarding (bring your own), kayaking, and canoeing.
Only reason for 4 stars given in âas advertisedâ section is that we thought the kitchen would have spices/herbs available, since website advertises âfully stocked pantryâ.
For guests - bring your own spices and condiments.
For owners - clarifying this on the website will be helpful.
Thank you very much, Leny and Victor!!
We had a wonderful time. The owners are the nicest people. The house is really clean with plenty of room. We had a group of 12 (adults and teens). The sunsets are breathtaking. We had a very peaceful and relaxing time. Make sure you have a boat, kayak or canoe. May be a little boring otherwise. The only negative is the walk up and down from the dock. It is very steep. It was challenging for the older folks. Otherwise, the walk back up the house is an excellent leg workout for those of you who are active!!!! I highly recommend zip lining at Catamount Park (awesome)!
All and all...a wonderful vacation! I would definitely go back!
We had a wonderful time, the Property and Lake are beautiful, and the house and boat house were extremely well equipped.
However, the property was listed as handicapped accessible and while we managed, there were a few drawbacks to accessibility for the wheel chair bound member of our family. The most important one is the bed in the master BD is exceptionally high and needs to be much lower for handicapped guests. A person in a wheelchair generally cannot transfer to a high mattress.
The "accessible" shower in the first floor bathroom is not a roll in shower and grab bars are too far away to be able to transfer to the shower chair independently.
In the master bedroom bathroom, a third grab bar needs to be added on the left wall when facing the toilet,
The furniture in the living room and master bedroom is very big making it difficult to maneuver a wheel chair. We had to push several pieces of furniture out of the way to have better access.
We had a wonderful week with our family (6 adults, a 4-year-old, and a 2-year-old).
The good:
1) The view with lots of places you could just sit and read or talk and enjoy it.
2) The friendliness of the host. Leny met us with a smile when we arrived and showed us around. After that, to be honest, we had little need to contact the host as everything was as expected and worked well.
3) How well stocked it was...everything we could possibly want was provided. We especially appreciated the enormous supply of plush towels.
4) It was spotlessly clean and pretty much everything was in good working order.
5) The layout. With the exception of the master bedroom, the other bedrooms are away from the living space. The main living area made great use of the view and was fun to hang out in (though, of course, we spent most of our time outside).
6) The location. You felt like you were in the woods, but we were close enough to town to make a run for coffee and donuts when you felt like it.
7) Did I mention the view?
The not-quite-so-good:
1) The grill worked but probably needs to be replaced after the season.
2) Figuring out the light switches. Some are in strange spots (kitchen behind the fridge, master bedroom has two switches not wired correctly so you have to make sure to switch both on, etc.)
3) The bathrooms are tiny and dated. We did expect based on the price for them to be more modern, especially as there was no good place for toiletries, etc. in some of them. The kitchen is dated too, though that really did not make much of a difference... functions just fine.
4) If you are a biker, you need to be very careful on the road to the house. Loose gravel and up and down was fine by car but a bit slippery by bike.
5) Not so obvious from the pictures, the house is set quite high up above the lake so there is a several-story staircase. Mostly an issue if you have little kids or fewer mobile adults. In practice, it was not an issue and it contributed to the outstanding view.
The bad:
1) Really nothing...we might very well go back next season.
Fabulous! Lovely & very comfortable home on gorgeous Lake Buel
3 generations gathered to celebrate an 85th Birthday, and we were all wowed. The home was lovely, very clean, and comfortably set up for evening gatherings over long dinners and post dinner jigsaw puzzles. The kitchen was very well equipped (2 sinks, 2 ovens) and we appreciated the grill. The lake was fabulous -- easy steps from the dock, no algae, few water weeds nearby. We loved swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and just reading on the dock! The middle landings with benches about half-way down were great hang-outs, too. The lower part of the steps were steep, so too much for our elder, but the 9 yr old scampered up and down. The setting was bucolic, however we also had a great time visiting nearby towns and enjoying fabulous concerts. Our hosts were very responsive to any questions and made us feel welcome from the start to end. Thank you, Leny and Victor, for a truly memorable stay!
The location of the house is wonderful because of the view of the lake and being near good shopping and world-class cultural centers. Accommodations were good for our 12 family members. Very relaxing. We love the area!
We had such a wonderful time! Your home is truly beautiful and thank you for letting us use it! That view and sunset is incredible! Kids had a blast fishing and kayaking. Very responsive owner.
We just finished our week vacation. With six bedrooms, the house perfectly accommodated my family of eleven which included five little grandchildren. My son and daughterâs families each had their own floors and the grandparents had the master bedroom on the first floor. The weather was great and the swimming, fishing, and kayaking off the boat deck was terrific. Lake Buel is beautiful and convenient to all that the Berkshires offers. Thank you Leny and Victor!
We had a great time, the house and the lake were perfect. The owners were responsive and had everything we could need at the house. Everyone, young and old, enjoyed it so much, we want to do it again!
Our big family of 9 adults and four little ones had a great week at this house. The location and views are magnificent and the house lacks for nothing. Weâre a big cooking family and the large kitchen had everything (and then some) we could need. Never been in a rental with as much cooking and serving items. Great Barrington has a very well stocked grocery and package store so we could be very creative. We rented some kayaks and enjoyed the lake - big but not so big you canât get to the other end and back in a couple hours of casual paddling around. Thank you Leny and Victor for keeping this house in such great shape and ensuring everything was ready for our visit. Five stars and two thumbs up!
Our multi-generational family (ages 19-84) enjoyed our stay on Lake Buel. The house was as advertised, the kitchen well equipped, and there was plenty of space for our crew to hang out. The woods around the house are restful and the dock is a great place to relax.
A few minor complaints (that keep our rating from being 5 stars):
- the photos included with the listing are accurate but the omission of a photo showing the last part of the steps to the dock (stone, steep, and sloped) caused a little consternation for the older members of our family. They were manageable, but I think it would better set expectations for future renters if all of the steps were shown.
- the basement level (which includes two of the bedrooms) is a bit musty. For the later part of the week we were able to have the windows open which helped, but as a result of the odor, these bedrooms aren't as comfortable as the others.
- while the listing accurately tells prospective renters to bring their own kayaks, there is no viable option for renting them locally. It would be nice (especially since there is a boathouse on the dock) if either two kayaks, a canoe, or a rowboat were included with the rental.
Overall, we had a great stay. The house is large and comfortable and there are activities galore in the area.
This is our 5th year at the lake house. We can't wait for next year. The owners are great and take pride in their house. This house has one of the bests views in all of the Berkshires. See you next year !!!!
Jen and Jeff
Our family group of 12 total persons (4 families) all agreed that this house in New Marlborough, MA, was more than we expected. First it was very clean, abundant linens, blankets and a super supply of kitchen utensils, and pots & pans to choke a horse.
The owners were very accessible with their contacts locally (that we never had to call), during our 1 week stay. The lake view from the living room and dining room was spectacular just as advertised.The dock was very accessible for my son and granddaughters who fished and swam almost daily. Great Barrington was 12 minutes away and 30 minutes to Tanglewood. A real winner.
David B. Levine
Lovely setting; very nice house - exceptionally well stocked with kitchen gear, sheets, towels and Clean! Hosts Leny and Vic very helpful and informative but not intrusive. Thank you, we had a wonderful time.
Lee & Greg Crosman
Vous ĂȘtes reçu par Leny and Victor Mulholland 917 207-2159
I have enjoyed years of great summers and winters with fun memories from this special lake house.Great for family's .6 bedrooms House is air conditioned all new king sized beds.
Its unique cape style privacy and lodge feel brings you back to an earlier peaceful era.Cul de sac. Extremely clean.All modern conveniences .Perched on the eastern side of the lake allows for spectacular sunsets. The huge pines and scented air truly relaxes me. The water is warm and clear. Great Birdwatching The views Spectacular.Bald Eagles, Hawks,Cranes,Yellow Starlings. Many unusual birds.
Incredible Private Lakefront cul de sac Timeless Quiet.Nestled in the pines. HUGE DOCK AND SEATING AREAS.Swimming boating Lots of room for guests and family. 2 KAYAKS AND 1 CANOE. Great Kitchen 2 sinks ,2 refrigerators dishwasher and modern appliances.It has large washer and dryer. Handicap ok. All on a cul de sac. Lakefront on 200 acre lake with small nature trail behind house. Great for Anniversaries.Family reunions.Close to Great Barrington Stockbridge and Lee,Tangelwood ,Kripalu yoga , Butternut 5 minutes and Catamount 15 minutes.