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Reviews of PRIVATE RETREAT | Pool | Hot Tub | Fire Pit | 18 Beds |7 Bedrooms |6.5 Bath| Close to Downtn

PRIVATE RETREAT | Pool | Hot Tub | Fire Pit | 18 Beds |7 Bedrooms |6.5 Bath| Close to Downtn
Austin, TX

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 47 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 47 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 47 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 47 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 47 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Ryan T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome stay in Texas!
Property is amazing, host is communicative. only complaint is we ran into a couple scorpions in the rooms, but I assume this is applicable to all of Texas, not just this property
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lauren S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Rental
We had a great experience at stepping rock. The property was beautiful and the home was pretty pristine.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carissa T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Birthday retreat
This place was the PERFECT rental for my fiancé's 30th birthday party. We had a combination of friends and family fly into town for an Austin staycation. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. The dedicated team member was very helpful throughout the stay. We would 100% rent this property again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rachel D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Company Retreat
Common Areas - amazing and perfect for large groups! Bathrooms - all nice & new - very clean! Kitchen - plenty of serving equipment and materials needed to cook etc
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peter F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Hill Country Spot for Families
Our entire family (grandparents and three siblings + spouses with 2 kids each ranging from 5-19) spent Thanksgiving at Steppibg Rock and loved the experience. The house is very nice and perfect for large groups as it has lots of sleeping options and a big, open floor plan downstairs as well as a beautiful patio area. Lots of fun places to visit close by (hikes, breweries, and ATX is only 20 minutes away). I would definitely recommend the house to other guests!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kristen C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Gathering at its Best
Great weekend with family and friends at this serene property! We will definitely be checking out this place again!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous
Great property!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Yesenia L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful home!
The home was Beautiful and we enjoyed our stay. Only concern was all the door locks were very difficult to lock and unlock so it made it hard for us with small children to open doors and possibly wander off to the pool. The home was very nice I would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ashleagh T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Family Vacation!
I picked this place because of it's seclusion and overall property layout. Even though there was another house nearby, you don't even notice! When my mother walked in, the first thing she said was the house smelled clean and it was. The rooms with the built in bunk beds were spacious and I was very impressed with the supplies in the house. The property managers were responsive and quick to fix any concerns. This property was definitely built to relax. The only thing I would change is the fact there aren't any ceiling fans outside under the patio or in the house, stand alone fans were provided though and came in handy! I would definitely book again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Sons wedding weekend
We rented this home to keep from having to stay at a hotel. It was very nice and clean. It had everything we needed. The remote to turn on the pool lights was missing but after a text to Tristin they magically came on. The thermostats are locked but were set on 70° so the house was comfortable. The upstairs rooms were a bit warmer than downstairs. Some ceiling fans would be nice to circulate the air. There was plenty of parking. A great place to stay.

10/10 Excellent

Kathy D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great retreat!
The group had a lot of space - the individual bathrooms / bedrooms were key!! The pool / patio provided a great location for meetings and it was easy to get to all of the attractions Austin and its hillside have to offer. Highley recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Nancy H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Christmas 2020
Overall, this property was great. However, we did have a few issues, minor but not expected when renting a property like this. Though the house sleeps 20+ people, there were only 11 forks in the drawer. There is a wood burning fireplace on the patio and a fire pit in the yard, but no wood available. There was a sticky black tarry substance on the patio right where you walk in the door when we arrived. One afternoon when we were sitting outside the neighbor started shooting/target practice, not conducive to a pleasant afternoon by the pool, or even to a student trying to study inside. Again, overall it was a lovely stay, but these are things that should not even be an issue, in my opinion, at a property like this.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Krystal P., Houston, TX USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice girls getaway
Beautiful property and pool. Had an issue with the pool not being heated upon arrival but it was fixed midway through our stay. Appreciate the quick attention being given to the issue. Overall a very nice stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim T., Park City, UT

Liked: Cleanliness
Thanksgiving get together
Property was clean and well maintained. Kitchen could have had a few additional chef tools to be able to create a meal like Thanksgiving. I would recommend this property for extended families as there are a lot of bunk beds for children not separate bedrooms that adults would prefer. Very Nice Property would stay again
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2020

6/10 Okay

John H.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Not what we had hoped for based on price paid.
Similar to some of the other post. While the property is somewhat remote you are essentially in the owners backyard. Never saw the owners but felt they saw us. Multiple cameras around exterior of the home left is feeling as if we were being watched versus feeling more secure. Expecting a refund for heating the pool. First night was not even turned on, second night some found if you sat jn frint of a jet you could stay warm. Glass on all doors was filthy, dust bunnies a problem and one towel in the master had a 8” hole in it. Pool towels very tired. Door locks either could not be locked or in one case not unlocked. Lastly, we were unlucky enough to have every service stop in during our stay. Exterminator on Day 1, LP Gas underground tanks filled Day 2. Pool guys to turn on heaters twice. (Great Guys) . Know these services all need to be done and are scheduled to come oit at the begining of the week. Makes sense unless your scheduled to stay there during that time. Would not recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Dec 2020
John, we really enjoyed hosting your family for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, and I am truly sorry you did not fully enjoy your stay. Your negative review does come as a complete shock though. I am wondering if perhaps some of your disappointment was due to the Covid environment instead of the actual house?? We work very hard to deliver a 5-Star experience to our guests, and our reviews illustrate that. When you reserved the home for a mid-week stay, which is not a typical arrival date, we very quickly set your expectations regarding the regularly scheduled services which we provide to keep the home at it's best. You did not express at that time the services would bother you. All of our contractors are very efficient and get in and out quickly, and were only on the exterior of the home. They understand guests are enjoying their time away from home. The home was professionally cleaned prior to your arrival, and if for some reason you were not satisfied, we would have sent the cleaning team back out to address any issues. When you discovered the one towel out of the 60 provided European Luxury Plush Bath towels in the home that did have a hole, we had a package of 6 brand new towels delivered within one hour. We were clearly available to address any concerns during your stay. The pool was heated to 85 degrees, and I am sorry that you did not think that was warm enough. As I am sure you know, pools are not heated to the same temps hot tubs are. We take the job of providing a 5-star luxury vacation rental seriously. We do everything possible to anticipate our guests’ needs and ensure the home and amenities will delight our guests and exceed expectations.

6/10 Okay

Donna L.

Great location but imperfect execution
We had a group of 17 (7 kids) for my husband's 40th birthday. The space was great (like other reviewers noted, the upstairs area is pretty cramped but I thought it was overall fine) as well as the location. Close enough to local amenities and Downtown Austin but the house feels remote (in a good way) at the same time. At this price point, however, we expect a 5-star stay. Several execution issues: (1) cleanliness issues, especially during COVID, is a little jarring - the fridges near the bar area were dirty, patio trash cans had not been emptied before we arrived (lots of leftover McDonalds and other trash from prior guests), and the outside grill had been used to make something before that we needed to wipe down pretty well; (2) the master room I stayed in had a smoke detector battery issue that made a recurring beeping sound that was just loud enough to keep a light sleeper like myself up for most of the first night; it was supposed to have been fixed (manager was responsive to my text) but it wasn't, so the second night I gave up and slept on the couch outside since the rooms were taken; it was fixed by our last night; (3) the 7th bedroom with the separate entrance should really be more accurately described - it's a room just big enough for a bed with no bathroom (so you need to go to the main house if you need the facilities) and there were bags of laundry in there so it didn't seem like we were supposed to use it; and (4) the pool, which was an important factor in my rental decision since there were 7 young kids, never heated sufficiently for us to really swim in (they part of the price, but there was lots of shivering and blue lips when people dared to enter in). We enjoyed our time in Austin, but it had more to do with the company and the fact that everyone in my group is pretty low-key and we didn't really bother to complain about everything to management at the time.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Oct 2020
Hi Donna, thank you for taking the time to write about your experience. I was shocked to read some of the points you made. If only you had expressed these issues when you were actually staying in the home, we could have avoided you feeling like you were not getting what you paid for. Stepping Rock is a beautiful, luxury home and we do our absolute best to try to accommodate all of our guests concerns and needs. It is impt for other readers to know we did replace the smoke alarm battery upon your notification to us (we regularly replace all smoke alarm batteries every 12mo), the 7th bedroom is advertised accurately, and you did decline the option to heat the pool- your description of shivering blue lips does not seem like a fair or realistic representation when the outside temps on Oct 1st were 78 and the pool temp was 82* without being heated. I do encourage you in the future to reach out to your host during your stay to give them the opportunity to help with an immediate resolution. You and your family were lovely to host, and we would love to host you again and make sure all of your needs are addressed during your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Annetta N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and perfect place to stay.
Stayed here for my son’s wedding with family and friends. Everyone was comfortable and we had everything that we needed. Five stars in my book!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

JESSICA L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Work Retreat
Tracie and Jade were amazing with communication and the property was amazing will all its bells and whistles. The house fit our work needs perfectly. The rooms were spacious, and the amenities had it all. It was great to work, and then relax cook, and enjoy the peace and quiet all at once. Super close to our downtown office and anything we wanted to do.

8/10 Good

Juan Carlos S., Houston, TX

Great Austin Hill Country Getaway
This is a gem I’m the Austin hill country in a peaceful setting with all the amenities you would need to enjoy your stay. The pool and outdoor area is great to enjoy all day long...swim, sunbathe, read under porch area, eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t because the house wasn’t spotless, although Nest was very responsive and wanted to send out the cleaning crew to remediate. Nest management was very responsive to texts and any questions or needs we had during our stay.

10/10 Excellent

Brad Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place for relaxing birthday
We rented out stepping rock for my fathers birthday party. The property was perfect for hosting friends and family over a long weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

6/10 Okay

Tashi N.

Liked: Cleanliness
The pics are wayyy better than reality
1. The property is much, much smaller than it looks in the pics. There is 1 living room which seats only 6 people comfortably. The rest have to sit on metal dining chairs which are quite uncomfortable. Same with the pool side area and the fireplace. only 7-8 seats in any area, when the property is advertised for 20 people!! 2. There are instructions pasted on every window, door, drawer etc. So we could never really get a relaxed experience. Too many instructions. 3. There was no toilet paper in the home in any bathroom. When we asked, we were told due to covid, we are not supplying TP. WHich is not mentioned anywhere on the site or communication. We had to run right out after coming into the house to get toilet paper. The manager said she can come the next day with some supply, but never showed up. 4. The home is managed by Nest rentals so it doesn't have the spirit of vrbo- vacation rental by owner. This is vacation rental by a property manager who only cares about $$$. There is nothing in the pantry, only 1 roll of paper and no supplies at all. Homes that are run by owners tend to be much more welcoming and better equiped. 5. The only reason I did not give them 2 stars is because the home has nice furnishings and furniture. And they allowed a late checkout. We will not be renting the home again, and possibly never another rental that is managed by Nest rentals. It was not a pleasant experience dealing with them.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

gabriella o.

Liked: Cleanliness
2nd time around!
We rented from Tracey and NEST in the past and loved their homes and properties. We want to eventually stay in all of the them. This home was great, loved the country and peaceful feel. It was close to everything we needed and wanted. Response times were fast, and the house was stocked!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Todd F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great
Great
Stayed 3 nights in May 2020

10/10 Excellent

brandon c.

Liked: Cleanliness
perfect family getaway
Loved stepping rock for my family and I. We used the home for a week and it fit all of us so comfortably. We enjoyed the pool and back yard. Such a great place to escape, we will definitely be returning!

10/10 Excellent

Lynne G.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was a very nice house in a quiet area. The property was beautiful and the beds were comfortable.
There where a few problems with the hot water but that was taken care of quickly. There where no drawers in the bed rooms and one door leading to the pool did not lock. The front door lock also did not work very well. Over all it was a very nice house and I would stay here again.

10/10 Excellent

Brooke G.

Liked: Cleanliness
perfect girls' weekend spot!
we had a blast at this house, it's set up so well. every one of our guests loved the house, took photos, complimented the space. it's so spacious, clean, nice, cozy... we loved the pool and lounging by the pool under the shaded patio. we were a girls weekend of about 15 guests, and everyone had their own bed. we had 1 guy who was our bartender for the weekend, and he stayed on the couch in the little office, which was nice having some separation, it doesn't have direct access into the house. Jade from Nest was super quick to respond to our questions via text. the house had everything we needed! the decor is also so stylish and each bedroom and bathroom are different! the only area that may need some attention is the grill area, and there are ant beds that attacked us down by the fire pit.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Debbie A., Needville

Liked: Cleanliness
Large family getaway
Our family was 11 and one under 2 years this time. The bunk room is Very small with no place for luggage. I don’t know what they call bedroom 7 unless it was the office because it was locked. This was where we had planned on putting the baby down for her nap. The closest should have shelves so you don’t have to dig in your luggage every time you want an article of clothing. Two of the rooms you have to put your luggage on the floor because you have nothing to put them on. The rocking chair and the cooler by the bar needed repair and the showers had no place for soap or washcloths. In general the house is overpriced. We’ve stayed at at much nicer places for less. For the high $650 cleaning fee we still had to do some of the work. All in all a nice house but overpriced..
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

brittany s.

Girls Getaway
I first would like to say this home exceeded every expectation we had for the weekend. We scheduled yoga by the pool in the am, had a private chef in the home, and enjoyed the whole weekend. My friends and I booked this home for the space and accommodations for us all. There were plenty of beds, mirrors, blow dryers in every bathroom. The home felt like a 5 star hotel, but so peaceful all at the same time. Quick drive to downtown and close wineries added on to the trip! We loved it so much!
Stayed 1 night in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Krystle Y H., Destin, Florida

Hill Country Paradise
Our family is scattered across the US but we call Austin home. This was a perfect place for our family reunion. The home is beautifully styled with multiple indoor and outdoor gathering areas for our family to share. We had 19 people stay at the house and it didn't feel crowded at all! The kitchen is fully stocked with cooking materials but we chose to chow on delicious Texas BBQ instead. Everyone agreed that the beds were very comfortable as well. This property has the "Hill Country" feel without being too far from downtown Austin and it's only a couple minutes drive from the Jester King brewery as well. Tracey and Jade were quick to respond to any questions we had. We're ready to plan our next family vacation here!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

John R.

Both properties were beautiful and overall we very much enjoyed our stay.
Jade was extremely accommodating. There was an issue with the propane at the 1st house which didn’t allow for any of the appliances to work. She quickly moved us to a different house that was just as nice. With the inconvenience of the propane and having to pack up and move it wasn’t a perfect stay but the recovery was fantastic. I can’t say enough good things about the customer service that was given to us and the care taken to ensure we were taken care of. Thanks so much!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Michael R.

BEST house for big group!!
We couldn't have better things to say about our stay at Stepping Rock! We were 17 friends here for the long LDW and it was four days of magic. We spent four days lounging by the pool, enjoying the grill, and heading downtown (we didn't mind the 20 minute Uber since we honestly spent so much time around the pool). The main room fit everyone and there was enough storage between the two huge fridges for all the food and drink you could imagine. We're super picky people when it comes to our accommodations and we can honestly say every room in the house was updated, modern, and spotless. We had all our provisions shipped to the house, which I highly recommend if you don't have a car on the property (no need for one with all the Ubers). There was one other house on the property but you still feel 100% private and on your own without disturbing anyone. If you're looking for a luxurious, modern house for a large group that's close enough to the city and Lake Travis for some fun there isn't a better option out there- I promise (we looked!!).
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

WARREN L.

great house!
Our family had a great time. The house is perfect for relaxing and spending quality time with your group. Jade is very attentive with your needs.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Neal P.

Fantastic Property!
We had a rather large group of 22 people, and this property was amazing, with enough space for all of us to fit comfortably. Huge kitchen/living area hooked up with Sonos sound system, made it a great area for everyone to gather around and hang out in, along with the amazing pool/patio area. From the get-go, Tracey/Jade were great hosts, even leaving a nice little welcome basket for us and recommending local bars/restaurants in and around Austin. Highly recommend if you have a large group!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey A.

Amazing property
We had about 19 people stay at the house and it was perfect for the large group. Uber/Lyft friendly area, all the amenities you could want and more. Host was very gracious.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Super cute and very clean! Only complaint was there wasn’t a heating system for the pool.
Awesome house to stay in for a big group.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Arun D., Chicago

Wonderful home for big groups!
We had a wonderful time at Stepping Rock. Everything was A+ across the board. Rooms were spacious and every bed, including bunks, were extremely comfortable. The large living/dining room was great for entertaining our group and we have nothing but great things to say about the house, location, and experience renting this home. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

April L.

Gorgeous home. We had an AMAZING TIME!
Thank you for letting us rent this gorgeous home. We had a family reunion with our TX, AZ and IL families. This is the 2nd year we came here and we will be BACK. The home is furnished to perfection to allow for comfort of small children up to grandparents. Kitchen is well stock and the open concept allows for easy conversations. The property is spacious and you feel like you are at a resort in the Hill Country. If I could give you more than 5 stars I would. I cannot wait to come back!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017

8/10 Good

Melissa T.

Wonderful place for families to stay and to be able to entertain large groups.
The property is very nice and open with a great first floor. The pool is nice, but would have appreciated the heater to work. Some bathrooms are small and difficult to maneuver- especially for the 2 bedrooms that contain 8 bunk beds. I felt it a bit "much" to have FIVE signs on the main floor of the penalties for not picking up something as simple as a tag off of the floor, etc. Wasn't a cleaning fee added to the rental of the home?
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Mar 2020
Just to clarify, we knew the pool was not heated; the weather was a touch cool and overcast, and my comment about the heat was meant to be light-hearted as we did not anticipate Texas to be cool at that time.

10/10 Excellent

Annette S.

Absolutely Stunning
I would recommend this stay to anyone. It was absolutely beautiful. The decor was unbelievable. Our group had the best time ever. Thanks again for sharing your home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2016