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Reviews of Karen’s Kottage - Lake John Cutie on the Bay! NEW - now with Wi-Fi!!!

Karen’s Kottage - Lake John Cutie on the Bay! NEW - now with Wi-Fi!!!
Annandale, MN

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Whitney K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Sweet classic cabin, super hospitality
Karen's Kottage is Kute and Komfortable! Sweet, petite cottage with a retro feel throughout. The beds were very comfortable and we appreciated having fans in each bedroom for white noise. Everything was very clean and well-maintained. We were there in mid-September and the lake was very quiet as most summer traffic had died down already. Plenty of life jackets in a range of sizes as well as water toys and some water crafts to use. We had a bonfire one night and enjoyed coffee from the upper screened in porch in the mornings. Karen is super hospitable and responsive and checked in with us throughout the stay. And she even brought over a freshly baked treat our final morning!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dan H., Omaha

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect getaway
The kottage was just what we needed, it was clean and comfortable with everything you need for a relaxing getaway. Karen was a great host and was very concerned about making sure everything was great. Already making plans to try and get back there next year.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dennis L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous property
Clean, neat, homey. Great lake side amenities, fishing and swimming beach. Porches up/down were great!! Nice to have grass on the beach rather than sand to track into the cabin and stairs out of the water onto the dock. Nice shade in the afternoon. Fishing was fabulous!! We would definitely consider renting this property again!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daun C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cutie Indeed!
Karen's Kottage is a gem. We stayed in late June with my parents. The location was perfect. Close enough to town, but secluded enough. We wound through the trees to find Karen's Kottage. Pretty much everything we needed was there. The lake was quiet, even in the days leading up to the 4th of July. Most days, it felt like we were the only ones there. The entire back wall of the living room windows and the screened in porch, gave sweeping vistas of the lake. We had a front row ticket to the family of Loons and their haunting call. There were also Osprey that would occasionally buzz the lake. Two of the days, we rented a pontoon. And the dock was perfect for tying the pontoon up at the end of the day. The dock is nice and long, and we were able to catch some nice sized fish from there. All in all, Karen is a wonderful host, and we would whole-heartedly recommend her little oasis! We will be staying again!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marie H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Cabin Getaway
We loved the Kottage! Our kids enjoyed swimming and fishing all day and using the lake toys provided. Perfect location on the lake as well!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carley S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake fun!
Had a wonderful family weekend! The best part was the floating dock and all the water toys/kayaks etc to play with. Great, accommodating hosts!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Becky H., Prior Lake

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing cabin
We enjoyed our family getaway at the cottage. The lake view was wonderful, and we loved the screened in deck. The lake had some weeds, but there was an area for swimming and floating. The cabin could stand some updated furniture, and a bigger pot in the kitchen for making pasta, taco meat, etc would be nice. The game table downstairs was a hit, when the weather didn’t cooperate. Overall we had a nice time.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Scott G.

Great location on Lake John
The cabin is nice, it's old, but well maintained. The Owner was very quick to respond to any issues we had, which were very few.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Drea B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect lake getaway
We seriously can’t thank Karen enough for the wonderful hospitality. She seriously has thought of everything you could need to have an enjoyable vacation with your family. My kids spent hours playing in the lake and jumping off the floating dock. Catching lots of fish was the perfect way to start & end the day. We also got to see the loons and hear them calling at night. Can’t wait to return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice Kottage
Karen’s Kottage was super cute, exactly what it shows on the pictures. We had a great time, weather was very hot so we stayed inside a lot. It’s just wonderful waking up to the sounds of the loons in the morning. Had an issue with the coffee maker but Karen resolved that very fast.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shirley N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Karen’s Kottage
Quaint cabin, comfortable location and great hostess! We had a wonderful week making family memories! We’ll be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maureen M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our first summer family lake rental.
Our family had so much fun using all the watercraft The owner provided!!! The kind dad were in the water all day long. The fishing right off the dock was a hit. Eagles and loons were spotted daily. Many thoughtful amenities and tips for local outings. Nice shade trees and pleasant neighbors too. All that fresh air made us sleep soundly every night.

10/10 Excellent

Susan O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Summer rest and relax
We enjoyed Karen's Kottage very much. Perfect for a long weekend with our adult children. Very relaxing but plenty to keep us busy as well!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sarah G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lakeside Bliss
Great place on the lake with tons of things to do in the water. The house was clean and perfect! We have never seen and heard so many loons. We had a great week at Karen's!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 June 2021
Glad you enjoyed it and the loons - one of my favorites as well!

10/10 Excellent

Drew B., Parsippany, NJ

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Place to Relax and Unwind
Rented the Kottage for Memorial Day Weekend with and invited another couple. House was perfect for what we wanted!!! We rented a pontoon and tooled around the lake, fished, went to Cafe Jules one night, The Thayer another and got great Gluten Free Pizza from Jimmy's. Visited Spilled Grains Brewpub one day and Millner Heritage Winery another. Built a bonfire a couple nights and listened to Jazz. Played games one evening. Janet is a fabulous host and we had everything we needed. Some things are more rustic like the decor, the need to recognize it is a septic system and the grill, but it met our needs perfectly!!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 July 2021
Glad you enjoyed your stay! Great guests!

10/10 Excellent

Zane V., Nebraska

Liked: Cleanliness
A wonderful stay
3 of us stayed at the Kottage for a nice weekend away from the city. We used the kitchen to cook our meals and enjoyed the paddle boat, fire pit, and dock. Karen even brought us some ice cube trays and ice when we asked if there were any ice cube trays in the Kottage. I charged my Tesla from the 120v outlet in the front of the house, worked great!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jessica F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall getaway
We were looking for a Fall getaway that was easy to get to and had plenty to do, the Kottage was perfect! We enjoyed fishing and other lake activities and then also visiting some sites around town and the countryside. Thank you for letting us stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kieran A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quick Trip
We attended a small wedding near Annandale, so our trip was brief. Our next trip will definitely be longer! My husband and I LOVED the cabin and the lake. The surroundings were so peaceful and the cabin couldn’t be more tidy and charming. I’m already planning another trip next year!! Anyone needing a cozy cabin in the Annandale area- this one wouldn’t disappoint!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Nov 2020
Thank you so much! You were a delight to host and left my Kottage in pristine shape. I look forward to hosting you again! Karen

10/10 Excellent

Lynn B., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Liked: Cleanliness
Great getaway
We rented the Kottage for a long weekend getaway with my parents. It checked all the boxes for what a summer cabin stay should be. It was stocked with everything we needed as we did cook all our meals at the cabin, beds were comfortable and it was really nice to have 2 bathrooms. I have rented many cabins in the Annandale area and the lake location of this one may be my favorite as it was so peaceful. Karen responded promptly to any questions I had and left us a fun goody package which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Nov 2020
Thanks, Lynn! You were a delight to host. Hope to see you again! Karen

10/10 Excellent

Robin V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Super fun cottage on the lake!
Everything we needed to enjoy some relaxing days on the lake!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Erin G., Chanhassen

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful host
Beautiful spot right on the lake! Karen cares for guests tremendously and thinks of anything that would make everyone's stay easier and more enjoyable. We loved using all the decks overlooking the water and my baby loved playing in the grass watching the lake. Thanks for a nice getaway, we hope to be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Melissa Z., Papillion, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Kottage!
Water amenities were a hit! Ended the nights with a bonfire when weather permitted. Screened in porch was fantastic for the rainy/buggy nights. Quiet location! Friendly owner with quick responses. Would definitely recommend for a quiet relaxing getaway!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kathy O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic week
We had a great week. The distance from the cities made it an easy drive. The weather was fantastic. The cabin was very nice. We usually rent a cabin every summer and our adult kids thought this was the overall best one we have rented. We used the paddle boat and the paddle board. Both were great. We went golfing one day. It was only a 4 mile drive. The screened in porch was great. Could sit out there at night and not get bit by bugs. Very nice sleeping arrangements.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Tomas B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome trip
Lots of water fun with all the water amenities !
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Aaron A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyed our time!
Property was everything we hoped for. The whole family had fun! The water, house and activities were first rate.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Getaway!
We had the perfect family getaway at Karen’s Kottage! We loved watching the fish and turtles swimming around from the screened in porch, and we had so much fun fishing, swimming, and paddling around with the paddle board and canoe that Karen provided. Our kids loved floating around in the big green blow-up raft — all of the water toys were great! The fishing was fantastic, and we would have bites almost as soon as our lines hit the water, any time of day. Thank you for hosting such a fun and memorable family long weekend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2020
You were a pleasure to host and am delighted you enjoyed your stay! Hope to have you back sometime!

10/10 Excellent

Diane D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Quintessential Minnesota Summer Experience
When you stay at Karen's place, you get the feeling it isn't about the money from the rental but instead she wants to share the the beauty and joy of the lake with the guests. She has thought of everything. The house is cute and has a retro vibe. All of the porches were well used by everyone in our family. The screened in porch allows beautiful views of the lake at any time or during an weather. She provides water toys, canoe, a paddleboard, a floating raft out in the lake, and a sturdy paddleboat. The fishing off the dock was incredible as I caught a Northern pike, small mouth bass, crappies, and sunfish with just wax worms. The house is sheltered so even if the day is windy, you don't feel it so much. My husband did enjoy the windy days as he found the lake a good length for wind surfing. I know we will be back. She was so responsive and accommodating during our stay. I can't thank you enough for sharing this slice of heaven with us. After the last few months of working and learning from home, we really needed this peaceful retreat.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 June 2020
Diane, you were a treat to host! You were very respectful of my Kottage and left it in tip top shape. I look forward to your next stay!

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Comfy, clean, well-equipped place on MN lake
This is a very cute house with its own dock to the lake. Plenty of seating area looking on the lake, fire pit, canoe, paddle boat, paddle board - pretty much everything you’d want. Communication with Karen was excellent. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 14 June 2020
Thank you, Lisa! You were awesome guests and I hope you will return or tell others about my Kottage 🥰?

10/10 Excellent

Brigitte M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice weekend away
Karen was great to accommodate any questions and needs that we had. The location was perfect on the lake and we had everything we needed for a little time away!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Dennis L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Cottage
Had an amazing time. Location is perfect, protected area of the lake. Love the nature, beauty, and serenity. Great for paddle boarding, relaxing on the supplied air mattress. Perfect for a relaxing retreat for couples and family. Karen is a great host, to supply you with everything you need and is very accommodating.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you, Dennis! You were a delight to host and so happy you enjoyed your stay at my Kottage!

10/10 Excellent

Alison G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun, family getaway
Our family a great time at Karen’s Kottage! We were looking for a lake stay near the cities and St. Cloud areas and this spot was perfect. There were plenty of things to do at the Kottage and on a cooler day, the kids had fun fishing off the dock. We had plenty of sleeping room, and the place had many of the amenities we were looking for. Thanks for a great time!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you, Alison! So happy you enjoyed your stay and that you chose my Kottage!

10/10 Excellent

Fred M.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a great time. Very convenient to the lake and caught many fish from the canoe.e
It was a very pleasant experience. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
You all were great guests!

10/10 Excellent

David S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent quiet cabin getaway.
What a fun, peaceful vacation. The lake is very quiet and a perfect place to relax. The Kottage was quaint and Karen was very prompt in her response to questions. Highly recommend.
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
You folks were awesome! So happy you had a great experience! Please come back 😃�

10/10 Excellent

Veronica S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect cabin for getaway
This cabin more than met my expectations. Quaint cabin that was much larger than I expected on a beautiful and quiet lake. We had a wonderful weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you! You were great guests and appreciate your pay it forward attitude by leaving s’mores fixings for future guests! Hope to have you back in the future 😎�

10/10 Excellent

Kyle E., Lakeville, MN

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family spot. We had a great time
Karen was awesome and we enjoyed our stay. Kids caught some a couple really big bass right by the cabin. We will look to stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Wendee W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Book this!
Wow. We were late to the draw on looking for a getaway over 4th of July week up north and started looking a little closer to home. This property had everything we were looking for. Directly on the lake you can watch your kids frolic in the lake easily from the upper porches (one screened in), the lower deck, or from the bonfire pit. Lake access is directly off the back. Karen supplied a paddleboard, canoe, paddle boat, blow up raft and nice selection of floats to use, and there was a floating dock out in the lake to swim to and hang out on. For the short time we were inside due to some rain we also had tons of entertainment, Foosball table and a bunch of games & puzzles to choose from. The home was clean and furnished with all the linens & towels we needed, kitchen was well appointed (and very cute!) with a bbq on the deck. Poke around in all the nooks and crannies and open things up-you'll be amazed at what is supplied- wood for the fire pit, newspaper for lighting (we were entertained to see what we were using was from 2006!) and marshmellow sticks for roasting. Also found binoculars to watch the family of loons and geese that frequented the waters around us. This house is on the quieter portion of the larger lake, so we had a few boats/jetskis come down our way but not as much as you would get on the larger sized area so it was absolutely perfect without too much motor noise. The house is situated with trees on either side and so it feels very private despite being close to other houses- we only saw other people in the houses next to us when we were looking in from the lake! Sleeping accomodations could have been a little better, as we were two families of 3 and we had to get a little creative our 2nd night as the sofabed the 2nd set of adults was using was just not comfortable, but this is an easy fix and didn't damper our fun at all- this had everything we were looking for and this property would be at the top of our list for our next getaway- it's just that good. I also appreciated that this was reasonably priced with a two night (vs 3) night minimum over the week of the 4th so it's actually affordable for normal families and there is no compromise on quality. Thanks Karen for providing such a great getaway such a short drive from the city. No need to push further North unless you want bigger mosquitoes- this really has it all!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
It was a pleasure to host you! Since your stay, I have put a new queen bed in the second bedroom, moved a twin downstairs and purchased a mattress topper for the pull out couch! Great feedback! I look forward to your return!

10/10 Excellent

Carl M., Bloomington

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent
this is a very lovely place and decorated so refreshing. It has everything you could ask for even ping pong for the kids or movies. I recommend it highly
Stayed 4 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Peter C.

Wonderful Lake Cabin
My kids and I had a fantastic time here. The home is spacious and has all kinds of amenities. We caught largemouth bass right off the dock, and enjoyed swimming off the raft. This is a spectacular place. Thanks, Karen!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Happy to hear you had a great time! Love to host families with kids that can enjoy the lake and the Kottage!

10/10 Excellent

Abbie G.

Beautiful, relaxing, right by the water!
This is truly the perfect lake getaway!! We loved the private location, and immediately felt at home walking into the beautiful, bright Kottage. The space was immaculate, comfortable, and equipped with all the amenities we needed (even some thoughtful welcome treats from our awesome hostess!). The Kottage is the perfect size for quality family time, but large enough to still offer some privacy. Even better than the adorable inside was the two large porches upstairs - it was so perfect to be able to be outside for morning coffee & screened in during the evenings! The Kottage is located right on the water, which was perfect!! The views of the lake were amazing, and we really appreciated the close proximity between the cabin & shore. The bay seemed a little quieter than the rest of the lake, and we were able to take full advantage of the paddleboat, kayak, and floating dock! Be sure to bring your best parade wave - it’s a very friendly lake!! Karen was a pleasure to work with - she was so attentive whenever we contacted her and went out of her way to make us feel completely welcome! You could tell that she has put a lot of heart into creating this beautiful space, and we really appreciated having insights from a local. (Don’t miss the Saturday morning flea market or the brewery in town, two of her great recs!) Overall, we loved the cabin and the hospitality, and already can’t wait for our next visit!! Thanks again Karen!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thanks, Abbie! Thrilled you enjoyed it as much as we have! You and your hubby were awesome guests and a pleasure to host! Hope you visit my Kottage again! All the best, Karen

10/10 Excellent

Samantha J.

Unique, Cozy Cottage on Quiet Lake
Our family enjoyed the stay at Karen’s Kottage so much! It had everything we needed and Karen was a wonderful hostess! She made sure everything was up to par and that we didn’t need anything durning our stay! The indoor/outdoor patios were nice to use at all times of the day, and also included a grill. We loved the uniqueness of the cottage and it’s decor, and there were plenty of water activities provided to keep our boys busy! The floating dock, fire pit, paddle boat and foosball table were a bonus as well! We would definitely stay on Lake John again - it was big enough for what we needed it for but small enough to have peace and quiet too. Our only complaint was the beds were a little firm for our liking. Otherwise, everything was perfect! Thank you, Karen! We were honored to be your first guests!
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thanks, Samantha! It was wonderful to see you and your family enjoy my Kottage and the lake! You were wonderful guests and are more than welcome anytime! Hope to see your family again!