I am writing this as we are fighting a global pandemic. I work in healthcare, and due to a colleague testing positive for COVID-19 because of which I had to quarantine, I had to cancel my reservation that I made through Airbnb. Per Airbnb policy, I requested a refund. That is when I realized that while a lot of people are stepping up to help each other, this crisis has truly brought the worst out in some people. Not only did the owner Liz not agree to refund my money, I was horrified by the kind of response I got, which is as follows - "I believe you are suffering from 'Progressive' thinking, a form of self-obsession, which brought us this pandemic: The weight of the Billionaire Liberal Elite Ruling Class over its slave-labor minions whose herd is being culled... Forgive us, Lord, for we know not what we do. If you don't get what's really going on ($$$$), please get informed on my (Hidden by Airbnb) page: Liz Dery in the red dress." I am truly appalled that someone would think like this, particularly in the middle of a crisis. I would STRONGLY advise steering clear of this place!! read more

Rock River Cottage - Vacation Rentals Near Me

This place isn't what it once was. I wasted my money staying here again expecting a good experience but was let down. The outdoor area is very peaceful and the river is always beautiful but that was it. The cabin was filthy. There was dust and spiders and filth in all corners. The bathroom has no windows and the water smells terrible you when you shower or brush your teeth. Place was dark and not well kept at all. Air conditioner wasn't working well at all so the cabin was hot and stuffy. Jacuzzi was filthy so we didn't even use it . It wasn't relaxing unless you were outdoors away from the cabin. I added photos for you guys to see how filthy it was. Don't waste your time or money staying here. We stayed here before and it was much more clean and well kept so not sure what happened over the years. It is super outdated and needs a complete make over. The owner also has no respect for Covid and even had a folder on the coffee table about how Covid is fake etc etc. That also made us super uncomfortable. Find another place in Vermont if you want to relax and enjoy your stay this isn't it. read more

Been renting from Liz for years and never an issue until this visit. At check in a note was left, hot tub down, will be in touch. Never heard from her until I called her and asked what was going on with hot tub. First she claimed it was the cold weather and it would be fine after it warmed up and that her "hot tub guy" was out of town but would be there Wed. to fix it. We were there for a week, Saturday to Saturday. Wednesday comes and goes and guy never shows, but now Liz says part is on order but would not be there until after we leave. Must be he diagnosed problem by telepathy, as we never saw him and we were there all day. She initially offers a $30 a day refund because of no hot tub. But when asked to refund to PayPal (how I paid) she now says no refund, only credit for future stay. Then starts saying how we don't deserve refund, that hot tub failure was "act of god" and we got "paradise on earth" and should be happy and enjoy nature and not worry about hot tub. We are avid skiers, and only come for the location and hot tub. LIz has a journal that renters leave comments in and when we checked in on Feb. 5th, the last comments were from Jan. 22nd, despite the cabin being fully rented. I believe the tub was down since the last entry and she was just lying to everyone who checked in about it, "Just going down", hence no new comments in log book. We left a negative comment about hot tub down and terrible smelling water. I bet she removed that from the book, just as she had done with others that left negative feedback. She did not call us in advance and tell us tub was down, for fear we would cancel. In the years we have rented from her water was always fine. When asked about the terrible Sulphur smell from the water, Liz told us softener just quit, Sulphur won't hurt you and called me a "prima Dona" for complaining about it. Yet when looking back through the log book, renters were complaining about it since June 2021. Place has steadily gone down hill over the years, sheets and bedspread are threadbare, pots and pans and dishes are old, worn and whole place is in dis-repair. In addition Liz is a strong COVID and Vaccine doubter and will tell you about it any chance she gets, going on and on about her beliefs. She told us, after renting from her many times and sending 3 other renters to her, "not to steal anything" on the way out after we disagreed over here ever changing refund policy. We will NEVER go back here, DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD THE OWNER TELLS YOU! and look elsewhere. If you do book I would ask well in advance if Hot Tub is functioning and if water softener has been fixed. Water smelled so bad we would not drink or use for cooking. If I could leave a zero star review I would! Anther nice touch was the hard core porn magazines in the magazine rack, Hustler and Penthouse. Not hidden, right out there in the open for kids to pick up and open. If you are renting with kids make sure to get to the magazine rack first and remove them. Very inappropriate for a rental! read more

Yelp seems to have deleted my original post. Here's the gist: We had a vacation rental booked for Rock River Cottage on 10 Station Rd in Newfane (Williamsville) VT from July 12 to July 18. When my husband and I arrived to check in on July 12, we noticed that the owner's vehicle had numerous bumper stickers on it with slogans such as COVID is a Hoax, and Vaccination = Death. We are both fully vaccinated, but high risk, so we donned our face masks. When we got out of our car, the property owner, Liz Dery, was not wearing a mask and berated us for wearing them, but we kept them on. I asked Ms. Dery if she was vaccinated, and she confirmed that she was not, and went on a rant saying that all of the people who have been vaccinated will be dead within a year or two from vaccine side effects. She claimed that the government can track people who have been vaccinated that that we are "magnetic" due to titanium put into the vaccine for tracking purposes. Ms. Dery stated that COVID does not exist and that the pandemic is a hoax concocted by liberals. Ms. Dery had been inside the cottage without a mask and unvaccinated, cleaning it for our arrival. I pointed out that COVID is airborne and that cleaning surfaces does not eliminate it from the air. She got into a shouting match with my husband, not caring when he told her that I had nearly died of COVID last October. We decided that we did not feel safe entering the cottage and staying there for the week, so we abandoned our vacation plans and returned home, knowing that we would not be able to obtain a refund due to Vrbo's refund policy requiring cancellation at least two months before the scheduled check in date. Liz Dery purposefully put us at risk for contracting COVID-19 by refusing to be vaccinated and refusing to wear a mask, as unvaccinated people are advised to do. She is putting every other person that she encounters at risk as well, not just as a private citizen who goes to the post office, stores, and other places where there are vulnerable people, but as a business person who rents out a vacation property. My husband is high risk, as he is scheduled for open heart surgery on August 10 and needs to remain COVID-free for the surgery to be done. I am high risk because I have autoimmune diseases for which I take immunosuppressant medications. We were appalled by Liz Dery's lack of consideration and the danger that she put us in. read more

Hey, This is apples to apples, and I honestly don't go around leaving bad reviews as a rule. I would much rather say something nice! I tried to show her the original date requests on my email but she kept insisting that was wrong, and would not listen! It made me and my daughters feel very uncomfortable. Liz is being very misleading. here is an excerpt from my original request email with dates: "May 7 Hey Liz, Finally got the actual dates. We would arrive June 30th and leave on July 7th. Hope it is still available and.... what to I need to do to book it. I see that I need to send a deposit by check..correct? Thanks, Mary " At this point I had bought my plane tickets and was looking at them when I requested dates. Liz somehow just made the dates up she wanted me to stay and , yes, it is my fault that I was too foggy at the time I arrived to catch them. I totally admit that. When you run a business ----politeness, organization and honesty and wonderful customer service will win every time. Or maybe this is how people do business in the South where hospitality is a way of life. ..and that is what I am used to. She did mention that if my 20 year old daughter came back to Vermont she could have one night free in the cabin. I was not sure if this was genuine or if she would remember. Plus it is incredibly impractical. The chances of this happening are zero. If Liz had graciously offered to refund one night because of her mistake, I would have probably turned it down. It was the abrasive rude manor which she insisted that it was my fault that was the problem. If she had just apologized, I would have thanked her and accepted. And never written this review... Oh, and I was late on the deposit, because I kept asking how much and she never would tell me! When I found out, I sent it immediately! And that should have been a big warning flag too! Another note...sigh..apples to apples again... And, I did NOT go past the posted nudity signs with my 12 year old daughter, like I said. there were lots of old fat naked guys a couple of hundred feet from the family beach. Did not bother me, but might bother someone else ...and really should be noted. Tiny house is fine( I'm just 5 feet tall) and should be noted for taller people they might want to wear a helmet or something.. And next time, Liz, when you have lobster, don't throw discarded parts off the deck right outside! It stank up the place for 5 or 6 days like rotten fish. Please note, there are some wonderful things about the cabin. Southern Vermont is Lovely. Especially if you are a gay man, a gay tiny short man ..it is perfect! Just wanted to warn folks who do rent to be very very aware, double check everything. But give it a try. Many people love it! And I learned my lesson too, unfortunately... Best of luck! read more

My husband & I have been going to Rock River Cottage for New Years for over 7 years & let me say that we love it!! The cabin is not only cozy & comfortable; it is also clean & organized & is stocked with everything you need for your stay! The only thing you need to bring is yourself! Since my husband & I have been going there, we have never EVER had a problem with Liz, the owner. She has always been very sweet & nice & if there's anything you need, she is only a phone call away!! As far as the cottage being tiny...It is recommended for couples only. In some parts of the cottage, the ceilings are a bit low but they are marked with yellow tape so you can avoid hitting your head. As far as the cottage smelling musty...its more woodsy than musty. The cottage is near Hwy 30 but I must say that I have never heard the traffic noise while staying there...All you hear is the constant running water of the river outside the balcony door....... There's a hot tub on the deck and let me say that in the wintertime the hot tub is wonderful! It overlooks Rock River and the sound of the running water is so relaxing. There is a nude beach not to far away from the cottage but there are signs posted to forewarn you (in case your not into that).... Also there is a journal that is kept in the cottage for the all the visitors that have stayed there and reading everyone's entry after they stayed there; I have not ever read once that there was any problems with Liz or the cottage itself...It's always good reviews and in the 7 + years that we have been coming, I think it always will be! I have never had a problem with Liz since I have been coming to the cottage and i would highly recommend it to anyone!! read more

I just got back from a 2 day stay at the Rock River Cottage, couldn't have been better. The place is perfectly set just above the Rock River, small little sandy bank to sunbathe, a slight deep spot, maybe 4-5 foot deep to cool off. The cabin is perfect, kinda of a split level type, upstairs bedroom loft, main level living room, lower kitchen, dining and bathroom. Everything is comfortably decorated and clean. Everything you need, telephone (my cell didn't work here, but you can use the cabin phone and there IS wifi to connect) TV, everything you need in the Kitchen. Just felt like home. And btw that musty smell another reviewer spoke of? That is the smell of the older wood of the cabin and the woods themselves, smells nice imho. Yes there is a small path that goes by to a beach, along with a nude beach that seems to be mostly used by gay men. Get over it. Its like a half mile west of the cabin and really has zero affect on your stay. Outdoor gas grill, deck, outdoor hot tub, you name it all here, loved it! Oh, and if your staying during the not so warm months, jump in the river anyway and then run up the stairs to the hot tub, invigorating! read more

*****(Previous reviews go back quite a few years when the cottage perhaps was up-to-par.)****** We were highly disappointed and very unhappy with the conditions of the cottage. They were not up to $195 a night price. The pictures online are what we expected but didn't get. They are OLD photos. The yards were overgrown and riddled with debris. The patio with the weber grill was filthy with moss on the bench and patio, the table not useable. Who would want to eat there? All the grounds are unkempt with tarps all over and buckets and 'stuff' strewn about. The cottage outside is not clutter-free and beautiful like it your pics show. One of the big calling cards for our interest was the hot tub. The tub was scummy on the sides and not up to cleanliness standards we expected - - I wouldn't get in it. I had to sweep the deck and wash the table there just to put down a drink or some food, and remove/shake the debris from the rug, inside and out. House works is not what I was expecting to do on a vacation get-away. The pots to use to cook in were so old, and the non-stick coating was a disaster, unusable unless one wanted to eat Teflon. We brought food to cook but could not do so with the pans you had available, advertised as a fully stocked kitchen. The kitchen cabinets emitted an unpleasant odor and the condiment bottles/jars had dust on them. The spices on the ledge were so old who would touch them? And we saw a cockroach - - very gross. The windows are filthy, not washed in a long time. There were cobwebs in the corner of the kitchen as well as the overhead exhaust fan over the stove. The back store room smelled of ammonia. The dusty tchotchkes everywhere were unpleasant, the old rugs were objectionable, toilet doesn't work right - - always having to adjust the handle. Paper bags and crumpled up newspaper in the corner of the living room along with dirty things on top of the fireplace left me feeling like I couldn't touch anything without getting dirty. We are sorry that this didn't work out. It was a long drive and expense to be so disappointed. We expected better. read more

My wife and I have rented this cottage many times, usually every March. It is perfect. The owner, Liz, knows what she is doing. We have rented many places over the years and I can tell you that she has her act together. Sounds like the other reviewer had issues about scheduling, which is an important aspect of renting a place. It's akin to "shipping" though - once you get the item, that's when you can really evaluate it. read more

Rock River Cottage is like paradise in New England. I have been there several times and I have enjoyed each and every trip. Liz has always been a gracious hostess. I have reccomended her place to several people. Thank you Liz. read more

Great place even in the winter. There is a wonderful hot Tub on the deck. Liz supplies robes and slippers, it is Vermont. The fire place was ready all I had to do is strike a match. There are many pamphlets for all the area eateries. You really don't need to bring anything. What I really appreciated was the fact that liz was able to have a wine and a cheese platter and flowers for my wife. All you have to do is ask her in advance, she will do anything to make your stay wonderful. I love my dog, we were able to bring her for a small fee. You would never know that pets were accepted. I will be back in the summer. The private beach looked amazing. read more

Spent 3 nights at this cottage. Liz- the owner-was very nice. Greeted us when we got there and was very pleasant. I didn't notice any musty smell that others speak of. I grew up in an area with many summer cottages and they all have a cabin/woodsy smell and not in a bad way. Nice warm wood stove. Clean inviting hot tub. It is off of a main rd, but I never heard the cars over the awesome sound of the river down the hill from the cabin. Plenty of firewood for us to use. Clean towels and bedsheets. The queen size bed in the loft is sooo comfortable. I never sleep well in hotels, but had no problem getting a very good nights sleep here. She keeps everything clean. My husband and I were very comfortable here and will return. Hope to come in the summer when we can access the river, which by the way was not quite frozen over all the way so it had an awesome color to it and the sound of the water rushing by was great. I felt like I was staying at a friends house for the weekend. Thanks Liz for the lazy relaxing weekend we so desperately needed! Hope to see you this summer. Dawn and Justin read more