The people who own this property love it. It brings them joy to relive the happy times they have spent there.However, when people say love is blind they mean this place. Our first disappointment came in the confirmation email which told us that the advertised fireplace could not be used. It is included in the description and there is a picture of firewood on the porch. The fireplace was one of the reasons we chose the property. Family pictures are EVERYWHERE!!! I can’t overstate how uncomfortable it is to constantly be reminded that you are in someone else’s house. There doesn’t appear to be anything that the owners are willing to part with (chairs with signs that they cannot be used, chipped coffee mugs, spoons that have been through the garbage disposal, the peeling dresser with the drawer that sticks, the chipped decorative plate on the wall, the saggy couch that sits very uncomfortably, the many clocks none of which display the correct time. the air-conditioner with a sign indicating “Sorry not working”, the globe that announces its irrelevance by outlining the USSR). With some decluttering and updating this could be a treasure, but as it is we wouldn’t stay here again. The location is phenomenal. We were able to walk almost everywhere. The cottage is right in the middle of town. We met so many kind and interesting people, we ate some amazing food, and we shopped with the many local artisans. Rockport is a wonderful place for a getaway, but this place? Not so much.

Loved the house and the area.

We loved our stay at Bell Bouy. This home was awesome to stay in, and most everything we needed was there . The panoramic view of the water, and the neighborhood from to top deck was breathtaking. The rooms were well appointed and very spacious. (Only criticism is the beds could be a little more comfortable). Bathroom and laundry room were clean and everything worked great. Nice big table In the dinning room for games, and meals. There were some games and books available. Kitchen had all the cookware (nice stuff too) and settings you would need. The appliances all worked great! We really loved this house. It is older but that's a big part of the charm. The neighborhood was also nice. All the neighbors were very friendly, and a few even had great recommendations. The town and shopping area had lots to choose from. Almost all of them were open too when we went in October. We also had no issues catching the train to go into Boston, Salem and Gloucester. Also since we were there in October we didn't have any issues finding parking on the street when we got back in the afternoon/evenings. Even if you do have to pay for the metered parking during the day the prices are pretty fair. All in all would highly recommend!

Exactly as advertised but I should have been more careful in reading the comments about the parking. There's only a short walk to the shops which actually start one/two streets over. We were in Rockport for a wedding weekend and didn't really need to use the car. Ended up parking on a side street on the other side of the harbor. The rooftop deck view was spectacular!! A building is currently under construction on the other side of the road. The construction crew worked very late (well after dark) on one of the weeknights.

Great views and a fun vibe in this charming cottage on Bearskin Neck!

Fantastic location! Very charming and rustic. Not fancy but has everything you would need to enjoy your time. We had a major appliance stop work during our stay. It was replaced within half a day from the time we called. Amazing response to take care of the issue as soon as possible.

Overall this is a great place to stay if visiting Rockport, the location is great and you can walk anywhere. Enjoyed a few great restaurants in the area and plenty of shops. The only negative to the stay is parking, it would have been 5 stars if there was just 1 parking space at the property. Probably would not stay again just for this reason, but if you are not looking to have your car nearby without having to pay extra for parking then this is a great spot.

We love Bell Buoy and spent our second summer trip to Rockport in a row there. It feels like our home away from home, and its locale, space, and overall familiar comfort are perfect. It may be a little rough around the edges, but, for us, that's a big part of its appeal (good old nautical feel, wood panelling, pewter decor, older furniture--happily, no homogenizing builder's-grade whitewash and teal updates here!). The dining room feels a bit like a captain's cabin on a ship--and that's a good thing! It's the real deal: an old Rockport family home on Bearskin Neck, close to everything. Amenities: The laundry set up is a great convenience--new, clean machines that do a great job with beachwear, towels, and everything. It's probably worth noting that both bathrooms (one with toilet and laundry only--no sink or mirror) are upstairs. You are staying in a family home and all that comes with that (photos and stuff), but all of this lends charm and authenticity to one's stay. Parking is less than ideal (i.e. no parking on site), but free on-street overnight parking on Cleaves St.--a short but substantial (6 minute) walk away--was available on all but one occasion (found a spot on Hale St.). (For the second year in a row, unfortunately, the next-door neighbor had a roofing project that included throwing refuse wood directly on the roof of Bell Buoy for hours on end, two days straight, with hammering and demo beginning at 8 in the morning. Hopefully, this won't happen again in future years, but for us it has been 2 for 2. The iTrips folks were promptly communicative with us about this, but it was largely beyond their control.) The roof deck has terrific views!

We really enjoyed visiting Rockport and the surrounding areas. Didn't spend a ton of time in the VRBO - appreciated the roof top deck and comfy bed. I had a foot injury, so had to be careful of uneven flooring on 2nd floor.

I rented this for some friends who were coming to my wedding and it was a great choice! The deck was awesome, they loved the kitchen and private bedrooms. Communication was great and the place was clean! Spectacular stay!

Clean and friendly neighborhood. House was as pictured. tons of amazing restaurants all within walking distance. Parking not on-site, website could have made that more clear in description. O

We were two couples staying at the house for two nights. The house does not have its own parking spot, so we parked at the harbor just 100 yards away per the owner’s description. There was plenty of parking spaces there. We enjoyed the roof top deck with views of the ocean. Note there is no air-conditioning. I would recommend staying in this house if you are visiting Rockport and want to walk around town.

The location is fantastic. I love the dining area, it's perfect for family games and eating if you choose to cook instead of eating out at one of the fantastic eateries. My girlfriend and I had to sleep on the couch for a night, because I locked us out of the bedroom (cross breeze pulled the door shut). For some reason the door has a house style doorknob and lock and the key was nowhere to be found.

The property was very clean upon arrival and it was situated right in downtown Rockport. We didn’t need our car at all and walked to all the shops and coffee every morning. We had beautiful weather and the rooftop deck was amazing!

The property was just as presented, but better. We felt as if we were in a friends home. Kitchen was perfectly stocked with thoughtful additions we appreciated. So pleasant to come in and go up on that gorgeous deck with a glass of wine and watch the bulls cavort! Parking was easy at this time of year. The only caveat-most day time and all evening restaurants were closed because of the season. Perhaps informational material would be helpful. We managed just fine and would stay again.

We had a nice stay in a great location. The place was clean and the sheets and beds were comfortable. The parking in the listing should be cleared up as the photos say there is a parking spot, but the spot pictured is actually deeded to the neighbor. The check in directions were clear on where to park though. We loved being able to walk to everything and the rooftop deck was a great perk, even in the winter.

Amazing location! Easily walkable to everything Rockport has to offer. Beautiful views. The pictures accurately depict the place. Old but well maintained. Stayed with my mother and three sisters. Plenty of room. Very cute town! A few items to note: We were not given check in information (access code) until I reached out to the property company via Vrbo chat and left two voicemails. We were just a few minutes from the house well after check in time when the message with check in details was finally sent. It all worked out so not a big deal. Second bath is just a toilet in the laundry room (no sink) but located right next to other bath. Parking was relatively easy. You can park at the toll spots for free from 6pm to 10am. If you do not move your car by 10 AM, you just need to download the parking app and pay. It was a dollar per hour so $8 per day if you don’t use your car at all. Would definitely stay again!

Parking. Advertising parking as shown in photo. Lot at wharf will cost a fine if in season. AC in dining room out. Ants in kitchen. Advertising sleeps 5. We had to but a foam pad for single bed in hall. With construction next door…should have advised. No cable TV unless you stream.

We really enjoyed staying at this beautiful old home. It was very comfortable and in a perfect location. Check in went smoothly. Tips on parking: You cannot park at Tuna Wharf overnight. You will get a citation if you do. We parked at Tuna Wharf during the day and parked on the street overnight. However, to get a spot on Tuna Wharf move your car there by 7am.

The house is comfortable and spacious, and, once we got used to a few quirks, we really enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning! Here are a few more detailed points: Kitchen -- It was a big plus to be able to cook a few meals. The stove is a full-size gas stove, and the fridge is huge. The coffee maker makes one cup at a time, so we were glad we brought our own. The counter space is limited, but it all worked fine. Plenty of pots to use, as well as a dishwasher. Dining Room and Living Room -- super spacious, and a luxury when you are used to tiny rentals and hotel rooms. Flat screen tv had Netflix and disney+. Useful large desk, if you need to do work. The stairs are steep and wood (uncarpeted), so perhaps not appropriate for tiny kids or people with mobility problems. I have arthritis, and it was a slight chore to go up and down, but I managed. Bathrooms: Both bathrooms are upstairs. The second bathroom is really just a laundry room with a toilet -- since it doesn't have a sink, don't rely on it for a second person being able to get ready in the morning, but it's useful to have. The main bathroom is tiny, but it has a tub/shower combo. Both bathroom doors are just bifold closet doors. The presence of full-sized laundry machines was fantastic! It allowed us to pack less and not have that icky feeling toward the end of vacation when all your beach clothes are salty and dirty! Both bedrooms are super spacious, one with a queen and one with a double. The beds are incredibly soft, which I usually don't like, but I slept well. The air conditioning in one room seemed to be broken, so we used fans. (More fans would be great! There was only one box fan upstairs.) The third "bed" on the upstairs landing is quite literally a two-inch mattress on a wooden platform. We moved the mattress to the carpeted floor of the kids' room so that my son would be more comfortable, and that was fine. Just a warning that it would not be comfortable as a bed as is. The roof deck is gorgeous! A 360 degree view of Rockport and the ocean, it has chairs and a couple of tables so that you can bring drinks and food up. The only true disappointment was the parking situation. When we made our reservation, the description said we would have 1-2 parking spots, but that was changed and we had to find street parking. We got used to it, so it was fine. Parking on side streets in town is free and is not residents-only. Overall, a great, comfortable stay for a family of 5!

The location of this house is amazing. It’s right in the heart of the Rockport shop area. Great stores and cafes steps from the door. Rockport is also a great place from which to explore Cape Ann. This is hosted by a company, not the owner, and communications were clear and easy. The house itself is functional, but definitely dated. Nothing has been updated in this house in a long time, including the carpets, furniture and kitchen. The surfaces were clean, but I did rinse everything in the kitchen before using. The large beds were quite comfortable. The daybed was very hard. The second bath is just a toilet next to the washer and dryer, no sink. The washer and dryer were definitely nice to have. The A/C units worked fine on the warmer days. There is no parking, as the spots next to the house seem to be rented to neighbors. We found free street parking nearby from 6pm - 10 am, with minimal cost during pay hours. Overall, a good stay, given the exquisite location - just don’t expect a lot from the house itself.

Enjoyed our stay very much. The town is great with interesting shops and good restaurants. The bouse is beautiful, especially the roof top deck with great view of the ocean. Only drawback is the parking situation. Have to park a block away, but overall very satisfied with the experience.

You should be more descriptive about the lack of parking.

We have been going to Rockport for over 10 years. We loved the destination of this place. It's right near the shops and food places. We have a SUV and it fit in the parking area. For large trucks it may not work. We went in the middle of May so parking was not too bad, but 4th of July and over the summer it can be difficult to find parking for non residents since the parking areas close by are for residents only or paid parking. The roof top is great.. We loved the place. We would loved to do it again.

We had a great stay. Cozy house in the heart of Bearskin Neck.

The location of this property is fantastic, and it could be an amazing rental. However, when we arrived there were not sheets on the bed, and dirty laundry in washing machine. Thankfully, property manager was quick to resolve this issue the next morning. Unfortunately, when we brought finding a GUN and an unlocked liquor cabinet with a dozen open bottles of booze on the premises to the property manager, she stopped responding. Neither of those should be in a rental. Ever. It has been 4 days since we texted and sent emails with no response.Also, we completely agree with the parking comments listed here. Parking is nonexistent at the property unless you have an extremely compact car. We were able to park for free 0.2 miles away but after April 15 parking fees are required.Also, when we arrived the property was insecure with the side door being open. That was rather unsettling after arriving in the dark.Again, this property COULD be amazing and has so much potential. However, I do not recommend staying here until some of the structural issues (floor in bathroom is unstable) and potential fire hazards (electrical and furnace rooms) are resolved.

We spent the weekend away for my girlfriends birthday. The location was phenomenal, right on the strip, easy to get around and shop. Thank you Liann, looking forward to renting you beautiful home again.

The location of this property is fantastic, and it could be an amazing rental. However, when we arrived there were not sheets on the bed, and dirty laundry in washing machine. Thankfully, property manager was quick to resolve this issue the next morning. Unfortunately, when we brought finding a GUN and an unlocked liquor cabinet with a dozen open bottles of booze on the premises to the property manager, she stopped responding. Neither of those should be in a rental. Ever. It has been 4 days since we texted and sent emails with no response. Also, we completely agree with the parking comments listed here. Parking is nonexistent at the property unless you have an extremely compact car. We were able to park for free 0.2 miles away but after April 15 parking fees are required. Also, when we arrived the property was insecure with the side door being open. That was rather unsettling after arriving in the dark. Again, this property COULD be amazing and has so much potential. However, I do not recommend staying here until some of the structural issues (floor in bathroom is unstable) and potential fire hazards (electrical and furnace rooms) are resolved.

Thanks to Liann and the owners of this property for sharing quite a gem. House seemed sprawling for an early 19th century Port residence and was full of nostalgic photos and art. Slight issue of what defines "parking on site", but we figured out a few options that cobbled together worked, including generosity of neighbor.

Had a great time at this place! Everything was within walking distance and there are plenty of parks and beaches a short drive away. Can be tricky to drive on the road to the house during peak hours but waking up to the view from the roof deck more than makes up for it.

The parking spot is a disaster! I have no clue how I didn’t wreck my rental car or the two homes i parked between. Recommendation is for the owner to remove the curb and door stoop and convert it into a true parking spot. Otherwise I love the charm of the place, the place, the roof deck and the location was epic. Fix the parking !