Ithaca Urban Retreat I, Your family home in downtown Ithaca
5.0
Outstanding(36 Reviews)House in Ithaca, NY
6 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Includes essentialsGarden, Pets allowed, Kitchen or Kitchenette and more
About this house rental
Convenient to everything! Our "Ithaca Urban Retreat I" is a first floor 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath home in a 2-family house located in a downtown neighborhood. Ideal for family visits to Cornell or to Ithaca College. A new sofa bed in the LR gives sleep space for 2 more family members if needed. Desk with a computer monitor in the back bedroom offers a quiet space for work or study. High speed internet offers 132 Mbps. Please inform us if you want to use the sofa bed. Well-behaved pets welcome; $100 pet fee required. Please ask. For large family groups rent the upstairs, too! (ithaca-urban-retreat-2)
The apartment reflects 19th-century country charm, while providing updated amenities of a modern city apartment! The "country" shows through in the wood floors, the newly-painted original wood floor in the front bedroom, the antique kitchen cupboard as well as other interesting 19th furniture pieces found in houses of this era in Central New York. These furnishings have been complemented tastefully with new ones and accented with loved items to help you feel at home. An antique quilt made by Chad's great-grandmother after the civil war is used as a wall hanging welcoming you to the home. Window AC units cool the bedrooms and dining area; a tower unit cools the living room. Please respect the guest staying in the upstairs apartment by observing quiet time after 11pm.
Entry to the apartment is presently through the back door. Walk along the left side of the house to the back porch. The entire first floor apartment with its front and back porches is yours alone. Professionally cleaned to help you be safe.
There is another apartment upstairs with its own outdoor deck. The back yard, play area, garden and laundry are shared spaces used by both units. We have cleaning wipes available to wipe down door knobs and the laundry area before & after use to help protect one-another.
We respect your privacy, but are available for questions and concerns.
* Easy walk to the Commons .7mi, Ithaca Falls .8mi, and local restaurants .3mi.
* Bike (jog, walk) to area parks and Cayuga Lake along Ithaca Waterfront trail via the nearby gateway .2mi
* Fill your shopping bag at the Ithaca Farmer's Market .4mi, or have lunch there on the dock overlooking Cayuga inlet
* Walk to Purity for its famous ice cream .3mi
* 1.5 miles to Cornell Arts Quad and 2.5 miles to Ithaca College
* Easy on/off access from Rt. 13.
The Northside neighborhood is a triangle defined be Gimme Coffee to the southeast, Purity Ice Cream to the southwest and the ScienCenter to the north. It is unique in a number of ways: Like the nearby Fall Creek neighborhood, it is conveniently close to many of the attractions of Ithaca and yet remains distinctly residential in flavor. The Northside typically has lower density per acre than the other downtown neighborhoods; which translates into more open space between houses and larger gardens surrounding them. Historically it was an entry point for many immigrant families moving into Ithaca and remains the most ethnically and economically diverse neighborhood in the city today. In the context of Ithaca's recently approved Comprehensive Plan, it anticipates many future-oriented goals; pedestrian-friendly, affordable housing, mixed use buildings, good bus service, neighborhood-oriented retail on its perimeter, good-access to parks and other recreational opportunities. Many young families are choosing to make the Northside their home.
Ithaca is very walkable and is the preferred way of getting around! Several bike shops and the Ithaca Youth Bureau offer reasonably-priced bike rental--another great option. There is plenty of parking available on the street if you have a car. T-CAT bus service is just a block away to take you up the hill to Cornell or downtown (& transfer to most anywhere.)
The new main entry is being completed little by little. Until it is done, entry is via the back door. The work will not affect your enjoyment of the home or porches.
The apartment reflects 19th-century country charm, while providing updated amenities of a modern city apartment! The "country" shows through in the wood floors, the newly-painted original wood floor in the front bedroom, the antique kitchen cupboard as well as other interesting 19th furniture pieces found in houses of this era in Central New York. These furnishings have been complemented tastefully with new ones and accented with loved items to help you feel at home. An antique quilt made by Chad's great-grandmother after the civil war is used as a wall hanging welcoming you to the home. Window AC units cool the bedrooms and dining area; a tower unit cools the living room. Please respect the guest staying in the upstairs apartment by observing quiet time after 11pm.
Entry to the apartment is presently through the back door. Walk along the left side of the house to the back porch. The entire first floor apartment with its front and back porches is yours alone. Professionally cleaned to help you be safe.
There is another apartment upstairs with its own outdoor deck. The back yard, play area, garden and laundry are shared spaces used by both units. We have cleaning wipes available to wipe down door knobs and the laundry area before & after use to help protect one-another.
We respect your privacy, but are available for questions and concerns.
* Easy walk to the Commons .7mi, Ithaca Falls .8mi, and local restaurants .3mi.
* Bike (jog, walk) to area parks and Cayuga Lake along Ithaca Waterfront trail via the nearby gateway .2mi
* Fill your shopping bag at the Ithaca Farmer's Market .4mi, or have lunch there on the dock overlooking Cayuga inlet
* Walk to Purity for its famous ice cream .3mi
* 1.5 miles to Cornell Arts Quad and 2.5 miles to Ithaca College
* Easy on/off access from Rt. 13.
The Northside neighborhood is a triangle defined be Gimme Coffee to the southeast, Purity Ice Cream to the southwest and the ScienCenter to the north. It is unique in a number of ways: Like the nearby Fall Creek neighborhood, it is conveniently close to many of the attractions of Ithaca and yet remains distinctly residential in flavor. The Northside typically has lower density per acre than the other downtown neighborhoods; which translates into more open space between houses and larger gardens surrounding them. Historically it was an entry point for many immigrant families moving into Ithaca and remains the most ethnically and economically diverse neighborhood in the city today. In the context of Ithaca's recently approved Comprehensive Plan, it anticipates many future-oriented goals; pedestrian-friendly, affordable housing, mixed use buildings, good bus service, neighborhood-oriented retail on its perimeter, good-access to parks and other recreational opportunities. Many young families are choosing to make the Northside their home.
Ithaca is very walkable and is the preferred way of getting around! Several bike shops and the Ithaca Youth Bureau offer reasonably-priced bike rental--another great option. There is plenty of parking available on the street if you have a car. T-CAT bus service is just a block away to take you up the hill to Cornell or downtown (& transfer to most anywhere.)
The new main entry is being completed little by little. Until it is done, entry is via the back door. The work will not affect your enjoyment of the home or porches.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Ithaca, NY
Reviews
5.0
Outstanding(36 Reviews)5.0
A lovely place.This first floor of a two story house is well appointed, cozy, beds were comfortable and was convenient to everything.
5.0
Nicely renovated duplex. We were in the downstairs apartment. Easy street parking, walk-able to downtown, quiet street. Great kitchen for meal prep and hanging out. Easy connection to smart TV, good internet. We really enjoyed Ithaca in the summer. Owner very responsive to any issues.
5.0
I had to reach out twice to get entry instructions. When I got them, they were for the wrong unit. I had to ask again. I DID get an apology from the other host. Then I had to rea h out again to ask for wi-if info.
Unit is very worn, and fittings and furnishings are dated. The back garden is fantastic. There are no blinds on kitchen double doors to the back deck (entry) so we were caught in our pj’s by the other guests (ok with me, uncomfortable for one of my guests). Floors are super creaky and not insulated, so the little kids running around upstairs were noisy.
There was an attempted drive-by shooting two doors down, mid-day on Friday. It was loud and shocking but we were convinced it was firecrackers until the police were swarming the street.
5.0
It was a nice house with a pretty back yard & nice front porch.
5.0
We experienced a great weekend stay in a quiet, cozy home. Loved the backyard, flowers in the garden, and everything you may need in the kitchen to be comfortable. Although we did not cook there, we were able to use the kitchen for 6 people comfortably when eating and reheating take out foods. Close to everything enjoyable in ithaca, including The Commons, Buttermilk Falls and both Cornell University and Ithaca College. We never had a hard time parking 2 cars right in front of the house. The front porch allowed our dog and us to hang out and enjoy the cool breeze in the afternoon. Covered when it drizzled. The house is a classical Ithaca older home renovated to keep the old charm of hard wood floors, lots of doors and windows, all with proper mosquito window screens. Comfortable bed mattresses with lots of blankets and pillows. Overall, charming, cozy and full of older home charm.
5.0
Wonderful host, clean and terrific walkable location to commons
5.0
This rental was the perfect size our family of four and 2 dogs. Home is very clean. Even though dogs are allowed… the home smells clean and I was not bothered by dander (I have a mild dog allergy even though we own 2 who not allowed on furniture because of it). The location is fabulous. Short drive or walk to everything in Ithaca. On a quiet street. The hosts are super responsive and helpful when needed. This is our second stay at one of their properties and would stay again.
5.0
We absolutely loved this property! Beautiful and so much natural light coming in from multiple rooms made it a very warm place to relax. It was colder than we are used to being from Florida, but the house was cozy throughout. We loved walking into town, which was easy! We went to Gimme Coffee, the cat cafe, and a bookstore on Buffalo street to name a few. So well located! Hope we can stay again someday!
5.0
we loved at our time at The Urban Retreat. Looking forward to next year
5.0
This was our third time staying here. We love it! Great location, very clean and love the layout of the rooms. We'll be back!
5.0
Nice place, great location and very nice and responsive owners. Will be back.
5.0
Had a wonderful time with my wife and some friends of ours while we stayed at this property, just a short walking distance from Ithaca Farmers market where we attended a wedding.
The property is well maintained with comfortable sleeping arrangements, a open kitchen and plenty of seating / lounge space. There is also a lot of natural light and a covered deck space out front (accessible from within the home only).
Thanks Ann!
5.0
We had a great stay and loved hanging out on the porch. A cozy, clean house with everything you need and plenty of charm. We had a brief problem with the fire alarms all going off when we first got there, but the hosts were extremely responsive and came over within minutes to resolve it. Would gladly stay again (and hope that we do someday!).
5.0
Awesome amenities, clean, comfortable and well appointed. Walking distance to farmers market and downtown, easy driving distance to parks, waterfalls and wineries. Great trip!
5.0
The property was just as advertised - clean and the layout was perfect for us (three "old" college friends). The host was helpful with suggestions. We spent time in the evenings sitting on the front porch and enjoyed the back patio and garden one afternoon. The living room was also very comfortable and the neighborhood is quiet. The walk to Ithaca Commons was a bit farther than we realized - maybe 15/20 minutes total, but it's through a pleasant residential section. And parking was really easy which was a plus.
5.0
The property was neat, tidy clean, well, decorated uncomfortable for our family of four adults. It was easy, walking distance to the farmers market and Ithaca, bakery and purity ice cream. It made an excellent homebase for graduation weekend. The garden was very attractive. I would stay there again.
5.0
The home is lovely and well-cared for. One of the nicest places I’ve rented through VRBO.
5.0
Home was appointed with all we needed. Ann was very responsive and helpful the whole time. The place looks even cuter in person. Conveniently located - my daughter and I walked to the commons for dinner and went for a run around Ithaca one morning. A bit of a glitch getting in but it was resolved quickly which is a plus! Current entry path to backyard doesn't work very well especially with the wet conditions we had but sounds like that is temporary. Would def stay again.
5.0
We greatly enjoyed our stay at this property! The house was clean, is filled with light, and has a great floor plan. The kitchen is wonderful: lots of counter space, plenty of dishes, nice appliances, and a lovely place to eat. The living room is a great place to relax. The beds are very comfortable, and the bathrooms are nice. Being older, we greatly appreciated the grab bars in the tub/shower. The porches in front and back provide great added space! The back porch looks out onto a nice backyard that also includes swings for those who have children.
The host is extremely responsive and answered questions incredibly quickly.
I highly recommend this rental! We will definitely rent this property again when we are again visiting Ithaca.
5.0
We thoroughly enjoyed the property. We liked sitting on the front porch and relaxing inside. Nice decor. We’ll be back.
5.0
Four friends came to Ithaca for the weekend and the home was a perfect place to stay. The neighborhood was quiet and parking was easy. The apartment was clean, comfortable and well equipped. While we had a blip in communication with the owner it ended up well. I recommend this listing.
5.0
Four of us had a great girls weekend. Cute house in a good location. Ithaca is really quaint and fun.
5.0
The place was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed.
5.0
We really enjoyed our stay in Ithaca! The house was clean, had everything we needed, and our kids enjoyed it as well. The only reason I did not give the location five stars is that it is not in the heart of downtown Ithaca and would be too far to walk with our young kids. But, it's a quick drive to Ithaca Commons, Cornell, etc. (less than five minutes) so the location was still pretty wonderful! We would stay here again for sure!
5.0
Urban Retreat I is the first floor of a 2 level house. It has 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths. We were 5 people + 2 dogs. It was a little cozy, but all worked out. The owners were great and responded quickly to all inquiries. We could walk to the Ithaca Commons and to the farmer's market. Very accessible to all of Ithaca.
5.0
Charming, comfortable, creative, clean, and convenient!
They did a great job decorating! It has a homey Ithaca feel to it. We also enjoyed the lush back yard and convivial front porch
5.0
Eclectic Charm
A lovely blend of photographs, various wood textures, lots of light, quilts, porches and comfort.
Sweet outdoor spaces overlooking a beautiful back yard with swings and flower gardens.
5.0
This was a perfect space for my family of three (my hubby, myself and my teen son). The bathroom and a half made it easy for everyone in the morning/evening. Great centralized location especially since Gimme Coffee (a gem…great coffee, ambiance, and baked goods) is a short 5 or so blocks away. We will plan to stay here again the next time we’re in town.
5.0
Great space in a cute neighborhood
This was a perfect space for my family of three (my hubby, myself and my teen son). The bathroom and a half made it easy for everyone in the morning/evening. Great centralized location especially since Gimme Coffee (a gem…great coffee, ambiance, and baked goods) is a short 5 or so blocks away. We will plan to stay here again the next time we’re in town.
5.0
Great apartment great location. Host was helpful and everything went smoothly.
5.0
Comforts of home downtown
Great apartment great location. Host was helpful and everything went smoothly.
5.0
Great location to be able to walk into the city and short drive to numerous gorges. Very comfortably accommodated four adults
5.0
Ithaca
Great location to be able to walk into the city and short drive to numerous gorges. Very comfortably accommodated four adults
5.0
Quiet street
I love going to Ithaca. It's always nice to go there to get away from everyday life. I usually end up staying in a hotel but with covid I am just not ready to do that. This was a great option. I was able to get away for the weekend with my family and feel safe while doing so. The house was posted on a quiet street but near downtown Ithaca and close to pretty much everything. It was so nice relaxing at the end of the day on the porch. The house was very homey and comfortable. Everything was clean and neat when I and my friends arrived. The host were so helpful in letting us know what they had available for young kids and they were willing to set up an air mattress if needed for us. They answered any of my questions and concerns in a timely matter. This was a great little house and I would stay there again
5.0
We had a great time in Ithaca! The place was clean, comfortable, and cute and had everything we needed or wanted. And the location was perfect! Ann was knowledgeable about the area and very responsive. We hope return sometime soon!
5.0
Great place, great location!
We had a great time in Ithaca! The place was clean, comfortable, and cute and had everything we needed or wanted. And the location was perfect! Ann was knowledgeable about the area and very responsive. We hope return sometime soon!
5.0
We enjoyed relaxing on the porch, made our own meals and slept well- perfect for our needs
5.0
Bright and comfortable
We enjoyed relaxing on the porch, made our own meals and slept well- perfect for our needs
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Ithaca?
The average price for a rental in Ithaca is $192 per night. This rental is $215 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Ithaca Urban Retreat I, Your family home in downtown Ithaca. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Ithaca Urban Retreat I, Your family home in downtown Ithaca pet friendly?
Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at Ithaca Urban Retreat I, Your family home in downtown Ithaca?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, and parking.
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