Cobwebs on rotted windows,dirty fans,gross shower curtain and bath mat ,mouse droppings appeared on stove,septic smell off deck,stairs off deck need powerwashing slippery when wet,

Beautiful settings, lovely place, very enjoyable stay.

Positives - The property has lake access within steps of the barn. The property is very private. The homeowner greeted us upon arrival and was very friendly. The linens were very clean and there were plenty of towels provided. The homeowner provided a jug of bottled water since the tap water was not potable. We were able to park on site. Negatives - It's a barn. The accommodations were situated in the second level of a barn attached to the main house. Although the main floor is an open plan, the entire residence was filled with an abundance of useless old stuff which created an atmosphere of clutter. The room does get good ventilation at night which alleviated our concerns about the lack of air conditioning. Plenty of fans were provided but they were filthy. Some were so dirty, they carried a musty/body odor smell. The bathroom is in the kitchen and has no ventilation so there is mold all over the shower area window. We did not have hot water the first night, perhaps because there were people in the main house. The upstairs is a loft. Plywood was laid down and there are area rugs to cover the main walkways. The loft would probably be suitable for one nice bedroom. Rather, it is divided into three areas/rooms and everything is crammed together. Because of the limited space in each area and the steep inclines of the ceilings it is difficult to take a couple steps in either direction without hitting your head. It's advertised as able to sleep six, but it would be a very tight fit for four adults. The accessibility to the lake is clearly the highlight of the property. Compared to the photographs, the beach is slightly overgrown with plants and a dead fallen tree. Most of the chairs provided on the beach need to be replaced because they are cracked and about to completely break apart. Even with the great views of the lake, the accommodations make this stay way overpriced.

The house was well maintained and exists a very short walk down a path from the water. The area on the property by the water has great views of the lake with the mountains on the horizon. The island itself is quaint and the people are friendly. The only thing I’d dock it for was that the internet wasn’t working for us for the long weekend. That said, it didn’t impact our fun much as we were mainly outside and exploring the area. Highly recommended.

Our family spent an amazing week at The Bird's Nest this summer. The location is without parallel. A small peninsula on Isle La Motte, with a large beach area. Sitting on the lakeside, waves lapping gently, a cooling breeze; perfectly relaxing! From the deck, a view of the lake to the left, to the right, and straight ahead! Ample space for our family of four to spread out in. The large dining table was perfect for eating or late night card and board games. Highly recommended for those seeking seclusion, relaxation, and lovely views of Lake Champlain.

This property on Isle La Motte has one asset ONLY—private lakeshore facing west on Lake Champlain. Other than that it stinks both figuratively and literally! Where to begin…the “Bird’s Nest”, as it’s called, is a barn attached to the corner of a dilapidated old house, which appears to have been abandoned. On our first day walking this wonderful island, we discovered the property is owned by a Canadian who has not been able to cross the border since the pandemic began. During the owner’s absence, the house had suffered an infestation of rodents, which was “taken-care of” with much effort and help from neighbors. We discovered left over mouse droppings in the breadbox. Junk/stuff is EVERYWHERE. We arrived in the dark of night after driving in heavy rain for five hours to a pitch dark house with no detectable driveway. Drove across the grass and parked. Used our phone flashlights to find our way up a flight of outer stairs completely unlit. Switching on an outdoor light did little to help w ensuing loads as it doesn’t light up the parking “area” at all. the only source of heat for the 1000 SF of Bird’s Nest ate 2 space heaters. It was chilly so we plugged in and blew one of the main circuits for the whole place. Pitch dark befell us again, save light from one small light upstairs on another breaker. “Called in” the blown fuse to 800 # in Oregon and the operator created a maintenance ticket to resolve the problem. Suspecting we may not receive help until the morning, we went on a hunt in the dark….Found no breaker inside “the Nest” but we did find smelly old mattresses and piles of furniture and junk behind an unlocked door. I charged again into the pitch of night, armed with the phone light. While circling the structure, I came upon large double barn doors with a screw holding the latch shut. After thoughts of Freddie gave me pause, I bravely opened it!😱 There, far across the dark underbelly of this time/worn barn, shown a light, prompting me to call out, "Yoo-hoo.. anyone here??" Saw a washing machine with the circuit breaker. The house water smells so strongly of sulpher and the shower is so stained from it it’s an unpleasant experience to even think about bathing. The furnishings are tired and worn though towels and sheets seemed new and very clean. It’s a beautiful setting, but a horrible rental unit w so many safety concerns! Leave it in your rear view mirror!

As other reviewers have said, the property and location are great. My wife and I especially enjoyed the private beach and lake view, and the fire pit on the beach was nice too. The property is quite secluded, but that was perfect for us, as we were looking for a retreat-like atmosphere. The home itself was a mixed bag. We loved the wrap around windows in the morning and day time, but the lack of curtains or shades made us a bit uncomfortable at night, especially when we heard noises in the front of the house. The grill on the porch was great. The living room was spacious enough, but not quite as large as the pictures made it appear. The biggest downside was the hard tap water, which left yellow stains on the sink and in the toilet bowel. We were told that the water was from a well and had been tested for cleanliness, but both the smell and appearance of the well water stains were disconcerting. One final note. When we first walked in, I noticed that the home had not been cleaned (dirty towels on the bathroom floor, garbage not taken out, beds not made). I called Vacasa and to their credit, they sent someone over right away to do some basic cleaning and give us fresh towels and sheets, and then sent a housekeeper the following morning to do a more thorough cleaning. They apologized profusely for the mistake and refunded the cleaning fee. So, even though it was a pretty big oversight for a rental property, I would still give Vacasa high marks for customer service, for responding promptly and making things right. Everyone we talked to was professional and helpful, which made the rest of our vacation, after a bumpy start, much better.

As other reviewers have said, the property and location are great. My wife and I especially enjoyed the private beach and lake view, and the fire pit on the beach was nice too. The property is quite secluded, but that was perfect for us, as we were looking for a retreat-like atmosphere.

The home itself was a mixed bag. We loved the wrap around windows in the morning and day time, but the lack of curtains or shades made us a bit uncomfortable at night, especially when we heard noises in the front of the house. The grill on the porch was great. The living room was spacious enough, but not quite as large as the pictures made it appear. The biggest downside was the hard tap water, which left yellow stains on the sink and in the toilet bowel. We were told that the water was from a well and had been tested for cleanliness, but both the smell and appearance of the well water stains were disconcerting.

One final note. When we first walked in, I noticed that the home had not been cleaned (dirty towels on the bathroom floor, garbage not taken out, beds not made). I called Vacasa and to their credit, they sent someone over right away to do some basic cleaning and give us fresh towels and sheets, and then sent a housekeeper the following morning to do a more thorough cleaning. They apologized profusely for the mistake and refunded the cleaning fee. So, even though it was a pretty big oversight for a rental property, I would still give Vacasa high marks for customer service, for responding promptly and making things right. Everyone we talked to was professional and helpful, which made the rest of our vacation, after a bumpy start, much better.

Pros: proximity to the beach is fantastic, huge beach area (rocky), nice views, fire pit right on the beach, new-ish pedal boat on the beach was a nice surprise (bring your own life jackets). Mattresses were firm and comfortable, towels and sheets super clean, small “kids corner” with a table, crayons, and a small basket of toys was appreciated. Kitchen well stocked with dishes and cookware. Lots of natural light, lots of fascinating old books on the book shelf. Water pressure in the shower made it feel like I was getting a massage. Gas grill on the deck worked great! Cons: the lockbox was not in the location stated in my arrival email- we had to call Vacasa (thankfully they were very responsive and we had no trouble getting in). There is a list of about half a dozen WiFi passwords on the fridge- the correct one was in my arrival email from vacasa, but that was a little confusing. When we arrived, there were 2 mason jars with flowers in the kitchen- the flowers were dead and the water was green. I didn’t see a smoke alarm in this unit. We arrived after dark and there was only one outdoor light outside the sliding door- it was a lot of stairs to navigate in the dark. The stairs were also slippery when wet. One of the handles to open the window in the kitchen was broken. What was the most bothersome was the bathroom- there is no fan, the window doesn’t open, and there was mold on the window frame. It desperately needs some ventilation. I had asked if the water to the unit was lake water prior to our arrival- I was told it was well water, but they encouraged folks to bring drinking water anyway, which we did. However, there was a note in the property which said it was lake water- and it certainly smelled like lake water. This isn’t unusual for these houses on the lake, but I do think folks should be aware of what to expect. I also asked about whether or not we needed to bring our own firewood, and if the other house on the property would be occupied while we were there. I didn’t get a response; we didn’t see any firewood, so bring your own. And it turned out the other house was unoccupied during our stay. In my checkout email I received info about the property that I didn’t receive in any emails prior to our stay, including information about the water situation, as well as that there is poison ivy in the woods, so stay on the trails to the beach- probably would have been nice to know prior to. Overall, didn’t hate it, but needs updates

I was so sad leaving Birds Nest this morning because the property itself is so magical. Incredibly beautiful and peaceful. The Birds Nest needs some attention — broken screens, no life jackets, a few details like that — but is well equipped with very comfortable beds. This property would not be everyone’s cup of tea but I adored it and would love to stay there again.

The location was lovely. The accommodations -not so much. There are a lot of improvements, repairs and upgrades needed if you continue to use this as a vacation rental. Many windows are broken, some without screens, all filled with cobwebs and dirty window panes. There are not enough outlets- extension cords needed for lights and any phone/ iPad devices in both bedrooms . There are missing outlet covers, no outdoor lights for stairs, no fire alarms- this alone makes this building totally unsafe. While some of the furniture is suitable, much is outdated—- and the entire place was filled with unnecessary clutter . One outdoor chair on the deck collapsed and broke as soon as we sat on it. There was mold on the bathroom window and with NO ventilation, was almost unusable in the 80 degree plus inside temperature- fans and no AC made it extremely uncomfortable , especially since so many windows were unusable. Because one of us has a medical condition that makes it difficult fir him to regulate his core temperature, we did not linger inside for long. Curtains and blinds on all the windows would help to reduce the sunlight that poured in and over heated the rooms . The bathroom is very small, and really not adequately functional for 4 guests. The best thing besides the location, were the towels. We would also like to note that the state of the adjoining house, makes the property very uninviting. And we’d like to note as well , that around midnight , a car pulled into the driveway, with some folks getting out with flashlights , wandering around the house which had opened doors / windows and lights on the entire 3 days/ nights we were there- yet no one was occupying the house. They did eventually leave. It did not give us a very easy feeling. Consequently we would not recommend this location as a vacation rental to anyone.

The location was lovely. The accommodations -not so much. There are a lot of improvements, repairs and upgrades needed if you continue to use this as a vacation rental. Many windows are broken, some without screens, all filled with cobwebs and dirty window panes. There are not enough outlets- extension cords needed for lights and any phone/ iPad devices in both bedrooms . There are missing outlet covers, no outdoor lights for stairs, no fire alarms- this alone makes this building totally unsafe. While some of the furniture is suitable, much is outdated—- and the entire place was filled with unnecessary clutter . One outdoor chair on the deck collapsed and broke as soon as we sat on it. There was mold on the bathroom window and with NO ventilation, was almost unusable in the 80 degree plus inside temperature- fans and no AC made it extremely uncomfortable , especially since so many windows were unusable. Because one of us has a medical condition that makes it difficult fir him to regulate his core temperature, we did not linger inside for long. Curtains and blinds on all the windows would help to reduce the sunlight that poured in and over heated the rooms . The bathroom is very small, and really not adequately functional for 4 guests. The best thing besides the location, were the towels.
We would also like to note that the state of the adjoining house, makes the property very uninviting. And we’d like to note as well , that around midnight , a car pulled into the driveway, with some folks getting out with flashlights , wandering around the house which had opened doors / windows and lights on the entire 3 days/ nights we were there- yet no one was occupying the house. They did eventually leave. It did not give us a very easy feeling.
Consequently we would not recommend this location as a vacation rental to anyone.

This is a great funky old apartment attached to a larger main house (which was unoccupied during our stay). Unfortunately the water heater has corroded through and the water from the taps is murky orange and reeks of hydrogen sulfide. A new water heater and a proper cleaning would make this a much better destination.

The house has a beautiful view. Waking up to the sound of waves was wonderful.

We enjoyed our stay. The location is great. Private lake access. Great biking in the Champlain Islands. The house met our needs and was comfortable.

Right on the lake in a quiet area. Very private location even with house right behind the barn apartment rental. Close proximity to fossil quarry and historic sites. Visited during pandemic so a quiet vacation. Apple orchards, many walks, bicycling...lovely peaceful stay. Deck with grill overlooking lake. Walk on the shore.

This was the perfect Staycation getaway. It's magical private beach, water views from nearly every window, and friendly property owner made our stay everything we had hoped it would be.

We loved the location! The views of the lake were breathtaking and the private beach was magical.

Quiet, secluded, beautiful sunsets. Access to the lake is just a few steps away. Ample private beach with fire pit was magical. Great place to get away from it all. The only thing was that there was no AC. It wasn't a big deal for us as we had great weather most days and the fans provided helped a lot, but can be an issue on hotter days.

This respite is as advertised. We found all ammenities, with the exception of internet, to be in good working order. The setting is private. Although it is attached to a larger home. The "nest" is it's own structure privacy wise. No one else on the property but us: six adults and a dog. The beach on property is a nice place to unwind, take a dip and enjoy a sunrise or sunset. Nice deck with a grill. Will recommend and try back again.

Love the beach, fire on the beach at sunset, amazing spot
Tks

Description said nothing about this actually being an apartment attached to a home. Made the stay very awkward. She reported us to property management for having an extra guest. (Was a surprise guest we didn’t know were coming.) No a/c and most of the windows are missing screens and won’t open. Very nice property with great fishing, just is not what it appeared by the description.

We enjoyed the property very much. The Birds nest has a larger house next to it. Had it been occupied the property would not be secluded as stated and would have been a bit awkward. The contact should insure that you are the only occupiers of the property when rented. Also could use an exhaust fan in the bathroom especially if six adults are using it. The views are beautiful and you get the real lake front experience. We would love to stay again!

The property is in a great location. Highly secluded with nice private beach to enjoy beautiful sunsets. But the unit by itself is not well maintained. We saw a hair bundle on the floor. We killed some 10-15 forest flies. No idea how they entered, but they were near their dying stage. No heating system. The temperature went to lower 40s during our stay and we barely got heat with two tiny portable electric heating units. There's no ventilation inside bathroom. If you're going to take a hot shower, make sure you're alive breathing after 10 mins :) . Well, one can argue it's a renovated barn from 1830s, but not considering basic amenities doesn't seem to be an excuse. We had good 15 minutes of fun finding the keys for the property (yes, with a Vacasa customer rep on the phone). The property is attached to another home and has a confused point of separation. When we finally managed to find the lockbox location, they key code given to us was not working and ended up trying multiple codes. And consider driving at least 30 miles to get to a decent grocery store. The country stores may not have everything you need. Finally all three stars for the location.

I was in search of a simple, quiet, isolated place to unwind and unplug for a few days before a very busy work season. This was the perfect place for that. Fabulous sunsets and hardly a person to be seen. This was late-September off season. What was surprising was to drive up and see that unit was part of a main house. It's an apartment upstairs in an old barn. That wasn't evident in any photo or description I recalled seeing prior to booking. Had the main house been occupied the isolation and privacy would have been a misrepresentation. It is basically a lake-side duplex. Both the barn and the main house could use a good power washing, and the inside a bit more thorough cleaning, but it was perfectly manageable. Keep your expectation in line with rustic and you should have the same enjoyment I did - as long as the main house is not occupied. And be aware that you need to arrive with all of your groceries. There is a small market on island that I stumbled upon precariously. The shelves were pretty bare, but again this could be due to off season. The next markets are quite a ways away in Alburg or North Hero with limited hours. For what I was seeking, this was the perfect place at the perfect time of year.

My husband and I and two dogs stayed here over Labor Day. The house is well-equipped - everything we needed in the kitchen, comfortable furniture, reliable wifi, plenty of towels. The weather cooperated two out of three days and we swam off the beach. Since it's on a peninsula, there are two sides to swim from...one is calmer and sandier, but with a lot of weeds; we preferred the rockier, clearer side. Either way the water is very shallow a long way out. Beds were comfortable - the two bedrooms are up under the roof, had to be a little more coordinated getting in & out of the far sides as the ceiling slopes. There are more open loft area beds as well. We loved the location, and biked all over the island. The yard is spacious and sunny behind the house and the deck and living area (since they are on the second floor) had great views over the lake. Around the front of the house the yard is right on the road - very little traffic, but lots of bike riders and we discovered one of our dogs' new joys in life is chasing them. The bathroom is dated but feels just right for a lake house. There was lots of good info from the owner. The house is managed by Vacasa and we had excellent communication and help from them (when we couldn't find the lock box). They even provided a 'Vacasa' bag with paper towels, a kitchen sponge, dish soap, a cork screw, and a deck of cards. I'd recommend this house, just be aware there is no ground floor living area, it's all upstairs. Isle la Motte is a great place to relax.

Clean, beautiful area, peaceful, all necessary amenities and beautiful beach. I'll certainly be back!

My husband and I and our two dogs stayed for for nights over Labor Day and loved it. The beach, though pebbly, was great - scenic and private. We swam two of three days...had rain the other day, which was fun as we could see the weather coming down the lake. The living area is all upstairs, with beautiful windows and a nice deck (with a gate, which was nice), so keep that in mind! The living/dining area is spacious and furnishings are comfortable. Good wifi, smart tv worked great. There are a ton of books, games and toys. Bedrooms are up against the roof, so sloping ceilings are the rule. Cute, but a little cumbersome. There are additional beds outside the bedrooms, in the loft area, that are more convenient if less private. The yard is big and sunny, and there are plenty of beach chairs. If your dog (like one of mine) enjoys chasing bicyclists, you'll need to be vigilant. Isle la Motte is great for walking and biking...We rode all over; though there were a couple killer hills, there was little traffic and lots of open space. We loved the place, and would visit again.

We really enjoyed a stay in the Bird's Nest. It was comfortable and great to be right on the beach

This house was the perfect place for some friends and I to spend the weekend. The beach was secluded and clean, the backyard was sunny and nice for lawn games, and the house was comfortable. Isle La Motte is a cute little island great for biking and touring around.

Great for young kids and quiet seclusion. House is on small point into lake so has fresh breezes and beach access, no worry about crossing the road. Tight fit for adults but totally okay for a week because living spaces are large.

Loved the beach and lawn. Had a blast!