Wonderful experience. Property is very roomy and elegant but still has a cabin feel to it. The three bedrooms are fantastic! Thus priority is close to everything. We especially liked it’s location to the trail that led to Calaveras Big Trees. The toy closet was a special treat and property manager is second to none.

Top of the line rental for this area. Hillary is an extremely attentive host. Beautiful home with wonderful details and reading material! Our vacation was perfect.

Beautiful cabin, Great time had by all. As close to being perfect as you can possibly get. Thank You, Marsha Agudo

Chesa Madrisa is an amazing property just a couple of hours from the hustle-bustle of the Bay Area. The house is so very well designed and has spaces for relaxation, and leisure very well created. The sprawling house is fully stocked with all the things required to throw a gala feast and the tree views from the large windows are soothing. Hillary does a great job of thinking ahead of all the things a big family can need, from beach towels, to extra fans to first aid kits. The bedrooms are cozy and inviting. The kids' play area was a hit with the kids and the adults alike. There is a lot of thought put together in designing those spaces and ambiance. The home is tucked away in the woods, close to some really nice walking trails, and a quick drive from Arnold and Calaveras Big Trees State Park. We enjoyed our time in the home, so did the kids and the dog :) . Will come back to visit in winter.

Such a lovely mountain getaway. The house accommodated our family of 9 in a comfortable setting. The home was nicely updated and fully stocked with every item you could possibly need. We enjoyed our weekend stay and will be back!

My family really enjoyed our stay near Arnold. The house was beautiful and there was so much to do. It was a great break for both kids and adults.

Beautiful house! The location is great, and family friendly with toys, games, etc. Very well-stocked kitchen. Property manager was very responsive. Hope to stay here again.

Chesa Madrisa was perfect for a family getaway in the snow. Hillary provided everything we needed, and was super responsive to all of our questions about the house and the area. We'll return next year!

We absolutely loved our stay at Chesa Madrisa! The house is comfortable, inviting, and well-stocked. The location is great - close to Big Trees, a short drive to stores, and an easy jumping off point to the slopes (about 30 minutes). We will definitely be back!

We absolutely loved our stay at Chesa Madrisa! The home is so lovely and had everything. We enjoyed all the space, it was easy to spread out. The rooms were large and the beds were so comfortable. Hilary is a pleasure to work with and she really makes sure her guests have everything they need. The kids loved playing with all the toys, we loved the kitchen (quality appliances, all the gadgets, beautiful dishes and flatware), and all the books and interesting things to explore in the house, not to mention the beautiful forest setting right outside. Also, this home is perfect for those staying with babies as this house has a closet full of baby items. We’d be grateful for the opportunity to stay here again in the future.

We had the unique opportunity to be in this house for a month during COVID. It was wonderful. So much to do in the surrounding area. The house itself is large and comfy, stocked well, and Hillary is very responsive (we were back and forth about some prescribed burns that happened during our stay, and some bears!). We loved sitting on the front porch during sunset, and walking the nearby trails. Good wifi, king beds throughout, some recreational supplies provided, as well as bathroom/kitchen/laundry supplies. Having AC was helpful on some really hot days, but we also appreciated the fireplace during colder evenings. We miss being there and will be back.

You know that feeling when you don't want to overhype something for fear of disappointing people when they finally experience it themselves? Yeah, that isn't possible here. Hillary deserves all the praise that she's receiving, and more. This alpine home is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind gem in the forest. I've been to many vacation rental homes, and this one is easily the best. Not only has Hillary thought of everything, but she appointed the house with all the good stuff. High quality linens, up-to-date electronics, beautiful furniture. And hand soaps! I have to buy my hand soaps from Williams-Sonoma from now on, because this house has spoiled me. Be warned: this house will spoil you too. And then there's the kitchen. Oh, what wondrous gadgetry! I'm not kidding, this kitchen is gorgeous, and it has everything. We cooked a big Thanksgiving dinner, and I was wondering ahead of time if I might need to bring some kitchen stuff from home, which is common with vacation rentals. It turned out that I needn't have worried. (Fellow kitchen nerds: not one, but two Microplanes. One flat and two balloon whisks. Two roasting pans big enough for turkeys. Le Creuset everywhere. Breville toaster oven and microwave. Two Kitchenaid ovens. Tons more, but I just want to illustrate how well-appointed the kitchen is. Seriously, she thought of everything.) In summary, this house is perfect, ten relaxing days flew by too quickly, and we can't wait to come back. Do not hesitate to rent this home.

It would be hard to top this property. From Hillary, the manager, to the spacious and comfortable layout, everything was as close to perfect as you could want. Toys and games for everyone, a chef’s kitchen “to die for”, three master suites with king beds and private baths, plus extra beds for the kids, all in a beautiful forest setting. Great for a family gathering or friends getting together!!

Chesa Madrisa is the best VRBO I have ever stayed in. The house was stocked with every single thing you could possibly think of - from extra toiletries to baby toys. From the moment I rented this place, Hillary made everything a total breeze, she was a pleasure to work with, gave us all the information we could have needed in a timely manner and even helped when we left a pillow behind. (Didn't realize we absolutely didn't need it!). We all agreed we would go back in a heartbeat. A great, central location!

We really enjoyed our stay here. The house was wonderful, perfect if you have kids. Centrally located to the lakes and the ski mountains. Hilary is an amazing host and truly did a fantastic making our vacation great! Everything was thorough and easy to find. The house had everything we needed and more! We would stay here again!!

Chesa Madrisa is wonderful!! The owners pay a lot of attention to detail. To start – it’s great to have a garage to park in, store our snow equipment, swim gear, or anything as it is so convenient. The cabin is a beautiful open spacious two story. The living area allowed our family to interact as a group but also slip to the other side of the big fireplace for quiet reading time. The kitchen, which has everything to make a big family meal, oversees the living and dining so everyone was included in the festivities. The bedrooms are spacious and great to have a private bathroom in each. Love the Scandinavian bells!! We would not hesitate to come back to this home in a heartbeat.

Very nice!

We've stayed at many vacation rentals in the Arnold area, but this one is a total gem & step above the others. It was spacious & our family of 6 was very comfortable. It really felt like a home away from home, and had a lot of nice extras from cell phone chargers to pool towels. Free use of the neighborhood pool was a definite perk & my kids had a blast. We explored Big Trees State Park, which is practically next door. We also spent time in Sonora & Murphys, and went up to Lake Alpine. The Chesa Madrisa was a great home base and we can't wait to go back!

Great time with Family in a most comfortable setting

Our family stayed at the Chesa Madrisa for a quick trip, and we can't wait to return for a longer visit. The home is stunning, has a great layout, is nicely furnished & well-appointed. It was clean and beautifully decorated - really feels like a home and not a rental. We loved that each of the 3 bedrooms have their own attached bathroom, and that bed linens and towels were included since many nearby homes don't include them. The Chesa Madrisa is really close to Big Trees State Park and the home comes with a Golden Poppy Pass so we got free entry each day - super nice when the kids were up for a shorter hike, but wanted to return again the next day. We bbq'd on the deck and had Belgian waffles for breakfast thanks to the fancy waffle maker - this kitchen had everything! The kids loved the toy closet, especially the Duplo Lego collection, and we're all planning our return for summer already.

Our family had a very warm and wonderful time at Chesa. The house was perfectly sized and formatted. Our four children have already “made plans” to return and enjoy another “vacation.” Chesa Madrisa is definitely a home away from home. It has everything we needed, forgotten and more. We were able to truly not worry about anything. There were so much extras (personal hygiene items, kitchen items, towels...... all the essentials), we didn’t have to make a stop at the store to pick up anything we forgot..... well......except for food! Definitely a must rent!!

Our family highly recommends the Chesa Madrisa as place to enjoy with family and friends no matter the season. One can hike through Big Trees, ski in winter, swim in the summer, or enjoy the historic town of Murphy’s, the local logging museum, or sample wine at the numerous vineyards.

Gorgeous house! Plenty of space for kids and adults! Kitchen was fully equipped with everything you could ever want and more! Bedrooms were spacious and each had its own private bath. Loved sitting on the couch taking in the gorgeous view. Heated garage was a HUGE bonus since we had 5 feet of snow! The owner, Hillary was on call and very helpful with having the driveway plowed before we arrived and throughout our whole stay! We will definitely stay again!

We loved our stay at Chesa Madrisa for our family ski vacation. From the beginning, the owner, Hillary, was so warm and welcoming with her communication about the property. She even sent us an outdoor pic from the home's exterior cam of fresh snow falling the morning we were arriving for our ski weekend. This made everyone extra excited for a weekend of fresh powder on the slopes! These details in Hillary's communication made us feel very welcome at the home. The home has a great layout with the 3 large bedrooms, toy/tv/game space and laundry on the lower level. This worked so well for the kids to have space to play and adults to have space upstairs. The home is well stocked with everything you need, from zip lock bags to Kerig coffee pods to kids toys/games/Wii machine. The bedrooms are big and king beds very comfortable. We had 3 couples and young kids so it was nice to all have our own bathrooms. The home was very clean and had linens and towels provided. This home did not feel like a rental home but like you were at a friend's home with everything you needed. The house is about a 30-40 minute drive to Bear Valley and 15 minutes to Arnold so it was convenient for skiing and for groceries/restaurants/gas in Arnold. We can't wait to come back to Chesa Madrisa in the warm weather and explore all the warm weather activities around like the Big Trees State Park or Alpine Lake. Thanks Hillary for a great vacation at your home! We would love to come back and stay again!

This is a lovely LARGE home. It would be a great for a 2 family getaway or for a family with multiple kids/teens. Lots of space to spread out and lots to do. It is completely outfitted with everything you need to cook in. Very clean, updated and comfortable. Walking distance to Big Trees Park (on fire road). Very quiet and peaceful.

Enjoyed staying here again with the family. Plenty of room, very clean, and high end amenities. Will definitely be coming back.

Our group of 10 enjoyed a too short birthday weekend stay in the Chesa Madrisa (6 adults, 4 kids age 9-14). We skied on Saturday at Bear Valley. It's an easy drive from the house. The roads were clear and there was no snow at the house (at 5,000 ft); Bear Valley is at 7,000 ft.. On Sunday, we visited Big Trees State Park, took a leisurely walk among the Giant Sequoias (similar to the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite) and had a late lunch in Murphy's on our way back to SF. Hillary was very easy to work with and responsive. The house is a lovely as it is in the photos and had everything we needed. We arrived after dark on Friday (had to work that day!), and next time we will try to arrive earlier to enjoy the cozy fireplace and sectional and just take in that beautiful view of the trees. It's like being invited to a friend's house, not a rental property. The space is conducive to being together but also spreading out in small groups to talk, watch a movie, play Wii, etc. Hope to make this an annual treat!

We truly enjoy our stay here..This home..has everything you need to enjoy your vacation. ..plenty of room, for all family members...kids would love this place.....we truly enjoy our stay..

Staying here was an amazing experience. The house is beautiful. We showed up on Thursday to about a foot of snow on the deck and roof. Walked inside to a warm and cozy house, that was very easy to make yourself very comfortable. That night is snowed all night long. We woke up to about 8" of snow on all of the cars. Great time! All the rooms were very spacious, and my dogs absolutely loved the place. First time in the snow for them and they were having a ball. Hilary is a very nice lady to deal with. I highly recommend this house to anyone, any age, with animals or not. Thank you for a great trip. We will return to stay at Chesa Madrisa!

We have rented locations through VRBO for many years now and this is the first time that I have wanted to complete a review, though I am hesitant to do so only because I selfishly want to keep this my little secret paradise! The home was spacious, VERY tastefully decorated, fully supplied and accommodating. Hillary was gracious and we were welcomed with doggie treats and people treats in the form of a delicious bottle of wine from a local winery. She went out of her way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The kitchen was fully stocked with quality and working kitchen equipment, no need to go hunting for the one sharp knife in this place. I would recommend Chesa Madrissa any time of year!

Beautiful spacious house. Very clean and well taken care of. Will be returning in the future!

We (two families) rented this house for the labor day weekend. The house is nicely situated right next to the Calaveras Big Trees State Park which is a must see. We also drove from the house to Murphy (vine tasting) and Angel Camp (swim in Lake New Melones) Other than the great location this house is also great to spend time and enjoy the company of each other in the house. The house is large and the fireplace in the family room allows everyone to be comfortable at the same time in the same place. We were also fortunate to have Hillary as the property manager. She was great. She always responded whithin a short period and even send a reply to our email quite late the day we arrived for a minor issue. The house is modern with all amenities you would expect from a house in this price range. I hight recommend this for a weekend escape or a longer stay in the area.