Have stayed in several of these Villas over the years at Grand Bear Lodge and this was by far the best. Place was immaculate, communication with owner was exceptional, lots of nice touches like games, welcome treats, etc. Will book here again and again.

Really enjoyed this property. Very clean and would stay again if ever visiting!

Amazing stay. Amazing host! It was perfect and we will def be back next 4th if it’s available

We loved this property and proximity to all in the area we wanted to experience. We will definitely book again!

My husband and I vacationed with another couple that we have been friends with for well over 30 years! Everything about Aneta's villa was outstanding. The location to Starved Rock and Senica's Oak Golf Course made getting out and being active easy. We would have kayaked or rafted, but the weather was not stellar. However, we thoroughly enjoyed gaming, cooking, and hanging out in the villa. Would DEFINITELY recommend the place and would LOVE to return!

If you're looking for a quiet, comfortable, and spacious place to stay, you've hit the jackpot. Aneta has thought of every ammenity possible, from the laundry/kitchen at the entry, then the dining/living room, and then to the bedrooms upstairs. In addition, the space is beautifully decorated with simple but elegant decor and the entire Villa was spotless. We will definately be returning asap for our next Starved Rock adventure!!

We chose the Illinois River Valley because it is halfway between my home in Kentucky and my brother's home in Minnesota. It is in building Y nestled in a wooded corner of a cluster of lovely cedar-shingled fourplexes behind the Grand Bear Resort. You can walk to the St. Louis Canyon trail from the complex. You can drive to Starved Rock or Mathieson in five minutes. Both have terrific trails. Aneta's instructions were clear and the home is very clean and well appointed. Beds are quite comfortable. We would definitely stay here again if we decide on a return trip.

The unit was stylish, clean and well thought out. The complex where this was located had lots of activities and we could walk right there. We also walked right to Starved Rock trails from our condo. We really enjoyed our stay in this beautiful home!!

The property was very clean and accommodating, perfect spot for us the enjoy a relaxing stay with plenty of room to get ready for the wedding we were attending. The host was very nice and responsive. 10/10 would recommend!

My husband and I enjoyed the seclusion of the property. Our stay was beyond our expectations, very romantic and equipped with everything imaginable. We would surely consider another stay in the future.

We loved our little nook set back among the trees. Very clean, very quiet!. Every kitchen item from the coffee maker to the pans was nice! No junk that I typically see at rentals. The home was very nicely decorated too!

Home is beautiful and comfortable. Appreciate that kitchen is fully stocked with kitchenware/pots and pans. We enjoyed meeting up with friends at your home. Thank you for helping make our weekend away even more enjoyable.

Beautiful villa. Enjoyed electric fireplace on cool evenings. Could use better lighting under counter in kitchen corner by fridge. We enjoyed our stay. Thanks for sharing with your lovely home with us.

We enjoyed staying at this property. It was clean and very well appointed. It had one of the best equipped kitchens we have stayed in and we appreciated the touches like the Easter theme. The only suggestion I have is to avoid using scented products for laundry. I am sensitive to any fragrances, so using "unscented" would be very helpful.

Our family loved the thoughtful touches and cozy spaces this space offered! We will definitely be back!

We have traveled and stayed at rental properties on 6 continents, but have never experienced a property as nicely equipped as this place. It was spotless, nicely designed spaces, comfortable bedrooms, incredible kitchen (we hosted a dinner party for 9 people and had plenty of dishes, silverware, and cookware to handle everything!), location was ideal for exploring Starved Rock State Park as well as nearby towns, and the communication with the owner (Aneta) was second to none. While we only stayed for a weekend, my wife and I both felt that we could have felt pampered there for a much longer stay. All in all, a memorable rental that is among the top tier of any at which we have ever stayed...! Thank you so very much.

We cannot recommend highly enough! Gorgeous villa - beautifully appointed, with so many personal touches added. Many thanks to our wonderful host, Aneta.

The property was beautiful and the host was very thoughtful with the amenities. It was such a relaxing stay

Anita has remodeled this lovely Villa in Utica! In my opinion, the decor. is woodsy/chic and she thought of absolutely everything my family would need! There were games, cards, sports equipment, and snacks for our 3 kids. There is a jetted tub that my son absolutely loved after our hikes in nearby Starved Rock and Matthiessen Parks. The place was incredibly clean and I really appreciated the washer/dryer right in the villa. When she asked for an area of improvement…I honestly couldn’t think of a thing! We will be back!

The unit is even prettier than the pictures show! The remodel of this unit was done extremely well and very tasteful decor and furnishings. So clean, and provides everything you would think a VRBO would provide and more!!! Loved the location and the unit is on the end for more windows and privacy of a wooded lot. One of our favorite trails at Starved Rock has a trail head just across the street! I wasn't sure we needed to stay 3 nights to complete our agenda for this trip, but we enjoyed it so much we are really glad we did!!!

This location is such a gem! Private, very clean, and cozy. The host is a great communicator and even left sweet treats. Would definitely recommend!

This is a beautiful property! Spacious, nicely decorated, clean, everything we could have hoped for. Really enjoyed our stay here with friends and would definitely rent again!

We thought the villa was perfect for our family winter celebration. The space was comfortable and well appointed. I could tell there was attention paid to making the guest stay pleasant and inviting. I would recommend this villa for other people. We will definitely be back!

This home was just 75 miles from our house, but it was a world away. Everything was just as described and often better. Very close to Starved Rock, where we went hiking every day. We will definitely return.

Property was extremely clean and well appointed. Host was responsive and accommodating. Thank you for a great stay!

My friends and I have rented a couple other townhouses in the area. This one was great; it’s been updated and very nice. There are plenty of dishes, pots, pans, etc. to cook anything you’d like. The place is very clean as well. We’ll be staying here again when we come to Starved Rock.

Great townhouse with 2 beds, 2 baths, 2 fireplaces and 2 levels. We enjoyed our stay at the townhouse and would definitely come back. Updated kitchen had everything you could possibly need. They even had the place decorated with Christmas trees.

I really cannot say enough positive about this place. It is like having your own personal spa. The layout of the master bedroom with the hot tub and fireplace is one of the most relaxing places I have been. The trails at Starved Rock and Mathieson are so beautiful - it just makes this tranquil and rejuvenating. There do not seem to be alot of dining options (though I can't say that I really ventured out all that much) but the Lodge at Starved Rock has wonderfful food and such a great atmosphere - and SO CLOSE! This unit has more privacy than some of the others in this community. The host is very accomodating and responsive. The place was immaculate with many small conveniences and in excellent repair as well as deorated for the holiday. The linens were wonderfully soft. Lots of warm snuggly blankets around. It smelled wonderful and clean. The beds were a touch soft for my taste - but the sofa and futon offered firmer options. Nice black out drapes. I have been to a few unitis here a few times - and will certainly return to this one. I simply cannot find other accomodations anywhere near me that compare to how wonderful this is especially for the cost. I do not travel with children but also see lots of kids activities around and am sure that having the kitchen in the unit (with a dishwasher) would make this a great family place.

I cannot say enough about how perfect this place was for my 4 sisters and I to get away for a long weekend nestled back in the woods. Nicely secluded and quiet. A clean VRBO unit is THE most important feature to me and you could tell it was the owner's focus as well. The living room area was perfect for hanging out and visiting with the fireplace being a nice bonus. The kitchen was equipped with everything you need. The bedrooms were spacious and beds comfy. I didn't pick it up in the pictures, but was thrilled to find there was a fireplace also in the master bedroom. Try to plan on getting to the unit before dark as it is a little difficult to find due to the layout of the villas and signage that could be improved. We loved out time together at this villa and we will be back!!

the place was great. we loved the updated decor that is different than many of the other properties in the same resort.

I rented this cabin for my nephews wedding. My family and I were so pleased with our stay. The cabin was very updated and decorated very cutely, it was also very clean and well equipped with all kitchen and bathroom essentials. Aneta even left us Kureig coffee pods and a basket of treats for our stay. It was well stocked with games which my son in law took the opportunity to teach the game of chess to my son’s friend. We did a short visit to Starved Rock which is only a 2 min drive from the cabin. Would love to come back and rent this cabin again when we have more time to do more trails at Starved Rock and visit the surrounding towns only minutes away. Thank you so much Aneta for being such a great host.

Faboulous home with lots of extras. Spacious and very clean. Close to hiking trails. We really enjoyed our stay.