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Reviews of ALL YEAR ROUND FUN! LAKE FRONT! BLUE BEAR TRAIL UP THE DRIVEWAY! I

ALL YEAR ROUND FUN! LAKE FRONT! BLUE BEAR TRAIL UP THE DRIVEWAY! I
Mancelona, MI

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 53 out of 58 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 58 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 58 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Christopher S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun time
Clean, everything we needed, and an enjoyable stay overall.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Turkey Hunting Camp
The cottage worked out great for spring turkey hunting camp with lots of public hunting land nearby. It has a cozy atmosphere and the view of the lake is terrific.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Favorite Fall Break
It’s our 3rd year at this cozy cottage. Our family absolutely loves it. Location is great for the trail riding. Kids love kayaking right on the lake. The bar next door is great for pizza. It’s exactly what we look for for our fall break weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chantel B., Stanton Michigan/ Phoenix Az/ Big Island Hawaii

Liked: Cleanliness
"Our" little retreat
This is now officially our family tradition,another wonderful relaxing stay, it doesn't get any better! We will be seeing you next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle M., Wyoming

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful & Beautiful
This is our second stay here. We absolutely love it. Very peaceful, beautiful and relaxing. We'll definitely be back again. We are already looking at next year's calendar.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angela B., Toledo OH

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun Adventures and relaxation at its best
We really enjoyed our stay, the property was clean, stocked with the essentials needed to cook or grill your meals, and the kayaks were fun! We brought our ATVs so we could explore the area and take in the beauty of the forest and the trails are right across the road. We had some delicious food and cold beer at the Hideaway Bar right up the driveway and caught bluegill, rock bass and small mouth bass wile fishing. Would recommend to our friends and family and we hope to come back again!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joe A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Adventure
Very fun and plenty to do outdoors
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brandi D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great!
We loved our stay (again). This was our second time at the property and we certainly hope to return again. Starvation Lake is so peaceful and the bar at the end of the drive was a hit for some in our group.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aileen P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location, cozy place
Peaceful location, we swam, kayaked & fished. Cozy cottage, owner responds quickly to inquiries. WI FI connection is strong if needed for work. Hiked on nearby North Country Trail. Cool restaurant/bar and a general store all within walking distance.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tracy P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful
This property is very peaceful and is just the relaxation and tranquility that we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Roy D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Location, Location, Location
This cute cabin was exactly as it was pictured, literally steps away from the crystal clear lake. Everything was as described in the listing. Would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Stay
My family and I had a wonderful stay at your cottage. Rita was always prompt to any questions and the cottage was clean when we arrived. The pontoon boat was a great addition to our trip.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynn M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful place to stay!
Clean, right on the beach, right next to public access if you would like to use that, and pet friendly. Such a cute place with everthing you need!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

steve o.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful and safe getaway, thank you!
House was clean and had every modern comfort needed. Great location literally just steps from the lake surrounded by nature and northern Michigan trees. Perfect for evening cocktails and morning coffee. Bonus was all the cool animal sounds off in the distance at night. We had 4 guests and there was enough room for us to all be comfortable. If your looking for a quiet and safe getaway this is your spot. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Elizabeth W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Girls 2023
Great location! Friendly & responsive Owner and caretakers! Main floor very cute. The kitchen was nice, counter space was limited. Upstairs was a bit chopped up and could use some updating. Although the other rental house was very close, it posed no problems at all! The boat was awesome and well equipped, it was a perfect add on to our rental. The outside deck and entry to water really needs a nice update. The outdoor furniture was ok and railroad ties need to go. The sand was very nice but riddled with wood and bricks none of which were very secure to step onto. Overall, we had an awesome weekend. Thank you thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jamie Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Little Cabin
Such a perfect spot for those who want the lake life for a bit! The kayaking and paddle boat were lots of fun for the family. We saw (and heard) Loons, Eagle and Osprey !Any questions I had, Rita was quick to respond. We took some day trips (Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan) and the drive was beautiful! We also were able to talk to some of the locals, they were so kind. So grateful for our time.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Frank J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loons and eagles. Beautiful quiet lake
We totally enjoyed the cottage. Very well supplied
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cozy Cottage on the beach
Your cottage is amazing , we had everything we needed. Rented the pontoon for the week ,no issues. Loved the table on the side for privacy and the fence helped being right next too the public boat launch. No issues it was interesting watching all the people put their boats in.. we would maybe rent the bigger cottage next door if we returned. Overall 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🇺🇸
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Todd J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great little house on the water.
We already plan to rent again next year.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

bryce d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fishing we
Nice place, rooms are a little tight but worked for us. Would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
New Years Getaway
We had a great New Years weekend stay. We were able to get a snowmobile ride in before the weather took a turn. This location is perfect for snowmobiling and the communication with the property manager was great. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful little getaway
Second year back. We love it! Love the coziness. Love that we are right on the lake and right across the street from the trails. Has everything we need for a perfect fall weekend away.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chantel B., Stanton Michigan/ Phoenix Az/ Big Island Hawaii

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Cabin, Beautiful Sunsets, What more could you want?
Once again a peaceful retreat, we enjoy this little cabin on the lake so much! This is our second trip and we are already planning next year's visit. We want to express how much we appreciate this special place being pet friendly, its very hard to find nice places that allow fur children, and for that reason and more, this is tops on our list. We used the kayaks multiple times this year and it's nice not to have to haul ours. Thank you again Rita, looking forward to next year already!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jess S.

Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect quiet getaway
The lake was beautiful and quiet to wake up to every morning with a cup of coffee on the kayak. Great wineries and restaurants within 45 mins in almost every direction. We hope to come back next fall!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alexis A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Trip
We chose this spot for a little family get away and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect little cabin on the lake. Had everything you could need. We took our side by side through the near by trails. We even rented the pontoon one day. Would definitely come back again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great weekend geteaway
My family and I enjoyed the little lodge. It has everything you need and having the lake and sand area right in the back yard was perfect for the kids!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brandi D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place
We rented both properties for our group and it was great! Houses are as listed. The two properties are very close together which is ideal if your renting both. Kitchen was adequately stocked. Some of the adults enjoyed the bar nearby which is a very short walk. Excellent cheese curds there :)
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Fran H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Little Cottage
Property was great..Only one dissapointment (not owner's fault) There are two side by side cottages and the renter of the other cottage removed all the kayaks from the shed for thier use and was not open to share. Would have really enjoyed being able to use one.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jim T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful lakefront
Beautiful location and we'll maintained property
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Katherine K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Sweet spot
This little cabin is right on the water, easy to find, and reasonably priced. There are some funky things about it, such as mattresses and the very close proximity to the bigger cabin, where there can be noisy parties. Starvation Lake itself is a jewel, just the right size for swimming, kayaking, fishing, water skiing, bird watching, and walking (speaking as an older person here.)
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Harry and Cheryl W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lakeside
Liked the mix of modern features with old fashion comforts of crisp sheets and cozy quilts. The extras were a nice touch. Patio table, fire pit. Conversational setting on the porch to watch lakeside fun. It was very peaceful. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Allison H., Dewitt, MI

Liked: Cleanliness
Starvation Lake
We had a great time at Starvation Lake. Kids really enjoyed it and it was great family time! Only wish was for one more bathroom LOL. Next time we will make sure that we can pull tubes, but overall a great experience. Rita was fantastic!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Kelly S., hanover, mi

Tiny place but Great location!
This was a up north getaway weekend for us and friends. We knew it was going to be small but it is a tiny place ! Perfect for a smaller family. The place is a great location by a local snowmobile restaurant and directly on the water ! The trail is just up the drive way. The cabin does need some TLC and maybe even new rugs … things have been worn hard. The cabin is also on a concrete slab with non heated floors (direct concrete ). So bring warm socks and slippers. I would definitely rent the place next door for next time. It’s much bigger and same great location. Thank you for a good time!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Genela K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect getaway !
We had a wonderful time here away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The area is beautiful and had exactly what we were looking for. The property was perfect and had everything we needed. Rita was very responsive and helpful. Would love to stay her again in the summer months !
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Another great stay!
Had a great long weekend on the lake. Great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shelagh K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very Cute Place!
We really enjoyed our stay. It was a very cute place in a great location. I would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rich W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect spot, great little house!
I was very happy with the house and the location. The rear door opens up to a nice little beach and is just steps away from the lake. Also, nearby atv rentals were a good time. There is also a nice little store across the street and a good restaurant within walking distance. I will definitely stay there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Jennifer V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall Family weekend
We had a great experience with this cottage. Had some tv troubles when we first arrived but the owners were great at walking us through and getting things working again. The lake view was beautiful. We enjoyed the kayaks out on the lake one afternoon. We loved having the working fire place inside for movies in the evening. The general store was out of firewood, but we were able to find some locals who were selling it. The trails for our UTV were right across the street which was perfect. The trails were a lot of fun in the day and at night. General store was also out of trail maps, so thank goodness for the Polaris trail app. It was a cozy little cottage perfect for our weekend away. And the fact that we could have our dog with us made it complete. My kids are asking if we could come in the summer they enjoyed it so much! (A cookie/baking sheet would be the one thing the kitchen is missing. Otherwise we had all we needed.)
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Chantel B., Stanton Michigan/ Phoenix Az/ Big Island Hawaii

Liked: Cleanliness
Much needed R&R!!
We had a lovely, very peaceful long weekend, even though it rained!What a wonderful gem! Hopefully we will be able to stay again next year. Thank you for sharing your cabin. Ed&Chantel
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christopher b.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stay
Great place to stay the beds are a little small but comfortable the view is amazing
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle M., Wyoming

Liked: Cleanliness
We Loved Every Moment
We enjoyed every moment. Very peaceful and tranquil. The cottage is absolutely adorable and modern. We will definitely be making this a regular family getaway.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Marie C., Ann Arbor, Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful lake getaway
Great house with the amenities needed for a relaxing vacation on the lake. Host was very responsive to all my families needs. Would definitely recommend it to others!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Randy G., Saginaw

Liked: Cleanliness
Great relaxing stay.
Excellent property. Very quiet and relaxing. Was concerned about public boat launch on one side and property so close on the other side, but boat launch was not very busy and renters next door were very respectful and didn't bother us at all. Overall....Great vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2021
Thanks for your review Randy. I am happy to hear you had a great vacation!

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Much Love for Little Lodge
My family has stayed at different cottages every year, exploring the amazing lakes and adventures of northern Michigan. This cottage was a huge hit with the whole family, and for good reason. If you are considering a stay in the area, this little gem is not to be missed. The location was easy to find and access, and was really convenient, considering the boat launch, an excellent bar & grille, and a charming little general store are all within 10 minutes walking distance. The cottage itself was close to the water (yay!!!) and the dock has been rebuilt to be out of the water. It is clear to me that careful thought was put into maximizing the space with smart design. The appliances were fantastic (and full sized, which is rare in cottages!), having the washer and dryer was a game changer, and the grills were wonderful. The beds were comfortable, the internet was stable and strong, and everything was tidy and durable. It was well stocked, and I appreciate that! The lake itself is wonderful, with a sandy bottom in the swim area for those with picky toes, and great fishing, boating and bird watching. We caught rock bass, large mouth bass, and watched other anglers and the osprey pull gorgeous trout from the lake all day. There were also eagles, herons, loons, turtles, and kingfishers galore. We made use of the kayaks every day to explore the lake and quickly realized how lucky we were to be in a cottage on this lake without stairs or a steep dropoff right at the shore, even though our kids are older now. The lake was fun to get around on, and has interesting little bays and coves. I guess no review is complete without some consideration for what might be lacking. However, the Dahlgrens did a great job of fairly representing what to expect, and I found that everything advertised was either accurate or better in person. True, the cottage is small. We were all comfortable there, and we had good weather for eating dinner outside, playing, etc. The cottage next door is quite close, but the porches are angled for privacy and we didn't want or need a secluded spot. The boat launch is next door, but there is a privacy net on the fence and we had no worries. In fact, we brought our own small fishing boat and found it incredibly convenient to launch from. Overall, this place was wonderful and we made many happy memories. Thanks, Dahlgrens!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2021
Thank for your review Sarah. It sounds like you took advantage of all the reasons why we love this lake. I'm happy you enjoyed your vacation! Rita

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Fun!
We had a great time at the little lodge! The lake is beautiful and quiet! The lodge was so clean and cozy! The hosts do a wonderful job making sure we were happy!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2021
Thanks again for choosing our cottage Jeanne. It was a pleasure hosting you! Rita

10/10 Excellent

S B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay
We had a very nice time staying here. The lake and area are beautiful. Lots to do. Cabin was nice. Well maintained and all amenities available. Kids loved that you just step off of the porch onto the sand, and walk a few steps into the water. Crystal clear lake. All in all it is a great place!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2021
Thank you for your review. Sound like you enjoyed your vacation. You are welcome to come back anytime! Rita

10/10 Excellent

Dave K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Starvation Lake stay
We really enjoyed our stay at Starvation Lake. We loved the place, and the quietness of the lake in general. We saw bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, and lots of other wildlife. Fishing was fun and getting to use the pontoon boat was also very special. Great place Rita!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jul 2021
You’re very welcome. Thank you for leaving the cottage is great shape! Come back again!

8/10 Good

Martha B.

Cute and cozy
Small but nicely decorated on the inside. The slider screen door needs to be replaced. Outside area needed to be cleaned and concerned about small children getting injured on nails on the porch and on the rotting railroad ties. Working with the owner was awesome. Very responsive.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jul 2021
Thank you for the feedback. We will get those things taken care of. It was a pleasure hosting you.

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cute Lakefront
We enjoyed our stay. Rented the pontoon which was an added bonus. My 5 year old loved swimming right in front of the cabin. This place lacked nothing except A/C but it stayed cool with the fans. This place is next to the boat launch but that wasn't an issue. Lake was pleasant and quiet.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2021
Thanks for your review Jennifer. The boat is almost a must and I was happy you booked that too. Come back again! Rita

10/10 Excellent

Anita M., Cincinnati, Ohio

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend Get Away
The Little Lodge was perfect for our short weekend get away! It appears that the cabin has been newly updated and had everything we needed for a few days of rest and relaxation. We were there in the off season and it was super quiet. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Apr 2021
It was our pleasure to host you Anita!