In the style of the Old Foothills, this elegant casita brings you all the warmth, pleasure and ambiance of the desert yet offers you the convenience of being within minutes of all of Tucson's most desirable attractions. Privately situated on the same grounds as the main house, a wonderful enclosed patio looks out over the Santa Catalina Mountains and is surrounded by the Sonoran desert. Every room has wonderful views of the desert and abundant natural light. With wide-plank hardwood floors, oriental rugs along with quality contemporary furniture, an open floor-plan, excellent lighting and original art, the casita is welcoming and comfortable.
A gas fireplace adds warmth on cool desert evenings. Quality linens and bedding ensure pleasant dreams. All new appliances in the kitchen make meal prep enjoyable. Looking out the French doors from the kitchen with quartz counter tops you may see the hummingbirds going about their business or after a busy day the coyotes may sing you to sleep.
The patio offers a wonderful spot for coffee in the morning and drinks in the afternoon or just reading in the sun. There is a propane grill on the patio but it has it's own spot and you won't see it unless you are using it. Personally I've never liked looking at grills!
But tranquility only goes so far and the opportunity for exploring is close by. There are great and peaceful hiking close by in the neighborhood or trail heads that are five minutes away. The lovely mall, La Encatada, with Tiffany's, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel and many more quality shops is less than five minutes away, as are many galleries and fine dining. The University of Arizona and the Medical Centers are within ten minutes. Downtown Tucson, the Civic Center where the annual International Gem Show is held is fifteen minutes, and if you are attending the Trap and Skeet tournaments you will find the casita a wonderful home base. For every day needs Trader Joes, Whole Foods or AJs market are with 5 to 10 minutes.
Fresh flowers will greet you upon arrival. There will be breakfast items for your first morning -tea, coffee, butter, jam and muffins. There will be bottled water in the refrigerator.
We hope you will have a wonderful stay.
Keywords: House
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Tucson
Located in Catalina Foothills, a neighbourhood in Tucson, this holiday home is in the mountains. Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium and University of Arizona Museum of Art are cultural highlights, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Tucson Mall and St. Phillips Plaza. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Tucson Convention Center or McKale Center. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby swimming, or enjoy the great outdoors with rock climbing, hiking/biking trails and cycling.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base - 31 min drive - 20.0 km
Saguaro National Park - 35 min drive - 27.2 km
Getting around
Tohono Transit Center - 13 min drive
Tucson Station - 24 min drive
Tucson International Airport (TUS) - 39 min drive
Restaurants
Flying Leap Vineyards Tasting Room - 5 min drive
Ren Coffehouse - 5 min drive
Union Public House - 5 min drive
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant - 6 min drive
P.F. Chang's China Bistro - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills" pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills"?
As of 23 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills" on 25 Apr 2026 start from AU$379, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills"?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills"?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills"?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Private and Elegant Casita in the "Old Foothills" located?
Located in Catalina Foothills, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of St. Phillip's in the Hills, St. Phillips Plaza and La Encantada. Rillito Park Horse Racetrack and Rillito River Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Lovely well appointed home, surrounded by mature desert landscape/Mountain View’s. Private outdoor space with comfortably padded lounge chairs. Quiet and restful. Good reading light in all rooms. Cynthia is a very responsive host
Donna G.
Stayed 15 nights in Jan 2026
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Helen L.
21 Nov 2016
Another wonderful stay
This was our second stay at this property. See my previous review for more details. It still feels like staying in a rather luxurious hotel - but with more space and total privacy. This time we were able to make use of the patio - what a treat (last visit was in June and too hot for us). The owner could not be more helpful and welcoming. We'll be back!
Helen L.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Helen L.
17 June 2016
Perfect rental - what a great find!
We go to Tucson regularly to visit family and have stayed in many rental properties. This casita is by far the best of any. Wonderful location - it feels like you're in the middle of the desert, but you're actually only minutes from stores, restaurants, etc. We were there in June so it was too hot (for us) to take full advantage of the lovely patio but I can imagine basically living out there at a cooler time of the year. The house feels open and airy, with comfortable seating in the living room area and very comfortable beds. The kitchen was great - well designed with everything you would need. The owner was available and helpful, and was willing to make a last minute accommodation to our changing schedule. She had also provided items such as wine, water, shampoo, soap, etc! It felt like a very elegant hotel - only better. We hope to rent this casita again on our next visit to Tucson - this will be the first time that we have returned to a property.
We just spent a week at this wonderful casita. This little dollhouse is perfect for two and possibly three (small second bedroom with daybed). Lovely patio with desert views. We had our coffee there each morning. Impeccably clean and comfortable. Extra attention paid to every detail. Thank you, Cynthia, for making our stay so special.
The casita is gem, everything about it is first class. The setting in the Toulon foothills is spectacular.
gary l.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Mary B.
16 Feb 2020
Wonderful place to stay
My mother and I rented the house for a week to escape the cold Minnesota winter. The house is charming with a lovely patio and garden. Cynthia was a wonderful hostess and we really enjoyed our stay there.
After staying at this lovely casita for a month, my husband and I can't praise it and its owners enough. Clean. Comfortable. Centrally located for ease of access all over town. The property is set way back off main road, so we enjoyed the quiet. Such a pleasant desert setting--we relaxed on the spacious patio with its sweet cottage garden, listening to and watching the birds. I felt safe staying here. The fireplace was an added bonus. We slept well. We cooked most of our meals in house, and we found everything we needed to do so smoothly. All the appliances and utilities worked as they should. For the few questions that arose, the owners were gracious and responsive. We hated leaving and already requested to book next year. Don't hesitate to book here.
Loretta S.
Stayed 31 nights in Jan 2020
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Evan W.
26 Apr 2019
Casita in the Foothills
Very nice, quiet, interesting animals wondered about, quality appliances, great hostess.
Evan W.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Jack M.
31 Dec 2018
Lovely
Great to come back home to such a lovely place.
Jack M.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Paul T.
25 Dec 2018
Absolutely Wonderful
This was our second time staying in this lovely casita. The setting is quiet, private & a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise. The casita is well-furnished & very clean. Cynthia is a gracious, accommodating host.
Paul T.
Stayed 13 nights in Dec 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Patricia M.
15 Nov 2018
Awesome!
I stayed here for a week in order to look for a home in Tucson. The little casita was perfect for this time of year. The little patio was beautiful, well appointed and comfortable, as was the casita itself. Everything was spotless and the owner thought of every single thing a guest may need. Beds were comfortable and linens were so fresh! Kitchen and bath have everything you may need for a great stay. Traveling alone, I felt very safe coming and going at night.The neighborhood is beautiful and feels private and hidden from everything, although it’s convemiently located near La Encantada. The owner lives on the property but gave me total privacy. Thank you! I give the highest recommendation!
Patricia M.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Paul K.
15 Jan 2018
Peaceful and lovely
Two weeks of pleasure. A beautiful and quiet area, lovely surroundings. Couldn’t be nicer
Paul K.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2017
Archival
10/10 Excellent
25 Nov 2017
Quaint Quiet Casa
Cynthia was a gracious host. The adorable house is so perfectly situated on a quiet road. Enjoyed my stay. Super clean and everything I needed.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2017
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Steve L.
28 Apr 2017
Lovely Casita in a Perfect Location
We stayed at Cynthia and Stu’s casita for three weeks as an escape from the Minnesota winter. It was wonderful! The location of the casita is ideal. It's away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Tucson and very quiet (except for the bird life during the day and the coyotes at night!), yet is conveniently located to many things that we sought – two great Farmers’ Markets, Trader Joe’s, the La Encantada shopping center, numerous restaurants (our favorites are Firebird, North, Prep and Pastry, Oink Café, BJ’s Brewhouse, and El Charro Café), and outstanding natural areas (Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tohono Chul Park, and Tucson Mountain Park. Downtown Tucson and the awesome Desert Museum aren’t far away. Easy day trips included a great nature preserve in Patagonia, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, the Titan Missile Museum (remember the Cold War?), the funky town of Bisbee, and the awesome Kitt Peak Observatory.
The casita itself is beautiful. It’s just the right size for 2 or 3 people and is wonderfully furnished and equipped. The kitchen had everything you could ever need for cooking. Laundry facilities were right in the casita. The patio was the perfect place to enjoy breakfast and to grill dinner in the evening. It was great to listen to and observe the local flora and fauna from the patio.
Cynthia and Stu were perfect hosts. There was a bottle of wine awaiting our arrival and breakfast fixings for our first morning in the casita. They were there if we had any questions, but otherwise, you’d never know you were only a few hundred feet from their home.
We would highly recommend this casita for your next stay in Tucson.
Steve L.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Anne B.
15 Mar 2017
Elegant Casita for the win
Two week stay for a couple of midwestern gals visiting local friends, hiking and sight seeing.
This modern adobe casita is immaculate, and nicely designed to take advantage of the beautiful, surrounding desert landscape. French doors open to the patio where flowers abound and meals can be shared at the shaded table. Inside: living/dining space with fireplace, contemporary kitchen, two bedrooms and marble bath. Every convenience is provided including Sferra bed linens and KitchenAid cookware. Fifteen minutes from U of A campus, twenty minutes from historic center of Tucson to the west or Sabino Canyon hiking to the east. Hosts are most gracious and helpful. We will return. Anne B. Illinois
Anne B.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2017
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Thomas O.
6 Mar 2017
Great vacation rental
We spent a month in this delightful casita. It is a lovely vacation rental...immaculate, private, well equipped, and nicely appointed. Cynthia does whatever she can to make your stay more comfortable including the weekly delivery of line dried, freshly pressed luxury linens wrapped up in tissue with a bow! We enjoyed the patio and the fact that we were close to nature, yet near all that Tucson has to offer - hiking, shopping, restaurants, symphony. We highly recommend this property. Thank you, Cynthia and Stuart.
Thomas O.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Denise A.
29 Jan 2017
Desert tranquility
All I can say is WOW ! I am writing this review on our last day here as I look out onto the gorgeous desert landscape just out our dining room window. This casita has everything you will need to enjoy your stay. Well equipped kitchen, luxurious bed linens, and fabulous marble bath. Our five weeks here allowed for lots of sightseeing, family visits and glorious sunshine. Property is full of desert life, flowers, and cacti. The owners are attentive but allow for your privacy. Your comfort is their utmost concern. Right down to the welcoming bottle of wine and fresh flowers greeting your arrival. Like us, you will hate to leave. Thanks C & S
Denise A.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
William C.
3 Nov 2016
A jewel in the Foothills
I'm reluctant to write a glowing report as it will only encourage others to reserve long periods in this delightful casita and prevent us from returning.
We know AZ / Tucson and loved the proximity to the center of Tucson and all the activities and great restaurants.
Morning coffee on the quiet patio with the hummingbirds reminded us of our years as residents in the Old Pueblo.
The casita has everything to make a stay - long or short - just like home.
Truly 'a home away '.
William C.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2016
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Jeanne B.
31 May 2016
Fantastic
I cannot begin to describe how wonderful "our" cottage was. Cynthia had provided for everything .. full kitchen needs, wonderful linens, a beautiful floral arrangement and even a tray with the makings for Martinis! She and Stu, her husband, have truly made a home away from home for all of their guests. The furniture was very comfortable, the carpets gorgeous to look at and, as a special treat, the local Bobcat even came for a visit to the patio. Everything was spotless, the patio a sheer delight for our morning coffee and its location in the Catalina Hills could not be better. We can hardly wait to return.
Jeanne B.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2016
Archival
8/10 Good
Jane and Walt S.
18 May 2016
Excellent
This delightful casita that overlooks a quiet arroyo made our visit to Tucson an A+ experience. The home has a French Provençal feeling to it and is well equipped for both dining and relaxing on the flower bedecked patio. The owner is sensitive to guests' needs but does not intrude on visitors. My husband and I would definitely choose this site again.
Jane and Walt S.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Linda K.
7 May 2016
A splendid experience
We have stayed in dozens of vrbo holiday rentals in the US and Europe, and this casita was by far the best among the lot. The property was private, extremely well-maintained, and we particularly appreciate having a bottle of wine and breakfast items there for us upon arrival -- no shopping needed! The marble bath was very nice, the master bed very comfortable, and the patio was a special private area to enjoy the beautiful landscape, an herb garden and gorgeous flowering vines crawling up the side of the casita -- just lovely in all respects. Finally, the owner was a most gracious and lovely hostess who was careful to ensure our comfort and privacy throughout our time there. It was our good fortune to find this perfect holiday rental.
Linda K.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2016
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Thomas O.
1 Apr 2016
Lovely casita!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this beautifully decorated casita. The location was perfect, very private and the views were wonderful. We loved the quiet location and the fact that it is located on a "wash" close to nature and not far from hiking trails. The casita was immaculately clean and lovely inside with a very comfortable bed and everything we needed to feel at home. We especially enjoyed the beautiful private patio with flowers, even fresh herbs! Cynthia was a charming host who made sure that we lacked for nothing. We arrived to find fresh flowers and a bottle of wine as well as breakfast items for our first morning. We enjoyed our time here so much that we already have plans to return next winter. We highly recommend this property!
Thomas O.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Thomas M.
23 Mar 2016
Wow!
My wife, college age daughter, and I spent a week at this amazing Casita. We had reservations at the nearby Hacienda Del Sol but opted for this instead. Good decision as our stay could not have been any better! Owners are exceptionally thoughtful and responsive. Foothills location is spectacular with good privacy, premium views, stunning landscape, yet it is close to everything. The surrounding neighborhood is dotted with luxury homes and is a pure joy to walk. The home itself is very tasteful, spotlessly clean, and outfitted to perfection. The outdoor patio is very special with many flowering plants and hummingbirds. I don't often submit reviews but this property deserves high praise.
Thomas M.
About the host
Hosted by CV
Why they chose this property
This lovely jewel started life as an artist studio set on over six acres of lush desert along with the main house. Built in the late 40's over the years it has slowly been transformed into a casita that provides privacy, comfort and warmth to all. There is a wonderful wash that runs along the property and you can sit on the bluff overlooking the old saguaros, mesquites and all the other desert vegetation. This bluff looks to the east so mornings are beautiful and quiet. It is a unique blend of beautiful natural elements combined with the convenience of comtemporary living in an urban setting