Entire home

Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car

Photo gallery for Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car

Kick Back at the Gecko Cottage
Grab a quick snack at the counter before heading out for a fun day at the beach.
The living room is a comfortable place to hang out after a long day.
Living area
You'll be able to prepare great meals in this fully equipped kitchen.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 12228.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
New Buffalo, MI
  • Local
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • New Buffalo Public Beach
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Michigan City, IN (MGC-Michigan City Municipal)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Downstairs Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Kids room with large playspace

1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Single Bed

Loft - Private, but not a bedroom, more of a play area.

1 Single Futon

Lower level couch, folds out to double bed

1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Double Futon

Primary Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Guest Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Primary Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car

Enjoy your the Gecko Cottage

Out the back door it's a hop, skip & a jump to the private pool area with comfortable lounging furniture for exclusive use by Merchant Cottage guests

Past the pool its left at the RR track, and one block to restaurants & shops. Over the Galien River Bridge this of the marina, river and lake. You're arrived at our lovely Lake Michigan beach and dune promenade. Ahhh, Enjoy...

Entering the Gecko Cottage you’ll love the luxury and beauty of a newer home: including high ceilings, lots of sunlight from windows and skylights, modern kitchen and bathrooms, spacious front and back porch, fireplace. Added bonus loft for children's play area.

Well stocked kitchen. Linens, towels, and cooking needs are provided.

The Space
Walk up to the spacious porch, which may become your hangout, through the door and into your open plan main floor.

Deep cushions of the wrap around couch, living room, fireplace, open kitchen, with bar counter await you.

This is the main hub. Past the guest powder room with it's comfort bidet, there is a cozy conversation nook to the left. Ahead lies the beachway exit. To the right is the private main suite, with a private bath.

From airy main floor, accend the stair, to the landing with it's library stocked with lake, boating & Michigan travel lore, and games.

Reaching the 2nd floor, it's kids room to the left 2nd floor bath ahead and queen guest room to the right. That is almost to the right, on the immediate right is the ladder to the bonus loft for an extra guest.

Kids room features a bunk bed a twin bed, and play area including tumbling mats.

Queen room is a quiet getaway space with a lounge for quiet reading.

Cozy, clean, comfortable. Close to town, shopping & beach.

Interaction with Guests
You'll have full private access to the cottage, but your hosts are a call or text away to help with suggestions as needed.

The Neighborhood
Lots to explore, uPick Bluberries, Canoeing, Local Artists. Walk for miles on the sandy beach. Bike and walking paths.

Step out the back door to the exclusive pool.

Just a block away is the new library with both an entire floor dedicated to a kid comfy zone, and perfect spaces for remote computing.

Enjoy afternoon coffee with a book on the cottage front porch or back patio.

Getting Around
Take Amtrak from Chicago or from Ann Arbor/Detroit and walk five minutes to your cottage. Wow! Free parking in front or back. Once you arrive, put away the car keys and walk to the beach, upscale grocery, shopping and a brand new library.

There is additional hourly commuting access to Chicago on the Shoreline Train from Michigan City ( 8 miles away)

Other Things to Note
Kids and teenagers love the loft.

Great Wineries tasting and tours. We love Lemon Creek!

Casino fun on rainy days. There is a fun, well supervised, area at the casino where they will watch, feed and entertain the kids for a reasonable charge. The buffet and restaurant are great also.

*Please remove shoes before entering the cottage and leave them on the front or back porch, or inside the door.
**Notify us immediately if you have any concerns during your stay. We're here for you.
**Note that we are a pet-free property.
**You must notify us in advance if there will be more than the reserved number of guests

Other:
The pool will open in the spring as soon as weather permits in the spring and stay open in the fall as long as weather permits. The pool is private and shared only by our association of 23 homes.

Love the beach. It's 5 minute walk to the bridge. Once over the bridge you're at the beach parking. Very nice and convenient. I swim every day when we're here.

The cottage is cleaned and freshly painted for the season and there are many large and small improvements.

BBQ & firepit.

Family Fun
Lower level rec room with the professional ping pong table, and Streaming/YoutubeTV on the big screen TV. Couch rocking chair & huge comfy beanbag that can unzip into comfy queen futon. (please zip back into bean bag before leaving).

*Gather mornings and evenings in the front porch.
*Lounge on the back porch or canopy swing.
*Well equipped kitchen open to livingroom - dining room table and comfortable. A great place for gathering and games.

For more ideas to jazz up your stat...checkout https:\\newbuffaloexplored.com

*Bar-B-Q on the Weber grill, or toast marshmallows on the petite grill.

*Use any of the beach toys, chairs, umbrella, sunshades that you'll find in the garage.

*Feel free to use the bikes at your own risk, but please bring your own helmets.

Property manager

Phil & Julie
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
No parties or extra guests. Inquire in advance.
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No tobacco, cannibus, vaping in cottage ever.
A “Homeowner” and “Guest” AGREEMENT will be sent following booking acceptance. Your affirmative acceptance in the reply will be required.
You agree provide specific guest and vehicle info newly required by the city of New Buffalo prior to Short-Term-Rental Guest arrival.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No parties or extra guests. Inquire in advance.
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 fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number CR19-0036

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

New Buffalo

Located in New Buffalo, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes National Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Local and New Buffalo Railroad Museum. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
New Buffalo, MI

What's nearby

  • Local - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • New Buffalo Public Beach - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • New Buffalo Railroad Museum - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Galien River County Park - 3 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo - 11 min drive - 5.6 km

Getting around

  • New Buffalo Station - 7 min walk
  • South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Buffet at Four Winds Casino - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Four Winds Sports Bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Timbers at Four Winds Casino - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Stray Dog Bar & Grill - ‬9 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car located?

Located in the city centre, this ski-in/ski-out holiday home in New Buffalo is within 1 mile (2 km) of New Buffalo Township Public Library and Lake Michigan, and is convenient for winter sports, such as cross-country skiing and sledging. Local and New Buffalo Marina Park are also within 10 minutes. New Buffalo Station is 7 minutes by foot.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 152 out of 162 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 162 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 162 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 162 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 162 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Gabrielle B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place to stay in New Buffalo

This property is beautiful with a lot of space, bedrooms, and bathrooms. The location was perfect for walking to the beach, restaurants, and shopping. Can't wait to visit again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house in a great location

We were very pleased with our stay at the Gecko Cottage. The house is fantastic and in a great location.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

T H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love New Buffalo!

Very cute cottage for a family visit!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Chill Bachelorette

We stayed here for 4 days and 3 nights, for a chill bachelorette weekend getaway. We had so much fun, and the house was the perfect size, we each had our own space plus great gathering rooms when we played games or just sat around and chatted. The porches were wonderful, and we loved the walkability to essentials and other parts of town. Great hosts, would definitely recommend!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Close to everything!

Great location in New Buffalo. Property was just as described. Terrific communication with the owners.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynda L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great stay!

Such a great layout for a larger group. So many "extras" in the kitchen that come in handy. Definelty took note of some upgrades including flooring, bidet and sectional. Perfect location - can't get much better!!! See you next time!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Thomas S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway with friends

We really enjoyed our stay and the house was excellent. It accommodated 9 adults nicely. The location is perfect because you can walk to restaurants if you want. We would rent here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We love the Gecko house!

This is our 3rd time staying at the Gecko house, and we love it more each time! A fabulous house, hosts and location!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lynda L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for my weekend girls getaway

Perfect layout. Very well kept and organized. Can’t wait to book our next stay!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Choose Gecko and Get Going!

It was a wonderful stay at the Gecko Cottage. The home is charming and well-appointed, with lots of places for both kids and adults to hang out. It’s super close to New Buffalo center but also off the beaten path and feels quiet. Pool and beach toys in garage are a plus. Thanks Julie and Phil!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Greg T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely location

We found the house spacious and comfortable. We loved the proximity to downtown New Buffalo and the beach. We'd definitely return.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tracey W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home!

We had a blast while staying in this beautiful home! Philip was great to work with and we had no issues from start to finish! Would stay here again if given the opportunity!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for families

We had a great stay with our kids and their cousins. Great access to town and grocery store. Beach is a little further when you get all of the kid's beach gear together, but it's doable. Pool access was awesome to have and easy alternative to the beach. Would stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Keith W., Franklin, IN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Cottage

We had a wonderful time at the cottage. It was close enough to walk to the beach, restaurants and grocery. Very clean, beds comfortable. Loved the fire pit, bikes and beach toys. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lydia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good time

Property was perfect for me and my adult children. Everyone had their own space and it was also great to be together, play games, and enjoy the area. It would be nice with younger kids too.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

William H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

H/Z Family Trip

The house is lovely, nicely decorated. We loved sitting out on the porch. The beach is a short walk or drive. Walking to stores and restaurants is also very convenient. The neighborhood is quiet. We enjoyed our family time together.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nancy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gecko Cottage was great!

The cottage was roomy and comfortable enough for all 10 of us. The lovely community pool was around the corner, the grocery store, ice cream, pizza and fun downtown shops were 2 blocks away and the beach was just aother 10 minute walk from there. We really enjoy New Buffalo - we've been coming to New Buffalo for our summer vacation for a number of years now and Gecko Cottage has been our best location so far!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Trip

This was our 2nd trip to the Gecko house, was great time! Plan to come back next year :)
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Andrea M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

We had such a lovely time at Gecko cottage! The house was perfect for our family - great spaces for the kids and adults. The cottage was clean, comfortable, and well equipped. We also really enjoyed the community pool and proximity to downtown New Buffalo. The hosts were fantastic and very communicative when we had questions. We’re already planning to come back. Wonderful stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend stay in New Buffalo

I took my daughter for her birthday to New Buffalo and stayed in this lovely home for the weekend. The home was very clean upon arrival and stocked with all the necessities. Neighborhood was quiet and within walking distance to the downtown area. We all had a great time and prefect weather. I would highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a home in the New Buffalo area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynda J.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location

Phil was very attentive
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely cottage right near everything

Beautiful home with plenty of room to spread out or stick together with everything you'd want to make yourself at home. Comfortable beds, charming spaces, and well- stocked kitchen. A short walk to shops, restaurants and the train. We are already thinking about going back.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic place, fantastic location

We loved everything about the Gecko Cottage! The accommodations were perfect for our group of 7 who were in the are for a bike tour. Phil and Julie are great hosts. They
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Graduation weekend

The house was perfect for our family to have some together time in the midst of graduation events.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kate C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great weekend getaway

This little grouping of homes is just a couple of blocks from the heart of downtown New Buffalo, easily walkable to everything, which we love. Everything was just as described, with enough room for 3 adult couples (each on their own floor, which we really like!). Phil & Juli were extremely communicative and accommodating. Looking forward to staying here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Phil & Julie

Host profile image
Welcome. We camped and been vacationed in the New Buffalo area with our family for over 20 years. Finally we took the plunge andhave a place of our own to enjoy with our kids, grandkids, and of course to share with you, our guests.

Phil, water person, is happiest in and around water., May-October he enjoys long swims in the lake every day. He has taught sailing and sailed on Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior and in the Mediterranean.

Julie loves long walks on the beach, bicycling and the fact that you can do everything without having to get into a car.
We're Michiganders from Ann Arbor and love helping you plan your trip, so ask away. We'll do what we can to make this a memorable stay.

Why they chose this property

A quiet place to relax, within a short walk to everything.

The enjoy we hanging out and our cottage friends and the opportunity to host great people!

There's a pool and shopping, dining and of course the beach within a short walk.

Coffee maker or French Press. Paninni Grill and Popcorn maker. It's ready for fun.

The kitchen is well equipped, roomy and spotless with an open plan everyone will enjoy.

Park the car (or come by train) and forget it 'til you leave. Barneys, a well stocked grocery, is only a block away. Comfort convenient by the big lake. What could be better?

Easy bike trip to Warren Dunes. We've recently discovered a bike path which is completely on back roads. Ask us!
Stop for antiquing, coffee and sandwiches on the way. Maybe bike to wine tasting the next day.

We love it here because the water is warmer than further north and Its quick to get to. Having Amtrak to Ann Arbor or Chicago, or hourly South Shore Line Trains to Millenium Plaza in Chicago is a real bonus.

We've been vacationing in the New Buffalo area with our family for almost 20 year. Finally we have a place of our own here to enjoy and to share with our guests.

What makes this property unique

Julie loves decorating and adding small comfort touches throughout. The house is a great design and we do our best to make your visit comfortable and enjoyable. Welcome.

Enjoy the privacy of grilling on the back patio.

Watch a video about our unique cottage community:

Here is the link for you to see the video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/caejdpzv8g2dqza/Merchant%20Street%20Cottages%20-%20Video%20for%20Renter.mp4?dl=0

Fast Wifi and out of the way work area.

Please bring your favorite bars of soap, child and baby soap,shampoo & conditioner, and personal hygiene items. We provide a supply of liquid hand soap, dish soap, dishwasher and Washing machine Pods. Please ask if you have questions on what to bring. We're here to help.

We hope you'll post online comments about your vacation highlights!

Get ready for fun!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests