Host · ★ Superhost
I am a business owner, previous high school teacher. Love to travel and read, and meet new people.
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✨ What guests are saying
AI summary of 292 Airbnb guest reviews
Guests consistently praise the stunning riverfront views across the street, describing sunsets and morning wildlife as highlights of the stay. The home earns frequent compliments for being clean, spacious, and charmingly decorated with vintage character, and the well-equipped kitchen with generous counter space is a recurring favorite. Hosts are repeatedly described as responsive and accommodating. Several guests note the property has no washer or dryer on site, and a few mention bringing your own toiletries and extra paper towels for longer stays.
All 292 of this home’s guest reviews
“This was a perfect place to call home base. The hosts were wonderful. This was not a leisure trip for us, but one to help a friend after a terrible accident. Jumping between the hospital and all…”
“Very good taste in decor.”
“Very clean and quiet. Had everything we needed and communication was very clear. Suited our family perfectly and the location was close to everything we needed.”
“It is a Beautiful home and an excellent place to stay with a wonderful kitchen”
Host · ★ Superhost
I am a business owner, previous high school teacher. Love to travel and read, and meet new people.
Two-tier cancellation system: Free cancellation during the approval window, strict refund terms after approval.
Free cancellation — You can cancel at any time during the 24-hour host approval window. Your payment authorization will be completely released with no charges. This also applies if the host declines your request or the approval window expires.
Note: Refunds are processed automatically to your original payment method within 5-10 business days.
Escape to your own private waterfront retreat on the Elizabeth River in historic Portsmouth, Virginia. This completely renovated 3-bedroom home features stunning river views, a fully equipped kitchen, and spacious accommodations for up to 8 guests, making it the ideal base for exploring the Hampton Roads area or enjoying a peaceful getaway. This lovely, quaint home has been completely updated for your comfort. The great room is bright and open. The home is located on the Elizabeth River in an upscale neighborhood with a large yard. This is perfect for a family vacation, or a long weekend. There is an attached mother-in-law suite in the rear of the house. This is rented out separately. It has a private entrance at the rear of the house. The space The large open kitchen has granite countertops and stainless appliances. There is hardwood throughout the home. Guest access Guests will have access to the main house. There is a mother-in-law suite in the rear with a private entrance and locked from both sides from the main house. The suite is rented out individually or used by us. Guests can park one car in the driveway. Additional cars can be parked on the street in front. Other things to note There is a television and WiFi is provided. Please use your streaming services and remember to remove them when you leave. Smoking is not allowed inside. *We ONLY communicate through Airbnb *If you have a complaint or anything less than a 5 star experience you must reach out and inform us prior to leaving a review. Let us make it right! *All info on checking in will be sent to you through message on AIRBNB. It will be sent on day of check-in just before check-in time. * $100 fee for any house rules broken *No Parties, Smoking (tobacco, Marijuana or vaping) or Pets *NO SMOKING/Vaping of any kind inside (there will be a $200 fee). Odor causes the use of an Ozone machine which is a $200 fee. **If you smoke outside, clean up all debris. NO outside guests or large gatherings outside of registered guests. *No unregistered Guests including those "just visiting" *An additional $50 cleaning fee will be applied for units that are beyond the normal clean up or if checkout is not followed. *Do not disturb other guests or enter other units. Quiet Hours 10 PM—8PM NO MAIL or Packages to be delivered. Long term stays can ship to a general PO Box and we will deliver *No late checkouts, if 15 minutes or more late there will be a $30 per half-hour or portion charge. **If not checked out by 11:01 pm you will be charged an additional full nights stay and AIRBNB will be notified so they can take care of having you leave the property. We have an exterminator regularly, but being on the river and near the marsh there are often waterbugs. Please be sure to keep the door closed.
Please review and respect Shirley's house rules during your stay.
Guest reviews from Airbnb
“This was a perfect place to call home base. The hosts were wonderful. This was not a leisure trip for us, but one to help a friend after a terrible accident. Jumping between the hospital and all other logistics was perfect to crash and rest. It was very conformable and plenty of beds. The view out front was an added bonus. I enjoyed an stroll and sitting along the river each morning.”
“Very good taste in decor.”
“Very clean and quiet. Had everything we needed and communication was very clear. Suited our family perfectly and the location was close to everything we needed.”
“It is a Beautiful home and an excellent place to stay with a wonderful kitchen”
“Perfect amount of room for our stay. If you plan to cook, plan to buy ALL things needed. They do provide pots and pans and working stove and microwave. There was only one paper towel provided so if you’re staying a few days make sure you have extra. Make sure to bring your own coffee, they have coffee maker. Make sure to also bring shampoo and body wash. Overall the stay was comfortable and peaceful the upstairs area was a bit warm but at night it got comfortable and they provide fans.”
“Had a great stay here. The house was so cute and nicely decorated. Great location, great front view. Everything was very clean and welcoming. Would stay again if in the area.”
“We enjoyed our stay, the house was cozy and worked well for our family of 7. The view was nice and neighborhood felt safe. This home does not have laundry, I missed that during booking, but wasn’t that big of deal and was totally workable with many laundromats close. Overall, that would not deter me from renting again. Shirley and Shane were responsive and friendly.”
“It was a great stay truly enjoyed it”
“Had a great stay.”
“Place is exactly as described.
Beautiful view.
Super quiet neighborhood.
It’s an older neighborhood and the house is older wood frame. So, it has some squeaks.
If u cook, you will love the kitchen. So much counter space. Great fridge. TWO kinds of coffee makers. 😁
The bedrooms are spacious.
I slept in master bedroom. Mattress was a little squeaky, but very comfy.
I would stay there again.
the host was outstanding.
The whole experience was seamless and very nice.
Thank you!”
“Great place to stay. Very clean and in a nice area!”
“The place was great it was clean, easy to access and a great value. Will stay here again. Pat”
“Our stay was great! There was hair on the back of the toilet but that was an easy wipe up. The home is very spacious and it was everything me and my family needed for our vacation to Va Beach. The host explained everything and they responded in a timely manner although we didn’t need anything. Big Thank You to those guys! We would definitely stay again!”
“We had a great stay at this adorable house. The view was amazing and each room was unique and comfortable.”
“Amazing spot”
“Beautiful getaway on the river. Loved the peace and quiet as well as the beautiful views. This place is a great bargain!!”
“Nice little house on the river. We enjoyed our stay!”
“Had no issues; was there for work. The location was great, the neighborhood was great, and the house was clean.”
“I had an excellent stay. The house is spacious & clean. Check in and out instructions were clear. The host was polite and responsive to messages. A great stay to consider when visiting the Portsmouth area!”
“Was a very nice stay :)”
“House was as listen and host very open to communicate/ adjustments of trip”
“Beautiful, clean house nestled in a quiet neighborhood across from the river. The house had the perfect space for 5 to be comfortable and not overcrowded. Plenty of sleeping options and privacy. The big open kitchen and island were perfect to gather around. I enjoyed the chairs by the water and loved the antique features and furniture within the home. I appreciated the cleaning supplies for dishes and extra toiletries. Check in and out were a breeze. Highly recommend!!”
“Wonderful stay and scenery!”
“excelente lugar”
“Beautiful home, neighborhood, and would highly recommend. We were in town for a wedding and this place was perfect. Would definitely stay here again. House was comfy cozy, peaceful quite neighborhood and wonderful view.”
“We live the place but the only my buddies like it was more tv in the bedrooms.”
“We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this sweet little cottage! It has enough vintage touches to feel charming and cozy, yet has a very updated kitchen and bathroom. The beautiful unobstructed river view across the street is a definite plus; we enjoyed relaxing on the outdoor chairs by the water. Great place… we would definitely stay here again!”
“This place is truly magical — super cozy and exceptionally clean. The kitchen is very well equipped and offers plenty of space to cook comfortably. The lake view is absolutely stunning, and I was lucky enough to enjoy a beautiful sunset. The host is extremely professional and attentive to any questions or needs. I would definitely stay here again!”
“Lovely place right by the river and quiet neighborhood
felt like a home away from home.”
“The home was lovely and very comfy. Right on the water was very beautiful as well.”
“While the property was a great value, there were a couple of things that could have been better. The place was neat and tidy but did need a good dusting. It's an older place but has some updates. It is right on the river so the view was amazing. When I reached out, there was a prompt response.”
“was nice”
“Beautiful historic home with lots of charm. Felt right at home! Perfect for our family holiday celebration.”
“We loved this cozy getaway and look forward to returning soon!”
“Thanks for accommodating my guys! Highly recommend.”
“thank you!!”
“thanks”
“I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. It was the coziest home with an absolutely stunning view of the river. I'm grateful for the experience.”
“Shirley accommodated us for a last-minute stay, and it was such a peaceful and spacious respite. Clean, nice big kitchen, cute-ly decorated, and ideal location for quiet, in Waterview. I grew up in Portsmouth, and this was a coveted street to live on! Loved our stay here.”
“Excellent all around!”
“We thoroughly enjoyed all the quirkiness and southern charm of this adorable vintage house. Peaceful neighborhood with great view of the water. We had our coffee outside each morning while watching the various birds. Friendly neighbors as well. Thank you so much for having us.
To be noted in case you miss this in description:
There is a separate “Mother-in-Law” suite attached to the kitchen: so don’t be alarmed if you hear faint music or voices. This did not interfere with our stay.”
“perfect”
“Me encantó la estadía en la casa todo muy limpio lindo organizado la casa está en una zona muy bonita con buena vista la pasamos super bien con mi familia”
“Great place to stay for a Virginia Beach getaway. Would definitely come back.”
“thank you”
“The hosts were very friendly, quick to respond, and invested in making sure we had a 5-star stay. Shirley’s home was very neat on arrival and provided all essential amenities.”
“A little bit on the older side with some of the furniture, but was a beautiful spot nice and relaxing. Definitely something to call home after a nice long day at the beach.”
“If you’re looking for a peaceful stay away from the commotion of a busy city, you’ve found it with this excellent home! My friends and I traveled from a downtown area, and we loved staying on the riverfront. There were enough beds to sleep five of us comfortably, too! The kitchen is stunning, and that made our stay so much more enjoyable. I’d highly recommend staying here!”
“beautiful place right on the water. sunsets were gorgeous. beautiful old house from the 40's, creaky stairs and all. convenient location and quick to go wherever needed. responsive host to my many questions. would stay again.”
“I would definitely return to Shirley house. My family and I had a great weekend. I hope to return soon.”
“Great stay, would definitely recommend ‼️”
“Loved staying here with my family! Such a lovely, quaint house. Kitchen and main space even bigger than pictures looked. Spacious bedrooms. Well equipped kitchen and we had pretty much everything we needed. Beautiful view of the river. 30 minutes to the beach with no traffic. Would stay here again!”
“This was a great house for our long weekend in Norfolk!”
“We had an enjoyable stay at this home. It was cute, quaint, and had a beautiful view of the river. We particularly enjoyed the geese that would greet us in the morning!
Hosts were very kind and responsive.
One note for potential renters is that there is no washer/dryer on the premises for you to use. It's on me that I should've noticed beforehand, but it's worth noting should you be planning to do laundry during your stay. Just plan accordingly.
Overall, we had a very good experience. Great location, peaceful neighborhood, and neat house. Thanks!”
“As always, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the river house.”
“We had a great time staying with our children and friends here, beautiful sunset, very cozy house in a nice quiet neighborhood”
“Nice house, good location.”
“This beautiful home was a wonderful choice, and I would definitely stay here again if I find myself in the area.”
“Great house with peaceful surroundings. Easy access and close to major highways. Seava is a great host and would stay here again.”
“Da stay n house was beautiful even though it was a sad reason for my family to be there da house made us feel at home thks again”
“This home actually looks even better then the photos in my opinion!! Photos don't do this home justice. It is such a unique home with vintage charactor and so peacful! Very warm and inviting with a peaceful cottage feel to it. Highly recommend.”
“I really loved the house, very nice and clean and everything looked exactly like the pics inside the Airbnb, a very great host I will definitely be staying again I absolutely enjoyed my stay, Shane was a great host to me and very understanding with great communication skills”
“Great little getaway! Very peaceful and relaxing”
“Beautiful home, great location, comfortable space - would definitely stay again”
“Thank you!”
“thank you”
“House was clean and beds had protection on them. If you have ever stayed somewhere that didnt have bed covers you know how important this is. Owners were responsive to all messages and handled all issues. Neighborhood was very quiet and peaceful. Lots of geese to feed. Floors were clean enough that my feet did not get dirty walking barefoot. Housekeeping on home is great. House is older in appearance but did not smell bad or have any signs of mold etc that old homes do. If you have couples pay attention to the listing and how rooms are set up. Theres 2 queen beds one queen sofa bed and one twin sofa bed as well as one twin real bed.”
“Nice quaint house and location, quiet and spacious. Served its purpose for accommodating my family while visiting the area. Host was accommodating, communicative and provided clear directions.”
“Lovely getaway right on the water.”
“Minor issues fitting our entire group as the space didn’t entirely match the amount of people we had (we had 6, supposedly held 8). One bathroom for 6 adults made for an experience and schedule conflicts but overall wasn’t a terrible stay.”
“Loved this place and our host was super friendly and responded quickly to our questions.”
“Enjoyed our stay.”
“Easy check in and out. Host was very quick to respond on all questions.”
“This house was perfect for our needs. We were there for a family reunion. We had 3 adults and 4 children. Everybody had a bed and everybody was comfortable. This is a very quaint house. It has everything you need. The surrounding scenery is gorgeous. The home is clean and spacious. It has an old-fashioned theme that the kids loved.”
“This location was a great, quiet spot to host for our weekend Virginia Beach trip! Accommodations were mostly well furnished, including an extra air mattress and mattress pad, and most of the essential kitchen and pantry items stocked. Bedrooms were clean and comfortable, bathroom good as well (it gets a bit crowded with the full 8 people sharing one bathroom but you can make it work). Communication was also excellent - we needed extra towels and received them very promptly. Overall recommend!
Some notes: The AC can be a bit weak midday, but we missed most of that time being at the beach anyway. The ceiling fans are your friend on really hot days. Make sure to check the outdoor grill as well, it seemed like the propane tank was empty but we made do perfectly fine without using it.”
“Very nice place to stay very peaceful and 40 min to the beach front I would stay again”
“Great stay, comfortable and a beautiful view of the water.”
“beautiful home”
“Helpful and friendly host beautiful house/property extremely good for the price.”
“great home and host”
“Quiet hideaway on the water that is close to great dining, shopping and entertainment. A wonderful home away from home.”
“Beautiful house in a beautiful location. We all enjoyed our stay.”
“This was a last minute deal as the first Airbnb reservation we had sent me a text (no call) at noon of the check in day saying they could no longer accommodate us in the property we had reserved six weeks out.
They offered us another rental in a part of Norfolk our friends, who live in VA Beach, suggested we find something else.
I was able to send a request to Seava who responded immediately that he would contact his cleaning crew and have his place ready by 5:00 for us!
Cute older house on the water in a classy older neighborhood. Lots of room. Nicely renovated kitchen.
Thanks for helping us out!
JO”
“The home was perfect for our family stay, lots of sleep space, spacious kitchen and very comfortable recliner. Very clean. Terrific sunsets and lots of local birds visit the river.”
“Thanks for being awesome hosts!! We look forward to our next stay.”
“Great stay. Family was satisfied with the location.”
“Great home and Great host.”
“No comment”
“Felt right at home in this beautiful, private getaway”
“Great location, hosts and stay”
“Great space, nice home everything was clean and comfortable”
“I can’t say enough about this listing. Phenomenal hosts. A beautiful home. I feel SO comfortable here.”
“Beautiful, quite home in a gorgeous area. Thank you so much for having us.”
“A very quiet and safe place”
“great place”
“Great loxation”
“amazing house!”
“This WWII-era house is so charming! My husband and I enjoyed discovering the elements that set it apart from a modern home, such as spacious bedrooms and a private, almost secret, reading room. Speaking of reading, I love how the host strategically placed books here and there. Had they been together on a shelf, I might would have thought, "Oh, here are some books. That's nice." But to sit down in a chair and find a book waiting to be picked up and opened.... I read two of them and would have read a third had time allowed.
The up-to-date kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed to prepare meals. The bed was comfortable, and the window view of the Elizabeth River was gorgeous. The decor in each room perfectly suited the house and gave it a homey yet minimalist feel. I loved the artwork.
From the house it was easy to get to a grocery store and other places where we needed to do business. The hosts were responsive and friendly in messaging. I highly recommend!”
“It was a good experience for the family to be away from home”
“It was a pleasure staying in this beautiful and unique home. Quiet neighborhood and close to shopping and restaurants. Thanks again!!”
Showing a sample of this home's 292 guest reviews.