The Banana Belt Bungalow (air-conditioning! - 4WD/AWD required) - Reviews, Photos & Rates

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Private host

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Dates

January 2025

February 2025

Overview
Rooms
Location
Policies

Wonderful

Popular amenities

Parking available

Pet-friendly

Air conditioning

Free WiFi

Explore the area

Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA

San Jacinto Mountains
1 min walk
Manzanita Cantina and Grill
4 min drive
Palm Springs Spa Resort Casino Bus Stop
61 min drive
Palm Springs, CA (PSP-Palm Springs Intl.)
79 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

for 1 night

includes taxes & fees

14 Jan - 15 Jan

About this property

The Banana Belt Bungalow (air-conditioning! - 4WD/AWD required)

Note for Summer: Bungalow has Mini Split Air-Conditioner!

Charming, rustic guest house cabin has beautiful views of neighbouring mountains and the canyons and below. If you look at the map you'll see it is located on the edge of undeveloped, San Jacinto wilderness, which makes it the perfect, secluded and peaceful mountain getaway.

The Banana Belt Bungalow is on a shared property with another house, but has its own drive and private entrance. Feels very private and secluded, but still only a five minute drive from idyllic downtown Idyllwild.

The bungalow has a 3/4 bath, kitchenette with microwave, toaster oven and fridge, small two person table, three seater sofa, wood-burning stove fireplace, and a four poster queen-sized bed. There is also a mini split air conditioner and a television with an amazon fire stick.

The porch has two swinging hammock chairs.

****FULL DISCLOSURE****
There is a short section of an unmaintained dirt road just before you get to the property. During these now winter months there are a lot of times when 4wd or awd is necessary to make it all the way to the parking spot of the cabin. Please check weather and road conditions before booking.

During your stay at this guesthouse, you're just a quick walk from San Jacinto Mountains.

Free WiFi
On-site recreation includes a playground
Steps from San Jacinto Mountains and 5 minutes by car from Idyllwild Park

Property manager

Jeff Adams

Property amenities

Internet

Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Internet access

Things to do

Playground

Outdoors

In the mountains

Room amenities

Bedroom

Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided

Entertainment

Smart TV

Food and drink

Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dining table
Microwave
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Toaster

Air conditioning
Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

An adult aged 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets are welcome
Maximum 2 (weight limit: 20 lb per pet)
Restrictions apply
For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.

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

This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking. An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking.

We should mention

To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

The Banana Belt Bungalow

The Banana Belt Bungalow (do not book without 4WD)

The Banana Belt Bungalow (do not book without 4WD or AWD)

The Banana Belt Bungalow (air conditioning! 4WD/AWD required)

The Banana Belt Bungalow (air-conditioning! - 4WD/AWD required) Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

4/10 Poor

Aliesha

11 Jun 2024

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Linda S., Indio CA

29 May 2024

Great view but Misleading

This was a studio cabin. It is located beside the host’s home. I needed to talk with him about the tv. I could not reach him so I knocked on his door. He was not home. I drove into town to get a connection. I have not had a response. I needed to turn the wifi off to use my devices. No tv not good wifi. Squeaky bed and broken hanging porch chairs mentioned in other reviews were not fixed. No instructions at all for air conditioner nor fireplace or using tv. No phone number was given for host. . The glass rotating plate was missing in microwave oven. The road was fine to get to without four wheel drive. A steep step into bathroom was difficult for my husband.

Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maya B.

5 Feb 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

Super convenient (and BEAUTIFUL) location

Check in was a breeze. Consistent communication with the owner made the whole stay hassle-free. You are less than 5 minutes from town, but nestled up in the hills with a gorgeous view of the mountains. The wood burning stove kept the cabin nice and warm. We will definitely be back!

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Sara V.

29 Jan 2024

Banana belt

Our trip was super fun and warm with the cool fire place. Everything was amazing except there was a half eaten sandwich or half of some type of food in the microwave when we got there.

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Ken P.

13 Jan 2024

Get away hide a way

Loved the seclusion. Awesome veiw.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

6/10 Okay

Brandy L.

3 Jan 2024

Communicative Host

Jeff was very quick to respond with questions I had prior to booking our stay. Very friendly and nice! Cabin is cute and has a great view! Photos in the listing seem to be from a time when everything was/looked new in the cabin. Some items show heavy signs of wear and one of the chair swings on the porch was missing. Bummer for watching the sunset since the chairs looked so cute in the photos/listings. Nice place to stay if you want a view and don’t need all the bells and whistles.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ace A.

31 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Great solo getaway spot

Took some time to myself to recharge and unplug. Definitely had a good experience doing so here. Easy drive to the town for any supplies, great view from the porch, cozy space.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Davd S.

5 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect Location.

This spot is very ideal for those that wanna get away and enjoy something simple, but nice with a great view. Jeff was super quick to respond to any questions we had, and the check in process was very easy. The cabin is away from everything but super close to downtown which makes it ideal for those who either wanna be away, or spend the day in the city. The only knock I would say is the bed is a little rough, but other than that, everything else is perfect.

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Guy D.

29 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Great view, close to town

Located near the very end of the road, this property is quite secluded with the exception of two neighboring homes, but you hardly notice them. The view is 180 degrees facing south, including Santa Rosa mountains, Thomas mountain and Palomar mountain. We were here to hike, and it was perfect for us. The kitchenette is basic, fine for breakfast, lunch or a microwave dinner. We ate out every night, so it worked fine for us.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lorie

Travelled with partner

24 Sept 2023

Very cute and cozy

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ryan P.

4 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Great little cabin!

Overall everything was great!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

28 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Awesome little spot! My band played a show in the area and 3 of us stayed here with our side kick dog Skid! We all loved the views and the stars at night. If you rent this place in the warmer months. You don’t need 4WD but an SUV or Truck would be best

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anastasia

Travelled with family and small children

17 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Amazing bungalow with great views. So cozy and stylish! Want to come back in winter months.

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn D.

7 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Stay

This little property was perfect for our weekend trip to Idyllwild, with gorgeous views and enough space for the 2 of us. We were able to get there in our sedan as it was the summertime and the dirt road was drivable since there was no rain. Jeff was incredibly communicative, understanding, and helpful. Would recommend!

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tekla H.

3 Jul 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Stunning location

The listing indicated a view - and it did not disappoint! A 180 degree view of the surrounding mountains. A serene place to spend down-time.

Stayed 13 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

3 Jun 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

It a sound to be heard

Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

4/10 Poor

CARLOS

31 May 2023

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Smelling so bad ,bed matrix make noise , tv volume not working

Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Alfred G.

30 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

My stay was great

The property was over all good needs to be cleaned up a bit and needs a new bed super hard

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric R.

29 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful getaway on the mountain side

It was great! My wife, infant and I stayed for the weekend. I am not good at these, but wow! What a spot. It really feels like you're on the side of a mountain and somewhat secluded. I kept hearing how lucky we were to be staying on the banana belt ridge because that's the sunny side of the mountain and it felt like it. The place was cozy, and Jeff warmed it up before we arrived, because it was cold and snowed. We made it ok through the road with my Forrester w/o chains, but clearly it was much more manageable with chains. The bed was super comfy, bathroom was nice with hot water and nice toiletries. The fridge was old school cool with plenty of room. I guess all I got left to say is we had great time relaxing in the cabin next to a fire, sitting on the porch beneath all those stars. It was everything we needed for a weekend getaway in a beautiful mountain town. Here's what my wife had to say; Cozy and romantic rustic cabin that is the perfect mix between being in town and feeling like you are on the edge of the wilderness with the incredible view, the Milky Way, and deer. Next time, we'll be sure to bring extra towels, blankets, and our own unscented or electric candles because we prefer that to fragrance, to make it feel even more like home. Also, if you are planning to eat dinner in, we recommend bringing TV trays or a platter of some kind to eat in front of the fire or TV! And the full size fridge has plenty of room, FYI! **The road in is tricky, so make sure you have off-roading experience and the proper vehicle. We have a Subaru Forester and used chains because of recent snow/snow melt.** We loved our experience and will definitely be returning, thank you Jeff!!

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff G., Lake Elsinore

20 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Cozy and Comfortable

This little cabin is cozy and comfortable located on the edge of a gorgeous mountain neighborhood.

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Surene F.

20 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Quiet and peaceful

You drive up and an awesome view with a private parking spot. We had an issue at first with the sound on the tv, the owner was very quick to respond and helped us with the issue (it’s working) had a tv with a fire stick and all streaming services. Had heat which was awesome. Owner even left us some menus for places that were close. Overall, it was great.

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alicia R.

2 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

cute cabin with a great view

This was a really adorable compact cabin with a view over the valley to the mountains. It has everything you need for comfort and stayed plenty warm with the heater and wood burning stove. Definitely heed the warning for 4wd or awd is there has been wet weather.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

2 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice little place

Beautiful view, comfortable, very clean and google maps makes it easy to find. We came right after it rained and have a truck so it was no problem but do not dismiss the owners warning about the road in rainy or snowy weather…a sedan will get stuck!

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert D.

16 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Cute cabin

We had a great time! Perfect for a getaway for two. We enjoyed our time away from the city just listening to the rain while enjoying some time alone!

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

4/10 Poor

Richard C.

8 Jan 2023

Disliked: Cleanliness

Property needs attention

Didn't stay, had to leave because of rodent droppings through out the kitchen area, front door couldn't latch because the door jam was broken. Outside area had alot of trash and visually un appealing from broken jacuzzi panels, wife almost fell through the deck,

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023