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Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4152 sq m

Popular amenities

Hot tub

Washer

Barbecue grill

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Fireplace

Explore the area

Sausalito, CA

Golden Gate Bridge11 min drive
Muir Woods National Monument11 min drive
Rodeo Beach25 min drive
Novato, CA (NOT-Gnoss Field)27 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

The owners Melinda and her husband gave us a tour of the house on our arrival, and they couldn't have been nicer. The ho...

Mel M.

Aug 4, 2022

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

2nd bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Master

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master with Steam shower

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Office

Dining Area

About this property

Unique floating home on Richardson Bay

Please note that this is a 31 day minimum rental as per dock rules. Enter into this unique A-frame home and experience houseboat(floating home)living. This charming 2 bedroom and 2 bath getaway is just minutes from San Francisco and about an hour from Napa Valley. The large master bedroom with hardwood floors features a cozy fireplace, large smart TV and windows looking out to the bay. The master bath has two separate carrera marble vanities with sinks, and the master steam shower has dual shower heads. The second bedroom has a queen bed and the second bath with glass sink and counter has a deep soaking tub for more relaxation. Both bedrooms and baths are downstairs. The fully equipped kitchen with a dining area that seats six opens up to a wonderful living room with vaulted ceiling, skylights and gas fireplace with beautiful hardwood floors throughout the entire area. Enjoy your morning coffee or a glass of wine on the spacious deck off the living room and then indulge in the spa...bird watching is a must! And finally there is a loft above the living/dining room with a comfy chair and a view of Mt Tam is another space just to get away and enjoy life.

Property manager

Melinda DaVirro

Languages

English

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Ocean view

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 30

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Do not use spa after 10pm or before 8am. Be quiet on docks and decks during those hour.

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

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

About the area

Sausalito

Located in Sausalito, this houseboat is on the waterfront. Ferry Building and Berkeley Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco Zoo. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Oracle Park or Chase Center. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

View more Houseboats in Sausalito

Sausalito, CA

What's nearby

Presidio of San Francisco - 7 min drive
Golden Gate Bridge - 11 min drive
Muir Woods National Monument - 11 min drive
Marin Headlands - 14 min drive
Rodeo Beach - 25 min drive

Getting around

Richmond Transit Center - 20 min drive
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬2 min drive
‪Good Earth Natural Foods - ‬3 min drive
‪Starbucks - ‬10 min walk
‪Equator Coffees & Teas - ‬2 min drive
‪Fish - ‬13 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Unique floating home on Richardson Bay pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Unique floating home on Richardson Bay?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unique floating home on Richardson Bay?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Unique floating home on Richardson Bay located?

Situated on the waterfront, this houseboat is within 6 miles (10 km) of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Presidio of San Francisco and Muir Woods National Monument. Mount Tamalpais State Park and Sweetwater Music Hall are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Mel M.

4 Aug 2022

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

THE PERFECT SAUSALITO HOUSEBOAT

The owners Melinda and her husband gave us a tour of the house on our arrival, and they couldn't have been nicer. The house was immaculate, and the kitchen and bathrooms seemed to be newly remodeled. The house was fully stocked both in the kitchen and bathrooms. The view of the Richardson Bay was beyond expectations and was fun to watch the tide go in and out. Hope to repeat next year.

Stayed 30 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

zoe g.

29 June 2022

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

houseboat sausalito

A beautiful A frame houseboat, with all the details you might need! fabulous hot tub, steam shower and easy access to the Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path. We would definitely stay again, this is the perfect spot to relax and be immersed in the beautiful nature of the region.

Stayed 98 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura U., Arvada, Co

19 June 2018

Dream Trip

We had the best time on the houseboat. Communication was quick and easy, the amenities were all you could want/need, and the boat was comfortable and lovely. My mom, sister and niece all agree it was the best vrbo accommodation and experience we've had.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Debbie R.

25 Apr 2018

Best stay in the Marin Bay area!

Sea Chalet is a 5 star property on the water! Absolutely beautiful and peaceful and such attention to detail! Perfect for your stay in the Bay area. Everything is perfect from the steam shower and heated bath floor to the linens to the deck with the hot tub to the fully stocked updated kitchen. Easy parking, close to the ferry to SF, close to downtown Sausalito, convenient to Mill Valley. Kayaking w/ the seals, hiking only 5 min. away, Sonoma and Napa close by. I can't wait to return!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Karen A.

14 Jan 2018

Uniquely Lovely

What a fun place! Located on one of the prettiest docks of the Sausalito houseboat community, this A-line home offers a wonderful water view (not all of the homes do), a unique community, attractive furnishings and thoughtfully considered amenities. I have rented a number of VRBO/Home Away homes, and this was the most convenient in terms of all the little things that were provided: from a welcoming bottle of wine and chocolates to lots of towels, toilet paper, a well-stocked kitchen and so on. All of your needs are anticipated, and that's not always the case. We loved our stay, close to the city (9 minutes without traffic during the holidays!) and an easy commute to wine country. But it's tempting to just sit on the deck, use the hot tub and watch all the great birds! Sublimely relaxing. The only inconvenience would be one affecting anyone with difficulty managing stairs, as the two bathrooms are both on the lower level with the bedrooms. But rest assured that this is a pretty, fully functional and very comfortable rental in a great location! We hope to return...soon!

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Melissa H.

12 Oct 2017

So peaceful and serene. The houseboat was immaculate and had everything you would possibly need.

My husband, son, fiancé and myself had such a wonderful stay. So relaxing and the views were spectacular. So many things to do in and around the area. One of our best vacation spots ever!!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Annamaria A., Huntington, NY

4 Oct 2017

So much better than staying in a hotel!!!!

The only way I will stay in the San Francisco/Sausalito area now is on a house boat. My husband and I rented this boat with another couple and loved every minute of it. This home is the best of the best. The property is spotless and beautifully appointed. The kitchen is updated with beautiful granite, supplies, pots, pans, dishes and most anything you can think of. There is a BBQ for use on the front deck and hot tub on the back deck. The beds are comfortable and the linens and bedding are superior quality. The views from the deck are spectacular and in 10 minutes you are across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. We frequented wonderful restaurants in Sausalito on Caledonia St. (away from the tourists) and took the ferry from Sausalito to the Ferry Building in Sausalito. Amy was wonderfully responsive which made the experience easy and worry-free. We would definitely rent here again.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tom B.

17 Sept 2017

Very comfortable well-appointed Sausolito Sea Chalet

The home was well stocked with all the comforts of our home - and then some. The Sea Chalet has everything we needed with 2 very comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms and all the other amenities necessary for a relaxing, stress-reducing vacation stay. We were primarily planning trips to Sonoma and Napa and the scenic places north of San Fran so staying in the floating home community of Sausalito made travel painless, absent the congestion and traffic we would have experienced getting in and out of the city every day and night. And Sausalito itself, well, the food, the shops, the waterfront dining and parks (Go to Book Passage, the quirky little neighborhood bookstore), all just filled our palate for casual comfort in a remarkably pretty place.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Michelle E.

23 Aug 2017

Unique offering, so glad we stayed here!

We would stay here again without hesitation. We spent a long weekend with our teenage sons and this was a neat way to be close to San Francisco, but yet a little bit away from it all. Our boys found the situation extremely cool. The houseboat would be floating at night and then the tide would go out and our lodging would be sitting on the sand in the morning. The dock community is very eclectic and rich in history. Amy was wonderful, very helpful on the front end making our arrival easy and stress-free. She made sure one bedroom was set up as twin beds before we got there for the young guys. We had one small mechanical issue that was out of the owner's control, but they were extremely responsive and had a repairman come out immediately on a weekend to remedy the situation. Home is decorated nicely and the master suite was extremely comfortable. Great bed!! Highly recommend.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

darren t.

21 July 2017

Wonderful stay here and FANTASTIC host

Just brilliant from the moment we walked through the door to the second we (reluctantly) left. Immaculate and spotless property in a lovely part of Sausalito that is handy for town and getting either the ferry or driving to San Francisco. Even though you are on a boat, there was bags of room for the four of us and the deck and views to other house boats, adjacent and opposite, is nothing short of spectacular. We have stayed in some beautiful properties worldwide and know what quality feels and looks like and the Sea Chalet has it, trust me. If you are wavering in renting this home then don't, just do it! A final mention on how helpful our host Amy was also - she answered all our queries promptly and as far as we are concerned, went above and beyond the call of duty for us - outstanding support, thank you :-)

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Glenda L., Thibodaux, LA

13 July 2017

Amazing!

This home was so clean and cozy that we didn't want to leave. It was absolutely beautiful and well kept. Amy was so friendly and helpful. I would recommend this home to anyone coming to the SanFrancisco area.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

gerilyn L.

8 June 2017

charming sea chalet

Sea Chalet is a cute, compact, clean and comfortable floating home with all needed amenities. There is ample parking and a small grocery store & deli located within a short walking distance. The houseboat is conveniently located with easy access to San Francisco and Bay Area towns. Owner was readily available for any directions or questions. Will definitely consider this rental for future vacations.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Birgit W.

17 May 2017

Luxurious and relaxing!

First of all a great thank you to Amy for the great service in organization and answering all our questions so fast! The sea chalet is a real gem in a hidden and enchanted world. Sausalito and the house boat community is a world in its own and that's how you feel when living there! You can feel the old days of artistry and beeing free as a bird when sitting on the terrace with a good cup of coffees or enjoying the high and low tides in the jacuzzi and the variety of birds, ducks and ospreys walking, swimming and flying by. The house is very modern, clean and with all modern amenities- you even can enjoy a steam shower in the bathroom. Shopping groceries and a small restaurant are within walking distance (about 500 meters) and Sausalito downtown with the ferry terminal and its nice shops and great restaurants are only a 5 min drive away. We will never forget the perfect and relaxing time we had here. Highly recommend!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan J.

19 Apr 2017

Loved the houseboat

This place is fantastic. Very comfortable, beautiful views, great location. Stayed with my wife and 2 teenage daughters. Much different experience than a hotel. We would highly recommend this place.

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Vickie M.

15 Mar 2017

Enjoyed our stay

Home is as advertised! Great location for seeing the San Francisco Bay area. Easy drive into the city or down to Ferry dock and close to Wine Country, Reyes Pte, etc. Contact was easy to work with, quick to respond to questions and received deposit back same week as departure. Would stay here again!

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Margarita E., Nicosia

20 Sept 2016

Home Sweet Home!

We absolutely loved everything during our 10 day stay with our two children. The house is very warm and cosy, well furnished with comfortable beds and basic supplies, even found fresh coffee much to my delight! We were greeted with a a nice bottle of wine and found an organised folder with information on places to visit, local stores, restaurants, doctors etc. Janet is very accommodating, luckily we had the opportunity to meet upon our departure. We were all truly sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful, peaceful home with stunning views of the marina in an excellent location. We would highly recommend this hidden retreat to anyone. Thank you Janet for making our stay so memorable and hope to see you soon!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dawn B., Poulsbo, WA

17 Sept 2016

Beautiful Sausalito Houseboat!

My husband and two grown daughters spent 4 nights at this lovely houseboat in Sausalito. What a wonderful property! We felt very comfortable there from the heavenly beds, the well appointed kitchen, the comfortable living room, the cute loft, and the beautiful views of the birds and mountains from the deck. Everything has been thought of down to the last detail and the decor is lovely. Janet is great to work with and very prompt in all her communications. Our deposit was returned very quickly. The town of Sausalito is very quaint and the proximity to San Francisco and the Marin Headlands is excellent. I highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a fabulous visit to the Bay Area!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Claire G.

6 Aug 2016

Loved every minute!

Beautiful property with great views. Well equipped with everything that you need and more.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

martine m.

10 May 2016

Great!

We loved this houseboat. Very comfortable, we loved the hot-tub and view. Janet was very helpful. The bedrooms were very neat and spacious. We would love to come back.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Scott A.

8 May 2016

Absolutely perfect vacation stay

We stayed here recently for 2 weeks. There were 6 of us and we were all very comfortably accommodated in the three spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms and the generous living spaces. The property was very well appointed and had excellent appliances and everything we wanted and needed. The views were beautiful and going to bed at night with the lights on the water and waking with the water at our bedroom window was delightful. Parking was also very easy We were sad to leave and will definitely return. Janet was very easy to deal with and was very flexible and accommodating in terms of early check in which we were very grateful for. We didn't need a late check out but Janet also enables that where she can. I highly recommend this property to anyone considering a San Francisco holiday.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jim L., Jacksonville, Florida

4 May 2016

An experience of a lifetime!

What a surprising treat. We came upon this Ark while looking for a place to stay while in the area for a nephew's "destination" wedding. It far exceeded our expectations. Coordination with Janet was easy. The place was immaculate, and all amenities were first rate. We were intrigued by the history of the Sausalito houseboats and found the area charming. Welcomed by a delightful bottle of wine on entry, we soaked in the views and the ambiance of the area. We would do this again in a heartbeat. The rooms are large and well furnished and the living areas are perfect for socializing. We are encouraging our other nephews and nieces to have their weddings in the Sausalito area so that we can return the this place!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

diane l., wisconsin

8 Mar 2016

Loved it!!!

This is an exceptionally lovely and extremely comfortable houseboat. All the first class amenities for a wonderful stay are provided -dreamy beds, lovely linens, inviting furniture throughout. All appears new and sparkling clean. The outside areas are well positioned for enjoying wonderful weather, if you are as lucky as we were. This particular dock appears quite upscale, with a spacious uncrowded feeling between the other floating homes. Accordingly, lovely mountain and water views can be enjoyed from many directions. Didn't want to leave this tranquil , relaxing environment and would love to return!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Christopher Y.

15 Jan 2016

Perfect Bay Area getaway.

We really enjoyed our time here. The house is very comfortable, clean and has gorgeous views. All the amenities of a nice hotel with the added bonus of a well stocked kitchen. One bathroom sink was not draining well. I reported it and the next Morning a repairman was there to fix the problem. Janet was a pleasure to work with and was very attentive to checking on us via email to see that we had gotten in ok and if we needed anything. The only things I might suggest would be to have a vacuum cleaner available since The floors got a little dirty while we were there and would have been nice to clean up a bit midway through our stay. Also, would love to have access to a kayak or canoe for a morning paddle. That would be the icing on the cake! Thanks for a wonderful stay. Will definitely be back for more stays in the future

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Adrian H., Monterrey, México

6 Jan 2016

Perfect vacation rental!

This is an amazing property. Beautiful views and perfect to relax over the holidays. The house was very clean and it had everything that we needed, I mean everything, they even left us a bottle of wine to enjoy over our stay! I recommend it 100% and I would definitely stay there again.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2015

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

sharon w.

1 Jan 2016

Exactly as portrayed!

We had an incredible visit. It was a fun adventure being on the house boat! Everything from the Beds to the appliances were so comfortable and up to date. The master bath was really nice with the option for a sauna. There were 6 of us comfortably in the home. Truly enjoyed the views! Easy 5 minute drive to get into Sausalito for great food. We loved the nearby cafe for breakfast too! Thank you for the great and memorable stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2015

About the host

Hosted by Melinda DaVirro

We bought this property to be closer to our children in Northern California and lived in the houseboat full time while building our home in Reno.

Why they chose this property

We chose this property for it's unique location on the water and the vacation like atmosphere. Also, we wanted a place that would be desirable to rent when we aren't there, and this is the perfect place for that. We hope that you will feel the same!