Ratings based on 12 Guest Reviews

Hear it directly from our travellers
4.9 out of 5
100% of guests recommend
4.4 Room cleanliness
TRAVELOCITY GUEST REVIEWS
Hear it directly from our travellers
5 out of 5
by A traveller

The Lilacs is perfect for a relaxing mountain stay

Posted Jul. 17, 2024 on HomeAway
Thanks for hosting us at The Lilacs cabin on Mt Palomar. We truly relaxed while staying -- the setting is so peaceful, surrounded and shaded by huge cedars and oaks, and visited closely throughout the day by woodpeckers, jays, pigeons, quail, and other birds. This century old cabin glows with character, from its patchwork quilt-like additions, to its mildly skewed floor, to its eclectic decor items. The cabin reminded us of other homey houses of similar vintage -- it was immediately comfortable. The kitchen / bathroom / laundry are completely modern while still fitting the cabin's vibe. The large deck gives a great view over the forest -- we could only wish the few neighboring cabins were even fewer, but, hey, others like it up here, too. Being only 5 minutes drive from Palomar Mountain State Park, it was easy to go hiking each morning and return to enjoy relaxing in the afternoons. Thanks again!
Comment from Hotel Management
Jul. 17, 2024 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
Delighted that you enjoyed the cabin so much. While there are a few cabins 100-150 ft away, one in each direction, only one has residents. All the others are seldom visited by their owners so they are part of the cabin landscape rather than the 'sound-scape'. Your feedback is appreciated and look forward to having you again! Martin
5 out of 5
by A traveller

Secluded cabin

Posted Jul. 14, 2024 on HomeAway
The cabin is remotely located, a perfect place to go for rest and quiet. The kitchen has a gas stove, microwave and dishwasher, even an instapot. We stayed in July, and it was warm (83 degrees F, 28 degrees C) every day. There's no AC, but open windows and fans kept us cool. The bathroom is tiny, with a shower, no tub, but everything worked fine. I use a rolling walker, and it wouldn't fit in the bathroom or bedroom, but there were enough places to grab onto to stabilize my body and get around. It is a beautiful, rustic place.
Comment from Hotel Management
Jul. 17, 2024 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
Appreciate your feedback. Glad you enjoyed your stay in this beautiful, historic cabin! Martin
5 out of 5
by A traveller

Hiking and Downtime

Posted Jul. 2, 2024 on HomeAway
Enjoyed the cabin and the downtime and relaxation. The charm of the cabin was appreciated. Wonderful deck to relax on. The variety of birds were a joy to watch. Loved watching the quail with its covey come around in the afternoon. Closeness to Palomar State Park was a plus. Was able to hike early morning and go back and check out the sunset from there. Wish I would've stayed longer
Comment from Hotel Management
Jul. 6, 2024 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
I love sharing the "labor of love" which I put into this historic cabin. Joseph is yet another of my wonderful guests who leave the cabin in spotless condition. I am ever so grateful for Joseph's visit... please come again! Martin
5 out of 5
by A traveller

Quiet and Rustic

Posted Nov. 27, 2023 on HomeAway
A great place to get away from it all.
5 out of 5
by A traveller

Magical

Posted Jun. 16, 2023 on HomeAway
The cabin was definately something special. We didn't expect the beautiful surroundings and morning birdsong to be that perfect. Much bigger than it seems in the photos and everything you could possibly need. Cozy but so much space to move around. Clean and welcoming. Perfect for our couples escape. Recharge and lazy or go wandering on exploration hikes. Seriously magical. We will be back. Bring food n drinks. Everything else youll need is there and the owner is lovely. Thank you.
Comment from Hotel Management
Jun. 16, 2023 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
Larry so delighted that you fully enjoyed the magic of this soulful cabin celebrating the start of it's 100th year You both were such generous guests, leaving the cabin clean and orderly. You even folded the sheets! It was a joy to see the love and respect you gave this historic place. Please come back this summer for another recharge of good vibes. Let's stay in touch! From my family to yours, Martin
5 out of 5
by A traveller from San Diego

Hidden Gem in Palomar

Posted Jun. 1, 2023 on HomeAway
We wish we could have stayed longer. We spent most of our time relaxing in the sunroom enjoying the view of the majestic pines and birds. It was fun just to imagine how life is back then at this location. Lilac is sure not Ritz-Carlton, but we loved it for its charms, coziness and location. Thank you Martin for being such a great host and we look forward to be back.
4 out of 5
by A traveller

Tranquility and peace

Posted Jul. 18, 2022 on HomeAway
We decided to come for 3 days break during July 4th and it was a delighrful experience. We enjoyed to be in the cabin because it broughr us to a rustic, simple and yet family connection. Martin was of a great help. Very much accessible and attentive to our needs. We enjoyed a lot having our breakfast with the birds on the porch. We're definitely willing to return and have a wonderful family vacation. We highly recommend it.
Comment from Hotel Management
May 25, 2023 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
We are open for the summer rentals if you would like to consider another visit! Martin
5 out of 5
by A traveller

Amazing time

Posted Oct. 5, 2015 on HomeAway
My fiancee and I stayed here in July and had the most relaxing time. I loved the old charm of the cabin and the solitude was just what we were looking for. We were so happy we could bring our dog with us it made the trip even more perfect. I can't wait to go back. The owner was so nice and helpful. He even called us the first day to make sure we got there ok and to make sure we had everything we needed. The cabin is almost 100 years old so you have to expect not everything is going to be perfect. I love this place and cant wait to return. I will be renting it for a friends wedding next July and hopefully will return sooner then that!
Comment from Hotel Management
Jun. 13, 2022 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
THANK YOU Cindi Wonderful to hear of you and the pup joyed in this cabin. Fabulous that you appreciated the 100-year old creature comforts. I call it FOUR STAR rustic. Look forwarding to having you up again! Martin
5 out of 5
by A traveller

Lovely

Posted Mar. 27, 2015 on HomeAway
One word describes the Lilacs...FANTASTIC! After looking at the pictures on this site for a month, during a drive home from work I got a wild hair and decided to try to book a night or two on a whim. Martin was VERY easy to work with. We made all of the arrangements on my drive home, I executed the documents an hour later, and three hours later checked in. The cabin is perfect. It's very rustic, full of character making it one in a million. The place was very clean. I did not notice any pet hair as the previous poster indicated. The BBQ was filled with gas. We immediately threw on a couple of steaks, opened a bottle of red, got the fireplace blazing & candles lit, no cell phone, no Internet. Need I say more? In the morning we were greeted with stunning views. Beautiful, colorful birds everywhere & a deer grazing down by the pond. We opted for a brisk morning hike, then down to Doane pond for the rest of the afternoon. This place is perfect & we will be frequenting The Lilacs as often as possible.
Comment from Hotel Management
Jun. 13, 2022 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
Thank you Dani for your gracious comments after a couple of unexpected poor reviews. 98% want what you experienced in this cabin. I do not spray with insecticide so the country critters are will leave some webs that may at times make it look neglected, but we totally clean after each guest. Thanks for the warm glow left behind.
5 out of 5
by A traveller from Ramona, Ca

The perfect weekend

Posted May 7, 2012 on HomeAway
We just got home from an amazing weekend at the Lilac's. There were 8 of us and the cabin had more than enough space to accomidate our group. The cabin itself is like going back in time. It is filled with wonderful pieces of history that give it a warm feeling that reminds me of my grandparents cabin in Colorado. It has such a homey feel that you are immediatly comfortable. There is a great loft for the kids and a place outside where you can sit around the fire in th evening. During the day you can hear woodpeckers and at night you can hear the owls. The cabin itself sits on a hillside and the views are incredible. Martin was kind and patient with me during the reservation process and always got back to me promptly when I had questions. There is a guestbook filled with wonderful comments from past campers sharing their experiences.
Comment from Hotel Management
Jun. 13, 2022 by VrboOwner, Hotel Management
Thank you ever so much for your warm and generous review. I lived in Colorado for 15 years so part of what I love about Palomar's High Sierra environment is that it reminds me of the wonderful mountains above Boulder and the front range. See you back soon and I will thank you at booking time too.