VRBO Reviews

The home was all as described and then more! It was one of the cleanest and most well appointed homes I have ever rented on VRBO. The hosts took the time to explain how everything in the home worked when we arrived. They went out of their way to make sure our stay was fabulous, including having some starter provisions for us when we arrived! I have owned and operated several VRBO‘s myself, and I must say these people way out did anything I ever did. They even provided us with a flash drive of music to take home with us. If you are ever going to go to Mérida I highly recommend This property.

We stayed at Casa Blanca for 3 weeks in February of ’25. The home is absolutely lovely as the photos portray. The master is its own casita in the back and the other two bedrooms are in the main house. Each bedroom had an a/c unit so sleeping on hot and humid evenings wasn’t a problem. The garden and pool are beautiful and we spent lots of time enjoying the birds, lizards, possum and random cats. The owners are lovely too and take great pride in the home and it shows. We could ask them anything and they responded very quickly. The house was stocked with fruit, eggs and other basics when we got there and Steve dropped off some of his homemade spaghetti sauce. The area was safe and quiet and not far from Parque Santiago which is equipped with a supermarket, bakery, mercado and dancing on Tuesday nights! A lovely home, lovely people, lovely place.

Returning home after our vacation in Merida, we still cannot get enough memories of our fantastic stay at Casa Blanca, a renovated hacienda owned by two gifted artists,Steve and Stena. Their hospitality could not have been more gracious.The beautiful,comfortabe furnishings,the glorious pool and yard,an everything kitchen,perfect lighting and security,music in a great location a few blocks from the center of town,every room with stylish suprises and a valuable and very informative hand made guide book! We recommend Casa Blanca without a doubt and can’t wait to return.A perfect place to stay . Merida, with beauty and history, a truly worthy spot chosen recently for the summit of Peace Prize Laureates this September in this magical city. Merida/Casa Blanca what an unbeatable combo for a perfect vacation.

This house is more stunning than the photos with art, an established garden, and great amenities. The spaces are large and the bedrooms are private and comfortable. Steve and Sanda are welcoming and a fabulous source of information for anything you need (Cenotes, silver chains and market advice). They are both easy to work with, and made sure we had a relaxing stay. Our adult son loved having a guitar to play, while we lounged in the pool hammock. We have stayed in many VRBO properties and have found that some house photos are older or inaccurate. Casablanca is as beautiful as it looks. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks so much Steve and Sanda!

I stayed here as a single woman. I felt completely safe and well taken care of. Steve gave me an excellent tour when I first arrived and even pointed out amenities I may have missed. The house is historical, perfectly appointed down to every last detail including a house play list if you choose to listen! The garden was amazing! Centrally located, no problem walking to most places including a great fruit market and some amazing restaurants. Check out Uxmal and the Mayan chocolate! Kitchen had Everything! Beds are bliss! Outdoor shower a fun and special experience! The garden is full of all types of birds including a white owl. The art work (much of it the owner’s work) and every piece of furniture and decoration adds even more to the feeling of being surrounded in both local but also international and creative culture! Perfection!

The pictures of the house are stunning but being there in person is breathtaking. Steve and Sanda are great artist and their art pieces are perfectly spread through out, but I feel their masterpiece is this house. The home is in a great location on a quiet street and conveniently close to shops and restaurants. checking in and out was very easy and enjoyable. every square inch of this place was spotless. Steve and Sanda go above and beyond to make one feel at home. Steve had prepared just an awesome playlist of music for us to enjoy on our stay. they have even taken the time to prepare a book with maps, restaurant recommendations, emergency numbers etc…. I would like to keep this one a secret but there’s some things you just must share. This place is a MUST-STAY!!! thank you guys… it was a great pleasure meeting the two of you.

We really enjoyed our stay at Steve and Sanda’s lovely Casablanca house. It’s a 15 minute drive from the airport, a 15-30 minute walk from the central shopping areas and all of the amazing food of Mérida, and a 10 minute walk from the nearby produce market and grocery. If you rent a car there’s typically a parking spot right outside the house – parking is much harder to do closer to the central shopping district. The house itself is gorgeous, very clean, and well stocked – they’ve thought of every detail to make your stay comfortable. The very private garden with its beautiful fruit trees are filled with songbirds and have lovely lighting for daytime and nighttime enjoyment. The pool and pool hammock are great respites from the heat, with plenty of shade under the cabana. Because of the proximately of the pool to the trees there is a bit of debris that gets in, but Steve came by to clean the pool mid-week. Note that when you arrive Steve and Sanda will meet you at the house with refreshments to give you a very detailed and necessary tour of the house so you know where everything is. Would definitely stay here again highly recommend it to others!

Staying in Casa Blanca, Merida is not a typical house-rental experience. Instead, you are sharing a special, beautiful, meticulously cared for home that is the pride of its owners. The property meets all expectations in terms of cleanliness, aesthetics, comfort, convenience. It is spacious, airy and a visual delight, with the artist-owners’ paintings creating interest at every turn. The extensive garden and fresh pool create a private oasis that provide relief from the city’s intensity. Having rented twice before in Merida, we know how unique this place is. Owners Steve and Sanda couldn’t have been more welcoming, helpful and accommodating. They even had the house stocked with necessities and goodies to get us started on arrival. And we loved the Santiago neighborhood, which is near a food market and other necessities, but a bit quieter than others that are a little closer to the main tourist action. Still, everything is perfectly walk-able from this location. We stayed for two weeks and kept imagining at least three or four for our next visit!

CasaBlanca Living is by far the most amazing home I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. Of course, it’s easy to tell the home is special just by looking at the pictures. But those pictures are only the tip of the iceberg. From the moment Steve and Sanda met us at the house to give us a welcome tour, and explain some of CasaBlanca’s key features, I was in love…with the home, our hosts, and Merida in general! Every convenience and luxury is at your fingertips when you stay at CasaBlanca Living. The upscale, cozy decor, the amazing original artwork(by Steve), the fully equipped kitchen, the world’s most comfortable beds, the huge, soft pool towels, the immediate hot water, and the most stunning garden and pool area. Merida is an incredible city-one of my favorites-but it was hard to leave the house, everything was so incredible. Steve and Sanda have spared no expense when it comes to creating a magical and truly memorable oasis. If I could return tomorrow, I’d do it in a heartbeat! If you have the opportunity to stay at CasaBlanca Living, do not miss the chance. It really is perfect in every way!

I’ve stayed in many places over the years but this experience just tops it all. Steve and Sanda made us feel welcomed and taken care from the moment we arrived. House is beautiful and beyond. All I can say is thank you for such a privilege to stay at your house! Here are some comments to help people choose this gem: – Photos are good but just wait till you see the property in person – so much more impressive. Every detail is thought about, everything is comfortable, elegant, amazing quality and just beautiful. I felt like visiting some really cool friends who where happy to see me. – Beds are super comfortable and they do swing. – Plenty of incredible toiletries, towels, etc. – Location is perfect – not too close to the touristy places but walkable enough to get around. Plus you will always have parking space. – It could get loud at night (music + parties) but I guess that goes for entire Merida. People do enjoy life there. – Pool and garden is heavenly. – So many antiques – doors, tiles, art, pots… truly a cultural experience. – Kitchen is gorgeous with simple equipment and not intended for a non stop gourmet cooking and why would you – restaurants in Merida are so good. – Lot’s of mosquitoes – bring repellents and all that if you are allergic to them like me. That has nothing to do with the house – they are everywhere in that area. – Thank you Steve and Sanda for all the lights, music and all that atmospheric things that photos just can’t show and words can’t really describe. – You will not want to leave.

The moment we entered Steve and Sanda’s lovely hacienda, I felt the Zen vibe I had envisioned and hoped for. After spending 9 perfect days seaside in Sisal I had worried that we would miss the incredible majesty of nature at it’s finest, but Casablanca dispelled any reservations immediately. Casablanca is truly an oasis of sublime, sensual luxury; with the rich culture of Merida at your door step, what’s not to fall in love? Steve and Sanda are outstanding hosts who go the extra mile (and then some) to assure an experience worthy of dreamy memories. And no detail is missed – from a much appreciated welcome tour of the amenities and workings of this well appointed “casa” (much more like a five star resort than casa but with the feeling of “mi casa”) to the kitchen equipped with a bounty of fresh fruit and refreshments – “Oh yesssss, please!!!!” is all I can say. Travel anywhere you can imagine within the magical city of Merida is a quick, inexpensive Uber ride away (or brief stroll if you are so inclined). A wonderful bakery is just around the corner for morning treats. Several of Merida’s parks are within easy reach, as are numerous cultural sites and events. The hardest decision you will have to make will be tearing yourself away from Casablanca. If you decide to hang out and relax, no worries, the kitchen can handle any meal you want to prepare, with well stocked supermarkets a short ride away ( or delivery of excellent homemade pasta and pizza a phone call away ). Treat yourself and don’t hesitate in choosing this amazing spot – “return worthy” for us!!! Thank you Steve and Sanda. Karen and Roy.

Steve and Sanda are extraordinary people who have created a superb restoration of a colonial home. The attention to detail, the art on the walls (their own paintings), the tasteful furnishings, the plantings in the garden – all has been done to a very high level. Best of all……..the suspended beds on sisal ropes which provide a gentle rocking motion. Our hosts went over and above the usual – the thoughtful touches (a bottle of wine, excellent loaf of sourdough, milk, tea, yoghurt, etc.) as well as their helpful suggestions and general hospitality. One of our best experiences with a vacation rental anywhere in the world. Highly recommended.

This place is actually even prettier in person. And the hosts are both extremely professional and highly personable– perfect combo. After a week in Merida, where we have friends with houses, we think that this property is the perfect location. Quiet street a short walk to the center. Also, the garden area is extraordinary– huge and beautifully laid out. We tended to go out to lunch and then cook or get take-away for dinner– no restaurant could be as nice as sitting at the table with the garden lit up all around you. We rented a car and it was very easy to park and to get around in it– lots of outings outside the city. Definitely book this place.

The pictures speak for themselves, a beautiful house with exquisite garden and pool area with dramatic lighting for evening lounging. Fluffy towels, soft sheets and comfortable beds. Locally sourced soap and shampoo. Robes, umbrellas, a laundry line for drying pool towels. A Plethora of treats upon arrival. A strong fast and reliable internet connection and a dramatic big screen projector TV for movie nights with speakers throughout for music. If you even feel the need to leave the house be advised it is not in Centro so there will be a 20 minute walk to the Cathedral area or, take a taxi or Uber they are readily available and very inexpensive. Parque Santiago a short four block walk offers any thing one might need from a full service Mexican grocery store, Super Aki to a butcher shop, Mexicarne with refrigerated cases, and an out door fresh market open daily from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. What really sets this property apart from others we have rented is the attention to detail and concierge service provided by Sanda and Steve. From the thorough orientation upon arrival to their willingness to help with car rental, fresh fish delivery and restaurant recommendations. For those of us who are not fluent in Spanish, their prompt response to requests and questions was appreciated. We hope to return again and thank you for making this such a special time away.

This property is beautiful, peaceful, and luxurious. Elegant and stylish, the large open spaces spill into the gorgeous garden where the pool is located. Lots of outdoor space for lounging and entertaining yourself or guests! The kitchen is fully stocked with everything you need to make a margarita or a full course dinner. The 3 bedrooms are large with the most comfortable beds and bedding ever. It’s like sleeping on a cloud! Bathrooms are large and luxurious as well. Steve and Sanda, our host/hostess welcomed us with a few special surprises that made our visit feel like we were family being welcomed home. This is a first class property that is hard to leave once you arrive! Everything you can think of is provided. The list is too long to note here. Thank you, Sanda and Steve for an amazing experience. We will be back!

As someone who stays almost exclusively in boutique hotels, I can honestly say that this place rivals the best. It’s a beautiful oasis in the middle of merida. I particularly enjoyed the quality of the bedding, the fully stocked kitchen upon arrival, and the friendliness/availability of Steve and Sanda who graciously made all of our restaurant reservations because my spanish is not what it used to be. If you’re thinking about staying in Merida, I highly recommend this option over the local hotels and the other rentals… it’s about a 10-15 min walk to the good restaurants, but we ubered around with no problem as my mom is older, and were everywhere in a flash.

This was the perfect house for our two week escape from the US. Due to covid we have been doing very little for the last very stressful 8 months. When we got to Casablanca we were met by Steve and Sanda who welcomed us and showed us everything about the house. When we walked in the doors there was such a wonderful calming vibe that we felt all of the stress from the last eight months lift right off our minds and bodies! The house was so perfect that we hardly left. We only left to get groceries and to go out for dinner several nights and several days we did not even leave at all!! Steve offered many great suggestions for restaurants and a bakery very near the house. The house was even better than in the pictures. It was so comfortable and had every convenience. The beds were very comfortable. The pool was fabulous and the back garden was very thoughtfully designed. It was so peaceful and tranquil that it did not feel as if we were in the middle of a large city. The neighborhood was very nice and very walkable to all that we needed. The garden lighting at night was very romantic and made spending evenings outdoors great. Steve’s selection of music enhanced the peaceful vibe. We enjoyed spending some evenings in watching the large projection home theater system. Overall it all it was more than we could hoped for. We look forward to returning. Thank you Steve and Sanda for creating such a wonderful escape!

We absolutely adore this home and the hosts, Sanda and Steve. The house is perfection! Lovely and amazing. We felt like we had our own compound. No detail has been spared. This property is so special and feels like a retreat, yet it’s also homey, cozy and comfortable (we never wanted to leave during our stay). We kept planning things to do with paces to go in our rental car…but we kept putting them off and instead making quick taco runs to enjoy every moment in the outdoor area/back terrace/pool. Great night’s sleep each night & Steve’s art fits so well in the space. This stay beyond exceeded our expectations. Again, the hosts are so kind, and we wish we could spend more time with them. Next time. We’ll definitely be visiting again 🙂

Arriving in Merida after 19 hours of travel, at the entrance to Casablanca a southern Shangri-La, we found ourselves greeted by our warm and welcoming hosts Steve and Sanda. From the very first moment our experience was idyllic – so much so we had to keep pinching ourselves and asking, “is this real”? Casablanca is uniquely perfect as a vacation property – spectacular in design, the attention to detail and complete privacy that it offers. Nothing was lacking. All aspects of providing a home away from home had been thought of and everything we needed was within reach. Steve and Sanda, via one of several digital options provided, gave prompt and warm answers to any questions we had throughout our stay. Surrounded by elegance and refinement we spent our days lounging by the pool and exploring the city and its offerings during the cooler hours. At night we slept soundly, feeling completely secure in the luxurious master bedroom with the full moon shining in. This all seems unrealistic but the Casablanca experience was out of this world and perfect for us. We would recommend it as a 5-star accommodation in a vibrant and beautiful city – one we hope to return to if we are ever to be so lucky. The only “hard part” of staying at Casablanca was leaving.

CasaBlanca is a large colonial era house with high ceilings and a large floor area. My wife and I stayed there for four weeks and really enjoyed the experience. The house has been brought up to modern standards with a tasteful, artistic renovation. Further, the art work throughout the house is quite impressive. CasaBlanca is maintained at a very high level and is immaculately clean on one’s arrival. The kitchen is large and exceptionally well equipped, and the adjacent dining area is a delight. Among the most impressive features are the outdoor spaces. In the back, outside the kitchen and dining area, there is a large yard which is well lit and particularly enjoyable during the evenings. The lighting throughout the house and in the backyard is little short of inspired. We found the cabana near the pool delightful in the mornings and the court yard particularly inviting during the afternoon. The owners, Steve and Sanda, are wonderful people who go out of their way to insure a completely enjoyable experience for their guests.

This luxurious property was architecturally stunning. Five hundred year old stone walls, exquisite pool and outdoor living space that flow seamlessly with the indoor spaces made staying here an experience for all of the senses. Every detail was thoughtfully attended to and of highest quality. Casblanca’s simple elegance is a sanctuary within a magnificent city of a million people. From cleanliness to linens to kitchen needs, everything was provided generously. Our hosts were responsive to our queries and needs from our first emails confirming our stay until the morning of our departure. Their highly regarded expertise in the service industry and event planning in Vancouver, Canada was clearly evident. Original artwork through out the home resonates with the beautiful place they have created in Merida. It was a wonderful experience!

Our friends shared this home and from the moment we arrived, everything was taken care of. With a warm welcome and drinks at the ready, then after a quick refresh from traveling, we were given a light tour of the home. We were also given a local map, a quick orientation and directions, for easy walking to get to the main market and some local restaurants. This was a really nice way to start our perfect holiday knowing we were completely taken care of. As for the house – it’s Stunning! It’s completely unique and offers all the privacy, comfort and calm you want, when you want it. We already miss being there and hope we can make this happen again. Thank you both!

It is a truly a wonderful experience to stay at this serene oasis in the heart of Merida. The home is spacious, luxurious and meticulously kept. No detail was left unattended, and our stay was most relaxing and tranquil. Aside from the fabulous suspended king size beds, the well stocked new kitchen and the large pool in a quiet tropical oasis, what impressed us the most was the attention that the owners gave to the lighting, both in and out. It was created with romance and relaxation in mind. These owners have done a GREAT JOB, and we would love to return someday. Muchas Gracias