Floating Guest Cottage (houseboat)

Houseboat in Sausalito, California

  1. 4 guests
  2. 2 bedrooms
  3. 2 beds
  4. 1 bath
Hosted by Lois
  1. Superhost
  2. 13 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 1% of homes

This home is one of the highest ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.

Exceptional check-in experience

Recent guests gave the check-in process a 5-star rating.

Beautiful area

Guests love this home’s scenic location.
Just minutes across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, the floating guest cottage offers the very best of the Sausalito houseboat experience.

The main front room can easily accommodate small gatherings. Cooking in the complete kitchen is a pleasure.
With two bedrooms, this is ideal for a couple, two couples or families with middle-schoolers or teenagers. (For safety reasons, no children under 10 are allowed.)

This is a truly special residence in an unforgettable natural setting.

The space
Just 12 minutes across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, this unique floating guest cottage offers the very best of the Sausalito houseboat experience. Located at the end of one of Marin’s most coveted houseboat docks, the Yellow Ferry Harbor, this freestanding floating home blends the nostalgia of the houseboat experience of the 1960’s and 70’s with today’s amenities.

The last boat on the northward leg of the dock, the floating guest cottage has sweeping views of the bay, the surrounding rolling hills, and in the distance, the majestic slopes of Mt. Tamalpais. An inviting public jetty extends into the bay between the cottage and the scores of sailboats berthed in the nearby Richardson Bay Marina. The gentle music of their riggings in the breeze will mesmerize you.

Enter through the main front room, whose dining table for six, comfortable sofa, and captain's chair can easily accommodate small gatherings of friends and family. The potbelly gas stove adds warmth and coziness on a rainy day. Cooking is a pleasure with a full-sized gas range, oven, and other modern appliances.

At the rear of the main floor, the smaller of two bedrooms sleeps two in a queen sized bed with comfortable Tempurpedic mattress. The large north-facing window frames the Marina and Mt. Tam beyond. The entire second floor is a master bedroom, a luxurious double bed nestled under the graceful curve of its arched ceiling.

On a sunny day – and this area is known locally as ‘The Banana Belt’ – enjoy outdoor dining on the spacious upper deck with its panoramic views. Or sit and read in the Adirondack chairs on the front float, surrounded by flowers. For recreation, paddle out in the kayaks or pedal away on the great Marin bike trail or to the Sausalito Ferry for the half-hour cruise to San Francisco. (No children under 13 in the kayak.) Bike rentals are a mile away.

Otis Redding fans will appreciate that he wrote Dock of the Bay while a guest on one of Sausalito's storied docks, some say this one. You are assured a serene and magical time, watching the tides roll away (thank you, Otis) and enjoying the herons and egrets, frequent visitors to your front yard.

This is the ideal rental for a couple or a single guest looking to get away from the everyday, but still seeking the convenience and fun that Sausalito offers. Families will experience the San Francisco Bay from a unique vantage point. Ideal for families with middle-schoolers or teenagers. Parents should realize that from a safety perspective living on a houseboat is no different than being on a boat. For that reason, no children under 10 are allowed as renters or as guests of the renters. Two couples may also share the guest cottage.

We expect guests to leave the floating guest cottage clean and in good order. If not, a reasonable deduction will be taken from your security deposit. We do not expect guests to wash or change the bed linens or towels.

The rental includes a parking space in the Yellow Ferry Harbor lot, and your houseboat is located just a five minute drive from downtown Sausalito, ten minutes from Mill Valley, twelve minutes across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco and approximately an hour to the wine country.

This is a truly special residence in an unforgettable natural setting.

Where you’ll sleep

Bedroom 1
1 queen bed
Bedroom 2
1 double bed

What this place offers

Kitchen
Wifi
Free parking on premises
Washer
Dryer

Select check-in date

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Rated 4.98 out of 5 from 515 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is in the top 1% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
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Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 98% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 1% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Sausalito, California, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Meet your host

Superhost
515 reviews
4.98 out of 5 average rating
13 years of hosting
Born in the 40s
Where I went to school: UC Berkeley
Lois recently retired from a legal career in the non-profit sector. Four years ago, she and her husband Bob moved from San Francisco to their houseboat in Sausalito, which is next door to the guest cottage. Bob is a physician in Marin County. Lois is a tennis fanatic, they both love swing dancing, and Bob plays banjo in a jug band. As long time Bay Area residents, they are happy to provide suggestions. Should guests need anything, they will be happy to respond.

Lois is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-hosts

  • Diane

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 3:00 PM
Checkout before 12:00 PM
4 guests maximum
Safety & property
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm
Not suitable for infants (under 2 years)