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The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa

The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa

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Pool
Living area
Tennis & pickleball courts are located a 3 min drive away, & freely available.
Private kitchen
Pool

Overview of The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa

Reviews
9.0 out of 10 Wonderful
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 11

Popular amenities

  • PoolPoolPool
  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill

Check out the area

Map
Altadena, CA
  • Popular LocationPasadena Convention Center10 min drive
  • Popular LocationCalifornia Institute of Technology11 min drive
  • Popular LocationRose Bowl Stadium12 min drive
  • AirportLos Angeles, CA (LAX-Los Angeles Intl.)63 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa

Featured in Best Homes in LA by Staycation on CBS (search for "villa of 100 games" on YouTube) w/the best homes in LA & winner of the Traveller Review Awards 2023 (10/10).

La Colina, Villa of 100 Games: Tech entrepreneur's contemporary villa w/views all the way to Catalina Island, nestled in the mountains, 3BR, 3 bath, pool, spa, grounds, palapa, gourmet pro kitchen, terrace, fireplace, garden, on a private street, mountain hiking trails, 3-car park, Flat screen, Netflix, Amazon, Disney Plus, music room, bongo, guitar.

Silent idyllic mountain setting just minutes from Pasadena. Wake up to roosters, ducks, birds. You can spot many species of birds, deer, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, peacocks and, if you are really lucky, a bear. Watch the sunset turning the mountains red. Take one of many incredible hikes from the trailhead just 100 yards from the property.

Enjoy our game room with billiards, ping pong, cornhole, foosball, dozens of board games, roulette, blackjack, craps, poker, backgammon, Monopoly, Scrabble, Boggle, chess, darts. Make a BBQ by the pool or enjoy our lighted spa at night while looking at the Moon come over the mountains. If you can’t find a game you want, ask for it and we will do our best to get it during your stay (for long enough stays).

Enjoy a new Mason & Hamlin grand piano, upright bass and drum set if you know how to play.

The house has been the location of a number of music video shoots, and will be featured in an upcoming episode of Staycation in CBS and Amazon Prime featuring the best homes in Altadena and Pasadena.

Immerse yourself in nature surrounded by songbirds, woodpeckers, deer and squirrels.

Located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in an idyllic peaceful calm mountain setting 15 minutes from beautiful Old Town Pasadena and the Rose Bowl, and less than half an hour from downtown LA.

Use the villa as a base to explore Disneyland, Hollywood, Disney Hall, SoCal beaches or even Joshua Tree or Idyllwild. Ask us for help designing your ideal California vacation --we've seen it all!

The house was owned by an architect, who expanded it significantly to enjoy California indoor/outdoor living, and has since been acquired by a California inventor, author, songwriter and tech entrepreneur. The Einstein Room boasts a collection of musical instruments, books by and portraits of the owner's great-granduncle, Albert Einstein.

If you want to play a game and we don't have it, ask for it and we will order it --offer valid for stays of 2+ nights for games up to $100.

Reviews by past guests include:
"The house is straight out of a movie. Everything was amazing. Thank you Alex" -Kristeen Lanigan

“Thank you for sharing your beautiful home. The views are stunning! This has been a wonderful vacation celebrating my two sons’ graduations”. -The Veritys

“Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your home. It has been a fantastic home base for our family during this transition time and has made settling back into California living a delight.”

“Thanks Alex for providing a fantastic place to stay for our Rose Bowl adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed your home.” - Mark & Jeanette

“Dear Alex, thank you for providing a safe space for my 8 month old baby, 12 and 15 year old siblings. We created memories, bonded by the pool and cooked meals. The sounds of the morning bird calls were serene and peaceful. xoxo” Crystal and company

“An excellent site for a family gathering for my birthday.” Robert Kushner

“Thank you for this amazing house we had a lot of fun” -Matheo and friends from Montreal

“I am very happy with the home. It is very complete. Thank you”

“You have a beautiful house and we had an amazing time. I would recommend 10/10! Thank you for the stay. -Samar

“Thank you! We have left cool rocks we found on our hikes. Thanks for everything. “

“Thank you for an amazing stay! The house was awesome and we had a great time. As a gift we left a pool Floative. We hope future guests enjoy!” 7-25-2021

Nespresso machine available. Luxury towel warmer, too (out for repair). Professional kitchen with two ovens, two grills, three dishwashers, microwave, fully equipped.

Sleeping arrangements:
Three rooms, each on its own separate floor, each with its own bathroom. The top two are accessed from the main entrance; the third (California King), in suite with its bathroom, has its own separate entrance (accessible via stairs).

Beds: 1 queen bed, 1 California King, 1 full, 1 twin.
Plus an Inflatable queen bed available upon request; please ask for it before check in. Two bedrooms come standard. The third bedroom, accessible only through its separate outside entrance, can be rented with the main house for an additional $350/day, or separately.

There are 4 working fridges for guests: 1 large one in the kitchen and 3 small ones: 2 in the palapa, 1 at the bottom of the stairs. There is a fifth fridge in the kitchen for the owner’s use. If you need more space, contact the contact number provided.

****Parties are strictly forbidden unless by written permission of the owner. The presence of more people than booked without written authorization of the owner or loud music will terminate your rental immediately without a refund and will forfeit 100% of your security deposit. Neighbors will alert the local sheriff if you have more guests than authorized and the rental will be terminated immediately without any refund. The cameras around the entrance to the property will also alert the owner if this happens.****

Three areas are out of bounds: the locked door on the second floor, the garage and the elevator.

Note that one room is on the ground floor, one room requires inside stairs to access, and one room has two accesses through outside steps and its own separate outside entrance with no inside access to the rest of the villa. The lights to the outside steps are on the inside wall behind the sofa in the music room. The outside steps were just redone but if you have mobility issues, you probably want to stay in one of the other two rooms. This villa is not well suited for groups that need three rooms for mobility-challenged people.

*** No pouring anything into the pool or spa or you will be assessed the cost of draining it, cleaning the equipment and refilling it, which is at least $1,000. ***

Property manager

Alex Bäcker

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: less than 50 lb per pet (limit 2 pets total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Pool heating is available for $100/day, which will be deducted from your deposit automatically if you use it.
2 bedrooms come standard, a 3rd with its own separate outside access and no house access is available for a fee. Fee waived for bookings of 6+.
Pets are allowed with a pet fee but should be mostly outdoors and never on beds or sofas. Please switch filter back to pool mode when done with spa

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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

Altadena

Located in Altadena, this villa is in the mountains. Rose Bowl Stadium and Griffith Observatory are notable landmarks, and some of the area's popular attractions include Los Angeles Zoo and Walt Disney Studios. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Dodger Stadium or Santa Anita Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Altadena, CA

What's nearby

  • Pasadena Convention Center - 10 min drive
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory - 11 min drive
  • California Institute of Technology - 11 min drive
  • Rose Bowl Stadium - 12 min drive
  • Santa Anita Park - 17 min drive

Getting around

  • Pasadena Station - 10 min drive
  • Allen Station - 10 min drive
  • Burbank, CA (BUR-Hollywood Burbank) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • Unincorporated Coffee Roasters - 7 min drive
  • Taco Bell - 7 min drive
  • Fair Oaks Burger - 6 min drive
  • Jack In The Box - 4 min drive
  • Pollos Puebla - 6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

How much does it cost to stay at The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa?

As of 19 Apr 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa on 20 May 2024 start from AU$1,180.70, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lb per pet.

What time is check-in at The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Villa of 100 Games: Idyllic secluded mountain villa w/pool & spa located?

This family-friendly Altadena villa is located in the mountains, 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Angeles National Forest, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Kidspace Childrens Museum and The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Rose Bowl Stadium and Paseo Colorado are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 27 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Clayton H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Booked for a surprise engagement and get together after.
Great time! Thank you for the hospitality.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

4/10 Poor

Ross B.

Liked: Communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy
house and property needs updating
Very basic accommodations with one room on main floor and second room downstairs. Third room you get to by very steep outside staircase and is dark under the house. We asked to have an early checkin and were told is was $85 per hour to do so. We also wanted the pool heated and at $100 a day which is okay but they wanted us to also pay for the day it takes to heat the pool. The room upstairs with the games is a closed in deck and very hot and dirty. There was also big chain and lock on the main fridge and pantry storage. Overall not a welcoming home.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alston C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Memorial Weekend Getaway
Very fun and homey Vrbo property. Owner was very cooperative and responsive. Made the memorial weekend getaway a great time. Tons of games and things to do at the house. Nighttime was lovely as well away from the busy city.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay
Stayed with family (kids 6 & 9) in December. House was exactly as described. Kids loved the game room. Great pool and hot tub. Thanks Alex!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A treat of a retreat...part 2!
We had a wonderful time! The house is lovely and Alex was a great host! Great place to just hang out and be together with friends/ family! So much space to be outside! It was everything we were looking for!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Alex Bäcker

Host profile image
Tech inventor, writer and entrepreneur, moved to California to get his Ph.D. at Caltech, fell in love with it and stayed.

Why they chose this property

A dream property, vacation villa secluded yet near it all

What makes this property unique

Pool, spa, BBQ, deck, professional kitchen, 4 floors (3 of them are finished, one of them is an open air area with fussball, billiards and ping poing). But above all what makes the villa unique is its nature, the books, the artwork and the music.
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