Skip to main content
Entire home

Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England

Photo gallery for Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England

Living Room view with entrance to Kitchen and Dining Room. Large screen HDTV
Living Room view toward bedrooms, with library in background
Western exposure brightens the many windows during the afternoons
Computer Nook in Game Room. Wi-Fi access to FIOS internet
The Laptop Station is a perfect spot to stay in touch while enjoying family time

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 11

Popular amenities

  • Garage parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Balcony or patio

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

The Canopy Room

1 King Bed

The Courtyard Room

2 Single Beds

The Dorm Room

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

The Fireplace Room

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England

“I'm so ready to put my feet up! Thank you for giving me a place to do so with my kids…we are happy to be here at The Rum Runner House again!” -- A returning Phillips Academy parent from afar.

Rum Runner House is a family-oriented property close to Phillips Academy, Brooks School, Pike School and Merrimack College. The home makes it possible to spend quality time with your student and his/her friends during your visit in a very comfortable & flexible manner. Well-stocked with HDTV, classic books & board games to suit a range of tastes, on-site recreational choices also include table tennis, basketball, street hockey, driveway soccer, bocce and Frisbee, baseball & football toss.

Enjoy getting to know your child's friends over a ping pong game, or by sharing nicely grilled steaks out on the fenced-in, brick patio. Have the freedom to spoil them by cooking up favorite family recipes that brings the group as close to your home kitchen as is possible. With the large amount of space, you can arrange with the Academy to welcome your student and friends to spend the night off-campus in 'your home away from home' -- a treat that is especially treasured by students who are themselves a long way from their own families.

In addition, The Rum Runner House has become a favorite venue of corporate managers looking for an excellent extended stay property for their valued employees. Such guests have included the New England headquarters of a Presidential campaign, financial executives and performance artisans.

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Exterior
Welcoming 2025 built: 4-bedroom 3.5-bath modern farm house @ charming Andover
Andover
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (1 review)
Welcoming 2025 built: 4-bedroom 3.5-bath modern farm house @ charming Andover

House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 12:00 PM

default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

default

Events

No events allowed

default

Pets

No pets allowed

default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Housekeeping: Daily maid service is not included in the rental.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number C0156050090
Property # 3023071
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Andover

Andover is home to this holiday home. Addison Gallery of American Art and Methuen Memorial Music Hall are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Moncrieff Cochran Sanctuary and Smolak Farms. Travelling with kids? Consider Water Park of New England and Collins Bowladrome. Practise your golf swing on a nearby course, or enjoy other activities in the great outdoors, such as cycling and hiking/biking trails in the area.
View more Holiday homes in AndoverOpens in a new window
Map
Andover, MA

What's nearby

  • Philips Academy - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Addison Gallery of American Art - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Robert S. Peabody Museum - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Boston Common - 33 min drive - 43.4 km
  • Harvard University - 34 min drive - 38.8 km

Getting around

  • Andover Station - 3 min drive
  • Lawrence, MA (LWM-Lawrence Municipal) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bake'n Joy Foods - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Casa Blanca - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪LaRosa's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Otto - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Autograph American Tavern - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Phillips Academy Area – Ideal for Families Visiting Campus & Touring New England located?

This family-friendly Andover holiday home is within 2 mi (3 km) of Philips Academy, Moncrieff Cochran Sanctuary and Addison Gallery of American Art. Merrimack College and Harold Parker State Forest are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

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. 61 out of 72 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 72 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 72 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 72 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 72 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Kirsten A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host was wonderful. House was clean and comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jim C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host did a good job of telling us about the features of the house at check in
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was large and all one level with wide hallways. Perfect for maneuvering my mother in wheelchair. Large nice bedrooms and common areas. Super friendly and very considerate host. Loved our stay here
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chelvi R.

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

Awesome place

Excellent.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katherine K.

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

Katherine

Out of town family stayed here while I hosted a birthday bash at my house nearby. Great location and wonderful house for family to hang out in and enjoy time together
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tyler G.

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

Beautiful home.

Beautiful home in Andover that is perfect for groups of all sizes. Steve and his family are attentive, kind, and helpful hosts. Excellent location. Would rent again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Rum Runner was our home base for the weekend of my mother’s funeral. We could not have had a better spot. Room for our kids and my siblings to sleep, and room for my entire family to gather afterwards on the patio and two living rooms. The owners were helpful and easy to communicate with. Thank you for making a difficult time stress-free!
Patio
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Carol S.

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

Great property for a group

The property was well stocked and very nice. The host greeted us and stocked a few things in the kitchen. Lots of room for a large group of family or friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura R.

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

Great property and home!

My family and I stayed here while in town for a funeral. The house is wonderful, and although it’s on a Main Street it was really quiet. Steve is very thoughtful and provided drinks and snacks and the communication was wonderful. We will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

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

Rum runner stay

Wonderful host , great layout with bedrooms away from the rest of the house. No worries about waking up the little ones. Very convenient to the North shore and new Hampshire
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

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

Great

We had a nice stay. Comfy and plenty of room. We had 10 in our party.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

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

Great for big family gatherings

We had a great stay at the Rum Runner! We had a big family coming and going all thanksgiving week, and the house was perfect for all that activity. There was enough space for everyone to gather for dinner, and also spots for a bit of quiet time when needed. The bedrooms were cozy and versatile, and the big windows gave us beautiful views. The host was so accommodating and we couldn’t have had a better place to stay
Stayed 10 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

William H.

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

The perfect place to reunite.

The house is amazing the neighborhood is close to a lot of great restaurants and a short drive to anything you want. We did a friends weekend after not seeing each other for a few years. The house is spacious and warm. The living and sleeping areas are spread out so friends who wanted to crash were not bothered by those who stayed up late. I can’t wait to plan a family get away to the area and stay at this amazing property. The owner was incredibly helpful and made us feel like part of their family. I could go on for days about this place.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristine M.

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

Perfect for Family attending wedding

Our daughter got married at our house and we were able to out some of our family up here. It was perfect, with plenty of room for 2 families. Thank you again!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Raphael G.

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

Spacious with a lot of character

My family enjoyed the space of the property & its surroundings. Proximity to places was not difficult & food delivery was easy as well. We enjoyed our time spent there & Steve was a great host professional, attentive & hospitable. We would love to visit & stay there again. This property definitely has everything you need & more!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maureen B.

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

50 HS Reunion

Wonderful spot for our group to gather for our 50th HS reunion. The additional treats were most welcome but especially the Keurig!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

Katherine K.

Liked: Location

Family reunion

Shades were ripped and towels were all stained. Host graciously met us at start of stay and left snacks for us. Comfortable beds.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 27 May 2024
For the record: “Shades were ripped” – Upon arrival we apologized to the Guest as we had difficulty scheduling a repairman to install our newly-purchased shades to fix recent damage. The repair was completed shortly after the Guest departed. “towels were all stained” -- A member of our Cleaning Team forgot a load of white towels in the washing machine for several days. Four towels out of a collection of about forty developed small rust spots. These have been replaced.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Clayton L.

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

Great place to relax and get together after long day.

We were looking for a place in the Boston area for our short term mission team. We wanted to be together and this home offered us that opportunity. It was clean and laid out well. It housed our group of ten. Plenty of beds and baths. Good kitchen and the host was so welcoming. We even got to use the grill in the large outdoor space. I highly recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Margaret D.

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

This home was perfect for our family.

Having four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms was wonderful. We also had a washer and dryer. For us, the location was. perfect. We were near our extended family. I would stay at the Rum Runner again.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alexis B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our VRBO host communicated very well and was kind enough to accommodate our late check-in. When we arrived, there were thoughtful touches like coffee, creamer, and snacks waiting for us. The house itself was really cute with a charming, old-fashioned vibe.The only negative was that the sheets and pillowcases didn’t smell freshly laundered — not exactly dirty, but they had a “people” scent, like when you open an older person’s closet. It wasn’t a major problem, but I ended up putting a towel over my pillowcase and didn’t use the comforter.Overall, it was a pleasant stay, and I appreciated that our host even checked in on us during the visit — a really nice gesture!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ryan A.

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

Great weekend away

Siblings, cousins, and I needed a place to stay while attending a baby shower in Bedford. We probably could’ve Hosted the baby shower in this house there was so much space and seating, even more than we expected. But we had fun playing ping pong and catching up when we got home from our family event and all slept great. Thanks for the comfy lodging!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diana C.

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

The house that keeps on giving

Thanks for a lovely stay Steve. We really enjoyed our time at the Rum Runner. It's great that the house has two sections so the adults can sleep in while the kids play. The game room was lots of fun and the back living room so comfy and cozy. The beds were also very comfortable. Thanks for the snacks and drinks! Very thoughtful!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

JENNIFER S.

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

So homey

This house was incredible. You felt like you were stepping back in time, and that made it cozy. The host, Steve, met us and explained the amazing history of his family home. He even provided snacks and drinks to help my family get started. I highly recommend this home.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Tina C.

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

Plenty of room for everyone

The rum runner is a large home with plenty of room for everyone. Large and clean bathrooms. Steve was a great host. Our only complaint is that the carpet is old and wearing out.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kevin D.

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

Nerdy Game Weekend

It was a good spot for what my group was wanting, which was a clean, spacious area to play some games together. Host was very communicative and accommodating. Also left us some unopened chips and juice, which was very kind!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Steve

Host profile image

The property has remained in the same family's hands since its purchase in 1947. The experience of sending its youth to far-away schools created an awareness of how the residence could provide a wonderful 'home away from home' for familes from around the USA -- and the globe -- entrusting their childrens' education to nearby New England private schools.

Why they chose this property

Located in sight of the Memorial Bell Tower at Phillips Academy -- the ground on which colonial troops mustered prior to engagement in the American Revolutionary War -- the property is named after the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber in which its original resident earned the Distinguished Flying Cross prior to returning home from Europe and building the home in 1947.

What makes this property unique

Nestled in the shade of three massive old trees on the property, this large home has served for decades as a perfect venue for gathering family with longstanding, and brand new, friends. Its one level design makes it inviting for even the very young and seniors. Combined with the potential to provide your boarding student with the ability to experience the day student lifestyle on their campus for a short period, Rum Runner House offers your entire family memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback