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Short Beach Coastal Cottage

Photo gallery for Short Beach Coastal Cottage

A dining area with a wooden table, white chairs, a chandelier, and a potted plant.
A restaurant with outdoor seating, covered by a white roof, and surrounded by greenery.
A dining area with a wooden table, white chairs, and a chandelier.
A sand sculpture of a beach with the words "SHORT BEACH" written on it.
A modern living room with a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, a white sofa, a coffee table with magazines, and two black shelving units with decorative items and plants.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View map
Branford, CT
  • Place, Farm River State Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Yale University
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Quinnipiac University
    ‪25 min drive‬
  • Airport, New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

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About the area

Branford

Located in Branford, this cottage is near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at West Rock Ridge State Park and Quinnipiac River State Park, while Shoreline Trolley Museum and Pardee Morris House are cultural highlights. Lighthouse Point Carousel and Schubert Performing Arts Center are also worth visiting. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hiking/biking trails nearby.
View more Cottages in BranfordOpens in a new window
Map
Branford, CT

What's nearby

  • Farm River State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Yale University - 11 min drive - 12.3 km
  • Southern Connecticut State University - 17 min drive - 15.4 km
  • Quinnipiac University - 25 min drive - 29.4 km
  • Fairfield University - 43 min drive - 51.8 km

Getting around

  • Branford Station - 9 min drive
  • New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Branhaven Plaza - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Deli - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Sandpiper Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Short Beach Coastal Cottage pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at Short Beach Coastal Cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Short Beach Coastal Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Short Beach Coastal Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Short Beach Coastal Cottage located?

Situated near the beach, this cottage is within 3 miles (5 km) of Double Beach, Shoreline Trolley Museum and Branford Hills Plaza Shopping Center. East Haven Town Beach and Victoria Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

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. 25 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, exactly as advertised. Perfect for us while in the area for a wedding.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 June 2026
Ann and spouse were great guests; always welcome back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location. The home is well stocked in a nice open layout.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2026
Happy you enjoyed the location and your stay at the cottage. You are always welcome as our guests!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved everything about our stay. Catherine and Ken are perfect hosts and the cottage is thoughtfully appointed with everything we needed for our 2 week stay. Can't wait to come back next year!
Stayed 17 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 October 2025
Diane and Jack, Thank you for being our guests at the cottage and we look forward to seeing you next summer! Best to you, Ken and Catherine
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is our third year staying at this cottage and it's continues to be the highlight of our summer each year. Cat and Ken are perfect hosts. The cottage is a delightfully calm and quiet escape. It's decorated in neutral tones and beautifully appointed with everything needed for a relaxing time away. The living room couches are perfect for lounging and enjoying the morning light or evening shadows. Comfy beds and a kitchen that's a delight to cook in. And, it's all just a few doors down from a small, private beach.
Stayed 18 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Short stay in a wonderful cottage

The cottage is really well equipped, comfortable, and convenient to many things we needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful area. Very clean home.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 October 2025
Thank you choosing to stay with your us!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Grandson visit.

Location and cleanliness of property was great.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 April 2025
Happy you were pleased with your stay! Appreciate the feedback!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Branford Cottage

Nice cottage just a short distance away from the water. Hosts very nice!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cozy Getaway

The house was clean and in a great location in Branford (Short Beach). Owner was responsive with any questions I had and provided a binder with great activities and locations to visit during our stay. 10 out of 10, would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Hometown visit

Really great to spend time in a beautiful place where I was lucky to grow up. Our cottage was like our home for 3 weeks and hosts nearby for any questions. Friends who came to visit also loved it. .
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2024
Awesome guests! Pleasant and friendly, took care of the cottage during their stay. Would welcome Patti and Michael back anytime!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Gem!

This cottage was delightful!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great charm and loving care

It was really evident that the hosts enjoy this project. Very nice people and everything was tip top.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 September 2024
Pleasant and friendly guests! cottage was in great shape upon their departure, no worries for other hosts!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Short beach experience

A beautiful house, great location. Things close by to do, eat, or whatever. Also a comfortable place to do nothing. Most likely going to try to stay here again next year
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Hidden Gem

The cottage was clean, well furnished and in the Short Beach community. Very close to beautiful coves connected to Long Island Sound. Excellent!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful place to stay!

The house was very comfortable, updated, and clean. The location was convenient our son's home and the surrounding area. The street is quiet and located within walking distance to a local beach. Catherine and Ken, the owners, were very accommodating to a concern we had. We would definitely stay here again, if the opportunity arose, and we would positively recommend to others to stay at this home when visiting Branford.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Birthday weekend

Great cottage. Clean, comfortable and cozy. It had everything we needed. We wanted to try a new place that we had never been to and to do the Thimble Islands cruise. Rosso Vino restaurant was good. Food was delicious!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful

The house is sweet. Clean, well kept. Thank you for having us.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 August 2023
We are very happy you enjoyed your stay! Come back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect family gathering place

The beach cottage was perfect for our family. We were in Connecticut for a graduation ceremony with family coming from 3 different states. We were only 10-15 min from the university, had access to many restaurants and were able to relax and spend time together in a cozy,very well furnished and beautifully decorated home. It’s a lovely area to stroll around and a short walk to the beach. We sincerely recommended staying here, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Branford stay

The house is lovely, comfortable, and well-equipped. The location is charming and the area was a delight to explore. There were Osprey flying right over the house taking fish to the nest. We enjoyed the trails and the quiet. I grew up in SE CT, so I'm used to a beautiful coast, but this area is impressive. My niece and I had a lovely stay. Thank you to our host.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 June 2023
Karen, so happy you enjoyed your stay and found the area a delight to explore! You are welcome and thank you for being such wonderful guests! Best, Catherine
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quinnipiac University Graduation Retreat

Catherine & Ken provided our family with a beautiful home away from home beach side retreat while celebrating our daughter’s graduation week! The home was beautifully appointed for travelers seeking comfort, thoughtfulness, and convenience as the priority. Our hosts provided us with the gift of time well spent minus any worries. We are truly grateful for our hosts. Notably, Cat has The Best Junk Drawer ever!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A Coastal Haven with Warm Hospitality

Our two-week stay at this Branford cottage was nothing short of perfection. Nestled near Long Island Sound, the location offers a short walk to the neighborhood beach and a serene atmosphere. The cottage itself is cozy and well-appointed, providing all the comforts of home. What truly sets this rental apart are the gracious hosts. Their warmth and attentiveness ensured we felt welcome throughout our stay. Their adorable dogs, Elsie and Cookie, added an extra layer of charm to the experience. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or a base to explore the Connecticut shoreline, this cottage is an ideal choice. We're already dreaming of our next visit!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2024
Jack and Diane we miss you already!! Whenever our guests leave, we miss them!? We love hosting and meeting new people and always want guests to feel welcome and relaxed. We hope to see you again and look forward to all our guests taking home wonderful memories! Many blessings! Ken, Cat, Cookie and Elsie!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing and Cozy

As soon as we stepped through the door of this home, it was clear how our stay was going to be. This home was cozy, bright, clean, well stocked and all around relaxing! Due to circumstances out of control of the owner and community the beach down the street was closed, but that didn’t take away from the beauty of the community and it gave us a chance to explore and find a public beach only 20 minutes away. I couldn’t recommend this home enough for someone that is looking to relax, unwind and reconnect with family and/or friends!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was clean and comfortable. We really appreciated the use of beach toys, carts, and kayaks.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 August 2026
Very frIendly a pleasant guests. House was in great order after their Stay. Would be very happy to have them as guests again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and great location..near a local neighborhood beach and some great restaurants. The beach chairs and toys also came in clutch for us! The owner was also very responsive when we noted a couple of small maintenance issues. Thanks so much for having us!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2026
Alvin and his family were lovely guests, very friendly, Pleasant and easy with communicatio. Great family and would love to host them again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very comfortable clean unit.. well equipped kitchen.. a few skillets need replacing.. grill works great but grate needs replacing or use foil!! Overall it’s a great unit!! Will definitely consider for future visits w our Grandkids!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 June 2026
Sharon, thank you for giving feedback and alerting us on the need to replace the skillets and grill grates. We will replace promptly. We appreciate your business and having you and your husband as guests! Ken and Cat
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