My family shared a fantastic Christmas in Denver, thanks in large part to Steve and Vicky's awesome generosity. Their beautiful home exceeded our expectations--photos don't do it justice--and felt comfortable and calming, just like staying at our friends' home.

Our bed was great--I slept hard--and the bedroom minimally furnished, just the way I like it. Bathroom and showers, too, were clean and well-appointed without clutter, and the radiant floor heating throughout the house felt toasty through my socks.

That said, I pretty much lived in their incredible kitchen. WHEW. Gorgeous functional cookware and knives, perfect gas range, neat espresso machine that Steve, when he learned of my barista experience, trusted me enough to let me use. He even shared his locally roasted beans.

Their home sits in a quiet residential neighborhood, a block-and-a-half treelined walk from an small enclave of cafes and shops. We had zero trouble navigating by foot or by car.

Personally, Steve and Vicky were wonderful people. Our communications prior to meeting: Straightforward, flexible, quick, friendly, honest. In person: Friendly, generous (again), accommodating, engaging. Then they disappeared with the reminder to text or call if anything came up, and we had everything we needed for our holiday.

Ours was a wonderful experience. For what it's worth, Steve and Vicky have my thanks and my highest recommendation.