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Stargazers' Sabbatical

Photo gallery for Stargazers' Sabbatical

Property grounds
Computer monitors
Exterior
2 bedrooms, desk, free WiFi, bed sheets
Miscellaneous

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
Ajo, AZ
  • Place, Cabeza Preita National Wildlife Refuge
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Bud Walker Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Ajo Plaza
    ‪17 min walk‬

Room options

Similar properties

Property entrance
Marine Motel
Ajo
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
3.5 out of 5, Good, 439 reviews
The price is NZ$131
includes taxes & fees
14 May - 15 May
Marine Motel

About the area

Ajo

With a stay at this vacation home in Ajo, you'll be steps from Bud Walker Park and a 3-minute drive from Ajo Plaza. .This vacation home is 1.2 mi (2 km) from Gibson Neighborhood Park and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from New Cornelia Branch Hospital.
View more Holiday homes in AjoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Cabeza Preita National Wildlife Refuge - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Bud Walker Park - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Ajo Plaza - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Gibson Neighborhood Park - 2 min drive - 1.6 km
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - 25 min drive - 33.1 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Oasis Coffee - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Ranger Cafe & Bistro - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Circle K - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Sonoran Sweet & Savory - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Agave Grill - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Stargazers' Sabbatical

Sadly necessary preface: All available dates are on the calendar. All bookings must be completed through the Vrbo website. There will never be any exceptions. Messages reflecting ignorance of this paragraph will be ignored.

Phew. Okay, now the fun stuff.

Our little house was one of hundreds built by the Phelps-Dodge mining company to house the workers at its New Cornelia copper mine between 1916 and 1985. We recently completed the first phase of a long term renovation plan and it's ready for people to enjoy.

This former mining town turned artist colony is emerging as a base camp for outdoor adventurers, astrophotographers, and everyone else who wants to revel in the remote beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

The town's burgeoning scene includes live music and dance shows, literature and art presentations, open air markets, and a growing range of artisanal culinary offerings, all with a Sonoran Desert twist that is unique to Ajo.

Phoenix and its metropolitan amenities are two hours away by car, and the laid back culturepalooza of beautiful Tucson is only a 2.5 hour drive along scenic AZ 86.

If you're feeling the need to get your beach on, bring your passport and pop down to the former fishing village and current resort town of Puerto Peñasco, a two hour jaunt across the Mexican border to the Gulf of California (don't forget to buy Mexican car insurance in Ajo before you go).

As beautiful as the desert is, Ajo's greatest natural attraction is its dark night sky. More than a hundred miles from the nearest major city, the absence of light pollution allows Ajo visitors to see the night skies of their ancestors. The backyard of the house is on the lowest fringe of Bortle 4. Bortle 3 is a five minute walk, and Bortle 2 is a five minute drive. (You'll need camping gear and a 4WD vehicle to enjoy Bortle 1.)

The property is slowly being optimized for amateur astronomy, because its owner hopes to spend his winter nights that way upon retirement. In the meantime, you can enjoy its already ample charms.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private patio. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a desk and a microwave.
This smoke-free vacation home offers games.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Firepit
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Computer monitor
  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Local culture and ecosystem education
  • Recycling

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Note from host: Parent/guardian must be present for < 18 guests

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
Onsite 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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property

Stargazers' Sabbatical Ajo

Stargazers' Sabbatical Private vacation home

Stargazers' Sabbatical Private vacation home Ajo

Stargazers' Sabbatical Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Liked: Cleanliness
House is in good condition in a nice quiet neighborhood. House was clean with no problems or issues. Property manager provided detailed timely instructions for entry and responded quickly to questions.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Steven P.

It was great..quite and peasefull
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Nancy G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, comfortable bed, hot shower, climate controlled in a nice quiet neighborhood near the Plaza! We will return! Well equipped kitchen, and would have loved the fire pit if we had more than three nights. Host and local contact were responsive, but had VRBO issues with scheduling. Had our own coffee, body wash and shampoo/conditioner, but suggest they add the last three for those who are used to hotel amenities. Try the Sonoran Sweet and Savory restaurant near the Plaza. Newer owners; their keto breakfast was amazing; sad we couldn’t try the crepes. They looked amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Tom

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Brandon B.

Liked: Cleanliness
The stay was fantastic! I've come to Ajo for work a handful of other times and the Stargazers Sabbatical truly takes the cake for one of the best places I've had the pressure to stay at. The host(s) are so kind & responsive.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

ntorres F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything was great would book here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Scott and Lynn J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice residential area. Lots of birds in yard. Easy check in. Great historic Ajo house. Had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Back yard cactus and plants are beautiful! Would stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Connie, Farmington

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Property was not well maintained. Floor had splotches of paint in multiple rooms, looked like someone came in with road tar on shoes, especially noticed in bathroom, hall and one bedroom under computer monitor table. Dishwasher was unusable for some time, had problem with washer machine and ask for help but never received a reply. Wrong code was provided to access property, called help number and received new code. Other request were never answered. Fan installed in kitchen prevented cabinet door from opening. Poorly maintained grounds, lots of weeds, dying palm trees, looked like plants haven't been watered in years. Found comforter for master bedroom in dryer. Extremely poor communication. Paint tape on bottom of bathroom door, looked like a splash and dash paint job. Various holes in wall and ceiling in living/dining room. Never could find house rules online or in residence. Did find wifi password posted in living/dining room. Sure would like to post pictures of this place.
Featured picture shown on listing, this is updated picture showing neglect
Front yard
Road tar on bathroom floor
Road tar in hallway next to bathroom
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Joni B.

Liked: Cleanliness
First of all the dishwasher was not working as advertised, there is an unsafe lamp in living room only electrical tape holding it on base; if it had fallen over could been a fire danger! Also the shower has a huge leak in attachment and water runs everywhere; need a plumber! Shower bar not secure fell down as soon as we touched it! also poorly attached is thermostat. Had to get directions as to how to work it and I think you need to put temp tablet/clock in living room with instructions that it runs the thermostat.The house was very clean except window sills covered in dust and beds very comfortable! Never used cooking appliances tho. Really think those are pretty major issues need to be fixed!
Scary!!
Needs another screw
Shower gushing excess water!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly A.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house was clean and quiet. It was just what we needed to while visiting family in Ajo.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

James L.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was easy to book. The amenities were great. Clean and comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher A.

Liked: Cleanliness
House was very clean and had everything needed for the stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Judy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
We enjoyed the comfort of our stay in Stargazers' Sabbatical . It was clean, the beds were comfortable, there were many books, games and puzzles to enjoy, and the kitchen contained everything we needed to prepare meals. The location was nice and quiet. Everywhere we looked, we discovered interesting and unique decorations, many of them astronomy related. Contacts with the caretaker, Crystal, were also quickly responded to.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shirley

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, comfortable house in interesting small desert community. Large back patio, many thoughtful extras for a hassle-free stay. Enjoy the very large cactus in area yards.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ingrid

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property had all the essentials that were necessary and more. For the area it was more than we expected. We had a couple of questions and they were answered immediately. We highly recommend this Verbo. It is a comfortable drive to Organ Pipe national reserve.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

michael m.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wouldn’t recommend.

Not a nice area of town. Kind of shoddy neighborhood. Lots of junk in neighbors yards.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carol H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Quiet Place to Relax

Very quiet neighborhood, close to the plaza and main highway. Would stay there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

john w.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely Stay in Ajo

Great place, very clean and great location. Loved the decor and outdoor space. Thanks for a pleasant stay
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

alma d.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice place. Comfortable and clean.

Short but good. Ajo is a nice, friendly town.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erin M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely lodging

Everything was great at this house. Good shower pressure, plenty of hot water. Comfortable queen bed. Property was clean. Quiet neighborhood. Barking dogs on the block but couldn’t hear from inside. Nice covered backyard patio. Operational windows for fresh air. Would (and have already) recommend to others.
Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

jake g., mesa colorado

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jay & Lisa P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice home, great neighborhood!

Nice clean comfortable home. Great neighborhood.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Jim S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Home was fantastic; town was disappointing

The VRBO home was really nice. Clean, good neighborhood, reasonable and outstanding property manager. Challenge is that the town is closed on Sundays and many of the sights are only open certain days and not the same days as others. If you're star gazing, this is definitely the place for you but we just wanted to see an old AZ town and there was nothing to see. Their website gave you the sights available but not the days/hours open. Final challenge is that there is NO t-mobile coverage so went without phones or internet while there except for the evenings with the home wifi.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kitty L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Comfortable home

Plenty of room for my daughter and I. The beds were comfortable and the shower great. The kitchen was well supplied, except that the dishwasher wasn’t functional. The covered patio was very nice. I don’t remember a view of the mountains, but the night sky was great.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

JOHN R.

Liked: Cleanliness

Organ Pipe holiday visit

Nice bungalow in a quiet neighborhood well situated for visits to Organ Pipe and dark sky locations. Not far from historic Ajo town center, but not right in it either. This would have been a five star review if not for communications issues that may have been outside normal circumstances. The local host left a nice note in the front room giving us her phone number and inviting us to call with any questions, but then did not answer phone calls and left voicemail full so unable to leave a message. No welcome packet was provided so we were left to our own devices to figure out how to handle several issues that arose, or know exactly what was expected of us upon departure. Hopefully the owner will address these issues in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024