Vacation Rentals by Owner

Hacienda Serena

Guest: Henry
Date of Stay: 05/19/12 Review Submitted: 05/21/12

Hello! We had the most wonderful time in your home! Thank you for all the wonderful, extra touches you provided for us...the coffee cake, the graduation congratulations table, the absolute "home" feeling that we all enjoyed! The time we spent on the deck was so enjoyable and peaceful; we had a really wonderful time celebrating our son's graduation from CSUMB. Our Mom's loved the time watching their Grandsons's graduation and the time they got to spend at your lovely home. They are 84 & 77 respectively and it was very comfortable for them. We are trying to find ways to book some more time at your home in the future. Thank You for opening up your home to us!!Many memories, Sincerely,

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Thanks!

Guest: Jamie
Date of Stay: 09/08/11 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

Thanks for letting us use your lovely home! We had a quality time so that our child could spend more time with his grandparents and see the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He also enjoyed playing with the toys in the toy closet you provide. Thanks also for the coffee cake! My pants now fit a little differently:) Best Regards...

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Beyond Our Expectations

Guest: elkhead6x6 (Lakeport, CA/USA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

Our experience with the owners of Hacienda Serena was far beyond our expectations - and that was before we arrived. They are the greatest people to deal with - very accommodating and personable. One comment I would make regarding the description of the home on the VRBO website - "It does not do the home justice"! It far surpassed our expectations. When we arrived at the home we were amazed and pleased by the cleanliness and attention to detail the owners employ to make your experience truly memorable. During our stay my wife and I celebrated our birthdays and the owner had graciously baked an exquisite cake for the occasion - what a thoughtful touch. Also included for our convenience were the fixings for a great breakfast for our family. There is a piano in the living room which my wife played, entertaining us one evening. We spent one evening dining on the deck, looking out across Monterey Bay, enjoying the Blue Jays that came to visit and the family of quail that graced us with their presence. We spent our days exploring Monterey: The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row and of course the beaches, and Santa Cruz: The Boardwalk and Amusement Park, only to return "home" to a great shower and comfortable beds to recharge for yet another day of excitement and relaxation. We enjoyed dining at Bubba Gumps, Whaling Station, the Chart House, and Gilberts on the boardwalk in Santa Cruz - all with great food and service. We have truly found a "Home-Away-From-Home" in Hacienda Serena and look forward with anticipation to returning for even more exploration and R&R. We will unreservedly recommend this home to all our family and friends who wish to travel to Monterey. Thank you for making your home available and our vacation such an extraordinary and memorable experience. You made us feel like family and words alone cannot express our gratitude. "We Will Be Back".

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Lovely home for our large family

Guest: Kate (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 05/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

Thank you for a lovely visit. We found your home to be welcoming and comfortable even for our large extended family of 5 adults and 3 children. We were easily able to access all of the places in the Monterey area (Aquarium, Point Lobos, Asilomar, Big Sur) that we'd hoped to see and then return to relax in the evening and enjoy close in adventures and fine dining in Monterey and nearby towns. Everyone was comfortable and there was plenty of room for our diverse personalities to spread out when we needed it. :) You made it easy to stay with lots of helpful information about the area and the house at our fingertips. Thank you!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

Great Spot to Relax and Enjoy

Guest: Mickey's Pal (Carmichael, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 04/23/11

Comfortable, Clean and Fun. Great location - few minutes to the Beach, Aquarium, Cannery Row, Farmer's Market. Three bathrooms were perfect for our party of 8. Well furnished. Lots of places to relax - inside and out. Plenty of character - every day we saw something new in the home. Toys for the grandkids. Quiet deck to sit outside, BBQ, watch birds and just enjoy getting together. Will definitely reserve again whenever we plan to stay in the Monterey-Carmel area.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a beautiful home

Guest: Peter B.
Date of Stay: 01/20/11 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

"...to stay at..It was just perfect; beautiful view; beautiful accommodations with privacy. So much better than a hotel!! Enjoyed the fireplaces, the barbeque, the nice, warm master bedroom suite. Wow! Thank you so much.

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Better than a hotel, nicer than home!

Guest: Bill (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 01/10/11 Review Submitted: 02/01/11

From the homemade baked goods for breakfast to many thoughtful amenities, this home is truly a delight. Just walking in made me feel like family. Great master suite and each bedroom has it's own bath! Convenient to golf (Pebble Beach, etc.) and about half-way between the lovely downtowns of Carmel and Monterey. Plus a gorgeous drive up the coast to San Francisco. What a GREAT location!

Owner response:Thank you for the great review, BK. It was our pleasure!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Thank you

Guest: Wu
Date of Stay: 12/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

"...thank you very much for everything you prepared for us. I came from Asia and it's really a memorable reunion with my families, especially to have a lovely vacation home here. Best Wishes"

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A truly wonderful way to spend the Holidays!

Guest: GMA (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/29/10

Our family came from two ends from the State to meet here to spend the Christmas Holiday. The Hacienda was beautifully decorated for Christmas and the breakfast gave us that extra special touch for Christmas morning. The accommodations were just as described and the owners were quick to answer any questions we had. We're just hoping that we were good enough tenants to be able to come again so we can take better advantage of the activities and attractions in the area.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Nicole and Brian
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 09/27/10

"We loved your beautiful home, patio and views! The kids had a great time with the toys-thanks so much for making them available & letting us use the Pack and Play, too. Every crumb of the coffee cake was enjoyed and we really appreciated Saturday's breakfast, too. We'll be back!"

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Guest: Melissa
Date of Stay: 09/12/10 Review Submitted: 09/27/10

"We couldn't have been more pleased with our stay in your comfortable, immaculate, inviting home. We all slept well. Usually we go out for breakfast, but had an early tour of Lula's Chocolates, so your fabulous coffee cake, etc., made it so we could get there on time. A very pleasant experience that enhanced our girl's getaway on the Moterey Peninsula."

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Guest: Susan
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

"We had an absolutely wonderful time in your home and are so grateful that you were willing to share it with us. From the moment we drove up and saww the Micky (Mouse) flag hanging in the front, we knew we were going to enjoy it. The children have commented on what a nice house this is and they think it is the best one we've stayed in so far. your special touches are everywhere, from the delicious coffee cake (everyone thought it was the best) to the fresh flowers, to the welcoming plate, to having everything anyone could need or want, it was perfect. I hope we get a chance to come back and share this fantastic experience with some of our friends!"

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Our new favorite home away from home!

Guest: Bob & Laurie (Forestville, CA )
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

My family and I stayed here for our daughters' graduation from CSUMB. From the moment we walked in the house we were awed by the comfortable, calming feeling of "home" that we got! We were greeted by graduation decorations and a yummy coffee cake, breakfast foods in the fridge and fresh flowers. We had a wonderful breakfast in the sunshine out on the deck and everyone had a comfy bed to sleep in at night. I was sad I didn't get a nice long soak in the jacuzzi tub, but I have high hopes for our next visit! Thank you to the Kimballs for all their personal touches, attention to details and the kind, easy manner and efficiency in which they did all the rental agreements and arrangements.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Sue and Brian
Date of Stay: 04/25/10 Review Submitted: 04/27/10

"Being a gardener, loved your yard and fresh cut flowers in many rooms. We enjoyed time with the grandchildren...we are very fortunate to have found your child-friendly home. Thanks!" from Wisconsin renters

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Guest: Jason and Family
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 04/27/10

"Awesome. Back to chilly Colorado in the morning. Great location for us (Sea Otter Classic). Had a lot of fun. So much fun stuff to do at the house when we were not out running around. Thank you."

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Guest: K M
Date of Stay: 03/28/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

Barbara: We had a wonderful weekend at your beautiful home in Monterey. Thank you for letting us stay there. What a place! We hope to come back soon! Thank you for all the "extras" you provide in your home. It was all GREAT!

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Guest: Kari
Date of Stay: 03/26/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

Dear Barbara, We truly enjoyed every minute of our time at your home and certainly plan to come bacl/

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