Vacation Rentals by Owner

Serenity cottage is very aptly named

Guest: Trish G.
Date of Stay: 01/16/12 Review Submitted: 01/31/12

We would recommend this quiet, clean, well-appointed little home -away from -home to anyone. Whenever we would search for something it was readily available and the finishing touches make this comfortable cottage just right for a beach stay. The neighborhood is quiet and residential, close to the beach and to shopping. The notes and tips book on the dining room table gave great advice about local sights to see and restaurants. But my favorite thing of all was the lovely front garden where I could do my tai chi at sunrise to the sound of barking sea lions that hold court on rocks by the lighthousea short walk away. Our pleasant hostess was available for any questions we had and answered my emails cheerfully and quickly. We would definitely recommend Serenity Cottage to friends and look forward to revisiting ourselves soon.

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Santa Cruz

Guest: Nick O.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

We enjoyed our stay at Serene in Santa Cruz. It is close to the beautiful West Cliff Drive with the Lighthouse, Municipal Wharf and Boardwalk and a good base to explore both the coast and inland. The house was clean, nicely presented with all the required appliances you would expect and lots of hot water for showering. Nice touches such as the provision of both beach and bath towels was appreciated and had we wished, there were bikes to ride in the shed. Our lads used the body boards in the surf. In all, a nice place to stay for week and close to a very beautiful part of the northern California coast.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Serene in Santa Cruz

Guest: Lauren (Sacramento, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 03/18/11

Wow...where do I begin? First of all, Barbara Dunne (owner) is such a nice person and made the booking process so simple and easy. Serene was the most perfect get away for my friends and I. The location was perfect, just a short walk to the beach. Not to mention it is super close to the boardwalk, restaurants, etc. I got the best sleep of my life in the queen sized bed. The mattress, blankets and pillows were so soft that I fell asleep within seconds. I also made sure to take a nap the next day because the bed was so comfortable! Serene is maintained down to the smallest detail. Everything is so clean. The fresh flowers in the dining room and bathroom added just the right touch to make us feel welcome. We enjoyed using the kitchen to make dinner one of the nights. We watched movies and did manicures/pedicures. It really felt like home. There couldn't have been a better setting for our 'girls weekend'.

Owner response:Thanks, Lauren! We enjoyed sharing our home with you and your friends. Glad you liked it as much as we do! Come back soon. :-)

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great rental

Guest: Jody (New York City)
Date of Stay: 10/25/10 Review Submitted: 11/28/10

Very comfortable, clean and hypo-allergenic Well decorated and stocked with all your needs Nice and helpful owners Friendly neighbors Well located with easy access to the water I had a very enjoyable stay here!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Surfing in Serenity......

Guest: dezzul (Panama City Beach, Florida USA)
Date of Stay: 07/15/10 Review Submitted: 07/21/10

After a long flight from the Gulf of Mexico, my family navigated the streets of Santa Cruz to Serenity. We have stayed at most of the local resorts and hotels in the past with VERY mixed results. Deciding to take chance with a private home on this trip turned out to be a wise choice!! We were initially concerned with the square footage due to our two active boys and massive amount of luggage; but after strolling through the fragrant garden and entering Serenity, we quickly realized that we had scored an amazing home for our stay. The owners have thought out every inch of space, and the thoughtful attention to detail and spaces made Serenity generous enough for the four of us with room to spare!! Immaculate, well maintained, beautifully furnished, its an EXCELLENT location as a base camp to explore the area. The beds were comfy and the linens were lush and in perfect condition. The owners were very easy to work with and communicated with us promptly; and even had a great book of information for us about the area. After a 15 mile hike at nearby Wilder Ranch, it was truly 'serene' to return to this sweet surfer friendly sanctuary to catch our breath and enjoy the fragrant plants and flowers in the garden. The boys even had room to scooter and play catch outside. The quiet neighborhood setting was absolutely perfect for our troop! There's plenty of hustle & bustle at the nearby Pier and Boardwalk if you want to people watch- then return home to this quiet retreat. I took in a yoga class that was within walking distance; as well as a phenomenal bakery and several wine tasting stores and grocery store. The well appointed kitchen made meal preparation easy. My son and I borrowed the bikes from the large shed for a memorable ride to the Boardwalk. An avid surfer, my husband caught some waves with his brother's surfboard. He was stoked that one of the bikes had a surf rack which saved him time getting to the beach to catch a swell at Steamer Lane. If Steamers was too crowded, we had the choice of several epic breaks close by. The photos were excellent; this home far exceeded our expectations. There are some things that you can't capture in a photograph:) Since we have family in Santa Cruz, this will be our 'go-to' choice for future trips!! LOVED it!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charmant! Charming!

Guest: Nathalie P. (Santa Cruz)
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 07/10/10

Nous avons passé quelques jours absolument magique à Santa Cruz . Nous avons logé dans la maison "Serene" qui porte très bien son nom. La maison est confortable, accueillante et très agréable à vivre. Il y a un BBQ, des vélos, des "buggy board". La qualité de vie est tellement meilleur qu'à l'hôtel et pour un prix nettement plus attractif! Serene is a wonderful and a charming house: you feel at home right away. It's just next to the ocean and is very quiet. The house is clean, conveignant, there is every thing you need: a BBQ, bicycles, buggy-board. It is so much nicer then a hotel and cheaper... Thank you Barbara for letting us stay at your home. Nathalie from Switzerland

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful Home - Comfortable, Convenient - Value

Guest: Jason (Stanford, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/06/10 Review Submitted: 07/10/10

I spent a wonderful half-week here with my parents who were in town visiting from New York. We all felt very comfortable, and took great pleasure making and sharing breakfast together on our lazy mornings. A few blocks from the house to the ocean, the jogging path along West End Drive is spectacular. The many views of the ocean are breath-taking. The house was perfectly clean when we arrived. The neighborhood was quiet, and the neighbors all very friendly. We drove to the beach each day, since we had so much stuff. And it was a quick drive to Cowell Redwoods State Park. We took the 5 minute drive into town each night to get dinner at several different spots: Johnny's Harborside for Scallops; La Posta for Italian food; and Crow's Nest for fish. And we had a really excellent lunch at Walnut Ave Cafe. We ended each day back in the family room, eating ice cream and watching TV. We all agreed that the home had exceeded our expectations based on the photographs online. There was plenty of light in every room, especially the larger than expected family room. Barbara was very friendly, and made the rental very simple. Absolutely no problems. It certainly is 'Five-stars for the price' - everything was new and clean, was exactly as pictured (if not better), as well as Barbara's friendliness. In the end, we were sad to leave, and thought enviously about whoever was next to stay.

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

great place!

Guest: ndeavila (Oakland, CA )
Date of Stay: 05/28/10 Review Submitted: 06/03/10

charmingly decorated, well-maintained, good location. great for couple or small family looking for a change of pace!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Guest: Eva and Rick
Date of Stay: 03/12/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

This beach bungalow was perfect for us. We loved the Westside Santa Cruz neighborhood and the location of the home on a cul de sac. It's a friendly neighborhood centrally located with great shopping, cafes, long ocean walks along West Cliff Drive and surf/people watching. It was a peaceful long weekend and everything we needed was available in your home. We appreciate how well it's kept and the clean modern furnishings. We recommend this home without question and look forward to our next visit.

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Nice bungalow

Guest: Anthonygee1 (Moraga)
Date of Stay: 10/01/09 Review Submitted: 11/08/09

Very Modern Short bike ride to the Pier or a healthy walk Clean living space Parking Nice Neighbors Perfect for family as the price is the same as a hotel but you have the kitchen and washer/dryer Safeway is 1-2 miles I think Local Deli is 2-3 blocks away

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very nice and cozy, feels like home

Guest: Tinka (Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/08 Review Submitted: 06/26/08

The bungalow is very clean, updated and modern. We really liked it a lot. It is close to the beach and it is in a quiet neighborhood. A perfect house that feels like home. We can recommend it 100%, the owner provided an excellent service, very reliable. There is a grocery store in walking distance, the center is 2 miles away. Santa Cruz is an interesting place, close to other destinations like Monterey or Carmel. This house feels like a home.

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

Guest: Wayne & Diane
Date of Stay: 05/25/08 Review Submitted: 05/24/08

From the guestbook at our house: What a great place! We had a wonderful relaxing time. The West Cliffs and beaches were beautiful and I got to see my first surfers since I was 18. Jesse was very helpful and she is so pleasant. This house and this place has such good energy. Thanks for making your home available to us.

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Guest: Chris S
Date of Stay: 04/04/08 Review Submitted: 04/03/08

From the guestbook at our house: "Thanks for letting me stay in your home. I had a wonderful and relaxing time... Thanks, God Bless, Chris S."

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Guest: Lynn, Don & family
Date of Stay: 02/18/08 Review Submitted: 02/17/08

From the guestbook at our house: Superb energy! We had a fabulous time.

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Guest: Anja & Jan (Lincolnshire, England)
Date of Stay: 10/16/07 Review Submitted: 10/16/07

Absolutely fabulous accommodation! Great location on the west side of this awesome city. cool bikes to use with good bike paths. good local and regular bus service. excellent quality and service. thank you so much for making our honeymoon so cool comfortable and relaxing.

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Guest: Brenda, Steve & family
Date of Stay: 08/09/07 Review Submitted: 08/08/07

From the guestbook at our house: What a wonderful home! We--our family of four- fit perfectly, and everything we needed was right here at our fingertips. Thanks for a perfect stay!

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Guest: Sandy B.1 (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/11/07 Review Submitted: 05/11/07

Warm and inviting home in quiet West Santa Cruz neighborhood. This is the perfect getaway destination for a small family. The beach, tidepools, and park are all a short walk away. The Santa Cruz Aquarium, Boardwalk, Downtown area, and Surf Museum are perfect for daily fieldtrips. There are organic markets, yummy bakeries, and fabulous restaurants to enjoy. If being on the go isn't your cup of tea you could always sit back in their beautiful garden, open a good book, and laze in the sun. We always look forward to our weekly stay in this amazing home. They have thought of everything you could need or want during your stay.

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Guest: Suzanne K1 (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/07 Review Submitted: 05/08/07

We've stayed in this cottage several times. We hope to continue to be able to stay here. One of the most restful and laid back places we've rented!! Just a short walk to the beach, but tucked into a cute neighborhood and just a short drive to great places to eat. Ideal and reasonable rates.

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Guest: Sean M. (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 03/07/07 Review Submitted: 03/07/07

We rent often and this was by far the nicest. This lovely little cottage is a piece of filet mignon. Excellent styling, clean and simple. And the walk to the beach...aaaah! We will be back!

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