Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Slice of Heaven

Guest: Angelynn (El Segundo, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/18/11 Review Submitted: 12/25/11

The house was perfect for us and the backyard was great for the dog. Walking to the tastings was fun. We had a great time and the area was beautiful. Looking forward to visiting again.

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

A great place to stay!

Guest: Cleda & Ken (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/08/11

We had such a wonderful time staying here. There was three of us couples staying here and we could not say enough, how well kept inside and outside were. The home is so welcoming and quaint. It is situated within walking distance of town, yet feels so private with the back yard with no neighbors behind or on left side of home just beautiful green landscaping to look out from the livingroom, dining room. Everything worked well along with a great BBQ. We had such a fantastic stay that we are thinking we would like to come back and stay here next year. This is a great home for a family or couples. Larry was wonderful to work with and very informative.

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

adequate accomodations but needs maintenance

Guest: KK (Orange County, CA )
Date of Stay: 10/14/11 Review Submitted: 11/02/11

The property itself was fine. Convenient in location to wine tasting rooms in the area. Listing advertised an additional game room in the house which ended up being an unfinished shack separate from the home. Bedding was very outdated and several of my friends remarked that they felt they were bit by bugs in the home. There were things in the home that needed maintenance but obviously had not been worked on previous to our arrival. Owner was not very responsive in returning phone calls. I would not recommend this property to friends or family.

Owner response:While it is our preference not to dignify this review with any attention, we have no option but to submit a response to the allegations. First, we are not in agreement with many of the supposed facts. It’s important to also highlight that this particular guest was quite happy with her stay, per this email excerpt she sent after her departure…”Just wanted to write you and thank you for letting us stay in your lovely home last weekend. My friends and I enjoyed the time we had there.” What transpired was that this “young professional” became disgruntled when we withheld a small portion of her deposit, because she lost the keys to the house and left the home unsecured at her departure. Rather than admit the indiscretion, this guest chose to fabricate an unsubstantiated story. This not only caused us to have to replace the keys and change the locks, it also inconvenienced our next party upon their arrival. After years and hundreds of guests, we have never had to address such an egregious reaction and hope to never come across a situation like this again. We hope you will take into consideration the many other positive reviews, and welcome anyone to contact us should there be any concerns about how we maintain the property or conduct our affairs. We will also gladly provide references upon request.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, sightseeing.

Perfect home and location

Guest: Sandra B.
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

The home was just as described with a perfect location (just steps from downtown Los Olivos). The location was just minutes from wineries, Solvang and Santa Ynez. The outside and inside was just right for relaxing in the evenings with dinner and a bottle of wine. We accidently tripped a fuse and the owner was gracious and our incident was fixed immediately. Our group traveled from Texas and this home and the area was above and beyond any expectations.

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

Perfect location and home

Guest: Sandra B.
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

The home is exactly as described and has the perfect location, just 1/2 block from the downtown of Los Olivos. The wineries, Santa Ynez and Solvang are all just minutes of drive time. We stayed four nights and were able to visit about 15 wineries and also spend some time shopping in Solvang. The Los Olivos Grocery served the best breakfast and we were able to get sandwiches to take to the wineries for lunch. The home provided cozy evenings eating in and having wine. The owner was gracious and helpful. We are so glad we chose this home and cannot wait to return next year.

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Awesome Trip

Guest: Randi (Scottsdale, AZ)
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/22/11

We all really enjoyed your home. It is beautiful, comfortable, fun and in the best location! We are talking about doing the trip annually, so I will reach out to you again when the time gets closer. Thank you again for a wonderful experience. Not only was your home fantastic, but you made everything easy! Randi

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

What a spot!

Guest: Dee's (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 08/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/12/11

Myself, my husband and our daughter of 14 months came for a nice little getaway and we were throughly impressed! It truly was "a little slice of heaven". The house and property are both beautiful and well kept. The yard is spacious, and has an array of flowers and plants. We had a lot of privacy and we loved the little perks, like the fountain, subtle illumination in the backyard at night, and the beautiful hardwood floors. We were 2 blocks away from all the tasting rooms and Los Olivos Cafe. We'll definitely be back!!

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

Family Reunion in Santa Barbara County

Guest: Madalienne P. (Novato, CA Marin County)
Date of Stay: 07/22/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

My husband and I, our son, daughter-in-law and 6 month old granddaughter just returned from a perfect holiday in Los Olivos. The house is beautiful, with a large back yard, shade, table for 6. The indoor kitchen suited our needs. We were in town for a baptism in Solvang, and family dinners in Buellton. We are now making our December reservations to return.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: The Marlin S Family
Date of Stay: 07/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

Thank you for having us in your lovely home. The layout and the yard were perfect for our family and we loved being able to walk into town. We'd love to come back!

Recommended for:

Guest: Kim W & Family
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

2nd year here, lovely place! Many thanks, the W. family.

Recommended for:

Guest: Leelee C & Family
Date of Stay: 07/04/11 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

We had a fantastic time in your home and your town. So sad to leave! Great 4th of July fireworks in Solvang. Thanks for letting us know about it. Hope to be back someday soon!

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Just what we wanted!

Guest: handsonthego (Monterey, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

We wanted to be somewhere special for our 30th Anniversary and we were. This little gem near downtown Los Olivos was perfect for us. Centrally located in the Santa Ynez Vally. Walking distance to great tasting rooms and fine restaurants. And, a perfect setting to just do nothing but relax. Added bonus, it had everything one could want for cooking, BBQing, washing clothes, TV with DVD and a nice little fire bowl in backyard to end a perfect day( with s'mores of course ). It is now on our list of places to stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Third Stay

Guest: Allen and Diana (Shoshone, Idaho, U.S.A.)
Date of Stay: 06/06/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

We were charmed on our first visit, so having just completed our third visit in four months we are "most charmed", and...we'll be back. This cottage has everything that we look for when traveling: cleanliness, comfort, amenities, and the real plus of being a pet-friendly accommodation. Birders will love the myriad bird species that visit the riparian backyard. Whether you come to the Santa Ynez Valley for art, wine, horses, Danish pastry, or children (two boarding schools in the Valley), being able to retreat to this "Little Slice" in the evenings is a treat in itself. The kitchen is more than adequate to prepare your own meals (including a gas grill in the patio) or you have the choice of dining out in one of the many excellent restaurants in the Valley. We have loved our stays here and look forward to returning.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Libby H & Family
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

Thank you for sharing your home with us. We had a great time! Love the location and the backyard is the best.

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Amazing back yard

Guest: Autumn (Las Vegas)
Date of Stay: 12/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

"Thank you, we so enjoyed our stay. Your house is lovely and the back yard is so beautiful! "

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

Excellent time spent in Los Olivos!

Guest: Winter Visitor (Las Vegas, NV)
Date of Stay: 12/07/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/11

Stayed here with my husband and in-laws and had a fabulous time! House had everything we needed, was very clean, and had plenty of space. Yard was in excellent condition, wish we could have tried out the fire pit! Lots of stuff in Los Olivos to keep us busy, not to mention nearby Solvang and all the wineries in the area. We stayed three days, and that was barely enough. Everything was within 15 minutes, and the scenery on the ride there was beautiful. We stayed in early December, so the vineyards weren't much to look at, but the rest of the scenery was gorgeous. Everything in Los Olivos was within walking distance, including the olive oil tasting and the neatest garden store. We all had a wonderful time, well worth the money. Highly recommended! Many thanks! Ps. The owner was easy to work with, and responded very quickly to emails!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relax and Enjoy!

Guest: P (Northridge)
Date of Stay: 11/20/10 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

This was one of the most enjoyable close-to-home vacations I have been on! The rental is so quaint and lovely! The house is so well maintained and the owners were very easy to talk to and very helpful at making arrangements for our stay. Plenty of room for the whole family. It is such a pleasure to be so close to the town and just walk to everything! I highly recommend this house for a quick romantic get away or a fun weekend with family!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

East Coast Winers

Guest: Jim (Midlothian, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/18/10 Review Submitted: 12/05/11

We had some initial issues with access as the lockbox would not function and later found it had been tinkered with by the previous tenants. This problem was resolved within 1/2 hour by the property manager. The house was spotless, well equipped and the location was perfect for a wine tasting adventure. I do not hesitate to give this property an A+ rating.

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Peaceful!

Guest: Ruthie (Artesia, California)
Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

This home was exactly what we needed and was what was advertised. Everything was in excellent order. A peaceful place in a small town to get away from the big city. Close to Solvang, we went to the show there in the outdoor theater, nice, bring a jacket/blanket. Los Olivos had a beautiful art exhibit - Quick Draw that we enjoyed. Home had everything we needed. I would definitely recommend this home to friends and family and if I go to that area again I would love to stay there again.

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

outstanding location!

Guest: J Dee (Burbank, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/04/10 Review Submitted: 06/13/10

The house is a very comfortable craftsman with a fabulous deck for morning coffee and star gazing. One block from the main street. Well appointed and very comfortable. I will definately be back!

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

Wonderful!

Guest: Timaran (Washington D.C./northern Virginia)
Date of Stay: 05/25/10 Review Submitted: 06/07/10

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at your house in Los Olivos. It was extremely comfortable and perfectly located to be able to walk all around Los Olivos, yet have peace and quiet as well. The interior is beautifully done and the kitchen is very convenient to use. The back yard was very relaxing to sit in the gazebo and and sip a glass of the very excellent wines available in town. ;-) I hope to be back again in the future!

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

A delightful stay!

Guest: JBVos (Eaton, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 04/23/10 Review Submitted: 06/13/10

I just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoyed our brief but delightful vacation spent at your wonderful property. We are five friends who manage to get together only about once a year, and your facility provided us an excellent setting for our good times! I am an aspiring writer, and I took the opportunity to finish work on my third novel while staying at your lovely cottage. It was a writer's paradise, and I thank you once again for providing us with such a wonderful setting for our reunion. Thanks again, Jill Vosler, Eaton, Ohio. visit my website!- jillvoslerbooks.com

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

Slice of Heaven

Guest: Joe & Vicky (Simi Valley, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 05/24/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

Thank you Larry. The house was great. It work out wonderful for us. We felt right at home. We walked to town, and had lunch. And had dinner on the patio that nite.....it was wonderful. We also had dinner at Mattys. But I think I like Los Olivos Calf the best. Paninos was the best for lunch. Thank you agine for a great weekend. Vicky & Joe Simi Valley, Ca.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.