Amazing Views including whales!!

Guest: Rick (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

Great unobstructed views from a terraced back yard. The deck on the bluff is perfect for watching the sunset. The owners are very accommodating and had three beautiful floral arrangements when we arrived. big well equipped kitchen. Walking distance to shopping and parks. Easy assess to downtown and the wharf.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Family Vacation

Guest: Family Vacation (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 09/11/10

We experienced numerous problems with this rental property which diminished our vacation. The owner writes the kitchen had state-of-the-art-appliances. Instead we found many problems in the kitchen. A malfunctioning gas stove that burners would not ignite despite many attempts. The stove was so old all of the markings on the knobs were worn off, making it impossible to tell which burner was malfunctioning. After many attempts some burners would eventually light but the ignition mechanism would continue clicking for about 20 minutes. The dishwasher worked poorly. It never cleaned glassware properly. The glassware came out coated with a white film and spotted. All glassware had to be washed by hand before use. The first and last time we used the oven, white smoke billowed into the kitchen which was very scary. The best we could determine was that someone used oven cleaner and failed to wipe it off. The refrigerator was dirty inside and all the shelves on the door were filled with partially used food leaving little or no room for our own food. The outside barbacue grill was so filthy that we were afraid to use it. The garbage cans outside the house were overflowing when we arrived. The propane tanks in the backyard chill chaser was empty. Although the VRBO description indicated there was plenty of room in the driveway, in fact, much of the room was already taken up by the owners boat/trailer and car, forcing us to park our cars behind each other and shuffle them frequently. We were never able to get the backyard lights lit, leaving the backyard pitch black. We called the property manager many times. The owner showed up several days later. He told us he fixed the backyard lights, but they never did came on. The stove's problem was confirmed but never rectified. The promised special garbage collection never happened. He delivered a new propane tank for us to install. In summary, we paid far too much money to rent this property to put up with these aggravations.

Owner response:This property has been for rent on VRBO for nearly a decade. Most people do not take the time to write about good times they may have had and so when fate has it that things go poorly (boy did they with this rental) it is what I like to call a growth opportunity. Ten years ago this kitchen was state of the art. Now, though all the above issues have been corrected, my goal is to redesign the kitchen so that that statement is truly accurate. Until then, the visual age of the kitchen should not detour from the true magic happening if you look outside or visit one of two outdoor seating areas, situated beneath a private grove of Eucalyptus trees, and simply stare off toward unfettered view of beach, ocean (dolphins swim past most every day), and the Channel Islands. Though I have lived in and rented many great homes, some of which were more modern, precious few have been right on the ocean and none have felt so serene. Maybe the serenity is all in my mind. I love this place and I plan to continue to improve it. We have a file full of hand written reviews that we would be delighted to share.

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Our 4th of July 2008 Experience

Guest: Loma (Huntington Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/03/08 Review Submitted: 08/06/10

The 3 reviews posted must be a hoax – all 3 posted within a 2 wk period??? Too coincidental. We (3 couples) stayed at VRBO #1470 over the July 4th 2008 weekend – what a disaster from the time we opened the front door! The owner and a couple of gals were cleaning up from what appeared to be a party the night before. Brian told us to go have lunch and return 2-3 hrs because of a power shortage the night before, he needed more time to clean. I don’t think a power shortage would impact having clean sheets on our bed, cleaning a filthy oven and bbq, picking up dog poop in the backyard, having junk piled high on both side yards, cleaning floors, leaving kitchen cupboard doors askew, a disposal that needed repair, and animal hair (possibly rabbit) on a black chair in master bedroom…..It was obvious to us that the owner lived there and moved out for the weekend leaving his own suitcase behind. The location and views were decent if you could turn your back from the filth.

Owner response:It is said that one should give extra thanks to those who voice their complaints, as this individual has done, as it gives one the opportunity to make improvements. This is an unfortunate review, sent in two years after the rental. Every year we make a consorted effort to improve the interior and the exterior of this property. In 2008 we began re-landscaping the ocean side yard to include many new areas for both our and our guest’s enjoyment. Phase one included tearing out the rail road tie stair case that lead down to a wild flower garden that was rather out of control, and the cliff side deck you can see on our web page. We replaced the stair case with solid 4’ wide blond flagstone, and laid 800 square feet of 3’x 2’ flagstone. Pockets of low water succulents add color and interest. The resulting patio has a great area at the far east for bonfires at night and watching the sunrise in the morning. The future plan is to install a hot tub and lounge seating to the west. We are working in between rentals to improve what we can and admittedly we tend to use the side yard to store tools and materials for future improvements. These areas which are not used also have been slated for improvements. In this economically challenging time we do our best to make upgrades when possible. For example the second ocean view room was recently redesigned with new furnishings, paint and bed linens. We think it looks amazing. The photos posted currently do represent the house fairly. That said sometimes there are oversights and for this we are truly concerned and saddened. We do everything in our power to make sure the house is clean and the outdoor areas are tidy, therefore allowing our guest to show up and truely enjoy the time spent in our rental home.

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Stunning Location!

Guest: Anonymous (Southern California)
Date of Stay: 05/27/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

An absolute stunning location. Extremely relaxing and private. Great for adults, kids and pets. We truly enjoyed our stay!

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

Guest: California 2010 vacation (-)
Date of Stay: 06/01/10 Review Submitted: 06/21/10

From the moment we opened the front door we were transfixed by the call of the ocean. Two of the three bedrooms had ocean views and we could hear the waves lulling us into relaxation. The Oceanside yard had three great areas to "hang out"...one for sunrise...one for sunset and once the sun had set the alcove of the home was complete with stand up heating unit that made watching the stars and listening to the sound of the ocean super comfortable...AMAZING night time reality. To our surprise the house had been improved beyond the photos provided. We loved our stay! Thanks much to Brian and Juliet who took care of the snaffew we incurred!

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Amazing views

Guest: Paraglider (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 04/02/10 Review Submitted: 06/09/10

Very comfortable home, stocked with everything you could need including kitchenware, games and DVD player. The views are phenomenal and the house has a nice size backyard. The house is older, but the location, views and price make this an ideal rental.

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