Vacation Rentals by Owner

A treasure

Guest: Nancy B. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/25/11 Review Submitted: 03/11/11

We needed a break from the Canadian winter and the cabin was a wonderful retreat. Quiet mornings strolling the nearby grounds discovering plants and flowers and fruit trees... arriving home from town in the evening to distant frog croakings from the ravine. This little guesthouse is charming, conveniently located and a total gem. And the owner's hospitality is the most gracious we have encountered on our many VRBO travels. We hope to come back soon.

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

Serene retreat minutes from the beach and hiking trails

Guest: World Traveler (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/01/10 Review Submitted: 09/11/10

We stayed here in September of 2010 for a week. We were very pleased with the setting, the grounds, the warmth of the owner, the proximity to everything you'd want in a vacation property. We arrived and the place was very clean. The owner was helpful in sharing tips about the area. Just 1 house from a retreat center that is the base for many hiking trails of varying difficulty. There's ample outdoor living here that's very private, including a brand new outdoor grill, a comfortable hammock, sitting chairs, etc. The owner also provides equipment for the beach, which is a 4-minute drive from the house.

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect!

Guest: Kathy (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/27/10 Review Submitted: 07/05/10

What a wonderful, gem of a spot! We are so glad that we chose it. Super quiet, clean, sweet, on a beautiful piece of land, it was a total pleasure to come "home" to every day after spending time on the beach (just a few minutes away by car). (Anywhere by the beach would have been much noisier, since the train tracks run near the shore.) Dorothy was so welcoming and helpful. When we missed having a blender for morning smoothies, she immediately got us one. We were happy there and hope to come back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A jewel box!

Guest: David & Rosemary (Philadlephia, Pa)
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 09/08/11

My wife and I stayed here for several nights and loved the place. It is convenient to beaches, museums, and such, but is a worthwhile beauty in its own right. The gardens are wonderful, the birds are interesting [one morning, from the kitchen window, we saw a Cooper's hawk perched on the fountain], and the hostess is charming. The casita is small but extremely well designed and the murphy bed is quite comfortable. This review is being submitted very late because we each thought the other had already written one. When realized our mistake we felt the place is so special that it had to be lauded no matter how late.

Recommended for:

Guest: Bob & Sandy Gantz (Tucson, AZ)
Date of Stay: 08/26/09 Review Submitted: 08/26/09

What a wonderful week we had at Dorothy's guest house!! The description and comments given, sum it up perfectly. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Dorothy and our stay at her guest house. We felt fortunate that she shared her little piece of heaven with us. Our morning strolls along the beautiful, private winding lanes were so peaceful and tranquil and our hikes up the Old Pueblo Trail had breathtaking views overlooking Montecito and the ocean...it felt like we stayed within a botanical garden...you couldn't tell the difference between the pictures we took at the amazing Lotusland botanical gardens and those we took around Dorothy's guest house. It was just what we were looking for to get some R&R from our normal busy and hectic life. We look forward to returning next year.

Recommended for:

Guest: Matt & Cindy
Date of Stay: 06/16/09 Review Submitted: 06/15/09

Dorothy, How are you? Cindy, Bam-Bam, Yogi and I would like to sincerely thank you for an amazing weekend, and for your heart felt hospitality. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend... the studio was absolutely perfect, very quiet and peaceful, and a hop, skip and jump to Casa de Maria and the San Ysidro Inn, and a 5 minute drive to the beach. We had a great time and look forward to coming back. It was truly a pleasure to meet you... your warmth and kindness made our stay that much better. We will keep in touch, and hope to see you again sooner that later. Until next time take good care. Best, Matt and Cindy

Recommended for:

Guest: Billy & Nicole
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dear Dorothy & John,Thanks so much for sharing your charming space with us! Everything was just perfect. We went on the Red Rocks hike yesterday — it was absolutely spectacular! We appreciate your recommendations and hospitality and would recommend your rental for any of our friends traveling in Santa Barbara.Best, Billy & Nicole.

Recommended for:

Guest: Priscilla & Sean
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dorothy , Thank you for the wonderful weekend in beautiful Montecito. Your enthusiasm in welcoming us to your guest home was a phenomenal start to our weekend get-away in Santa Barbara. We're extremely honored to be the first guests to experience your warm, comforting and inviting home. We wish you all the best, and we're looking forward to our next stay.

Recommended for:

Guest: Shellie & Trey
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dorothy, Thank you so much for your down-to-earth kindness. We loved our few moments with you and wandering in your garden, your neighborhood, visiting with YoYo and of course staying in your comfortable cottage. I'd like to think we'll be back. I do hope so. Shellie and Trey

Recommended for:

Guest: John & Karen
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dorothy, It's been more than a pleasure to meet you and your family and stay in your welcoming retreat. We all loved our time here and look forward to it being the initiation of a long relationship. John, Karen, and Roger Dodger-woof

Recommended for:

Guest: Marillyn & Will
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dear Dorothy, Thank you for being such a wonderful, thoughtful hostess. From greeting us with a bottle of wine, and stopping by to greet us and being so thoughtful and a joy to talk to. We truly loved the studio and meeting you and YoYo. We hope to return soon and visit you and you have a wonderful end of summer and a fabulous rest of the year! Live in the moment! Marillyn, Will & Calie

Recommended for:

Guest: Taylor & Nathan
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Hello Dorothy, Taylor & I just wanted to say thanks again for sharing your studio with us last month. The hot weather reminds us of how beautiful our stay was & we can't wait to return to the beach. Take care & we hope to visit you again soon. Taylor & Nathan P.S. say hello to YoYo for us . . .

Recommended for:

Guest: Mike and Adrina
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dear Dorothy, It was such a wonderful treat getting to stay in your lovely guest house up here in the beautiful quiet hills of Montecito. You are such a kind person (with beautiful taste in decorating too.) Thank you for your welcoming presence, and we do hope to visit again soon! With love, Mike and Adrina

Recommended for:

Guest: Giovanna & David
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Dorothy, Thank you so much for letting us stay for the weekend at La Casita del Bosque. The weather was all sunshine, the birds were chirping, too! We had many nice walks in the garden, and took a wonderful hike, practically from your back yard! We'll be back soon . . . Giovanna and David

Recommended for:

Guest: Rich & Jenny
Date of Stay: 11/03/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

Thank you, Dorothy! We had a blast! Rich and Jenny

Recommended for: