Interesting, quaint home in a great location

Guest: beh (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 10/10/11 Review Submitted: 10/27/11

Our family had a memorable week long vacation in this home. The location is a nice walk to the Carmel beach or to the Ocean Ave shops and restaurants, and an excellent home base for doing numerous activities on the Monterey Peninsula. We found the owner to be very accommodating and attentive, full of helpful tips for walks, restaurants, and activities. The home is nicely decorated and well appointed for any cooking you might want to do during your stay. One definitely gets the feel they are staying in a 'home' and not just some 'house' which is not often the case in many rental properties. It was easy to get comfortable there. Everything was clean and in working order during our stay, except for the internet and TV (which may have worked but we couldn't figure them out). We aren't big TV watchers and I had brought along my own internet access so it wasn't a huge issue, but it probably should be addressed by the owner with clear instructions on use of both technologies in the home. I would absolutely recommend this home to anyone looking for a clean comfortable unique vacation location. The value for the money was excellent for us.

Owner response:Thank you for the review! The internet and two hi-def TVs work well, and have the usual Comcast box which requires TV and box to be synched (on together/off together). If they get out of synch one or the other must be turned on or off manually to resynch. I'll try to make that instruction clearer. All guests have my cell phone number if there are any problems

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

Pamper my wife on her birthday....

Guest: jbr (california)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

Absolutely great weekend. Glorious. What a restful and peaceful home, and full of personality! Everything inside worked perfectly. The weather was beautiful. When we arrived Thursday evening we walked down to Pebble Beach golf course and watched the sun set followed by a meal four blocks from the house at Il Fornaio with a wonderful wine flight. Breakfast was a walk to town for coffee and scones and shopping till afternoon. We were joined by another two couples for Friday night when we all went to Spanish Bay for a beautiful dinner and great wine again. One couple left the next morning and one stayed on. We took a 20 mile bike ride (I'm guessing) to Sand City and back and then a long walk on the beach, again only about four blocks from the house. We had a great picnic at Lover's Point area on the shore, and followed that with dinner at Casanova. Today we lounged around the house on the patio, walked to breakfast again at Il Fornaio. Highly recommended!

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

Not As Described

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/25/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

The actual house is nice. However, the Owner's ad describes an empty wooded lot adjacent to the patio where one can bird watch and enjoy wildlife. My husband and I were there 25 days and looked forward to a quiet time to relax, read and enjoy the beauty of Carmel. Unfortunately, trees were being cut down, machinery was moving earth and beeped constantly when reversing. Parking was challenging to say the least. This situation was not disclosed and the site preparation was being done to build a new house for THIS Owner. The ocean view is a distant not commanding one. The property does not have Wi-Fi which the Owner said it did. Lastly, you cannot recycle as the Owner does not pay the fee to have a recycle bin! The overall experience was very disappointing.

Owner response:It was unfortunate the city wanted a very large and leaning tree removed on an emergency basis during this guest's stay, an unpredictable and unscheduled ocurrence, which did cause some esthetic issues of noise and parking juggling because of the challenging location. Extra deposit was refunded, and a future discounted rate was extended in lieu. The best tree people in the area were engaged, but an electrical line and another tree were knocked out in the process because of the tree size. Thank goodness it was a one-of, and that the tree did not fall on a house, and that it is all safely ended. As mentioned, there are vacant wooded lots on both sides of the house for bird-watching, not just one side(the glass half-full), and a great ocean view out the front. The Wifi issue is new, and being worked on, and there is excellent cable TV and internet connection.

Recommended for:

Our stay at Carmel by the Sea.

Guest: Kathleen (Sarasota, FL )
Date of Stay: 05/02/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

My husband and I along with our best friends stayed here and we all agreed that this was the highlight of our vacation. Besides the fact that Carmel is a quaint, lovely location to vacation.... this home made the experience all the more special!! The home characterized the feel for Carmel with the beautiful artwork and design of the home. We loved being able to walk to the village of Carmel as well as the scenic walk to Pebble Beach. One evening we sat outdoors taking in all the beauty of the landscape and enjoyed the vast assortment of the friendly birds that payed us a visit. We hated to leave and look forward to returning hopefully for a much longer visit. The owners of this home were very accommodating and friendly...can't say enough positive remarks regarding this rental. You won't be disappointed.

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

Perfect vacation

Guest: Golf Widow (Yorkville, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 09/19/09 Review Submitted: 10/01/09

My husband and I recently returned from our visit to Carmel. Bob's house is a treasure, and he has described it perfectly. We were within easy walking distance from Carmel Beach and Pebble Beach Golf Course. The garden/terrace area was the perfect place to read a book, have lunch, and watch the birds. The house itself was immaculate, well-decorated, and filled with wonderful books and art pieces. Bob was a generous host providing a great list of restaurants, and hints for getting the most out of the Carmel experience. I would most definitely recommend this property to anyone who can appreciate its distinctiveness. Thanks again, Bob!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+.