We Found Our Paradise

Guest: sunshinemominphx (Tempe, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 09/02/11 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

My family stayed here for Labor Day weekend to escape the Arizona heat. After years of staying at Mission Beach, we think we've found ourselves a new little paradise. This house is fantastic. We've done many VRBO rentals in the US and Europe, and the owners were the most hospitable we've encountered! The home is nicely decorated, cozy-yet-spacious enough for our family, well-equipped (including beach gear, internet and big screen TV) and a beautiful walk to either the beach or the OB downtown area. We hated to leave. I'm sure we'll be back soon!

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

Great beach cottage

Guest: Mira (Phoenix)
Date of Stay: 05/31/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

my husband and I and our two golden retrievers stayed here and it was great. We enjoyed riding the beach cruisers at the house to the dog beach where the kids were able to run and play. It's a little loud with people walking by and such, but that's just how little beach towns are, everything is close together. Great area.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners.

Comfy Cozy and Accomodating

Guest: SheSellsSeaShells (Nashville, TN)
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 09/24/10

My family and I stayed here this summer. Unfortunately the sun did not cooperate. However, my mom, sister and little niece and I enjoyed spending time at the big, rustic dining table laughing, playing cards and some of the board games made available at the property. My brother in-law and husband crooned to us on the ukulele and electric guitar, also made available on-site. The bikes made available were very appreciative for early morning and after meal rides. They were also especially helpful for exploring the town of Oceanside. Just a few minute walk to an almost "private" beach, we will definitely try our luck next year. Even if the sun doesn't shine, the accommodations and coziness alone are good enough for a relaxing vacation.

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

Amazing Summer Vacation!

Guest: Amy (Alhambra, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/19/10 Review Submitted: 09/22/10

We are a family of 5...three kids ages 12, 6, 5 and 2 dogs...so finding a place to call home for a week can be challenging. We hit the gold mine with Joan's home! Not only was the house comfortable and eclectically decorated...but Joan was thoughtful enough to stock it with paper goods, cooking materials, books, games, towels, boogie boards, bikes, etc! All we had to do was buy food! It felt as though we were staying at a relative's home. It was walking distance to the beach and to town and the neighborhood felt safe! Overall, we were so pleased with this experience that we are booking it again next summer!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, pet owners, girls getaway, families with young children.

We had a fabulous time!

Guest: bklyons (Lyons CO US)
Date of Stay: 07/10/09 Review Submitted: 07/25/09

This historic Spanish Revival home was beautifully refurbished, retaining the original charm of the house while updating it with modern conveniences. There are coved ceilings in the living room/dining room and the kitchen features a refurbished period gas stove which works perfectly. The bathroom had plenty of storage for the inevitable abundance of various toiletries from home. Our vacation experience was all about convenience: there is a driveway/parking spot next to the house so there was no hunting for a spot on the street! There is a very nice side yard with a large patio table and a grill (the propane tank was full!) and space for bicycle storage. Garbage and recycle bins are easy to access. The property is five minutes walk from shopping, dining, and beach recreation. A bicycle ride to SeaWorld is 20 minutes. Fabulous! We found the house to be very well stocked with necessities; there was no emergency trip to the store for anything. The kitchen was very well set up, easy and pleasurable to cook in. The closet and dresser space was more than adequate. Linens and towels (including beach towels) were plentiful. There is even a good sized library of DVD's as well as some great reading material. If you choose not to bring your own bikes, there are 4 cruisers in a side yard. The addition of a computer/printer made the experience that much better, so that we could choose when to feel "cut-off from the world', yet have the convenience of all things online. Our favorite aspect of the house was the very thoughtful and artistic way it is painted and decorated throughout. The lovely color choices and furnishings are very much in keeping with the Spanish Revival style of the home. It's a cozy and soothing environment, with a touch of whimsy provided by retro-Mexican art. Our family frequently vacations in San Diego and this was our best experience yet!

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

Guest: Danielle Stratton (-)
Date of Stay: 05/18/09 Review Submitted: 05/18/09

Our stay in this beautiful home was such a pleasure!!! It had all the comforts you can think of, Joan was even kind enough to supply toys and a high chair for our daughter! The location is perfect...only minutes to the beach, the awesome Ocean Beach pier, and the great shops on Newport Avenue. I can't wait to return! Thanks again Joan for the beautiful Pooh Bear you gave to our daughter. I highly recommend this home to anyone looking for a cozy place to stay. Cheers, Danielle

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Dawn (Colchester, Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/03/09

We stayed here for a week at the end of March. What a nice surprise! Then house was conveniently located - just a short three-minute walk to a small quiet beach, or a longer 10-minute walk to OB and the pier; also a short walk to restaurants, shops, church, library, and grocery store. Even though the house wasn't big, there was plenty of room for the three of us. The house had everything we needed. We got a lot of use out of the outdoor patio. We really enjoyed ourselves and wouldn't hesitate to return. Thanks, Joan!!

Owner response:Thank you Dawn. We are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us.

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