Vacation Rentals by Owner
Allegra Villa Alla Spiaggia - See & Hear Ocean - Luxurious [#232360] | View Property
Santa Cruz
Villa, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 7)
$340-$435/nt - $2250-$2775/wk
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Traveler Reviews (18)
A Perfect Location!
Guest: Kevin S.
Date of Stay: 04/20/12
Review Submitted: 04/30/12
Our family of five recently stayed at "Allegra Villa Alla Spiaggia" and we just can't say enough about this beautiful vacation home. Although the pictures on this website are nice they truly don't give the feeling of spacious comfort that his home has. The beds and bedding are extremely comfortable, the home was spotlessly clean and there was nothing that was missing to provide a very enjoyable stay. As the fog rolled in it was great turning on the fireplaces in the livingroom and master bedroom. The house is just about half a block from the beach and the sounds of the waves can easily be heard from the house. The balcony provided an area to relax, sip some wine and enjoy the ocean. We highly recommend this home to anyone considering a stay in the Santa Cruz/Capitola area.
Recommended for:
It does not get better than this.
Guest: Patty G.
Date of Stay: 04/11/12
Review Submitted: 04/20/12
5 out of 5. We had a family gathering for my 6 siblings. The location is perfect, steps away from the beach. The layout of the cottage is perfect, lots of private space and gathering places. It is perfectly maintained and the beds were comfortable for all. We are all familar with Santa Cruz and the sights and great eating spots yet spent most of our time cooking together and enjoying our immediate surroundings. We are all hoping we can make this an annual event for our family. Most of us aggree it was one of the best get togethers we have enjoyed in the past 20 yrs. Much of it due to the environment we were in.
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It does not get better than this!!
Guest: Patty G.
Date of Stay: 04/11/12
Review Submitted: 04/19/12
We had a family gathering for my 6 siblings. The location is perfect, steps away from the beach. The layout of the cottage is perfect, lots of private space and gathering places. It is perfectly maintained and the beds were comfortable for all. We are all familar with Santa Cruz and the sights and great eating spots yet spent most of our time cooking together and enjoying our immediate surroundings. We are all hoping we can make this an annual event for our family. Most of us aggree it was one of the best get togethers we have enjoyed in the past 20yrs. Much of it due to the environment we were in.
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Lovely home with great location near beaches
Guest: Anne
(San Rafael, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/08/12
Review Submitted: 04/14/12
We had a great time at this beautiful and very clean home in early April. We had a day or two of rain but loved hanging out at this comfortable home with the gas fires lit. The beds are amazingly comfortable and the kitchen is well stocked for cooking. The location can't be beat with just a 2 minute walk to 21st Avenue beach and 5-10 minute walk to Sunny Cove. Thanks Ed for sharing your lovely home!
Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Best Family Christmas in California
Guest: Esther
Date of Stay: 12/25/11
Review Submitted: 01/21/12
Our family of 6 (hubby, myself, three sons & 1 daughter-in-law) fell in love with Ed's beautiful retreat by the Pacific Ocean the 5 days we were able to relax together there! The pictures are exactly how they appear, & in fact, being there is even better. With three guys 6' 2'' - 6' 3" we greatly appreciated the tall ceilings, and spacious sofas, extra long beds, tall showers, and space to spread out after sight-seeing almost each day. The weather was exceptionally beautiful for this time of year -- sunny & in the low to mid-60's each day, which made the views each morning and evening spectacular! The sunrises were picture perfect, and as so many others have commented, it was a thrill for we mid-Westerners to watch dolphins & sea otters floating not too far from all of the surfers in December no less, & soak up the walks along the beach! The design of this second story plus the deck was very high-end, including the perfect kitchen which made it convenient for breakfasts in the morning, and a few evening dinners as well. Coffee out on the deck each morning was my personal favorite!! All amenities that one would want or need are provided! Sightseeing trips via a rental van included sightseeing down to Big Sur, Carmel, & the breathtaking coast of Hwy. #1, plus Ano Nuevo State Park to view the elephant seals & soak up the gorgeous Pacific Ocean views from there. We've been to Santa Cruz two years ago while visiting our son who lived in San Jose at that time, so would recommend the boardwalk & beach area. The sounds of the ocean were soothing & relaxing at all hours of the day & night! Ed's place spoiled us for any future trips we might make. When retirement comes in the next few years, my hubby & I would definitely love to spend a bit longer time right here!
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Heaven in Santa Cruz
Guest: Marissa
(Deep South Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/29/11
Review Submitted: 10/24/11
My husband and I stayed here with another couple for four nights in September. The house was amazing, everything looked new and clean and the view was awesome. Ed left us a "handbook" to the area which was very useful. There was nothing we needed. We had all the comforts of home and even had homecooked breakfast every morning before venturing out surfing or strolling about downtown Santa Cruz. We even took a couple of day trips to San Francisco and Napa. Highly recommend this place, and I made sure and let Ed know that we will be back.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Family Gathering in September
Guest: CX
(SF)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11
Review Submitted: 10/19/11
My husband, three sons and our son's fiance stayed at Ed's beautiful home for three days in September 2011. The weather was not perfect but the home and location were. The duplex is a luxury accommodation with everything you need. We enjoyed cooking in the beautiful kitchen. The balcony has lovely views of the beach where you can watch the dolphins swim by. The location is about a 5 minute walk to beach access. We had a sensational time golfing and kayaking nearby as well as playing bocce ball and beach croquet on the beach near the house. I highly recommend the Harbor Cafe which is nearby for a breakfast or lunch.
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Great location and beautiful home
Guest: George R.
Date of Stay: 09/02/11
Review Submitted: 10/01/11
We rented this home for Labor Day weekend and had the best time. The home is a 3 minute walk from the beach and is equipped with just about anything you could want for a great beach weekend. Highly recommend this property and will rent from this owner again.
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Great House!
Guest: Tracey T.
Date of Stay: 08/24/11
Review Submitted: 09/04/11
Stayed here recently, loved the location. Easy walk to beach. Easy drive to Boardwalk, Capitola. House itself was beautiful. Deck amazing, could see dolphins easily from the deck. Will definitely be back!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Great Summer Getaway
Guest: Tom C.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11
Review Submitted: 08/16/11
We have stayed at Ed’s place twice now, and are planning on returning annually for the near future. We are very familiar with the area, and it is hard to find a place that is this nicely remodeled, comfortable to live in, and with a great view of the beach and ocean. My wife enjoys cooking, and the kitchen meets her high standards. From the deck, you can enjoy the beauty of flocks of pelicans, seagulls, and dolphins along the ocean backdrop. At night, the ocean surf lulls you to sleep. The adjacent beach is not too crowded and great for hanging out, flying kites, walking, boogie boarding and skim boarding. You are also midway between Santa Cruz with the wharf and boardwalk which the kids like, and Capitola which has nice little shops and restaurants for the adults. There are also other nearby activities such as hiking in the redwoods or kayaking out into the ocean from the Santa Cruz Harbor, or up the Elkhorn Slough just south of here all of which will treat you to up close views of the wildlife. You can also walk or jog along East Cliff Drive and enjoy the scenery of Pleasure Point where the surfers congregate when the waves are good, and where I am told that Jack O’Neill has a place. If you need more suggestions, Ed keeps a binder in the place summarizing additional local amenities and household features. Overall, it is a great place to spend some of your leisure time, whether you stay in, or venture out. My family (wife, kids, mother-in-law, niece and nephew) always look forward our summer trip to Allegra Villa Alla Spiaggia.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Returning guest
Guest: Returning guest
(Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11
Review Submitted: 07/21/11
We have been staying at Allegra Villa for three years for our family vacation. The house is as comfortable as being at home. Our granddaughters who are now 6 and 3 years old love the openness of the house and the view of the ocean. Every morning we go down to the beach to check out the tide pools and see what is living there. The beach is a half a block away with easy access. The description was quite accurate and the photos gave a clear picture of the interior, although the house is better then the pictures show. The house is always clean and completely stocked with kitchen gadgets and small appliances. The linens are of top quality. The owner is always available and ready to assist you in any way. We have several other families that rent property at the same time and they all say how fortunate we are to have found Allegra Villa. It diffinately is the best of all the properties.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway.
Very nice house, location and view
Guest: Leo
(Homestead, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11
Review Submitted: 07/25/11
Six of us enjoyed Allegra Villa for a very pleasant week in Santa Cruz. The house is well-built and has a great view of the ocean. The deck with a gas grill was perfect. The kitchen is well equipped and organized. All enjoyed the short walk to the beach. The master bedroom has a seperate door to the deck as well, and it is pleasant to hear the surf. The wharf, boardwalk and the redwoods are a short drive. There are bike lanes on many of the nearby roads and we took advantage of them for morning rides. (We were able to buy used bikes from a local bicycle repair shop and sell them back at the end of the week). The owner was honest and pleasant to relate with. He left a book of good instructions for the house which included info about local places to shop and eat. The six of us were unanimous in giving 5 stars.
Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.
Paradise by the Sea
Guest: Laura
(England)
Date of Stay: 05/30/11
Review Submitted: 06/06/11
We stayed at this property for 3 days at the end of May; I wish we could have stayed longer. The apartment is beautifully and tastetully furnished throughout with everything you could ask for at your fingertips! The highlight was the close proximity to the beach which you can enjoy from the balcony as well as taking the 1 minute walk to... The apartment was the highlight of all the places we stayed in California and Ed was an accommodating and friendly host. Thank you!
Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Absolutely the best of the best!
Guest: pam
(Culpeper, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11
Review Submitted: 06/09/11
This is absolutely the most pleasant place where we have stayed for a vacation rental, ever. We have been renting in various vacation spots for many years. Although many of these spots have had their own charm, this one had consistent pristine condition and quality in every room. I commend the proprietor, Ed, for his excellent communications which are professional, informative and friendly (the perfect balance!). The place has a “user manual” that documents everything you could possibly need to know about staying there. The house was perfectly equipped for our needs. I lived in the kitchen. The cabinets are stunning and the granite looks brand new. The dishwasher was so quiet that I checked it twice the first time we ran it to make sure it was working. I did buy a cheap Teflon pan so that I could stir fry without worrying about messing up the commercial quality pans provided. Everything was in pristine condition when we got there and I wanted to make sure that we left it that way. We used practically every dish in the place, multiple times. All of the appliances, furnishings, linens, and bedding are of high quality and in excellent condition. My father-in-law commented that his bed was the most comfortable that he had ever slept on. The rooms must have exceptional insulation (for sound). My daughter stayed up late one night and decided to watch the Indiana Jones movies (supplied along with the entire 007 movie set and others) while she packed. I assumed that I would be hearing the soundtrack through the wall but I heard nothing. The fireplaces are lovely. The mantels over them look and have a finish like high quality furniture. It got just cold enough at night for us to put on our sweatshirts but didn’t warrant the heat in any rooms. We just turned on the fireplace for an hour or so in the morning to enjoy with our coffee and plan the day. In the late afternoons, we got a perfect cross breeze by opening the kitchen window and opening the sliding glass doors with the screens closed. We enjoyed hearing the ocean while bird, dolphin and otter watching from the balcony. The location worked perfectly for our needs. The walk to the beach is very short. The only negative thing we experienced was that our silly ATT cell phones did not work there (not Ed’s fault). But the rental includes unlimited domestic long distance phone service so it didn’t create a significant problem. I would go there again in a heartbeat!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Beautiful
Guest: Hokie
(Christiansburg, VA)
Date of Stay: 11/05/10
Review Submitted: 12/01/10
I had the opportunity to stay here a few weeks ago and we had an incredible time. This property is beautiful! The pictures just don't do it justice. The floor plan is very opened so the space feels twice the size. Every morning we could sit out on the deck and listen to the ocean and every evening we sat by the fire with a glass of wine. The location was great as well. It was a 2 minute walk to the beach where you can watch an amazing sunset or walk a little further to watch the surfers and a short drive into the cute downtown full of shops & restaurants. Ed was great to work with and through his selection of wine glasses we were able to find a really fun winery to visit.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
Fantastic Getaway
Guest: August Traveler
(Sacramento)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10
Review Submitted: 08/30/10
Santa Cruz has become an annual vacation spot for our family. This year marked our 4th visit and the Allegra Villa Alla Spiaggia house was everyone's favorite to date. We found the property to be exactly as advertised. The location was great and is only a simple walk to the beach – which was very important as we had 3 children under 6. A short ride or long walk also gets you to the boardwalk or Capitola. The house was very spacious and accommodated two families quite nicely. The kitchen was well stocked and an in-wall pantry provided plenty of room for things that we brought or got from the grocery store and farmers market. The owner (Ed) was very helpful and always answered questions quickly. Everything was handled as agreed and the deposit was returned quickly. Although the pictures do give an accurate portrayal of the house, they don’t do it justice. Having now stayed in four different spots, it has not been uncommon to find the pictures to be the best part of the prior houses – i.e. the house did not live up to the photos. This house did not disappoint. From the furnishings to the detailed finishes throughout the house, everything was top notch. It felt much more like a home than a rental property. We will definitely look to stay here again.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.
Wonderful vacation home
Guest: David RWC
(Redwood City, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/02/10
Review Submitted: 04/25/10
We enjoyed a wonderful vacation here in April 2010. The listing very accurately describes the house. It is simply but beautifully decorated with everything you need but no excess clutter. The view of the ocean is incredible. The quality of everything (including the exterior, interior fixtures and furnishings) is top notch, in perfect condition, clean and very well maintained. The owner went out of his way to be extremely helpful and answered all of the questions we had, and returned our deposit promptly. It's just a few minutes' pleasant drive from the house to everything of interest in Santa Cruz. I would highly recommend the property to anyone - and it's good for kids. Three things that I would note: First, the rental property is upstairs and there is another unit downstairs with its own separate entrance. Although he was there, we did not hear or see the downstairs tenant at all and received no complaints, even though our two boys woke up at 6 am every morning and made more noise than we liked. Second, the view from the living room and private deck partly look out across a deck at nearly the same level on the adjacent house. No one was on that deck the entire week we were there, but if it were in use, you would probably want to close the drapes in the living room for privacy, partly obstructing the view of the ocean from the living room. (There are other windows and doors looking out over the ocean that would not be affected.) Third, the kitchen has more than enough pots, pans and utensils for simple cooking. If you plan to do a lot of cooking, you might want to contact the owner ahead of time to see if the kitchen is stocked with the items you need. I do not mean to focus on any of these minor points - overall the property is excellent and the owner's description accurately depicts its charms.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Great experience!
Guest: East bay traveler
(Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/26/09
Review Submitted: 07/02/09
We stayed at the Allegra Villa for a long weekend in June when we visisted Santa Cruz and Monterey. The house turned out to be the highlight of our trip. It has a great view of the ocean, you can hear the sound of the waves at night. The beach is very close to the house and feels like a private beach, a good retreat from the more commercial Santa Cruz board walk or 17 mile drive. The house is full of top notch and brand new equipments, appliance and furniture. The owner has a real good taste to decorate the house. We've stayed at many vacation houses before, most of them tend to be rental quality. This one makes us feel like home as everything is so well designed, selected and of high quality. The owner is also very friendly and accommodative. We would highly recommend it for a romantic getaway! Any other use of the house would be fine but won't realize its full value.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway