Gorgeous and secluded

Guest: Rchinaberr (Orange County, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 12/11/09 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

My husband and I rented this wonderful home for a much needed weekend getaway. Even though it rained (actually poured!) the entire time we were there, our weekend was heavenly. You couldn't ask for a nicer place to "cocoon" and relax -- we kept a roaring fire going all day and evening. The owner provides everything you need except for fresh food -- all spices and condiments were there, lots of "dry" food on hand as well. All firewood, kindling, etc. was provided. We were there for 3 days and never once left the property. My only regret is that because of the rain, we weren't able to fully take advantage of the fabulous deck and view. I could have spent hours on that deck with a good book and a glass (or two!) of wine. Instead, I made due in front of the roaring fire, snuggled under a blanket! The road up to the house is pretty challenging. I wouldn't show up in a low riding sports car during inclimate weather and expect to make it up that road. We were in a small SUV and didn't have any trouble. Since we didn't leave the property, I don't know first hand how navigating it would be in the dark but I imagine it would not be too fun. The caretaker, Andi, met us down below, showed us up the road and made us feel more than welcome. She was great! She can also fix anything and everything. This property is especially wonderful if you are a dog/cat lover -- between Andi and the owner, you'll have lots of dogs to play with and love on if you wish. If you don't, they will keep the dogs confined and away from you. There are also several great cats who live on the property and love attention. Even with the gloomy weather, we had a marvelous time and can't wait until we can get away again and return!

Owner response:I am so glad that this couple had a wonderful time, and I hope they return soon and often! Even in rainy weather Big Sur has its own magic.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, pet owners.

Amazing Experience

Guest: Chris D. (SF Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

I highly recommend this home! Big Sur is amazing already and this home takes the Big Sur experience to another level. Yes, the drive to the home is slightly challenging, but it's worth every minute for the opportunity to stay here. Our Honda minivan had no problems with the drive. I'm sure the drive to the house is safer than driving on Highway 1. In addition to the great location -- surrounded by majestic mountains with enough of an ocean view to make you happy -- the home itself adds to the experience with the great design. The master bedroom will be remembered as one of my favorite places to sleep. We'll be back!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Heavenly Retreat

Guest: huddlm (Dallas)
Date of Stay: 06/13/11 Review Submitted: 07/01/11

Wow. We rented the house for eight days in June 2011. The house was amazing. We had high expectations, and the house and surrounding valley were far better than expected. The house is pristine, clean and surrounded by flowers. It is fully equipped with flat screens, a stereo and a great CD collection. The views from the house are amazing. We could see and hear the ocean from both decks. The sundowns are magical. Hiking in the immediate area offers views of Big Sur and Pfeiffer Beach that are unavailable to others. The beach was only a very short mountain drive away. The master bath has a huge Meyer Lemon tree that was a real treat. We have two boys (7 and 10). The property was very safe for them, and they had a complete blast getting back to nature. The gourmet kitchen was perfect, with windows surrounding it. Be sure to do your shopping in Monterrey or Carmel since prices in Big Sur are high and many necessaries are unavailable. The drive up the mountain to the house was easy to get used to and was not as daunting as some of the reviews indicate. It can be done in a car or an suv. This wonderful house would work for a couple seeking a romantic getaway or a family seeking to find an amazing alternative to amusement parks and video games. We provide heartfelt thanks to the owners for sharing it. We will be back. Soon.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway.

WHAT A GREAT THANKSGIVING! THANK YOU SO MUCH.....

Guest: Andy (Los Angeles California)
Date of Stay: 11/23/10 Review Submitted: 11/30/10

We want to thank you for a most wonderful family holiday. The property is beautiful and the house was everything we had hoped for. It was so fun to cook in the gourmet kitchen that the whole family joined in. We have always loved coming to Big Sur and now we know what it feels like to be locals. No more hotels for us! See you next year, and the next, and the next!!!!

Owner response:The house is so perfect for a gathering! We are so glad you had a good time and hope to see you again!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, pet owners.

THANKS FOR A GREAT WEEK!

Guest: Mirka (California)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/21/10

This house was everything we could have wanted and more! A beautiful place in a beautiful place. Clean well maintained and comfortably furnished. We especially enjoyed the gourmet kitchen. It was peaceful and relaxing. The sunny deck was a wonderful spot to spend time. Even the dog had a good time. Highly reccommend it and can't wait to go back.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners.

Guest: John and Pat (-)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

Hello, just a few lines to say thank you for letting John and I spend time at your beautiful home. John calls it "Heaven on Earth" and he also tells me it was his best birthday ever, thank you many times and we hope to stay there again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Loraine (-)
Date of Stay: 05/27/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

Our stay at your incredible house in Big Sur was outstanding, more than I even anticipated. The beauty, comfort, peacefulness...I could go on and on like how comfortable the beds were, how lovely all the flowers, how I loved the kitchen and had fun cokking there, etc. We had a great week and I wish we had another one.

Recommended for:

Perfect!

Guest: Alobar (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 09/01/09 Review Submitted: 09/16/09

Wow. What an amazing house. This is the perfect blend of luxury and rustic charm. Views to kill for, privacy, close proximity to the beach, restaurants and the national parks in Big Sur. If you want to unplug in style, look no further. Monique was a wonderful hostess. She was in another house on the property while we were there and checked in with us a couple of times to make sure we were doing well, but left us alone for the most part. The kitchen was fantastic. We cooked and barbecued while we stayed for five days. Also, the master suite has a bay window with a view of the valley below the property that's brilliant to wake up to. The shower and whirlpool bathtub were nicely designed. Plus it's a green, off-the-grid, solar powered house which I found very interesting! You can tell a lot of work and deep thought went into the design of this house. While in Big Sur, we ate at the Big Sur Bakery and the River Inn. Both places had good food and acceptable service. There were other restaurants there, but as I said earlier, we utilized the nice kitchen while we stayed. Also, Monterey and Carmel are about 30 miles away (and the drive is beautiful!) so if you want a greater selection of restaurants and shopping you have that option. The house is located off of a private, gated drive on the side of a mountain. The drive up the mountain is a one-lane half paved, half dirt road. I thought it was an exciting drive to the property, but my car sickness-prone partner thought otherwise. We did make it a point to be back before dark, since there are no street lights to guide your way up the twisty mountainside road. We had rented an economy car (Hyundai Accent) for our trip and had no problem whatsoever getting up the road. Also, there are no screens on the windows/doors since it would take too much away from the gorgeous views. We were a little skeeved by the flies buzzing around the windows at first, but they do tend to stay on the windows and not fly around the house. Also, once it gets dark out, we found that leaving the windows and doors open and turning the inside lights OFF and turnging the outside lights ON seemed to draw all the bugs back outside within 10 minutes. Then we closed most of the doors & windows and bugs weren't an issue at all. If you're thinking about renting a place in Big Sur, look no further. I couldn't have been happier with our choice for a 5 day getaway to unplug, hike and relax.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A hideawy for aging hippies

Guest: sandyseeworld (Jasper, Georgia USA)
Date of Stay: 09/08/09 Review Submitted: 09/14/09

The home owner Monique lent me her personal notebook computer to use during my stay which I thought was well beyond my expectations. She's tried to make one's stay as comfortable as possible by supplying a great deal of what one would expect at home. However, the home needs a bit of a refurbishing and since it's "off the grid" it's subject to numerous power outages although the power goes back on due to the power generator. I may be picky but I think the deck chairs, cushions, and pillows are well past due to be replaced being that they're really dirty and ugly looking. The deck itself could also use a refurbishing and perhaps some stain. One problem that I had was my Mother's refusal to go out after dark. The road to the house from Highway 1 is mostly dirt (although it's paved in some parts) and it's very windy and bumpy. It takes about 12 minutes of slow travel with some very dangerous drop-offs to get to the home. My Mom was concerned about driving off the road at night so we stayed at the home instead of going out to dinner. Also forget about take out at the several restaurants in Big Sur on Highway 1. "We don't do take out" meant no dinner. I got a bit fed up with the Big Slur experience and left a day early so I could spend more time doing some other things on my vacation. Also, we had a problem with the downstairs toilet clogging up. Also, I was awakened at 3am by what sounded like wild animals running on the deck above the master bedroom. I'm hoping it was her two dogs and not some cougars. If you don't like house noises and are freaked out by the isolation of this place than it's not for you. Also, if you expect to see a sunset over the Pacific Ocean you won't see it from the house becaue the view really doesn't face west. I'm just trying to be honest and I think many people will find this home charming but you also must be aware of its defecits.

Owner response:Big Sur is an experiance that is not for everyone. Although "mom" was a very sweet lady, at 85 years old, they would have been happier in a more citified environment. We are a remote off the grid place and much better suited for people who want serenity and privacy. I am very clear with all my clients that they bring all supplies with them. We have a top of the line kitchen. No fast food or Dominos here.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway.