Vacation Rentals by Owner

Sparkling Clean Cozy Cottage

Guest: wendy z. (Mission Hills, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/03/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

I am a repeat vacationer of the Holly house and will stay here over and over again. This cozy cottage has every single detail carefully planned out for the ultimate beach experience. HOT OUTDOOR SHOWER is perfect to rinse off the sandy beach. Everything is in walking distance including a new awesome restaurant "Crushcakes". I took the grandkids on early morning walks exploring Carpinteria's Salt Marsh, to the "new" playground at the park, and beach daily. I am already thinking about a "girls" weekend get-away, relaxing and reading, dining, and antique shopping soon :)

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

Perfect Getaway!

Guest: O&K (Germany)
Date of Stay: 10/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

Once again, we were lucky to stay for almost a month at Holly House, which by now really feels like home away from home. The cottage has every amenity you can wish for and is beautifully decorated. If you are looking for a cozy place to relax and enjoy the sun, this has to be the perfect choice. Also, Carpinteria is a beautiful little town that has a much to offer (mile long beaches, shops and restaurants on Linden avenue). Thank you Kathy and Jed for another great vacation!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Stay during August 2011

Guest: HB Family (Huntington Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 10/06/11

Our family of 4 had a wonderful week in this cottage. It had just about all of the amenities we were looking for and the supplies provided for our beach outings were wonderful to have and, wow, this cottage is really so, so close to the beach! We were quite comfortable here, except when it came to seating. There is seating for 4-5 on the patio; however, there were a few mornings and evenings when it was chilly enough that we wanted to sit inside - inside, there is dining seating for only 3. Although the cottage is quaint and beautifully decorated, the cottage is quite small...smaller than the photos make it appear to be. If you are a family who enjoys to have family meals together, play games together and have a little more space, I would recommend looking at the sister cottage next door which does have enough seating to make these activities more comfortable. Otherwise, our family had an enjoyable week being so close to the beach and so many other attractions.

Owner response:Thank you, Joyce. I appreciate your input. I just ordered a new dining table that seats 4 and am very excited about it. Thank you for the suggestion. Will post new dining room photos as soon as it arrives! We look forward to having your family as our guests again. Kathy

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Cute and comfortable

Guest: meg (santa barbara)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

This is a cute little cottage in a great location--a block away from the beach and from the Carpinteria marsh, one of the most beautiful spots on earth. The kitchen is nicely equipped, and the living room-kitchen area quite comfortable; everything was attractive, clean and well-maintained. The owner was helpful and pleasant.

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

Wonderful family Vacation

Guest: Michelle (LAS VEGAS)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

My husband and mt 2 little girls had the best time spending the week at this cottage. This was our second visit and we highly recommend it. Close to the beach and a relaxing patio top the list. Thanks for sharing!

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

stay with grandkids

Guest: donna (lompoc)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/11/11

My 2 grandchildren (Ally 12 & Tony 10) just returned from 5 days at this amazing Beach House! Even with some rainy weather we had a wonderful time. The cottage was peaceful, relaxing and perfect for all 3 of us. The kitchen was well equipped and we ate many of our meals on the outside dining area. The location was perfect for walks to the Beach, the Bird Refuge or into town. While waiting for the fog to burn off in the mornings we drove to Santa Barbara and experienced the Zoo and the Natural History Museum less than 20 minutes away. I would highly recommend this cottage to anyone and have already passed the information on to several other families.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Suberb beach cottage

Guest: jeff (phoenix, arizona)
Date of Stay: 05/06/11 Review Submitted: 05/10/11

The listing perfectly described what we found upon arrival as did the photos. The property is immaculate and extremely well maintained which we loved. The owners are terrific at communication which put us at ease and we are already recommending this property to friends. We recommend a walk on the beach and like cooking so having a huge Von's grocery nearby was a plus. We plan to return.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming Cottage

Guest: Barb and John (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/23/11

It is certainly a stylish cottage retreat! The minute we walked in we felt at home and very comfortable. It took all of about 5 minutes to fall in love with the cottage. Everything you need is right there. The interior of the cottage is very clean and neat. The kitchen is very well stocked with anything you could possibly need. Walk to the farmer's market on Thursdays, bring home your purchases and make yourself a delicious dinner. The outdoor patio is very private and beautifully landscaped. You can easily spend your days lounging on the patio and enjoying the beach down the street. You will not be disappointed if you decide to rent this cottage...it is a true gem!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

AAA+++ Highly Recommend this Cozy Cottage anytime of the year!

Guest: wendy z. (Mission Hills, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/12/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

Every little single amenity you could think of has been beautifully and comfortably appointed. My growing family made priceless memories at the Holly House and can't wait to make more in the coming years. Thank you so much!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fabulous Beach Retreat

Guest: Jill (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/03/10

My family and I (3 of us) stayed here and LOVED it. It is truly a charming beach cottage. It is a short walk to the beach. There is a wagon full of all things needed for the beach. We felt like we were home the minute we walked in. There is a wonderful outdoor sitting area that we used every morning after our walk on the beach. The neighborhood is wonderful and everything in town is within walking distance. We will most definitely stay here again!!!!!!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming & Comfortable Cottage!

Guest: Patti (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

We have vacationed in this charming cottage for the last two summers and absolutely loved it. It is very clean, comfortable, and certainly doesn't feel anything like a rental property. It's close to the beach and town and so you seldom need to use a car. I have visited Carpinteria every summer for the last 30+ yrs. and I can honestly say this is my favorite home/condo that I have ever rented. It is couple, small family, and child friendly and the owners have done an excellent job providing all the comforts of home and the "toys" for a vacation. I am hesitant in recommending to others for only one reason - I will have more competition when I try to rent it again next year! We will return again next summer!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Lovely Beach Cottage

Guest: Tim and Josie (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 06/30/10 Review Submitted: 07/19/10

What a beautiful restored beach cottage! It is close to the beach and downtown. The beach house was very clean and the owners were fabulous! Kathy emailed us with suggestions of things to do after the unusually cloudy, cool weather-which was a lovely touch. Within days our deposit was returned.

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Lovely Time!

Guest: RachelleV (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

We had a lovely time at Holly House this summer. Our first time here. What a beautiful, peaceful cottage. Lovingly appointed including beautiful bedrooms, nice bathroom and a well stocked kitchen (supplies, dishes, cookware, etc). The cottage is clean, fresh and well cared for. We loved being just minutes away from the beach. Carpinteria is very family friendly especially if you have younger ones. Our 5yr old daughter was in heaven. The outdoor warm shower and patio furniture for dinners/BBQs was great too. We can't wait to return! Thanks Kathy!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Guest: Olaf2 (-)
Date of Stay: 10/01/09 Review Submitted: 10/01/09

We very much enjoyed our three week stay at the cottage. Holly House is beautifully decorated and has all the amenities you could wish for. We felt right at home and find it hard to leave. Also, the owner was very friendly and even provided us with a great list of things to do in and around Carpinteria. Thank you!

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Guest: Mary Ann17 (-)
Date of Stay: 10/01/09 Review Submitted: 10/01/09

We had a wonderful time and so much enjoyed the comfort of the cottage and its location. Everything from the front yard white-picket fence and plantings to the outside shower with warm water, the well appointed kitchen, HD TV, WiFi and pillow-top mattress in the master bedroom made our stay wonderful. Also your professinal manner in handling of business matters was a plus.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/16/09 Review Submitted: 09/16/09

The cottage was absolutely lovely and easily accomodated our family of four. It was extremely clean, freshly decorated, and well organized. We appreciated how well thought out the details were. It was excellent doing business with this owner. They were transparent with all expectations and were very professsional in every way.

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Guest: Michelle Cox (Folsom, Ca)
Date of Stay: 07/24/09 Review Submitted: 07/24/09

This Cottage was beautiful! Everything was decorated perfectly. I went with my Father and my 2 kids for a short vacation and we loved it. So close to the best beaches and quaint downtown area. I will be back next time, maybe for a second honeymoon!

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Guest: Greg49 (-)
Date of Stay: 07/19/09 Review Submitted: 07/19/09

We enjoyed a very relaxing stay at your comfortable beach cottage. Everything the area has to offer made this a special vacation for my family; bike rides to the seal sanctuary, wine tasting in Los Olivos, shopping & dining in Carpentaria and of course, lots of beach time. We look forward to visiting again in the future. Thanks!

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Guest: Amber and Family
Date of Stay: 07/01/09 Review Submitted: 06/30/09

(QUOTE FROM EMAIL TO OWNER) Thank you for helping us to arrange this vacation. The house was beautiful. There were so many little touches that made our stay special. I have recommended your services to three of my friends so far. Do you have any availability in your house again this summer? Thanks again, Amber

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Guest: Kathy and Jed
Date of Stay: 06/29/09 Review Submitted: 06/28/09

Dear guests, we hope you had a wonderful stay in our cottage. We strive to make it a wonderful vacation to remember. Please share your comments with us. Thank you!

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