Reviews for Carpinteria Vacation Rental - VRBO 248884 - 2 BR Santa Barbara Area House in CA, Stylish Cottage Retreat by the Sea in Carpinteria

Loved it!

Guest Adam M.
Date of stay 12/27/12
Review Submitted 01/08/13

The Holly House is fantastic! Took my wife there for a surprise trip and she loved it. The cottage is beautiful, and stocked perfectly. The location is amazing....a couple of minutes to the beach, downtown, train station, etc. Having bikes there was also great. Can't wait to go back!

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

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Well-appointed, tastefully decorated and cozy cottage

Guest Daisy5879
Date of stay 12/22/12
Review Submitted 01/02/13

My husband and I, my 11-month old son, and another couple stayed at this vacation rental over the holidays. The photos definitely represent how the house looks accurately. Even though the square footage isn't huge (the owner even warned us it might be tight for our party) we found it to be just fine. The house is very well-located - only a couple blocks from the beach in one direction and a couple of blocks to town in the other direction. Here are our pros and cons: Pros: -Owner is responsive and easy to communicate with. She provides lots of information about where to eat and what sights to check out. -Very well-appointed house. We really had everything we needed, and we even had some basic cooking supplies like sugar, oil, coffee filters and plastic wrap left from previous tenants. -Good location -Decorations were minimal, tasteful and not kitschy. This was important to us because we have an 11-month old and we didn't have to worry about him knocking over antiques. We moved a few items out of reach and then we could all enjoy the open space. -The heat worked quickly and well - when we arrived it was 48 degrees in the house and it warmed up rather fast. -Great showerhead! -Good storage helped us feel less cramped and there was less clutter - important when you have a lot of baby gear. -The house had a great layout and was open and welcoming. Con: -The owner asks that you housekeep before departure. There is a list, and the owner requests that you sweep, vacuum, remove hair and soap from shower, wipe down counters, wash and put away all dishes, and strip beds of sheets/fold blankets. Usually I would be fine with this except that I had to pay a pricey cleaning fee prior to arrival! Besides do a load of laundry, I'm not sure the cleaning crew had very much to do after we left. If I had known I would be required to do my own housekeeping, I would have had issue with the cleaning fee. Other things to know (neutral): -There is an empty lot across the street, just recently razed. Worth it to inquire about future construction. -The owner cashes your security deposit. I've rented with many other vrbo owners and this is the first time where my security check was cashed instead of being held and ripped up after inspection. It was fine but surprising - just a heads up for future renters. -Trains roll by close to the house 2-3 times a day. Not a big deal for others but of course they were during my son's nap times which I found a bit of a bother.

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

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October RandR

Guest Vice Principal
Date of stay 10/26/12
Review Submitted 10/31/12

Kathy was superb in making sure my husband and I had all of our needs met! We enjoyed a remarkably relaxing stay in Holly House, and we are looking forward to many more repasts there. The home is incredible! It is so well furnished and equipped with anything anyone would need from cooking to baking to beachcombing... We absolutely loved our time there and cannot wait to return to enhance what we just experienced! Thank you, Kathy and Jed for sharing your lovely cottage with us! Mike and Anne

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

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Perfection!!

Guest Milby
Date of stay 08/18/12
Review Submitted 10/04/12

This cottage was adorable!! Every detail was attended to! The cottage is quite small but does not feel it at all! It was designed perfectly...and the furnishings were lovely. We were easily able to walk the block to the beach with our two small children thanx to the amazing wagon provided. Great beach! It was also a short walk into town to grab dinner. We absolutely LOVED the restaurant Corktree Cellars - we didn't eat out much because it was so charming at the house we preferred to stay in. There is some really great food in this town though. We also loved! the binder left in the house with all the information about Carpinteria...In it we found out about a water park in Lake Casistas(bout 20 miles away-maybe less?) It's more like a "playground" set in water with water spraying all over the place and also a lazy river to ride rafts in - Our 3 and 1 year old FLIPPED on it! It's geared for smaller kids but we would have never known about it without that handy binder. Communication was great with Kathy when we reserved all the way through receiving our deposit back. We definitely intend on returning!

Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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Beach time with the grandkids

Guest donna
Date of stay 07/29/12
Review Submitted 08/06/12

This was our second summer at Holly House. I didn't think it was possible but Ally, Tony and I had an even better time than last summer. The cottage continues to be a wonderful, relaxing place to come to after days spent at the beach, the zoo, the Natural History Museum or in downtown Carp. We also explored tidepools, saw dolphins swimming right by the platforms and hit all our favorite shops like the Curious Cup Bookstore. The 3 of us came a little later in the summer and, while there were more visitors in town, Carpinteria continues to be a wonderful "beach town" that has stayed true to it's roots, just like the cottage. We are already trying to decide when we can come back next year.

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

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Great vacation house!

Guest B.R.
Date of stay 07/22/12
Review Submitted 08/07/12

This place is such a gem! The owners did an amazing job on this place and it really feels like a home. Unbelievably clean and very spacious feeling. Clean linens and very well appointed kitchen. The yard is great, especially if you've got kids. Walking distance to the beach and downtown. Will definitely come back again!

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

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Absolutely Perfect

Guest JustDriftin'
Date of stay 05/13/12
Review Submitted 05/30/12

Where to start......Found it on VRBO. Contacted Kathy and got the ball rolling. Transaction was handled perfectly.....tons of communication, follow up and follow through. The town of Carpinteria is ultra laid back, good food, good shops, the beach is excellent, and the micro brewery makes a good beer. Santa Barbara is 10 minutes, Ventura and Ojai are maybe 15 minutes. We were here for a week and it wasn"t long enough. The cottage itself is quaint, comfortable, really clean, totally equipped and a perfect place to relax and enjoy this beautiful section of California. If you are looking for a totally stress free travel experience.....this is your place. Don't miss it

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

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Sparkling Clean Cozy Cottage

Guest wendy z.
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.

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Perfect Getaway!

Guest O&K
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.

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Stay during August 2011

Guest HB Family
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.

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

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

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Cute and comfortable

Guest meg
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.

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Wonderful family Vacation

Guest Michelle
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.

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stay with grandkids

Guest donna
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.

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Suberb beach cottage

Guest jeff
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.

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Charming Cottage

Guest Barb and John
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.

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

Guest wendy z.
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.

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Fabulous Beach Retreat

Guest Jill
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.

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Charming & Comfortable Cottage!

Guest Patti
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.

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Lovely Beach Cottage

Guest Tim and Josie
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
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.

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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
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 comment entered by owner

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 comment entered by owner

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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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Stylish Cottage Retreat by the Sea in Carpinteria [#248884] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (27)

Loved it!

Loved it!

Well-appointed, tastefully decorated and cozy cottage

Well-appointed, tastefully decorated and cozy cottage

October RandR

October RandR

Perfection!!

Perfection!!

Beach time with the grandkids

Beach time with the grandkids

Great vacation house!

Great vacation house!

Absolutely Perfect

Absolutely Perfect

Sparkling Clean Cozy Cottage

Sparkling Clean Cozy Cottage

Perfect Getaway!

Perfect Getaway!

Stay during August 2011

Stay during August 2011

Cute and comfortable

Cute and comfortable

Wonderful family Vacation

Wonderful family Vacation

stay with grandkids

stay with grandkids

Suberb beach cottage

Suberb beach cottage

Charming Cottage

Charming Cottage

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

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

Fabulous Beach Retreat

Fabulous Beach Retreat

Charming & Comfortable Cottage!

Charming & Comfortable Cottage!

Lovely Beach Cottage

Lovely Beach Cottage

Lovely Time!

Lovely Time!