Great location, and great for a family

Guest: Yosemite Girl (Near Yosemite, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

We just returned home from Pacific Grove, where we stayed in this charming victorian cottage. It was a great place to spend a long weekend, and I wish we could've stayed longer. The location was PERFECT and so convenient; the house was well maintained and so cozy; and my kids (ages 5 and 7) were thrilled to have their "own rooms". This home is over 100 years old, and is in good condition, and has a ton of character and charm. It reminds me of the homes I grew up in, in the midwest and east coast. I highly recommend it!

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

Guest: Marley (-)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/19/11

I was in San Jose on business and decided to take a couple of extra days to visit the Monterey Bay area with my mother who was travelling with me. We found Nina's place and it was right up our alley! If you love old houses, architecture and/or history, this charming, three-bedroom in the historic Pacific Grove area will delight you. The cottage has hardwood floors, historical pictures grace the walls, and it's clean and inviting. The kitchen is HUGE and has a wonderful little garden off of it in the back. There's even a park across the street. We also liked that it's centrally located - a short drive and you're in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Monterey. And Nina's recommendations for dining choices were just what we were looking for. We'd definitely stay here again if we're in the area - lots of serendipities and memories to be made!

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Guest: Charlene (-)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 02/19/11

Perfect location in Pacific Grove! My family and I stayed here for a beautiful weekend in Pacific Grove & Monterey. We couldn't have asked for a better location, we were within walking distance to the ocean, coffee shops, restaurants, a grocery store and more. The cottage was cozy and clean with a kitchen that was perfect for making breakfast, lunch or dinner. The two queen beds were comfortable and cozy, a nice amenity. The cottage even had a high chair for our 16 month old! Definitely recommend!

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Guest: Nick (-)
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/19/11

This cottage is a perfect place to explore the Monterey area. The house itself is comfortable and replete with character. The living room is cozy with a small fireplace. There are great restaurants within a couple blocks, as well as spectacular coastline. Can't recommend it enough!

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Nor Cal at its best!

Guest: surferjo (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/03/10 Review Submitted: 12/06/10

This house was perfect for our surfing trip to Monterey. Walked to PG pier and surfed every morning. Afternoon sesh at Asilomar. Enclosed back yard kept our boards safe. Great affordable restaurants close by. House is comfortable and clean- a good value! Thanks to Gino for recommending some great surf spots. Will definitely be coming back.

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

California Dreaming

Guest: Lili (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/06/10 Review Submitted: 12/03/10

Had a wonderful California vacation in November which included a weeklong stay in this darling Victorian Cottage! It was the highlight of our trip! Morning runs along the ocean, great bookshop, cafes, fantastic seafood restaurant- all within a 5-minute walk! Really got to unwind in this friendly coastal town! The house was perfect- clean, quiet and comfortable. Fell asleep to the sound of a distant fog horn! Even enjoyed an evening of wine tasting among the sea life at the Monterey Aquarium! It was the ideal California getaway…Planning to return in the future and stay longer… Lili Barnaby Canada

Owner response:Thank you Lili! Come back and visit us again soon!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Cottage means small

Guest: Southern California Visitor (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/20/10 Review Submitted: 12/02/10

This house has such character and charm, built in 1883, old wood floors in living room and hallway, tall, narrow doors with original hardware...just lovely! The convenience of the location - less than .25 miles from the ocean with a wonderful three mile+ walking/riding trail, and within two or three blocks from the "main drag" of Pacific Grove, Lighthouse Blvd., made it a wonderful place to stay. We have two young boys (8 and 4) and there is a neighborhood park directly across the street from the back gate. Unfortunately, the beds are covered in a plastic mattress pad that made sleeping on them impossible (think crunchy and HOT), the mattresses themselves are so soft and lumpy it caused my 65 year old mother some back problems each morning. The living room furniture, although appropriate for the small size of the living room, was insufficient for three adults and two kids. Someone was always sitting on the floor. The couch is small and old and the two wicker/rattan chairs are just uncomfortable. There are no ottomans or footstools, and because we were there in the winter, it made relaxing in the home very difficult. Finally, we were disappointed in the fact that when we arrived there was only one open roll of toilet paper, no paper towels, no garbage bags to line the trash cans, no dish soap, no dishwasher, no disposal, and the bathroom was VERY small. The sink is very low (my four year old did not need his stool) and there is only one bathroom. With two queen beds you might think four adults would be comfortable in the home but I would not stay at this home with anyone other than close family members. Property was clean, well maintained, and the owner provided excellent customer service. The home was quaint and the location was ideal, but we would not stay there again.

Owner response:Our vacation home is cozy and of Victorian proportions (995 sq ft), as are most other houses conveniently located in the PG Retreat area, close to Lovers’ Point beach, parks and downtown. Our listing clearly states that there is one bathroom, which is up to standard building codes. We do not advertise a garbage disposal or dishwasher. The kitchen is otherwise fully equipped and supplied with cloth kitchen towels, and sponges, thus keeping it “green”. Other items, i.e. bar soaps, shampoo/conditioner, toilet paper, dish soap, trash liners, coffee filters are provided in quantities sufficient to get you started, and guests usually replenish them, especially for longer stays. The living room seats five average size adults comfortably, and extra seating can be brought in from other rooms if need be. Finally, all our beds are custom-made, with quality materials- each mattress is enclosed in a premium protector, under a mattress pad and professionally laundered high thread-count cotton linens. We also chose to add the softer cushion tops, which most guests find “super comfy”.

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Our Second Time!

Guest: winniemae (tucson, az)
Date of Stay: 07/15/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

My husband and I decided to return to our favorite Victorian Cottage again this year. The location is in a friendly neighborhood and walking to restaurants, library, the beach etc is a plus. We also attended the Bach and Beethoven Festival in Carmel and found our cottage an easy drive to the different venues. We recommend this cottage to anyone visiting the area.

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

Great for a family vacation

Guest: Tony and Chriss (Idaho)
Date of Stay: 06/11/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

This home is excellent, everything for a family on vacation, the park was perfect for my granddaughter to play on and the kids loved to walk to the beach and stroll.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Hidden Jewel

Guest: Nomadic Traveler (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 06/15/09 Review Submitted: 06/30/09

This house was perfect for our family, very close to everything, beach, shops, resturants, etc. all within 5 mins walk! There is also a park for kids to play in right outside the back gate and across the street. The house had everything we needed to include dishes, towels, TV, DVD, etc. Very quiet area with little to no traffic. This is a hidden jewel and I would go back in a heartbeat. Also, Nina (owner) is very responsive to any questions. Great stay!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.