Vacation Rentals by Owner

COZY BEACH RENTAL!

Guest: Diana (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 08/26/11 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

My family and I stayed at Casa Sophia in August, 2011. Although we live in San Diego, we wanted to stay at the beach for the weekend and really enjoy the beautiful weather, soaking in the sunshine and sand. We did just that at Casa Sophia! It is a cute and cozy place...with a fun kitchen to cook together. There is plenty of seating outside to have a good barbecue! By day we soaked in the rays at the bay just a few feet away. Our friends joined us with their kayaks and we went kayaking all around Mission Bay. We then rented some bikes (Bike rentals are all around Mission Bay and Casa Sophia has some also) and took a long bike ride on the bike path surrounding the bay. Fantastic! By night, we built a fire in the fire pit that Casa Sophia had in the yard and made Somores! We slept well as there are plenty of beds. We had a very enjoyable weekend!! Thank you Emma and Tony!

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Great location, do not go if you want a clean or neat house!

Guest: Family of 4 (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 08/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/08/11

I have to write a review, because after reading all the 5 star ratings were were shocked at the actual condition of the home. We spent a week at Casa Sofia in August 2011. The house was in a great location. Garage was wonderful and Emma was a very pleasant host to deal with. The problem I had was the cleanliness and clutter in the home. It was more suited for a group of college kids than our family of 4. An example is a crunchy, faded/stained bath rug and grime in all the corners of the bathroom. I almost puked when I saw the old caked food on the gas grill that didn't even work. The kitchen is packed with things you don't need. Spices, old food, 15 mis-matched spoons most of which have been eaten by a garbage disposal. I bet this was once a nice home, but I'm guessing hasn't been kept up much at all for years and the renting has taken it's toll. I would recommend to the owners to paint every room, throw out everything in the kitchen and spend $600 at target on new plates/napkins/sheets/towels. Get some decent tvs that work, buy some futons that aren't broken and hire a cleaning service to remove the dust and grime instead of fooling yourself into thinking your cleaning sufficiently yourself. So if you're looking for a place to be super close to the beach & bay with free parking and a garage full of used beach toys this is your place. If you plan to eat, watch tv or hang out at the house and you are over the age of 25 spend the extra money and stay somewhere else.

Recommended for:Pet owners

Reconsider

Guest: Arizonagirl (Oro Valley)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

We stayed at Casa Sofia this past June and found the neighborhood to be very nice. Unfortunately, the house itself was not what we expected. The house is old and unkempt along with everything inside and out. Kitchen and bathroom were filthy. Would not recommend this property.

Owner response:Please check out all previous guest comments(since 2004). Our beach cottage is an original older beach cottage (1930's) and is not modern like some of the condos/houses in the area. We welcome couples, families, children and their pets and it is very laid back and lived in and our rental rates are affordable.

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Memorial Weekend 2010

Guest: Rob and Michelle (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 05/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/10

We celebrated our 5th Anniversary at Casa Sofia with our French Bulldog Zeke during the Memorial weekend. The house was very comfortable, clean, and the neighborhood was quiet considering its proximity to the shore. We had the pleasure of meeting Tony Sofia during our stay. He was friendly and offered lots of recommendations on activities in the area and the best routes to take. Our only disappointment had nothing to do with the beach house, but rather with Mission Beach. We were pretty bummed to discover that dogs are not welcome on the boardwork during the day. We came down from Venice Beach and really enjoyed our mid days walk with Zeke there. On the upside, there is a ten minute drive to a dog park which is pretty entertaining!! As a result of our experience, we highly recommend Casa Sofia Beach House Retreat to anyone looking for a nice and relaxing vacation in Mission Beach.

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

Guest: Sue110 (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 08/02/09 Review Submitted: 08/02/09

What a wonderful vacation. Our family loves Mission Beach and staying at Casa Sofia was wonderful. Plenty of bikes and water toys to keep everyone busy, thank you. Our special needs son learned to ride a bike while he was there. The area was beautiful and everyone was so friendly. We had a great time and hope to be back next year!

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Guest: LeeAnn Bates (-)
Date of Stay: 02/20/09 Review Submitted: 02/20/09

6 girlfriends who grew up together in Hawaii met for a reunion/baby shower at Casa Sofia. It was just perfect for us! Bayside bikerides, beachwalks and just a minute away from casual restaurants made it the ultimate gathering place for the weekend. The neighbors were of all ages and VERY friendly. Parking was a bit troublesome with more than one vehicle but it was a minor issue in general. I highly recommend Casa Sofia to any family or small group of friends needing a comfy yet trendy and fun place to stay in San Diego!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/29/08 Review Submitted: 09/29/08

A lovely beach house with all the little things you need to have. Clean with a gracious host. The bicycles were a real treat, I rode everyday along the bay and ocean. 4 fit comfortably, 7 was tight.

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Guest: Stephanie Slater (Gilbert, AZ)
Date of Stay: 08/12/08 Review Submitted: 08/12/08

Casa Sofia was perfect for our family! The house was just the right size with great access to the beach and the bay. We made great use of the patio with the enclosed area for the kids, the barbeque, and tables and chairs for meals. Casa Sofia also had all the beach toys and accessories that we needed. Thank you Emma and Tony - we'll definitely be back!

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Guest: Nancy, Kim, Chris,Allison Elliott (Phoenix, AZ)
Date of Stay: 06/21/08 Review Submitted: 06/21/08

Our time at the CASA SOFIA Beach House was a perfect get away for our family for Spring Break this past year. The home was very comfortable for us and our college age kids. So close to everything: beach, bay, restaurants! We had great fun riding your bikes! Thanks for the great hospitality!

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Guest: Lynette & Dan Molloy (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/01/08

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay!! Great spot as its conveniently located close to the beaches, parks etc. We had all the amenties we needed - and more! The folder with directions to various attractions came in handy and was a great touch! Perfect for a young family like ours - we'll definitely be visiting again! THANKS YOU

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Guest: Eddie & Charlita Lara (Arizona City, AZ )
Date of Stay: 10/02/07 Review Submitted: 10/02/07

This was our first year renting a beach house and we absolutely loved it. The location was perfect and was close to all attractions and restaurants and stores. Emma and Tony were very accomodating and the nicest people. We definatley recommend and will be back next year.

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Guest: Stephanie143 (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/20/07 Review Submitted: 09/20/07

The house had everything we needed and more for our family. We enjoyed the bikes, games, internet, and beach toys. It was clean, close to lots of fun, and we would definitely come back. It was a little warm in August with no air conditioning, though.

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Guest: Darrell&Melody Newman (Escondido,Ca)
Date of Stay: 09/18/07 Review Submitted: 09/18/07

The Sofia! Thanks for the great time we had at your casa!It had everything that we needed to make are stay wonderful.But the only thing was the garage was not able to accomadate are truck.We will be looking forward to next year! Thanks Again The Newmans The Housers

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Guest: Mike Curran (La Quinta, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/26/07 Review Submitted: 08/26/07

This house had everything! We brought some stuff that we never unpacked. We took advantage of the bar-b-que and patio area almost nightly. It was actually very quiet during the day and night. That surprised me;expecially, since it was the summer time.

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Guest: Chuck, Barb, & the kids (Queen Creek, AZ)
Date of Stay: 04/03/07 Review Submitted: 04/03/07

Wow! This was GREAT! Cozy, comfy, and all the amenities of home. Even bicycles to ride and toys for the beach! (Thanks for putting that beach so close to the house!!!) Everything we wanted to do and see were practically on our doorstep! Thanks for keeping such a wonderful place and for accomodating our last minute needs!! Highly recommended!

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Guest: Debra Wilhelm (Aloha, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 03/25/07 Review Submitted: 03/25/07

We rented Casia Sofia in February for a long weekend. Family from Minnesota and Oregon met there. The location is great for walks to Crystal Pier, the Boardwalk on the beach and the Bay. We enjoyed the patio area and the well equiped house. We would rent again!

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Guest: Karen Basham (Columbia City, IN)
Date of Stay: 03/20/07 Review Submitted: 03/20/07

We recently visited Mission Beach and Casa Sofia fit our needs perfectly! The cottage was a comfortable fit for the 3 adults (myself, my husband, and my sister) and 2 kids (our daughter and my sister's son)...the kids loved sleeping on the futons in the living room! This place is in a great location and we loved being able to walk to the beach, the bay, and Belmont Park. We also took advantage of the kitchen for making meals and the patio for grilling, eating outside, etc. The owners were very quick about bringing supplies we requested (diswasher soap & paper towels)and the property was in good shape. We would rent this cottage if we visit Mission Beach/San Diego again.

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Guest: D. Uecker (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/15/07 Review Submitted: 03/15/07

I stayed here with my family and could not be happier. The location can't be beat, the kids had a great time at the beach. We used the provided bikes to explore Mission Beach. The owners are clearly doing their best to make your stay as great as possible. You can tell that they really care. My daughter forgot a pair of shoes at the house which we only noticed because the owners sent them to us a week after we left (Thanks!). This will become our default place to stay in San Diego and we are excited to come back!!

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Guest: Marie Serack (Ottawa Ontario)
Date of Stay: 02/27/07 Review Submitted: 02/27/07

We stayed at Casa Sofia in January and loved the property. The house is very well equipped and has plenty of linens and kitchen supplies. The location in Mission Beach is great. We loved biking along to the Crystal Pier in the mornings to have breakfast. It was so nice to have all the bikes to choose from. We would certainly return to this property.

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Guest: Liz75 (Mesa, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 02/07/07 Review Submitted: 02/07/07

We had the best time. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a place to stay. Emma is the best person to work with. We will be back.

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Guest: Ron 5 (Nebraska)
Date of Stay: 01/30/07 Review Submitted: 01/30/07

My wife, two college age kids, and I stayed at Casa Sofia between Chrismas and New Years. We found the location to be very accessible by car to everything in the San Diego area. We normally stay in hotels and were pleasantly surprised with cleanliness and amentities of the beach house. It was great to have plenty of room to eat, sleep and lounge. The facility is well furnished for cooking , sports activities and entertaining.

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Guest: Larry Nelson (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/31/06 Review Submitted: 12/31/06

Highly recommended. Great location (we liked vaguely hearing the screams from people on the roller coaster), very well equipped (e.g., we used the bikes, beach umbrella, and more). It's not a big place, but it wotked well for a family of 4. The Sofias were very easy to work with.

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Guest: Kristie10 (Desert Hills AZ)
Date of Stay: 12/30/06 Review Submitted: 12/30/06

We stayed at Casa Sophia the end of May 06. I had the best vacation ever!! It was my sister, two 12 year olds, a 5 year old, & myself. There was something for all of us. The neighbors were great. We had a BBQ everynight we were there. We took advantage of the bikes & boogie boards. What a great bonus! The owners of this rental are great. Thanks for making this vacation the best yet. See you in June 07!!

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Guest: Mike and Lois Shade (San Diego, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/16/06 Review Submitted: 12/16/06

Our children's comment above, from Nevada, are our comments, too. We have recommended your place to Mike and Sarah Curran and their two children. We believe they have made a reservation with you. Thank you!

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Guest: Timmons Family (Fallon Nevada)
Date of Stay: 12/13/06 Review Submitted: 12/13/06

WE have been coming to west Mission Bay for over 25 years and this was the first time to stay at Casa Sofia. It was very clean, well equipped and in a Great location. Even though we did not have the time for the bikes and water toys, it was nice to know they were available. This unit is a SUPER VALUE for the location and all the extras.

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Guest: Sofia (10 years) (Sweden)
Date of Stay: 10/27/06 Review Submitted: 10/26/06

I stayed at Casa Sofia with my sister and parents just after Easter this year and it was great. I especially liked that it was called Sofia and that there were popcorn to heat in the microwave. The TV:s and bikes were great and my Mum and Dad really liked the garage and the kitchen. Everything worked and it was nice and clean. It was great to be so close to everything, Beach, food, Seaworld. The free house phone was great since cell phones are really expensive when you are abroad. We can recommend Casa Sofia.

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Guest: Sasha7 (Queen Creek, AZ)
Date of Stay: 09/03/06 Review Submitted: 09/03/06

We have stayed in many vacation homes and this was the BEST. We are a family of 5 and it was the perfect size. We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio as well as walking along the beach and the bay everyday. We really were amazed at how clean and well stocked the home was. Thanks again Emma!!

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Guest: CindyLund & Family (Chandler, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 07/16/06 Review Submitted: 07/16/06

Our family of 6 had a great stay! It was better than we expected. Loved the extras: kitchen items, bikes, boards, phone, towels and sheets. We ate most all of our meals outside on the great patio. Neighbors were nice too! We will stay here again!

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Guest: Gina Miller2 (Ukiah, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/16/06 Review Submitted: 05/16/06

The amenities were great. High Speed internet, bikes, and beach stuff just to name a few. The garage and gated front porch areas were a definite extra bonus. The location was close to everything beachside and bayside!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/16/06 Review Submitted: 05/16/06

My husband and I enjoyed our stay at the beach house on Mission Bay. Our two young boys enjoyed the beautiful beach just minutes away, along with the awesome bike ride along the boardwalk. The house was clean, inviting, and a great place to stay on a vacation. Next time we stay at Mission Beach, Casa Sofia will be our first pick. The only thing is that we will choose to come after Spring Break.

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Guest: Lorrie Hamilton (Leawood, KS)
Date of Stay: 03/17/06 Review Submitted: 03/17/06

Perfect for our spring break getaway. House was just right size for us with 2 teenagers. Newly added internet service used and appreciated. Location extremely convenient to ocean beach and bay beach. Bikes were a plus since temps not as warm as we had hoped for beach fun. Wonderful communication and service from Emma.

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Guest: Winward family (Utah)
Date of Stay: 11/27/05 Review Submitted: 11/27/05

The beach house was very homey. It is close enough to the beach that we packed everything up and walked every day. All the little extras made it our choice. Having bikes, boogie boards, maps of the area and restaurant information made it just that much nicer to stay there and Emma was wonderful to deal with.

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Guest: The Talbots1 (Castro Valley,Cal.)
Date of Stay: 10/29/05 Review Submitted: 10/29/05

Loved this beachouse.. Very comfy and homey..Easy access to everything and everywhere..The bikes were handy when we didnt feel like driving..Garage was really nice to have... Will stay at Casa Sofia next time we are in San Diego

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Guest: Matt Felder (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/24/05 Review Submitted: 09/24/05

Great location. Very nice to have all the bikes and beach equipment available. Nice internet cafe on the corner. Would be nice to have add a phone.

Owner response:Hi Matt - thanks for your input. Per your request and for future guests, we've added INTERNET access and a house phone! Thanks again for adding your comments! Emma

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Guest: Loren Ettinger (St. Louis, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 07/07/05 Review Submitted: 07/07/05

Emma is fantastic to work with and I highly recommend her. She is nice to talk to, very accomodating, and is flexible to meet your needs. Two thumbs up!!!

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Guest: Cindy Marra (Colorado Springs, CO)
Date of Stay: 07/05/05 Review Submitted: 07/05/05

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in San Diego, and we loved the rental. It was perfect for our family of 5. We could spread out, keep groceries on hand, and get everywhere we needed to from this home base. We loved having the garage as well, since we drove. I would recommend highly recommend this rental.

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Guest: The Cady Family (Surrey, England)
Date of Stay: 03/24/05 Review Submitted: 03/23/05

The property was very clean and comfortable, plently of fresh linen and the kitchen was stocked with plenty of extras which all helped to make us feel at home. There was no firework displays from SeaWorld as expected, although open it must have been out of season for fireworks. Weather was very wet for our stay but we were still able to find lots to do. Emma very helpfull, I would reccommend this property to other holidaymakers.

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Guest: Kathy Bennett (Santa Fe, Nerw Mexico)
Date of Stay: 12/01/04 Review Submitted: 12/01/04

Everything was as decribed. Location great especially if you like morning runs or walks along the ocean or bay. Heaters were nice and worked well during the cool weather of November. Would do again. Only suggestion is add a phon efor local calls.

Owner response:Thanks Kathy - per your suggestion, we've added a house phone. Free unlimited calls anywhere USA and Canada!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/24/04 Review Submitted: 10/24/04

Enjoyed the beach house. Emma was accomidating and made sure we had everything we needed. She even restocked the laundry detergent when it ran out. The house was very comfortable with plenty of space for us and our 2 children. We wouldn't hesitate to stay there again :)

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Guest: Bob & Brenda1 (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 08/29/04 Review Submitted: 08/29/04

My family and I enjoyed our stay very much.At night me and the kids would walk to the bay and watch the Fireworks from Sea World.Each day started out with surfing,boogie boarding or just sunbathing at the beach.The house was very cute and had everything we would need.Enjoyed our stay very much!!

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Guest: Smith Family6 (Phoenix, AZ)
Date of Stay: 07/14/04 Review Submitted: 07/14/04

We loved this house, and plan on making this an annual family trip. EVERYTHING was provided! We felt quite comfortable, and were close to everything we wanted. We rode bikes as a family nightly, and there were bikes of all sizes to fit each of us! The boogie board was a big hit as well. The owners are friendly and helpful. The location is perfect, very close to beach, parks, and bay. We did spend one night in the loft, and highly recommend it as well. It was much roomier than we thought, clean, pleasant, and fun. Thanks for a great vacation!

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Guest: Billy & Jeanne
Date of Stay: 06/29/04 Review Submitted: 06/28/04

We so enjoyed the comfort at the Beach House! Neighbors were friendly and "Robert" (the neighborhood cat) for company, the outdoor patio, bikes and beach! Thanks so much!

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Guest: Margaret H. (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/27/04 Review Submitted: 05/27/04

Comment Text: My husband, daughter, son-in-law, and our 2 grandchildren spent 4 nights at this great house in mid May 2004. The accomodations were spacious with new firm beds and room to spread out. We particulary liked the fenced-in front patio area where we could have our meals outside and enjoy the great weather. The location was perfect, only a block from both the bay and the ocean, and not far to downtown San Diego, the Zoo, or the airport. Since the house has a washer and dryer it wasn't necessary to bring a lot of extra clothing. With all these amenities, this was the best bargain we could ever hope to find.

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Guest: mohans (Santa Clara, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/26/04 Review Submitted: 04/26/04

We stayed for a week at this house in April '04 and had a great time. The house is very comfortable and very nicely equipped with all the conveniences you would need (washer/dryer, dishwasher etc). The location of the house is great - right across Belmont Park, and a short block from the beach - Sea World a couple of miles away and the Zoo a 10 min drive. The owners made every attempt to accomodate special needs we might have. We would definitely recommend staying here.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/30/04 Review Submitted: 03/30/04

My husband & our 2 children (10 & 7) stayed 1 week in March and thoroughly enjoyed the house. It was clean and very spacious enough for 4. The washer/dryer was great as well as the 4 bikes! Great central location (kids loved Belmont Park across the street!!). Owners very accomodating to our needs and questions. We saved a lot of money being able to pack picnic lunches for our visits to Sea World, Zoo & LegoLand and also being able to eat breakfast at the house whenever we wanted to. (I brought a collapsible cooler & ice packs from home.) Would recommend.

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