Guestbook Comment

Guest: Lee Wilke (Chapel Hill, NC)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/12/07

Lisa and Tom have a beautiful home to rent. The house was perfect for our family. The location was central for our activities in and around San Diego.

Recommended for:

Christmas Week at the "Retreat"

Guest: Sue (Southern Pines, NC)
Date of Stay: 12/19/11 Review Submitted: 01/06/12

We thoroughly enjoyed our week at the "retreat". The location was perfect and the sunsets were beautiful. The description of the unit was accurate and everything was clean and in order. The surrounding area and homes were well maintained. Plenty of restaurants near by. Fifteen minutes from the airport, downtown and Sea World. The owners, Tom and Lisa, were very responsive to our questions and needs and were very easy to work with. We would strongly recommend this unit and if we have a need in the future, we would like to stay again. Bottom line, we are satisfied customers.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.

Great Stay at the Ocean Front Retreat

Guest: ChicagoMike (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 11/16/11 Review Submitted: 11/27/11

I was in town for a conference and opted to stay by the ocean instead of in the Gaslamp quarter. My wife accompanied me because she has never been to San Diego. Our 4 night stay at the Ocean Front Retreat was excellent. Lisa and her son met us to show us around the property. The views were amazing! Though the weather was cool (highs in the 60s and lows in the low 50s), I found myself out on the terrace every chance I could, day or night. Being able to hear the waves crashing up against the rocks helped push all my worries away. I think another reviewer mentioned the treacherous conditions to make your way down to the waterfront. It's true. It's kind of tough to get down to the water, but I'm young and spry and was able to get down there without any incident. However, if you have any physical disabilities or injuries, you will definitely have a problem getting down to the waterfront. If you do make it down to the water, the tide pools are great. There is a small tucked away beach a little ways down, which was fun to sit and watch the sun set. There were a ridiculous amount of biting insects down by the water, but if you have pants and a jacket on you should be fine. The house was nice, and the house had a lot of items that made our stay comfortable (coffee grounds in the freezer, sugars/sweeteners, tea bags, and spices in the cupboard, and a first aid kit - which came in handy). The house had a ton of knick-knacks, which tended to clutter the house, but overall the place was comfortable and tastefully furnished. We could have kept the costs down had we had more than just to two of us. That would have made this place an incredible bargain. However, with just the two us, it was comparable to a stay in a really nice hotel in the Gaslamp. The off-street parking was convenient. We used the garage pretty much the entire time we were there, but the garage was *extremely* small which made for difficult maneuvering with our compact rental car. Getting to the conference center took only about 20 minutes by car and could be a problem if you take public transportation. Ocean Beach is a fun, hippyish community with nice eateries, shops, and beaches. It's definitely not as hip/trendy as Mission Beach or the Gaslamp, but it offered us exactly what we wanted - quiet, things to do/eat. Will consider this location if we return to SD.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+.

Perfect beach retreat

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/10/11 Review Submitted: 11/16/11

What an idyllic place to visit! The condo sits right above the ocean and is stocked with everything you'd want for a beach retreat. You can sit on the patio and watch the sunset and waves or walk to town for shopping or dining. The condo has a retro surf theme and feels very comfy. Sea World is very close, too. I'd recommend this to anyone.

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

Perfectly located and wonderfully comfortable

Guest: julie (arizona)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

we have rented from lisa and tom before and they do a beautiful job with their properties - the experience with this property was no different. the location simply cannot be beat and the home is appointed with everything we needed to make our stay comfortable. they take great care in making sure that renters have a positive experience, which is definitely appreciated. one of the best things about the location is that its removed from the hustle of newport ave, but close enough to walk/bike to the action/beach. i would easily recommend this property to anyone looking to spend time in ocean beach.

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

Amazing Property (And What a View on the 4th of July)

Guest: Scott (Coral Springs, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/18/11

As all the others have stated....What a great property! Close to everything (SeaWorld, Zoo, Balboa park, Gaslamp, OldTown, ect) but who wants to even leave! The house is stocked with everything you need and VERY clean. Loved eating meals on deck and just listening to the ocean. Sunsets are spectacular with nothing blocking the view. Kids had a blast. Coming from Florida, I was not overly thrilled to be on a beach front house. I though, Big deal, but oh was I wrong. I did not want to leave! But it doesn't end there, not only was the house nice, but the owners were great too. They thought of everything, including ideas on where to eat, shop, and go, with maps and menus galore. Can not wait to go back!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, people with disabilities, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing, age 55+.

Wonderful Week

Guest: OBers (Meadow Vista)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

This place is everything that it is described to be plus extra details to make you feel taken care of. Location is right on the cliffs, plenty of space inside, outside, and parking. Great for families with little ones too. Very well maintained, very clean, and lovely decor. We recommend this with no hesitation.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, families with young children.

Perfect peaceful San Diego getaway.

Guest: Melissa303 (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 03/28/11 Review Submitted: 04/15/11

Wow! How do you describe such beauty and medicine for the soul? This condo sat upon a cliff that was absolutely mesmerizing to watch at day or night. I got to see seals play and dolphins entertain in the sea just in front of the condo while drinking my morning coffee on the patio. I got the best tan in my life on the beautiful deck, and strolled along the cliffs and pier on a daily basis. Newport street, a mere 3 blocks away, had everything you could want, from quaint shops, to phenomonal food, to a farmers market on Wednesday afternoon, to the quirky OB-okee (karaoke) at Winstons. My 9 year old son had a blast playing on the beach and making friends with the friendliest neighborhood cat, named Hunter. What a sweetie. My parents loved watching the sunsets together in the matching robes provided in the condo. The sound of the surf put me to sleep every night, and the other neighboring vacationers were simply joyful to be around. Ocean Beach is unlike anywhere else in San Diego, the neigborhood is very safe and the locals are friendly. I highly recommend this wonderful property to anyone looking for a vacation without being in the middle of a loud tourist town. It was so peaceful and cleansing to my soul. I didnt want to leave, and will definitely be back in the future. Thanks for everything, Tom and Lisa. You make this a very easy vacation to plan, and I will not forget it.

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

A perfect week

Guest: D & Z (Winnipeg, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/21/11 Review Submitted: 04/04/11

Great location, great property, great time for our family of four. The property was exactly as advertised. We have two boys, age 3&5, and exploring the area was a big highlight. We watched the dolphins play from the balcony, explored the pier and tide pools, found a small cove to explore during low tide, and enjoyed numerous local restaurants all within walking distance. We always felt safe, day or night. I would recommend the location to friends. Many thanks!

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

Wonderful setting!

Guest: Nancy (Rochester, MN)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/23/11

My husband and I stayed at the Hoyer's retreat for 3 nights and recommend it highly! We walked for miles from the condo, and then came home to the comfortable and quiet setting with an incredible view. It was awesome watching the surfers; if you go out on the pier you can see them from a unique perspective, as if you're catching the waves! Sunsets on the patio were spectacular, and the surf at night was the only sound we heard as we slept peacefully in the comfy bed. Thank you for everything!

Owner response:Your description of our Retreat was as beautiful as the sunsets out front. Please call us again! Lisa and Tom

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.