Casa Carmelita is a Hidden Gem

Guest: Jeanne (Tucson, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 03/15/11

My husband and I have stayed at Casa Carmelita three times over the last few years and plan to return again this fall. Sue and Pete are wonderful hosts and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and part of the neighborhood. The location is wonderful, just a short walk to Woods Cove Beach, in my opinion the best, most secluded beach in Laguna. Casa Carmelita is in a very quiet, lovely residential neighborhood. We enjoy walking to our favorite restaurants, Rumari, a wonderful romantic Italian trattoria, and French 75, a French bistro with the best coq au vin we've ever had. Sue goes out of her way to make life easy for you while visiting Laguna. She'll give you great suggestions on where to shop, dine or explore. The apartment is beautifully furnished and decorated and has a well stocked kitchen with everything you need to cook a great meal if you decide to stay home. We have spent many an evening having a glass of wine and barbecuing on the deck overlooking their beautiful flower garden. The property is very well maintained and spotlessly clean. We've recommended it to our friends who have stayed there as well.

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

Beach Get-a-away

Guest: Deb and Ken (Cortez, CO USA)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 02/18/11

My husband and I have stayed at Casa Carmelita on more than one occasion. Having once lived in Laguna we use it as our beach get a away and to go back to visit family and friends. The property is comfortable and has everything you would need to enjoy your stay. All your beach equipment (towels, chairs, coolers etc.) are included. Sue and her husband are very friendly and the property is located in a quiet and very pretty neighborhood. Easy walk to beach and town if you enjoy walking which we do. I have recommended it to family and friends and my nephew has actually stayed there as well. We love it and will return many more times I'm sure.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Feel like a local in Laguna Beach

Guest: Emilie (Mammoth Lakes)
Date of Stay: 12/03/10 Review Submitted: 12/17/10

This vrbo is fairly small, but still twice the size of most hotel rooms. Good thing at the beach you don't need much stuff. Just make it simple and stay in a beautiful locals-only kind of neighborhood that is great for walking to the beach and everything you might need within a mile. This place is decorated beautifully, stocked nicely with coffee, games, movies, etc. and just feels like home. Sue is a gem of a person - the kind I would love to have as a 'real' neighbor. The whole experience was great. Caveats: If you are sensitive to light during sleep, bring a couple extra sheets to hang over the blinds at night. The street lights are just a few feet away - think incredibly safe. Also if a few little ants bother you, don't expect an older, beach-walkable vrbo to be perfect for you. That's one of the features in SoCal. Just smoosh, and move on. Lastly - it is upstairs which was fine in my case, but if stairs are hard for you - it is good to plan accordingly. But that's all... everything else was awesome - especially the giant soaking tub, great host, and great location. Happy Vacationing!

Owner response:Thank you for commenting on our "locals only" location. We've lived in this neighborhood for many years and we really do feel that Woods Cove is a very special place. We enjoy making our guests feel like they are a part of the neighborhood. We have changed the shades to make sure that they do completely darken the room at night so that the street light isn't an issue. We appreciate the heads up about that. Guests can enjoy walking to Woods Cove beach within minutes. Bluebird Park is just a couple of blocks away, as are any of the dozen or more restaurants in the surrounding area. A leisurely stoll returns you to this quiet hidden neighborhood. Sue

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Wonderful location, beautiful neighborhood

Guest: Linda McCabe (Jenkintown, PA (Philadelphia suburb))
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

My husband and I spent our anniversary at Casa Carmelita. We are from the east coast, but prefer the beauty and serenity of Laguna Beach. The apartment is small, but very well appointed. The neighborhood is beautiful and quiet. The beach here is absolutely beautiful (wood's cove) and the walk is not that bad. Our hosts were very helpful and answered all of our questions. We never even knew they were there. I would highly recommend this apartment if you are looking for a getaway or a vacation. We hated to leave!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway.