Spectacular Ocean View Rental, Walking Distance to Beach and Town, Dog Friendly

• What a gem!

  What a gem!

  • Guest Dog Lovers from Southern Calif.
  • Date of stay 08/01/07
  • Review Submitted 12/18/07
  My family, which includes 3 teenagers and a 120 pound black lab, stayed at The Big Red House for 5 nights in August and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. The house is immaculately maintained and the location is incredible! Apparently most families who stay here bring dogs but you can't tell when you're here. There's not a dog hair to be found in the place! The kitchen is well stocked, the video library is hard to beat, the flat screen TVs are amazing, and so is the view. The master bedroom faces the ocean and when the windows are open and the sea breeze is coming through it is Heaven on earth! The house is located in a very upscale neighborhood and we took walks in the neighborhood every day. If I had to find a complaint (and it's hard to come up with one) I guess it would be that the backyard isn't fenced. Our dog isn't the type that you can just let out and he'll stick around, so we had to take him out on a leash each time he needed to go potty. But who cares. We were on vacation and it was no big deal. We'll definitely be back!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 15/16

• Christmas in Paradise

  Christmas in Paradise

  • Guest Annie
  • Date of stay 12/21/12
  • Review Submitted 01/14/13
  My fiance, our 10-year Golden Retriever and I spent 11 wonderful days in the Big Red House and it was more incredible than we could have imagined. It is an easy walk to town and Moonstone Beach where we went just about every day. One day it rained the entire day and we spent the time curled up reading or watching several movies from the huge selection of DVD's. My fiance is the IT director at a college down here in Southern California and he was super impressed with the internet ~ he said it was even faster than what he has at work. On Christmas Eve we sat on the balcony watching the beautiful sunset when we both saw a group of whales going South ~ it was so cool! We went several times to the see the baby elephant seals ~ so cute they are! Elaine is a perfect host and has thought of everything to make your stay feel as if you are at home. She even called the day it rained to apologize for the weather ~ we knew there was that possibility being that time of year and we enjoyed it anyway. She was helpful with tips on where to eat and places to go. We left feeling as if we have made a new friend. We loved our stay so much, we already put a deposit for the same 11 days next year ~ spending Christmas and New Year's at the Big Red House is something we will spend 2013 looking forward to.

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Our Wonderful Vacation

  Our Wonderful Vacation

  • Guest Roz J.
  • Date of stay 07/01/12
  • Review Submitted 07/08/12
  This was our first stay at the Big Red House and it was more then we expected. The owner has thought of everything, you just need to pack your clothes and go. The views are wonderful and the sounds of the surf so relaxing. I am so thankful the house is dog friendly, we were able to have our whole family there. In the early mornings while enjoying your coffee looking at the ocean on one of the two balconies, you will be able to see the deer run by and hear all the birds singing, I just loved it. The whole house was very clean and comfortable. The owner, Elaine was so very nice and helpful and we loved all of her art throughout the house. We will defiantly be back again. This house is located in a perfect location on a very quiet street. The bedrooms are large and beds very comfortable. Both bedrooms have a view of the ocean. I am sure anyone staying here would enjoy their stay as much as our family did.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Cambria - Central Coast Charm

  Cambria - Central Coast Charm

  • Guest Ruth M.
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 07/05/12
  My husband and I have rented homes and apartments during our travels throughout the US, Mexico, South America and Europe. Having done so; I feel that I can speak with some experience. The Big Red House is clean, well stocked and beautifully appointed. The kitchen has all necessary pans, utensils and dishes. There is a large table for gatherings. A separate wet bar in the den contains wine glasses and bar items. The owner’s personal art collection is displayed for the renter’s enjoyment. A DVD selection of 100 + current movies can be viewed on the new flat screen TV in the den where there is a new sofa sleeper or in either of the other two bedrooms. Our favorite restaurant is the Indigo Moon. The chef is great with fresh selections daily. While it is hard for us to go elsewhere there is nothing like watching sunset over a bowl of clam chowder in the bar at Hamlet’s or enjoying the chicken fried steak at the Sow’s Ear. There are no great dog friendly beaches in Cambria so we drive 13 miles south to Cayucos. Drive south around the town to the stop light on Hwy 1. Drive one mile further south and you will see parked cars on the right. Pull in. This is a leash free beach that allows you to walk with your dog from south Cayucos to Morro Bay. Doggie waste bags are in a box on the fence. Local dog lovers have provided bottles of fresh water and bowls for the dogs as well. I don’t know what the “official” status of this area is but everyone there has their dogs off leash. I read a review about hives and cat dander and I don’t believe it. I was diagnosed with Leukemia last year and with that came a suppressed immune system. I am extremely careful with where I stay so as not to compromise my health. If anyone would be affected by an unclean environment – it would be me…and I have already booked my return visit. The owner trusts that travelers with dogs will respect her property. There has never been a cat in the house…only our beloved canine children. Perhaps some of the dogs may not be groomed to perfection and smell like “dogs” but the carpet is cleaned every three months & was replaced last year – that reflects a responsible owner. The owner, Elaine, believes that travelers will visit with well behaved, clean dogs and that they will respect her property. Come to the Big Red House and instead of fussing about fences and owner proximity – enjoy the tranquility… and if you are very fortunate – get to know Elaine. She is an amazing lady.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Dream Come True Vacation

  Dream Come True Vacation

  • Guest Teri C.
  • Date of stay 04/15/12
  • Review Submitted 06/27/12
  My husband and I went to Cambria and stayed at this absolutely beautiful beach house for our 30th wedding anniversary. We sat on the balcony outside of the master bedroom and looked out at the ocean, listening to the sounds of the waves. It was a very romantic atmosphere for the celebration of our special anniversary. We were allowed to bring our dog, who is a very important part of our family. The home is equipped with a very large kitchen that provides everything you could possibly need. This allowed us the opportunity to feel at home, relax and prepare our own meals. The grounds around the house are landscaped very nicely. There is a big barbeque with lots of seating in the backyard for outdoor cooking and entertainment. The beach and local businesses are all really close by. The house was very clean and organized. The interior design and art decore were especially well put together. We were able to find many places of interest to visit because of the variety of material provided in the house about the Cambria area. The owner is a doll and she takes special care of her tenants. We trully enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend The Big Red House to everyone! Jim and Teri Clayton

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Perfect Place to Relax

  Perfect Place to Relax

  • Guest Lucinda B.
  • Date of stay 04/26/12
  • Review Submitted 06/25/12
  My husband and I have stayed at the Big Red House almost every other year since 2003. We love its layout, spaciousness, DVDs, books, fireplace, art, objects d’art, garden, flowers, and convenient location. Every room has elegant touches. Everything is perfectly clean. It is a comfortable, inviting place to relax, dream, and enjoy Cambria, shopping in the little one-of-a-kind shops, the beach, mountains, and San Simon. Elaine is gracious, thoughtful, and helpful. She was a model and in the movies and always keeps us entertained with suggestions of which of her extensive DVD collection would suit our mood of the evening. The neighborhood seems safe, and is a lovely place to walk and enjoy a cool California environment. (We are from Florida). The kitchen is supplied with any dish or tool one would want. We found extra blankets and pillows thoughtfully placed in the closets. We have stayed in B&Bs and Vacation Rentals in many countries. This is our favorite. We can’t wait to come back. L.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Odd Smells and Outdated

  Odd Smells and Outdated

  • Guest Dawn C.
  • Date of stay 06/07/12
  • Review Submitted 06/19/12
  We are property owners ourselves and were disappointed at the level of cleanliness, (we had to clean the refrigerator before using). The master bath was so dirty that we used only the sinks and took showers in the other bath. The entire interior hasn't seen a paint brush in years. We did arrive a few hours early and were going to drop off bags and shop, but the cleaning was completed at the time we arrived. Very outdated bedrooms and paper-thin linens. The owners method of charging is from the 80's. We were in town to attend a son's college graduation and at the last minute one of our other sons joined us and we had to pay additional fees for this one person; something we don't do in any of our rentals and is not done in most hotels today. This is not a guest house, but an attached town home with the owners home looking right into your house and the neighbors windows are just feet away. In order to get to the beach you must cross a very busy highway (1) with no stop light and the beach is not the one shown in the photos. The outdoor areas were not private and couldn't be used as we are allergic to cats and they were all over the place. One in our party got hives from the cat dander. If your goal for a vacation is to get away front the modern world and step back in time with no cell service and weak internet that you have to search to find, but you are happy with quiet, albeit no privacy, this is your place. The area is quiet; the televisions, movie selection and board games were great and the property has an interesting art collection.

  Owner response: I'm sorry these people were so unhappy with their stay at The Big Red House. I only wish they had said something to me immediately instead of waiting until their 6 day stay was over to complain. If they felt the house was not clean I would have had my cleaning crew return at once. I am always most anxious to make sure my clients enjoy their visit and this is the first complaint I have had in 12 years of being in business. Our rates are clearly posted on all of our web-sites including Homeaway. These people left without paying the fee for their son even though they had signed a contract stating that there were only 2 people in their party. Nevertheless, I returned their security deposit, by mail as I always do, since I did not feel it ethical to keep it in lieu of payment owed but which they disputed. The photos on our web-site are all new and show exactly what the house looks like inside and out. Moonstone Beach is precisely as shown. The neighboring house is unoccupied and completely obscured by an 8 foot hedge so I doubt that anyone was peering out the windows. On the other side is a Greenspace mini park. My house is indeed in the rear but my windows do not face into the front house. As to the "cat dander" issue, there had never been a cat in the house since it was built but the surrounding grounds are not fenced and so cats, deer, wild turkeys, foxes, quail, and pheasants all roam freely there. Most people think this is part of the charm of Cambria. Cell phone access is poor here in some areas consequently we offer unlimited free service on the rental house phones. No need to search for internet service as the password is listed on the information sheet as you enter the house. We are constantly working to upgrade The Big Red House and so far this year have had a new roof and skylights installed, also new carpeting, bathroom floors, exterior paint, draperies, light fixtures, tables, TVs, washing machine, and sofa bed. The interior painting, which was next on our list, is currently underway. It is very important to us that The Big Red House offers the best in a Vacation Rental and that is our constant goal. Owner The Big Red House

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/2

• Exceptional

  Exceptional

  • Guest Jean-marc C.
  • Date of stay 04/08/11
  • Review Submitted 04/12/11
  Exceptional location. Recommended to everybody loving a beautiful and quiet place. Two blocks away from the beach. The owners know what is hospitality.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Big Red Fun!

  Big Red Fun!

  • Guest Kelly
  • Date of stay 01/23/11
  • Review Submitted 01/29/11
  We've just returned from a wonderful 4 night stay at The Big Red House. It exceeded our expectations. Completely comfortable, super clean and well stocked but not cluttered. I am an innkeeper and consider myself pretty picky when it comes to comfort and cleanliness. When traveling with a dog it isn't always easy to find such nice places to stay. We especially enjoyed the artwork in every room and the upstairs deck where we sat with a bottle of wine and watched the sun set into the ocean. The neighborhood is peaceful and quiet, all you hear is the ocean! The location can't be beat. Cambria is a great town and the elephant seals and Hearst Castle are just minutes to the North. Fun towns and dog-friendly beaches to explore just minutes to the south. We never went more than 15 minutes north or south and we were busy every minute. Elaine could not have been more friendly and helpful. She left us alone to enjoy our romantic getaway but we always knew we could reach her by phone or email if needed. She has put a lot of her love and care into this house. Enjoy!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, pet owners, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Denver couple

  Denver couple

  • Guest Denver couple
  • Date of stay 01/09/11
  • Review Submitted 01/27/11
  Spacious and clean with ocean views in 2 directions. We had a wonderful, quiet, relaxed vacation. Great hiking in nearby hills. From Cerro Alto peak we could see all the way to the Sierras

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency ($) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.

Additional information about rental rates:

Fees and Taxes:

• Tax Rate 11%
• Cleaning $75