Guestbook Comment

Guest: deborah holder (london, england)
Date of Stay: 09/01/06 Review Submitted: 09/21/06

We arrived in complete darkness, tired and dirty but all was well as soon as we stepped into the yurt. The orientation video was a fantastic greeting and told us everything and more about the place we were going to being staying - we were only sorry not to have met you Rob, Roxanne and family as we liked you right away. Thanks for a wonderful stay, Eric looked after us very well in your absence. The surroundings were wonderful and the yurt beat any hotel we've ever stayed in hands down. London's a long way away but I hope we'll come again. Debby, Joe, Winona, Charlie and Jem London, August 2006

Recommended for:

Cool experience for us and the kids

Guest: Mila (Goleta, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/28/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

Wow, we really enjoyed the round, open, airiness of the yurt. Much better than stuffy hotels! Our daughters had a great time playing in and exploring the creek .It was nice to have a fire in the wood stove in the evening after we hiked up from an afternoon at the creek. It was a great get away and we were happy that we could bring our dog. We would love to stay here again sometime.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Rustic comfort -- we love it!

Guest: Dave & Athalie (Orange County, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/29/07 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

We love this place! We've stayed here twice (and tried to return two other times, but it was booked). We've also referred two different friends who loved it as well. We enjoy staying at unique places - places with real character. This yurt fits the bill perfectly. It's comfortable, private (though the walls are canvas), has a wonderful private deck with views to the channel islands - perfect for a quiet breakfast, or a glass of wine at night. You need to know, though -- this is not the Hilton. It's more like camping (a huge tent!) with all the conveniences of a house (kitchen, Franklin stove, sofas, TV). Rustic and comfortable. The shower room attached to the yurt is an experience - almost like taking a shower outside (but enclosed and private). The only drawback is that it can be nippy in the winter, especially if the winds are blowing, but it's worth the rather funky atmosphere. The toilet room down the stairs with bamboo walls and porthole windows brings the concept of the throne room to a whole new level -- pretty cool! Bottom line -- if you want a standard boring place just to spend the night, or if you want luxurious, you probably want another place (it is a yurt, after all!). But if you want to visit Santa Barbara, be close enough (20 minutes) to shopping, beaches, etc., but be out of the city in the hills with great views and a comfortable, fun place to decompress, you'll love this yurt!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

Nice place, but not quite as advertised

Guest: Adam S.
Date of Stay: 09/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/16/11

Overall the yurt is very nice. The deck does have a gorgeous view and the interior of the yurt is quite large. However, the yurt’s not quite as secluded as the owner’s write-up makes it sound. There is a main house and then a few people who have RVs parked on the drive down to the yurt, but when you’re on the deck it is relatively private. When we were there in September 2011 the hot tub was still out of order. Since wireless internet is listed as an amenity, we assumed it was available in the yurt, but it is not. We had to go over to where the broken hot tub is located (about 100 yards away) to pick up a weak internet signal. The location is convenient to several central coast attractions such as Channel Islands National Park and San Luis Obispo County’s wine region. So overall we had a good time, but the write-up is a bit misleading.

Recommended for:

Great place for dogs

Guest: Darcie p.
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

We stayed in the yurt for a week. We came with our dogs and were so grateful to have a pet friendly place to stay. The yurt was great with lots of space for dogs to run around. I think this would be a great place for people with kids as well. Kids would love this place. The porch has great views day and night. It was very relaxing. Overall I found the yurt very comfortable. The bed was very comfortable. The shower was kinda funky with having to pull a chain to get the water to flow so you have to shower with one hand. There was always plenty of hot water for my husband and I to take showers. There is a T.V with DVR but the channels were very limited. I did really like the yurt for the space and views. It's also very reasonable priced for high season Santa Barbara. I feel for the price it is a great deal. There are not too many places that you can stay in SB for a reasonable rate a week in high season. It was way better than being in some small hotel room for a week. To address some of the negative reviews. There are a few trailers on property it did not feel like a trailer park. Everyone we came across was very nice. They are on the "hippie" side. They are "hippie" not creepy. I found it to be comfortable for a yurt this is not the Four Seasons. If you want the Four Seasons you should not book a yurt for your vacation. The yurt is on the road but it's not a high traffic road a few cars go by nothing big. I was not happy to find out the yurt did not have WI Fi Internet as stated on web site. I called owner to ask about this and she told me the yurt did not have WI Fi and that she needed to take that off web site. Also when we tried to hike down to waterfall it was too overgrown with brush and poison oak to get to. I got a bad case of poison oak. I never even saw the waterfall. I guess you are suppose to follow the creek till you hit the waterfall. We gave up. I am sure it's pretty but very difficult to get to. I really enjoyed my stay. It was different but that what I wanted. The yurt is also pretty close to down town SB and the ocean. It was great for the price and a fun relaxing way to spend you vacation. It's also very doggie friendly which we very much appreciate.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children.

Not a luxurious experience

Guest: Melanie L.
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 06/29/11

The earlier review from the Montana visitors was spot on; the actual yurt is a lot more rustic than it is luxurious. The hot tub was non-functional and filled with green water and brush. The "trapeze" bar was removed due to liability reasons. This was a disappointment for my daughter who had been talking of it for weeks. The property the yurt resides on is rather run-down. The small road that leads to the yurt passes the main house, and then there are two trailers soon therafter (one of them is very rundown and has a odd looking guy living there). The yurt is an estimated 150 ft from one of the trailers. Yet another trailer is beside the area that is labeled as the jacuzzi. The lighting to the outside bathroom was non-functional, and there was very little hot water for bathing (it filled about 1/4th of the tub before going cold). The furniture is old and worn. This would be appropriate for a camping "cabin", but notsomuch a "luxurious mountain yurt". The attached bath has openings to the outside and stays very cold. If one is expecting a luxurious experience, one will be very disappointed. If you are looking for more of a camping type experience you may find the yurt "ok". Either way, the "ranch" does have a dumpy trailer park, unkept feel to it. It is not at all what it is advertized. We winded up leaving and staying in a Solvang hotel. My family just could not feel comfortable there. I do not recommend this rental. The positive reviews are misleading ...the recent Montana family's review was far more accurate ... wish I had seen it earlier.

Recommended for:

In a word..."Magical"

Guest: San Rich (San Dimas, Calif.)
Date of Stay: 05/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

Five days in this funky yet fantastic place isn't enough....Yurt was wonderful. Everything clean, private, comfortable and everywhere we looked, a little trinket of a special past history...The entire stay was so peacefull and personally gratifying. As one might imagine being a flower child living in a comune. A real experience. We will definately return.

Owner response:Thank you! So nice to hear.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers.

would not recommend

Guest: jh (Livingston, MT)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

We stayed at this yurt over the holidays. The property was less like a "ranch" and more like a trailer park. I felt the description was not accurate as did the other family staying at an adjacent yurt on the land. Because there are so many ramshackle dwellings built in very close proximity, you have no privacy and can hear all the goings on. The road goes right next to the yurt so motorbikes and other residents cars sound like they are right in the living room. The owners returned calls literally days after I left messages with questions such as how do you work the tv? Some of the furnishings in the unit were not the same and it felt a bit run down. I did enjoy walks down the mountain and the general location, but would not recommend this and would never stay here again.

Owner response:I am very sad to hear this. This person was from Montana where ranches are much different from Santa Barbara. Over there, there is much more open space and land. It is true that there are renters in unique buildings and some trailers with friendly artistic type people living here. Everyone who lives here is very nice. I will work on making the other dwellings look nicer and to quiet things. I will also update my photos. I would say that 85% of people who stay here LOVE it and then there are those who don't quite fit. I can't please everyone but I will try to make it nicer and hope to please most. Peace...

Recommended for:

Paradise without having to leave cali

Guest: Marcus Ray (Pomona)
Date of Stay: 09/17/09 Review Submitted: 09/25/09

I was taken to this yurt for my birthday and i must say it was the best thing that I've done in a long time, Thank U D".. This experience was like nothing else.. Secluded Outdoors in its most natural state, beautiful scenery, trails that lead to lush waters, burning-manesque visuals, and one beautiful yurt. The Bjorklands have created a supremely beautiful environment to loose yourself in and to truly seeing the craftsmanship and detail they put into this yurt, makes me want to live there forever!! If you don't mind a little bit of natures essence then this is a must see. The trapeze swing was so much fun, the sweet outdoor smell-perfect, plus its near the beach and who doesn't like that! Upon arrival (get there when the sun's still up) check out the introduction video to get a true glimpse of this awesome couple as they welcome you into their cozy palace! I recommend to wake up early, pack a lunch, and walk down along the trials to truly take an adventure you'll never forget! Also, if you have the time, take a trip about 40 minutes north to go wine tasting ( try Beckman, Bridlewood, Gainey, Rideau & Los Olivos) and bring back a couple of bottles to enjoy this spectacular place... Thank you so much Bjorklands!!!!! Cant wait to return!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Paradise without having to leave cali

Guest: Marcus Ray (Pomona)
Date of Stay: 09/17/09 Review Submitted: 09/25/09

I was taken to this yurt for my birthday and i must say it was the best thing that I've done in a long time, Thank U D".. This experience was like nothing else.. Secluded Outdoors in its most natural state, beautiful scenery, trails that lead to lush waters, burning-manesque visuals, and one beautiful yurt. The Bjorklands have created a supremely beautiful environment to loose yourself in and to truly seeing the craftsmanship and detail they put into this yurt, makes me want to live there forever!! If you don't mind a little bit of natures essence then this is a must see. The trapeze swing was so much fun, the sweet outdoor smell-perfect, plus its near the beach and who doesn't like that! Upon arrival (get there when the sun's still up) check out the introduction video to get a true glimpse of this awesome couple as they welcome you into their cozy palace! I recommend to wake up early, pack a lunch, and walk down along the trials to truly take an adventure you'll never forget! Also, if you have the time, take a trip about 40 minutes north to go wine tasting ( try Beckman, Bridlewood, Gainey, Rideau & Los Olivos) and bring back a couple of bottles to enjoy this spectacular place... Thank you so much Bjorklands!!!!! Cant wait to return!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.