Vacation Rentals by Owner

Santa Monica darling bungalow

Guest: Peggy (Burlingame, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

Our family of four stayed at this bungalow for three weeks in July 2011. It was clean, looked just like the photos, was well stocked and very comfortable. There are three units on the property. This one is in the front. Deirdre the owner lives in the property at the back of the lot. We had a few questions prior to arrival and upon arriving and she was always prompt about responding. Property is located on a side street off of a busy street called Lincoln but it was extremely quiet there. Lincoln connects with the freeway so it was very convenient to get around. Nice neighborhood, a few apartment buildings but we felt safe. Dog park nearby (we brought our dog). Really pleasant location and close to an excellent neighborhood called Main St. and also close to the beach. We loved it. It was our first time renting on VRBO and would definitely rent this property again.

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

Absolutely loved it!!

Guest: Tina (Mckinney, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/25/11

This home is beautiful and quaint. Very clean, on site amenities and the owner made us feel very welcome. The location is great to Santa Monica Pier and 3rd Street Promenade. Photos reflected home's appearance. I loved this house and would recommend to family and friends.

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

Lovely Rental

Guest: Cathy (Columbus, OH)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 06/07/11

We recently enjoyed over a week at this cottage. Everything about it was great. The location couldn't be more convenient to the Promenade, the beach and Main Street. We easily walked to all three. There also was a grocery store about 3 blocks away, which was very convenient. The cottage was charming and very clean. The yard was lovely and provided a great extension of the living space. Initially the street seemed busy, but it was very quiet. I can recommend this rental without reservation.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

I loved it!

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/13/10 Review Submitted: 12/01/10

This house is completely charming. The landscaping is so peaceful, the decor is far and away better than anything you get from most rental places and the location is ideal. I would move in there if I could! The entire rental process was seamless, Deirdre was completely responsive and helpful and it was smooth from beginning to end. I will definitely tell anyone coming to LA to stay here if they can! We stayed while we had our house repainted and I didn't want to go home.

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

Restful and charming with all the comforts of home

Guest: Pam (Oakland)
Date of Stay: 10/25/10 Review Submitted: 12/01/10

I stayed here for a week in late October 2010 and it was delightful. The bed was comfortable with nice cozy comforters and nice linens, everything worked perfectly and was incredibly clean. It felt very homey without the work, clutter etc. of my own home. Really enjoyed the outside space - the grounds are lovely and it feels like a very restful oasis but convenient to all the urban amenities you want. Owner was really nice and took great care of us. Would stay here again in a heartbeat!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Wonderful vacation rental in Santa Monica

Guest: Angella (Berkeley)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 12/03/10

A beautiful well-maintained house in a quiet neighborhood - we had a really good experience here. The house is clean, welcoming, and the owner was very helpful in recommending restaurants & other nearby attractions. The beach is pretty close, and so is shopping, but the neighborhood is so quiet it's the perfect getaway. Highly recommended!!!

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

a case of false advertising?

Guest: disappointed canuck (Calgary Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/28/10 Review Submitted: 11/21/10

We Canadians stayed in this home for one week in September 2010 with my 3 and 5 year old boys and husband while at a conference. The home was quaint and in a great location. Apart from this, we cannot say much positive about our stay. The home was dirty, and "smelled like pee" to quote my 5 year old. To cope, we burned febreze candles throughout our stay. Upon arrival, we had no internet, cable or telephone (land line) access, and it was 2 days before the owner had sorted this out. For more information, try googling "homeaway 190260" for a reveiw of the home next door (belongs to the same owner). The experience of this German family is almost exactly as ours: things were not as they seemed from the internet description.

Owner response:I am very surprised and disappointed to receive this review. I do remember there being an issue with the wireless and television but it was caused by a problem with the (phone company-supplied) modem and was fixed as soon as I was shipped a new one. The television worked but the "guide" was not available. I feel I dealt with everything in as timely a manner as possible considering that the issue was with the phone company. Once this situation was taken care of, I don't remember there being any other problems. The problem with the land line phone was that it wasn't plugged into the phone jack. This was obviously fixed immediately. And, in regards to the house "smelling like pee", I was never told this. Had it been brought to my attention, I would have done everything in my power to remedy the situation. We have never had this complaint before or since and and I find it hard to imagine. The houses are cleaned thoroughly after every guest moves out. These guests were clearly comfortable reporting a problem so I find it surprising that they didn't mention it during their stay and actually waited 3 months before submitting this review. I'm very sorry these guests felt their stay was unsatisfactory but I feel it is unfair to say that I have falsely advertised either of my houses.

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Fantastic little house, great location, very clean.

Guest: LindaT131 (Westwood, Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/15/10

This little house was perfect for us, two couples visiting family in LA. The neighborhood is quiet, the yard is private and perfect for a late afternoon glass of wine. The bedrooms are comfortable, the kitchen is nicely equipped, and there are two bathrooms. Linens, towels, were provided. The place was really clean. A new washer/dryer was nice, you can bring half of what you planned and just do a little laundry (laundry detergent was provided). Off street parking is a plus. We walked to the Santa Monica pier, 3rd street promenade, Main street, and to Venice. Flake was our favorite breakfast place, about 15 minutes away (walking). I would return to this house. The owner lives on the property and it is obvious she takes good care of the rental units.

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

Guest: language student (Luxembourg)
Date of Stay: 02/15/10 Review Submitted: 02/14/10

We stayed in Deirdre's cottage for a week with 4 persons - 2 adults and 2 teenage girls and we all loved it. Very cosy, feeling like home, and in walking distance to all the wonderful places in Santa Monica. Perfect location.

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Guest: Larry Chaset (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/10 Review Submitted: 01/08/10

We had a lot of fun staying in the Grant Street house. It is a charming cottage with a nice big kitchen and a great front yard. The amenities were all fine. The best part, though, was that we could walk both to Main Street and to the Third Street Promenade, two of the most appealing urban shopping streets in Southern Calfiornia . . . and don't forget the beach!!! We would definitely come back.

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Guest: Dave O'Grady (Tempe, AZ)
Date of Stay: 10/22/09 Review Submitted: 10/22/09

We enjoyed our stay at the Grant home. It was a very family-friendly environment with a nice location. We especially enjoyed grilling and dining in the front yard. It was nice and private. We would certainly stay, again.

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Guest: From NYC (New York City)
Date of Stay: 01/08/08 Review Submitted: 01/08/08

My family and I stayed over the holidays in this lovely cottage. We found it in perfect condition with everything we needed for our stay. The location is great, close to the beach but quietly off the beaten path. Highly recommended!

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Guest: Pauline Clifford (Glasgow,Scotland)
Date of Stay: 09/26/07 Review Submitted: 09/26/07

I stayed in Grant house with 4 friends for 2 weeks and we loved it!The house was perfect,even better than I imagined and it's in the best location!I would definitley recommend staying there to anyone visiting LA!Deirdre was great too!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/04/07 Review Submitted: 09/04/07

Our family of five stayed at the Grant House for one week this past August. We had a wonderful time and couldn't have been happier with our decision to rent the house. The accomodations were just as described and even exceeded our expectations. Deirdre made our stay hassle-free. Highly recommended!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/02/07 Review Submitted: 08/02/07

We stayed for 10 days and the house was great. Our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter came to visit (they live in LA) and two of our other children stayed for 5 of the 10 days. We barbequed in the front yard several times and visited many of the great restaurants in the Santa Monica/LA area. The house was plenty big for what we needed with a great kitchen. Except for a leaky bathtub and a running toilet, we would definitely stay again.

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Guest: Steve & Doris (Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 06/07/07 Review Submitted: 06/06/07

We loved the Grant Street home. We stayed 10 days and have a daughter who lives in Santa Monica and Son in West Hollywood. They were over several times because the house felt like a home rather than the appartments they live in. The sun comes in the front porch in the afternoon and we loved to sit and read, listen to the radio, or fall asleep. The beds were superior. The kitchen is large. Lots of room since we had a birthday party one night with several people there to celebrate and it wasn't crowded. A wonderful, relaxing place to stay. I wouldn't consider a hotel room after staying at the Grant Street house.

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Guest: Deb and Jim1 (Anchorage, Alaska)
Date of Stay: 05/29/07 Review Submitted: 05/29/07

Our recent week at Grant House was wonderful and exceeded our expectations. Dierdre, the owner, is very warm and friendly and did everything to make our stay memorable. The property itself is very cozy and charmingly decorated. The surrounding gardens are lovely! We loved our long daily walks along the beach (just a short distance away), ending with a morning coffee on the Promenade. We would definitely stay here again and enthusiastically recommend this property to anyone planning a trip to the area. Having two separate bungalows on the property, also makes it ideal for extended families.

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Guest: Sebastian M. (-)
Date of Stay: 04/07/07 Review Submitted: 04/07/07

We had a great time with my family. I can recommend this place to anybody with kids. Close to the ocean and in a nice and quite area. Will come back!

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Guest: Kristin Spatzek (Arlington Heights, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/21/06 Review Submitted: 09/21/06

The little blue house was so much better than staying in a hotel! It had everything that was needed and felt like home away from home! I will definitely go back.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/21/06 Review Submitted: 09/21/06

My parents came into town for a brief visit. I put them up at the Blue House. They were able to relax as if they were at home. They enjoyed their stay. I would recommend the property :)

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Guest: Laura Durava (La Grange Park, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/21/06 Review Submitted: 09/21/06

What a wonderful, charming home to spend a few days in!!! The subtle little touches were everywhere! Wish our girls weekend could have lasted forever....The blue house in Santa Monica was perfect!! Thank you...We'll be back! Laura Durava

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/28/06 Review Submitted: 07/28/06

Just returned from a great family vacation with our teenagers staying at Granthouse in Santa Monica for 10 days. We immediately felt at home in this charming Calfornia bungalow in a quiet and safe neighborhood. A perfect location for area activities and an easy drive into LA or up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. Our family would love to go back again!

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Guest: Pascale1 (Cambridge, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/11/06 Review Submitted: 07/11/06

The bungalow is just perfect! We stayed there with our two young children for a week in July and loved it. The house is spacious, nicely decorated, bright, and located in a quiet neighborhood, within walking distance to Main street and the beach. The yard is wonderful. We used to live in the area and our stay on Grant street made us feel as if we had never left. We hope to be back soon!

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Guest: Deike Peters (Berlin, Germany)
Date of Stay: 06/06/06 Review Submitted: 06/06/06

We rented the bungalow for ten days this spring and were very happy with it. It really is a prime Santa Monica location, and the house is simply gorgeous. And we will always remember the garden as the magic place where we had our wonderful Easter family brunch and both Grandma and the German grandparents were there for our 2 year-old daughter's first big Easter egg hunt!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/28/06 Review Submitted: 03/28/06

My wife and I and our two daughters spend a delightful week in the Grant Street house. The location is great: six blocks from the ocean, easy access to both Santa Monica and Venice shops and restaurants, and minutes from the Interstate 10 on ramp. The house was nicely decorated and very clean. Deirdre was responsive to our requests (more hangars, a lightbulb) and set up the wireless internet access so we could use our computers at the house. We would defintely return.

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Guest: anne marie corrigan (vancouver, british columbia)
Date of Stay: 03/21/06 Review Submitted: 03/21/06

We just returned from a short trip to LA and were delighted to find a most congenial spot on Grant Street. Not only was the location a great launch pad for all the attractions that LA has to offer but also the cottage itself was charming, cozy and a real sweet home away from home. We would like to thank Deirdre for her hospitality and efficiency and look forward to staying there again in the future. Regards, Anne Marie Vancouver, British Columbia

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Guest: kevin5 (Santa Monica)
Date of Stay: 01/23/06 Review Submitted: 01/22/06

We loved having Grant st as our home for four months. The street is so quiet and full of tree's. The walk to town is just a few minutes the location is key, so great that we bought a house on this very same street! dierde the landlord was a pleasure to deal with. the house itself is so charming and clean, we loved it thanks kevin

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Guest: Rhonda G. (West Bloomfield, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 01/13/06 Review Submitted: 01/13/06

My husband and I and 3 of our grown kids stayed here for a week in summer of '05. We loved it, was perfect for us! Had much more room and was better price than booking 2 rooms in a nearby hotel. The bungalow is very warm and inviting and very nicely decorated, roomy too--has enough rooms/space for each person to go for own quiet time to read or relax, plus a nice yard besides. I especially liked the dining area next to the kitchen and the closed-in porch. The place started feeling like a second home to us by the week's end, so comfortable and cozy. Close to beach, grocery, shopping, etc. I would definitely rent here again and highly recommend it to others.

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Guest: Nancy Chetaitis (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/09/06 Review Submitted: 01/09/06

My family and I enjoyed this bungalow retreat so much, we eagerly looked at dates to book again next year. The house is very comfortable- Deidre pays attention to every detail... high end linens, kitchenware, gadgets and stemware. The decor is a perfect cross between Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. Very pretty, very tasteful. We were able to store our bikes and boogie boards in the garage, took many bike rides down the hill to lounge with the beatiful people at Urth Cafe and along the beach bike path. Easy access off the highway after a night in LA and a corner store nearby that sells everything from flowers to champagne. Once you unpack, you'll feel like a local!

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Guest: Andrea7 (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 01/05/06 Review Submitted: 01/05/06

Two friends and I from NYC stayed at this homey and warm cottage for a week this past summer. The decor was perfect, and was accented with lots of personal touches which made it feel like a real, lived-in home. The location was prime too. Dierdre, the owner, couldn't have been more welcoming, helpful and friendly. We all wanted to make it our home! So much better than staying in a cold, impersonal hotel. We would definitely return to Diedre's cozy getaway!

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