Vacation Rentals by Owner

Third year in a row

Guest: Barb (San Jose)
Date of Stay: 09/26/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

We picked this house three years ago, simply because it was so close to a park. We keep coming back because our twins keep asking to go to "our" beach cabin. I love this house! It has everything a family could want: a near by park and beach, comfy beds, huge bath tubs, a well equipped kitchen and smores! If you sit outside on the front porch, at night, you can hear the sound of the waves. Nothing is more relaxing, after a day of playing with four year olds, than sitting listening to the waves crash. It is also central to so many fun things: apple picking at Gizdich, fresh eggs at Galum, the santa cruz county fair, and of course, the beach boardwalk. I'm hoping we will be back next year...

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

Beach House in a Great Location

Guest: Tina (Patterson, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/15/11

My family and I stayed here for the holiday weekend. This is a beautiful home in a great location. We found the home to be exactly like the pictures. The beach was so close we just walked down the path with the wagon and chairs provided by Juli. The home is stocked with everything you need and anything you forgot like a sweatshirt ; ) My grandsons loved this home and thorougly enjoyed our weekend at the beach. I hope to visit again in the future and would recommend this home to anyone looking for a great place to relax and enjoy the beach. Thank you Juli for allowing us to enjoy your home and for being so responsive to all my questions. I also wanted to let others know this is the first time I rented a home and I was very skeptical. I was worried that the home would not look like the photos or that I would not receive my deposit. I am so pleased to say that the house looked just like the photos and I received my deposit prior to the time I was told it would be returned.

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

Hidden Gem

Guest: Ed (Folsom)
Date of Stay: 04/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/09/11

Hard to beat this place. When you consider price, location and seclusion this place is the best value I could find. Everthing is just as described. Short walk to the beach, plenty of privacy, well appointed inside. We were on a boys golf vacation and this was our second time at this property. We'll keep coming back when we're in the area because it fits our needs perfectly. Thanks Juli!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful Home in a Great Location

Guest: Deanna (NH)
Date of Stay: 03/29/11 Review Submitted: 04/16/11

My family and I stayed here for a week to attend my nephew's wedding. We were delighted as soon as we walked in the door of this wonderful home. The open concept on the first floor made it both comfortable and spacious for all six adults in our group. The house was very clean with a well equipped kitchen. There wasn't anything that we needed that we didn't find there. We were fortunate to have beautiful weather during our visit and were able to enjoy the outdoor decks and patio. The beach was gorgeous and just a few minutes walk. I would not hesitate to recommend this home to anyone looking for a comfortable beach house in a quiet but convenient location. Thank you so much for your hospitality Juli!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

An Ideal Getaway

Guest: Janice (Pleasanton)
Date of Stay: 12/28/10 Review Submitted: 01/03/11

My family loved staying at this friendly beach house. Everything is thought of - a cozy fireplace for stormy winter nights, the little wagon for easy trips to the park and beach. Even the plastic plates and cups make this an ideal getaway for families. We couldn't have been happier and are looking forward to returning in the summer.

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

Girls Weekend

Guest: Lisa (Fresno, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/08/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10

Great place for a get-a-way with friends and/or family! The home was clean and comfortable and very close to the beach. The six of us really enjoyed our stay. The pictures and property listing accurately portray the home. Fun place!

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

Beautiful house, great location!

Guest: Cindy (California)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 11/18/10

Our family stayed in July 2010 for a week. What a gorgious house in a great location! Was equipped with everything we forgot at home and had plenty of room and comfy furniture! We are already booking our trip for next year!

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

Amazng home

Guest: blondieboo (seattle)
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 06/04/10

We stayed here in May 2010 and loved it. The property was immaculately clean and well maintained and the garden is beautiful. The owner was very helpful and organized, our deposit refund got to our home before we did. They have thought of everything, toys for the kids, boogie boards and all the household ammenities one could need ( the beds were super comfy too). The beach was AMAZING and only a 3 minute walk, we loved the red wagon to take our suff to the beach in. The beach is perfect for kids, not to big of a surf, long and flat and you can walk for miles. We would recommend this home to anyone and we hope to visit here again.

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Loved it! Hope to visit again soon!!

Guest: KC in Sacto (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/06/10 Review Submitted: 05/19/10

My mom was turning 70 this May so us "kids and grandkids" wanted to treat her to a nice family getaway to the beach. This house was perfect! Quiet, great location and fabulous beach only 5 min. away. The beach was gorgeous! It was an added bonus to have a nearby park since we had a 4 yr. old and a 2 yr. old with us. The house was beautiful, comfortable, clean and perfect for 6 adults and 2 kids (on air mattresses). I highly recommend this house and hope to visit again!

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

A Great Weekend in Aptos

Guest: Visitor from SJ (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/05/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

We stayed at this home for our weekend getaway. The home was clean with a well equipped kitchen. Parking was not a problem as there was plenty of parking spaces across the street enough to hold several cars. The beach access was along an easy path. The fireplace in the front room served to warm us as we gathered each night to chat and talked well into the night. All in all, a very satisfactory stay. Thank you for opening up your home to us.

Recommended for:Girls getaway

Owner unlawfully withheld deposit

Guest: Besem (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/17/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/10

I stayed here with my husband and 2 children over Christmas. We have a lot of family in the area with whom we spent most of the time but rented this house so we could have a place to crash at night. We were excited because of the proximity to both the beach and park. The house was in OK condition when we checked in but, not a big deal (so we thought). We stayed a total of 18 days and upon checking out followed the instructions the owner provided. Even though the owner required a non refundable cleaning fee, we figured it was only fair to leave the house in the same condition we found it. Initially, she was amenable to sending us back our deposit so imagine our surprise when she sent a long list of things and refused to send us any of our deposit. Although the owner specified she would sent receipts within 21 days, we had to email the owner several times to get some of the receipts. The matter is still pending. Our recommendation should one choose to stay here, is to have the owner or an agent meet you when you check in and check out so, all parties involved are on the same page in terms of the condition of the house. If that isn't possible, take lots of before and after pictures. We use VRBO at least once every 3 months due to all our travels and have always had excellent experiences and, will continue to do so despite this unfortunate experience.

Owner response: Renters Beseem and Jeff caused extensive damage to my home so badly it exceeded their security deposit. In which case, they will not be receiving a refund. They allowed their children to put permanent markers and crayon marks on the walls, floors and chairs as well as permanent markers on the sofa. They left playdough ground into the sofa, decorative pillows and on the decking. They stained the kitchen chairs which had to be recovered. Two bathroom rugs were torn, which had to be replaced. Movies from our movie collection were missing.The home was left filthy. The professional cleaners spent an additional 5 hours above the allotted 8 hours of normal cleaning time cleaning the home. Renter states that they have friends in the area and just needed a place to "crash at night", however the address they provided on the contract as well as the address printed on their check is in the same area as my home, so it looks like they rented my home not wanting to use their own home for a Holiday gathering?? An itemization of charges as well as receipts for repairs was sent to the address on the contract, within 21 days as required by law, I have a "proof of service" form filled out by a 3rd party to document this. These same documents were also sent to them by certified mail. I was never "amendable" to returning their deposit as she stated, her response is filled with lies. They clearly disrespected my home. As you can see I have never had anything but 5 star reviews from previous guests. Its a lovely home that has been lovingly decorated.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 12/02/09

We had a delightful weekend in the Aptos home and the space was perfect for 3 adult couples. The location is ideal for walks, beach access and services. We definitely will return.

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Guest: Lori Sanders (Brentwood, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/25/09 Review Submitted: 11/25/09

We rented this house for a "girl's weekend" and had WONDERFUL time. The house is perfect, with everything you need to enjoy yourself. The beach is so close, you can hear the ocean from the house. It was a perfect weekend and we are all looking forward to doing it again. Thank you, Juli!

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Guest: Esther Johnson (Roanoke, Va)
Date of Stay: 11/07/09 Review Submitted: 11/07/09

We stayed in this great vacation house for a week when our daughter got married in Soquel in October. It made a special event even more special, having my sister, her daughter, and her grandchildren with us together. The kids loved the toys and books and beach, and we loved the easy accessibility to the other guests in an Aptos hotel and my daughter in Soquel. Comfortable house in great location--everything the website says is true--except the master bedroom and bath are even better!

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Guest: Mike120 (Reno, NV)
Date of Stay: 06/29/09 Review Submitted: 06/29/09

Our family and friends had a great time at this house. It was clean and well maintained with a nice deck, landscaping & backyard w/ BBQ's. The park down the street was awesome for the kids and the short walk to the beach was perfect. I would recommend this place to anyone - especially with kids. We had 4 adults and 3 children and there was plenty of space. Lots of fun - we hope to come back!

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Gorgeous.

Guest: SJ residents (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/15/09 Review Submitted: 04/29/10

My friends and I stayed at the beach house for the weekend, which is a memory that we still like to talk about. It is such a gorgeous place to just relax and enjoy the capitivating scenery—with access to a private beach and park, just a stroll away. The place itself had such a homey feeling with all its comforts including a big screen TV with a variety of movies, cozy couches, heated floors, fire place in the backyard for those late night s’mores and lounge area in the balcony looking over the neighborhood with the glimpse of the sun. The décor of the house is beautifully set to match that beach-like atmosphere and clean to a mother’s touch. I would absolutely love to go back to enjoy another unforgettable weekend at the “The Beach House”.

Recommended for:Girls getaway

Guest: Michelle Harris (Claremont, CA )
Date of Stay: 12/08/08 Review Submitted: 12/08/08

I just wanted to thank Juli and her family for making the most comfortable rental our family has ever used for a vacation. The location is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. At first you think you are in a mountain lake location and in a very short walk you will see one of the most beautiful beach in the world. My first morning walk to the beach I saw two pods of dolphins and a sea lion playing in the surf. It was magical. The home itself is perfect, everything you could think of, and extremely comfortable. Our entire family, including Grandma were so rested and relaxed. We will definitely be coming back. Thank you.

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Wonderful Home

Guest: repeat happy renter (santa clara, ca)
Date of Stay: 09/05/08 Review Submitted: 04/29/10

I have stayed at this beach house a few times now and I can't wait to go back. This house is beautiful. It has a patio that overlooks this cute little park and has an amazing garden that stretches from the front of the property to the back. It has a fire pit in the back area, which is great for entertaining. The inside of the house is incredible as well. My personal favorite is the HEATED floors. It is so nice to spend the day at the beach and then come back all wet and feel so warm and nice with the floor heating your feet. The fireplace is a big plus too!. The bathrooms are out of this world with big tubs and two shower heads. The owner has thought of everything too. There are maps of the area, coupons to local restaurants, recommendations of local businesses, toys for kids, washer/dryer, dishes/silverware, a kid's bedroom, movies and much more. The owner was very easy to deal with and I would recommend this person to anyone!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Erika Coronado (Pittsburg, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/16/08 Review Submitted: 06/15/08

We stayed here at the end of March in 2008...the only word to describe it is: WOW!! We have 3 children and my parents came also. The house was immaculate...gorgeous.. and comforting. Juli really thought of everything from books to read at the beach to a map of local restaurants and shops. We will definitely be back. Thanks Juli.

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Guest: Kim (Stockton, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/06/08 Review Submitted: 04/06/08

Juli, I cannot say enough about the wonderful beach house we enjoyed March 23 - 26. Your home was EXACTLY as depicted on VRBO's site. You thought of everything we could ever 'need' due to forgetting an item or two at home. Your business practices are sharp and prompt (our deposit was returned right away - awesome!). We cannot wait to return and make Su Casa our Casa. Thank you!!

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Guest: Heather Fosth (East Palo Alto, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/18/08 Review Submitted: 03/18/08

We just returned from 4 nights at this beach house and had a really wonderful time! The house is well-equipped and lovingly decorated. It is not your typical rental. We felt like we were staying at the home of a friend! We loved the location - quiet, peaceful with an easy and beautiful walk to the beach. Our 5 year old brought his scooter and happily went back and forth. We also had our 15 month old daughter with us, and with some simple babyproofing (we brought our expandable baby gates and rearranged some cabinet contents) we had a stress-free vacation. Thanks Juli for creating such a lovely home away from home.

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Guest: Mia Chen (-)
Date of Stay: 10/23/07 Review Submitted: 10/23/07

We stayed here in mid September. We me and 5 friends had a great time. The place was even better than I imagined. It was spacious and very well put together. THe beach was very relaxing. We enjoed ourselves a lot. Thanks!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/11/07 Review Submitted: 10/11/07

We were quite impressed when we first walked into this home...it didn't feel like a rental at all! And we were pleasantly surprised with all of the "kid stuff" available for use (sand pails/shovels, DVD's, toys, etc). My 2 & 3 year old sons had a blast! They especially loved the park and beach within walking distance, although they usually wanted to be carried back, and luckily we brought the wagon along to help with that! We will keep this home in mind for future vacations.

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Guest: tony damore (san jose, california)
Date of Stay: 08/23/07 Review Submitted: 08/22/07

Grandpop and Grandmom were big winners! Children and Grandchildren loved all the amenities, including the park,and nearness to the beach .The floor plan made moving around easy and fun. Never felt on top of one another and the deck and back yard were nice "quiet hiding places". We will be back next year. Grandpop and Grandmom...winners!!!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/22/07 Review Submitted: 05/22/07

Thank you for providing such a lovely home for our girl's weekend. We had a lovely time cooking, chatting, watching DVDs and just relaxing on the lovely decks! I highly recommend this home and we are already trying to plan our next girl's weekend at the "Aptos Palm House".

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Guest: Lanette & Allen (Stockton, California)
Date of Stay: 12/20/06 Review Submitted: 12/20/06

Thank you for the use of your beautiful home. The location is PRIME and OUTSTANDING! The park and beach, being just a short distance away, was wonderful for the children. The set up of this home is perfect, if children will be vacationing with you. We look forward to renting it again and have told our friends and family all about it. Thank you for allowing us this wonderful opportunity to create memories for our heart, as well as in our scrapbooks. Mahalo.

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Guest: Ioana1 (-)
Date of Stay: 08/30/06 Review Submitted: 08/30/06

We just spent a long weekend at this truly lovely, large, and well equipped home. We had a 3 and 4 year old in tow and they both loved the house and the nearby playground and beach. Fantastic!

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Guest: Susan and Gary (Rocklin, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/10/06 Review Submitted: 08/10/06

We stayed here 7/29 to 8/5/06. The house is spacious with a well apointed kitchen. It is close to a lovely park with a paved path to Hidden Beach, which is never crowded. Our grandsons enjoyed playing at the beach and we saw otters and dolphins. We took day trips to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad. One morning we visited Natural Bridges State Park to see the tide pools. On Monday and Tuesday nights, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk has 65 cent rides, drinks, hot dogs and cotton candy. We barbequed twice on the back patio and roasted marshmellows on the outdoors fireplace another time. We enjoyed dinner at Gayles Bakery and the lunch buffet at Bangkok West. Safeway is about two miles away in a shopping center with several restaurants. We enjoyed the Mexican restaurant there. The house is very quiet. We had three generations there and no one disturbed another. We pulled the red wagon with beach chairs and sand toys to Hidden Beach each time we went there. Cliff Drive is a wonderful place to stay.

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Guest: The Wantz Family (Fair Oaks Ca)
Date of Stay: 07/31/06 Review Submitted: 07/31/06

Stayed during the week of 07/17-07/22. House was perfect. Had everything we needed. Our daughter brought 3 of her friends and they had a great time in the room with the full size bunk beds. The Boardwalk is just a short drive and lots of fun after spending the day at the beach. Local beach was FANTASTIC. It is very close to the house and not nearly as crowed as the other public beaches. We even saw some dolphins and otters swimming close to the shore.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/19/06 Review Submitted: 07/19/06

We stayed here for a week in June of 2006 and had a great time. The house is beautiful and has everything you need. There is a lot of light in the house and plenty of space to spread out. Our two year old son loved the park and the beach nearby. We would definitely stay here again. Carol, Ted and Daniel (Denver, Colorado)

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Guest: lisa
Date of Stay: 07/07/06 Review Submitted: 07/06/06

What a great home and location. We loved listening to the birds sing in the morning.Your home had everything we needed and we enjoyed every minute of our stay there. Hidden beach is now our new favorite beach what a great secret!!! Thanks for sharing your home.

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