Just Perfect

Guest: Happy New Year (San Jose, California)
Date of Stay: 12/29/09 Review Submitted: 01/08/10

My boyfriend and I spent a few days here. The cottage had everything we needed and Santa Cruz had the slow, easygoing vibe we sought to relax. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone.

Recommended for:

Very Charming - Great Location

Guest: A Simple Old Guy (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/01/12

So much detail has gone into designing this charming little cottage. You feel that all your needs have been carefully thought out by the owners. We enjoyed the warm and cozy atmosphere, the special amenities throughout house and the attention to detail with the design and decorating. Everything you need is there. The biggest draw is the close proximity to the ocean and the walking/running path that takes you south to the pier and north to the Natural Bridges State Park. It does not matter whether fog shrouds the coast, rain and cool temperatures prevail or the sun is out and the sky is deep blue, the smell of the ocean air and the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline create a most peaceful atmosphere to enjoy some quiet time away from the hectic pace of the city. We loved it.

Recommended for:Age 55+.

A real gem

Guest: annahumm (British Columbia)
Date of Stay: 10/29/11 Review Submitted: 11/18/11

My husband and I had nearly a week at the Watercolour Cottage, and wish we could have stayed longer. Denise and Glenn have made this a very comfortable place for a quiet holiday. A comfortable bed with excellent quality linens, a very well-equipped kitchen, and a lovely private patio ( unfortunately not used very much because of the cool weather) all helped to make this accommodation a real gem. We look forward to our next visit.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+.

Perfect Cottage rental!!

Guest: Barbara Jorrisch (-)
Date of Stay: 10/02/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We highly recommend Watercolour Cottage. It is super-charming and overflowing with personality. But you will also feel right at home. The cottage is immaculately clean and it has everything you could possibly need or want in a rental property, plus complete privacy. The backyard garden is sublime. Fantastic place!!

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

Best Rental I Have Ever Had.

Guest: peggy b.
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

Denise's watercolour cottage was fantastic. I have done a lot of vacation rentals and Denise was the most accommodating and thoughtful host we have ever encountered. And the cottage is so ADORABLE it belongs in a magazine and was very comfortable. Our stay was practically magical. I would highly recommend.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

Why you need to stay here!

Guest: No Nickname (Huntington Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/03/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

My husband and I are from Huntington Beach, CA...The other Surf City...but this time of year is the U.S. Open which we used to like to . We decided to go visit friends in Surf City during this time, because our city has become too crowded during the Surf Contest. How wonderful it was to stay at Watercolour Cottage. It was sooooo peaceful. The gardens are a beautiful surrounding. Just like a beautiful canvas painting. Was able to meditate quietly and then sit with coffee and read. Bring your bikes. You are right near the Cliffs, pier and Boardwalk Fun Zone and arcade...All just walking or biking distance. You can also take the $0.25 trolley to downtown to shop, eat or just see a movie. We did it all and loved every bit of it. Hope you will too!

Recommended for:Sightseeing.

Wonderful

Guest: Ardis (Campbell, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 07/17/11

My 2 friends and I stayed 2 nights at the Watercolour Cottage to attend our 40th high school reunion held at the Dream Inn. THE PICTURES AND ON LINE DESCRIPTION DO NOT DO THIS PROPERTY JUSTICE!!! We loved it! And, it was a convenient and easy 15 minute walk away from the Dream Inn. With the hide-a-bed it easily accommodated the 3 of us. The private back yard with patio table, fire bowl and BBQ were all a relaxing way to have our breakfasts in the mornings and while away the afternoons / evenings before and after our re-union events. Thank you, Denise and Glenn, for a wonderful "home away from home". The Three Amigas

Owner response:We are so happy that you had not only a wonderful reunion but a place to call your own and create more even more fond memories together! Thank you for taking the time to share your pleasant time at the cottage for future guests. Hope the "The Three Amigas" return to the garden again someday!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+.

Adorable, Perfect Cottage ... Home Sweet Home

Guest: Rachel D.
Date of Stay: 07/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

I stayed at Watercolour Cottage with my elderly mom and sister, who were visiting from Texas. We stayed for 2 nights, and the little cottage was just as adorable as can be! My mom slept soundly in the twin size fold-out sleeper, with a cozy full-length cushion that we placed on top to make it extra-comfortable. My sister and I slept quite comfortably in the little bedroom at the back. The bedroom had a fabulous closet with plenty of storage and shelves so that all 3 of us could easily organize our things. The bathroom has a walk-in shower, which was a God-send for my mom, who has limited mobility and knee problems. You can walk right into the cottage with no steps at all to climb. My mom loved that. The kitchen is bright and airy and had everything we needed. The backyard patio / garden is GORGEOUS, as are all the lovely plants growing in front. Denise and Glenn had even provided enormous hydrangeas and other fresh flowers from the garden to greet us. The free aquarium passes were much appreciated ... we enjoyed a fabulous day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. And the little cottage is only, maybe a 5 minute drive from the fabulous Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. My sister and I went to the boardwalk on Tuesday night, and we were thrilled to find out that they are having a promotion this summer ... all rides (even the big roller coasters) are only $1.00 per person, after 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays this summer, and they had $1.00 hot dogs, and $1.00 pepsi's, too! Boy, did we luck out! We rode the vintage merry go round, the Sky Express, Ghost Blasters, the flying superman ride (can't remember the name), and of course the vintage wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper. We had so much fun, especially for $1.00 per ride. Hurray! Also Glenn and Denise were very responsive, Glenn came over right away when my mom was having trouble figuring out how to get the cable / satellite TV connection going so she could have watch her news programs. He got it going in no time, and she was all set! We also enjoyed the selection of books Denise and Glenn have provided, including Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, "Goodnight California," and a book with all the info about the making of the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. We only wish we could have stayed longer. It was truly a lovely home away from home, cared for with great attention to detail by Denise and Glenn. Thanks for everything, we hope we can come back someday!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+.

Perfect, Perfect, Perfect

Guest: Meg R. (Oak Park)
Date of Stay: 06/09/11 Review Submitted: 06/25/11

I rented this perfect little cottage for my daughter's graduation from UC Santa Cruz. I soon became the envy of the rest of the family attending the graduation (all staying at hotels), and I was in the delightful position of being able to host several gatherings of family and my daughter's friends on the beautiful patio. It is a short drive to the Safeway for provisions and the cottage has every dish, serving spoon, and tray for easy sharing of food with guests. I didn't cook (just heated up pizza) but still felt like the "hostess with the mostest." One evening we had a fire in the fire pit and my daughter's friends made s'mores. My son from NY stayed on the pull out in the Living Room, but to be truthful, the cottage is tiny (which I loved) and I wouldn't have wanted to share the space with more than one person. Because there is no door to the bedroom, I would recommend sharing only with family or a close friend. Denise was available and offered to lend me chairs when I called next door to tell her I was having company, but I never felt intruded upon. Every aspect of the renting process, including the extremely prompt return of my deposit, was personal and lovely. I would return in a heartbeat for just a retreat on my own. I cannot describe (just look at the pictures) how peaceful and aesthetically pleasing this place is, both inside and out. Everyone who came over, walked in and said, "how did you find this place?" That's how wonderful it is.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Perfect Santa Cruz Vacation Cottage

Guest: Chris (New Paltz, NY)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 06/06/11

My wife and I spent a glorious week at the Watercolour Cottage. Denise and Glenn, the owners, have made the cottage a delightful place to stay, complete with beautiful watercolors painted by Glenn, a professional artist, and beautiful flowers in front and back. The location was perfect too, just a short walk to the nicest part of the Santa Cruz coastline (west side). Everything was easily accessible by bike. I would strongly recommend a bike/car ride to Wilder State Park, which has easy, uncrowded walking trails along gorgeous coastline. Sierra bikes was good rental place. We strongly recommend this cottage!!

Owner response:Thank you so much for the lovely and informative review for our future guests! Glenn and I are so pleased that you have fond memories of your stay. I will send you a link to his artist website and keep you posted on upcoming art events. West Cliff Drive is indeed a glorious part of our scenic coastline, we are so happy that you and your wife had the opportunity to be immersed in this experience. Come back again to your cottage in California !

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