Laguna is beautiful, house is not

Guest: Gilbert (Mesa, AZ)
Date of Stay: 08/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/27/12

We have been coming to Laguna every summer for years. We love Laguna and everything it has to offer. We have rented several homes in the area. This house has a gorgeous ocean view from the front porch. Unfortunately, this home did not live up to the reviews or the pictures. We were disappointed that there was an issue with the contract we had signed and the owners live right next door making it a bit uncomfortable. Upon arrival, the backyard was full of debris, which the owners did come and take care of. The house was apparently for sale while we were staying there. The inside needs renovation. I brought my 3 year old and 1 year old and it really was not safe because of all the stairs on the propery. We had to block off the front patio stairs with makeshift furniture from the house. The staircase inside the house is very flimsy and would not support a baby gate making it a constant worry for me as the mom. There were also 2 flights of stairs in the backyard also causing worry. Also, there was no bathtub making it hard to bathe my small children. In spite of the house we still had a wonderful time in Laguna as always. If the owners put some money into the house it would be a beautiful rental!

Owner response:Thank you for the opportunity to address this review, however we are shocked as this is the first non-5-star review in the 5 years we have opened up this home to rental and we only want 100% satisfied guests. We are also surprised because this guest attempted not to honor a portion of their agreement upon check-in. We are usually away for the summer but within 20 minutes, which actually adds to the pampering of vacation rental guests and in this case for Bridgett and her 6 guests we were present to clean up leaves between gardener visits from a recent windy day. The Photos of the property are updated yearly and the other reviews speak for them themselves. The home is promoted as a vintage beach home and most guests like the simplicity of a beach house for summer vacations and bare feet where you can walk to the beach. I think this is why we have returning guests. We are sorry Bridgett was not aware there are stairs to access the property, even though seen in the photos, and all very secure. Stairs are all part of living in Laguna Beach with big oceans views. I understand traveling with small children has its challenges, especially living in a new environment and we have had many happy guests with small children in the past. The house is not for sale and we continue to give the home TLC and open to share as a vacation rental. It is very important to us that all of our guest leave with a smile & with a desire to return.

Recommended for:

Outdoor space and sounds/views of the ocean make this a perfect vacation home!

Guest: B & E (Hoboken, NJ)
Date of Stay: 10/10/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/11

My husband and I rented for 10 weeks and loved every minute of our stay. Coming all the way from NYC, the house was everything it said it was on the website and more. Having 2 dogs, it was nice to be a short walk to South Laguna beach and there are plenty of quiet streets to explore on walks with the dogs. The house was perfect for us with plenty of space to host our family and friends. The kitchen was functional and had everything in it to do anything from heating up leftovers in the microwave to cooking an entire Thanksgiving day meal. We enjoyed the outdoor living space the most and spent nearly every single night outside by the fire roasting marshmallows for smores. We were so happy with the peaceful and beautiful location. We were a short drive to downtown Laguna Beach, only 30 minutes up to Huntington Dog Beach, and a short walk to the State Park, the post office, and a cute donut shop on PCH. We had a wonderfully relaxing time and hope to be back again soon.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Tina Torres

Guest: Tina (Bay area)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/31/10

My family and I loved the house and the location was perfect, a beautiful view and a short walk to the beach. The sound of the ocean put us to sleep and the sound of all of the colorful birds woke us gently. We hope to return soon!!!

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

A piece of heaven

Guest: Soboy26 (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/03/04 Review Submitted: 07/07/10

I lived in the house for a couple of years. At night you can hear the ocean, the air is clean, the sunsets- amazing. The neighbors are fantastic...the walk to the beach is 5-10 minutes. It was the happiest time of my life...and every day I think about going back.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with young children, people with disabilities, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.

A treasure & gem in south Laguna! Beach cottage charm & style walking distance to Montage decadence

Guest: Q (Kamuela, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 06/25/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

What a treausre! Beach cottage charm, amazing views, surf lulling us to sleep and walking distance to West street beach, surf, beachcombing and the Montage for amazing food and a sunset beverage. The home is clean, bright, airy and full of good energy. The outdoor living room is one of the best spots in the house with the stone firepit and seating area, a private enclave to share dinner, conversation, board games and family memories, there is nothing like dining outside in the summer! Amazing views and lots of good spots to read a book and just enjoy the sound of the surf. There is a personal touch to the home thus we feel as if we are staying at a friends beach cottage vs. a sterile rental home. Art on the walls and personal touches add to the character. A morning latte and fresh squeezed juice is a walk away, which is a must as is fine Italian dining (Ti Amo?) and great mexican take out (by the latte place and Coyote Grille is just down the street too). There are amazing trails that take you up to the canyon walking distance from the home that provide amazing views, great way to start the morning before a day at the beach. The hike can be one hour or four hours. A quick walk provides a great vantage point to check the surf break or check the lights on the surf at night from the montage. There are parks with swings and playgrounds near by if the beach is not enough of the playground for the kids. Ben Brown's is less than a mile for a late afternoon round of golf. The trolly takes you down town so no need to worry about parking in Laguna which is a treat when we want to head to main beach or spend an afternoon shopping....and there is great shopping in down town laguna not to mention amazing cafes and restaurants. The home is situated in a classic laguna neighborhood with beautiful gardens for morning and late evening walks. There is plenty of room for the family and even a room downstairs for the early riser or late sleeper providing additional privacy,which is greeat when travelling with a couple families. Just returned from another visit! It is a great value and you will not be disappointed.

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

Great property great location

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/23/10

We came for a month and stayed for a year (or almost 2!). This house was a great find. Right across the street from the beach and a killer neighborhood full of wonderful people to boot. Incredible views, great yard, lots of room for us and all our visitors. We really loved it here, and were sorry to leave. Only a mile to downtown Laguna it was a perfect location in all respects.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, pet owners, families with teenagers.

Wonderful Vacation Home!!!

Guest: swimlotta (Hayward, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/17/10

What a beautiful vacation rental! You will not be disappointed! The view is awesome, neighborhood quiet and peaceful and the home is so comfortable, clean and roomy. There are hiking trails behind you, the beach below you, and golf if you like close by. We enjoyed our stay so very much and can't wait to come back again soon!

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