Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet

Photo gallery for Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet

A garden with a variety of flowers and a bench in the background.
A marina with multiple boats docked.
A bedroom with a wooden bed, a dresser, and a large window with a view of trees.
A kitchen with a microwave, stove, and oven, a fireplace, a television, and a dining area with chairs and a table.
A cozy living room with a sofa, a coffee table, and a fireplace. The kitchen is visible with white cabinets and a window.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Mission Santa Barbara

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Kitchenette
  • On-site fitness centre
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Santa Barbara, CA
  • Place, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Mission Santa Barbara
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Airport, Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Living room sofa couch

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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  • Washing machine
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About the area

Santa Barbara

Located in Mission Canyon, a neighbourhood in Santa Barbara, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. Travellers looking for local activities can try Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor, while those looking to experience a bit of culture can stop by Santa Barbara Bowl. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Earl Warren Showgrounds or UC SB Events Center. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and hiking/biking trails nearby.
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Map
Santa Barbara, CA

What's nearby

  • Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Santa Barbara Natural History Museum - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Mission Santa Barbara - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Rattlesnake Canyon Trail - 4 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Upper State Street - 4 min drive - 1.9 km

Getting around

  • Santa Barbara Station - 15 min drive
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mission Street Ice Cream and Yogurt - Featuring McConnell's Fine Ice Creams - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Peet's Coffee Cart In Cottage Hospital - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Los Agaves - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private Retreat with Views, Fireplace & Spa-Close to town. Great internet located?

Located in Mission Canyon, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. Mission Santa Barbara and Rattlesnake Canyon Trail are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mission Canyon

Great stay at a great location. The property was very comfortable and very well appointed. Great hosts extremely responsive to any questions.
Stayed 36 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic experience

The Hourglass was a wonderful off-street retreat during our month in Santa Barbara. Wendy and Chuck have created a cozy, private aerie among the treetops. We had sun on the deck, shade at the patio table, comfy chaises for reading and a private hot tub and rosy sunsets. There’s even a hammock. And, very important as we worked remotely during the pandemic, there is a fantastic new smart TV and strong Wi-Fi that let 2 of us Zoom simultaneously with no blips. We were very happy and grateful!
Stayed 30 nights in Dec 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Jan, 2021
Dear Janice, It was a pleasure to host you and your husband! Thanks so much for choosing the Hourglass and visit us again!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Charming Retreat in Excellent Condition

First, Wendy Rookwood is a pleasure to work with in planning and completing your stay at the Hourglass. And, we found Wendy very responsive needs you may have during your stay. Finding the Hourglass with HomeAway was a first experience for us that turned out very, very enjoyable. The Hourglass is nestled in the scenic hills above the Santa Barbara Mission with both privacy and hiking trails right at your doorstep. It has a warm and inviting ambiance and is in excellent condition. On our very first trip it truly felt like our second home! For first time visitors, I'd recommend paying particular attention to Wendy's excellent directions. We highly recommend the Hourglass for a memorable stay in Santa Barbara.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Very clean, quiet and well equipped.

It is a wonderful place to stay to tour the Santa Barbara area. So very clean and quiet. Relaxing place to be after a day of touring. The bed as well as the sofa sleeper are comfortable. If you wish to prepare some of your meals the kitchen is well equipped. There is a hot tub. There is a flight of stairs to get to the apartment. It is very near the old mission and close enough to other attractions yet away from the noise and bustle so you can get a good night sleep. I highly recommend this apartment.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar, 2020
So glad you had a good stay! All the best, Wendy
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cozy and comfortable

This was a really good location. Everything we wanted to see or do was just a short trip away, but at the same time it felt remote and relaxing. The view was beautiful. The accommodations were just what we wanted and it was supplied with everything we needed. Furniture, including the bed, were all very comfortable. We were pleased with the cleanliness of this well maintained property. We wouldn't hesitate to return here on our next trip to Santa Barbara. Also, check out Farmer Boy for amazing coffee and giant cinnamon rolls.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Fantastic Home & Hosts

The Hourglass Home is on the base of the mountains with a fantastic view. The home is clean, nice size & comfortable with all the amenities needed for however long you are staying. Wendi is very available for whatever is needed . We loved our stay in Santa Barbara & will be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

The Hourglass was perfect for our Honeymoon!

My wife and I were looking for a quiet and private rental that would feel like "home" during our time in Santa Barbara -- the Hourglass was a perfect fit for the two of us! What really stood out to us was the attention to detail the owner, Wendy, pays to this property -- she has thought of EVERYTHING! Warm robes and battery-powered lanterns for the spa, a bottle of wine on the table when we arrived, beach chairs, and even a rewards discount card attached to the keys for the local supermarket! Wendy was a pleasure to communicate with as well, she almost always responded within the hour (sometimes even minutes) to anything I wished to know. The Hourglass will forever be a highlight of our time in Santa Barbara!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Very nice! Exactly as described

We enjoyed our stay. Everything was exactly as described. Very quiet and private!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Clean, quiet, and private

So many good things about this retreat. This was our first trip to Santa Barbara and when looking for a place to stay, the location of this cottage was an attraction. We were not disappointed! From the moment we walked in the door we knew the cottage was going to as advertised. It is comfortable, very clean and private. The hot tub was a plus. Very clean, the best we have every had at a VRBO. The kitchen was well supplied for the meals we cooked in the evening when we did not go out. The cottage is close to Inspiration Point, a local hike that did not disappoint on one of 3 days we did not have rain during our week long stay. The owners are next door and ready to answer any questions or concerns, otherwise you would not have known they lived next door. Our phones got us around town as far as navigation....Trader Joe's is not that far away so we did our grocery shopping there. I could go on and on.....but when we visit again, this cottage will be our first choice to stay. We did have two sugggestions.......even though rain is usually not the norm in SB, an umbrella would have been nice to have in the cottage. It rained a lot during our week. Also, there is a washer and dryer in the cottage. The owners supply a lot of the basic soaps per their site so we did not bring our own small container of laundry soap. That was the one soap not supplied so we bought a container to pass on to other guests who might need it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Comfortable and peaceful

Spacious and comfortable place with good view of the mountains behind SB located a few blocks above the Mission. Privacy and peaceful surroundings. We happened to hit an infrequent SB heat wave but fans & AC unit in bedroom kept us cool. Will happily return.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Nice, clean, and quite

Will recommend to friends
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Excellent, comfortable stay!

My husband and I had a short getaway in Santa Barbara and the Hourglass was a wonderful place to have our own secluded retreat. We loved how clean it is as well as the opportunity to use the hot tub when we wanted. We felt like we were in the little birds nest in the Hourglass looking out over the hills . Wendy was excellent. She was very clear with communications about and she quickly responded every time we had a question or request. We would definitely come back to the Hourglass in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2015
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Quiet and comfortable

We have stayed at the Hourglass and number of times and have enjoyed each visit. It is off the beaten path and affords an interesting view of the hills of Santa Barbara. There is easy access parking, a large kitchen area, a spacious walk-in closet, and comfortable living room and bedroom. We have comfortably hosted a dinner for six. And everyone enjoys the spa. We'd recommend this venue for anyone who plans to visit Santa Barbara.
Archival

8/10 Good

Quiet and comfortable

Wendy...all was good except the sink in bathroom was very, very slow to drain. This was also a problem several years ago, as I recall. fh
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Our sent year; delighted once more

The property is special as to views, conveniences and location. The owner has always been responsive and we have always been delighted. Hoping for 6 weeks next year.--Joyce and Bob
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar, 2020
It is our pleasure to have repeat guests such as yourselves. Thanks for your patronage and we are so glad you had a good visit.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Everything was superb

Loved the quiet, secluded location. Everything was extremely comfortable. The setting made you feel like you were in the mountains, yet we were only minutes from the beach. It was a most enjoyable time. Thanks for everything!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful location, wonderful hosts.

This is a beautiful unit located in the foothills with a breathtaking view of the mountains on one side and glorious sunsets on the other. It is spacious, very comfortably furnished with all the amenities, with nice linens and very clean. The location is just rural enough to be private and near enough to the city and it's services. Enough of the description of the property...the hosts, Wendy and Chuck are the property's greatest assets. While staying there, Alan had a serious health issue that required a trip to the Emergency Room and an overnight stay at the nearby Cottage Hospital. Not being familiar with the area, I was lost. Chuck guided us to the ER and he and Wendy stayed in contact with us. I cannot explain what their support meant to us. Thank you again, Chuck and Wendy. Alan and Kathy (Connecticut)
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Perfect stay!

We enjoyed a perfect stay at the Hourglass retreat without any troubles. If you like a nice and quite location near the state street at Santa Barbara this is a perfect location. It was our second stay at this house and we enjoyed especially the sunny balkony and the Spa in the backyard.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Clean, comfortable, private

great place to stay. Jacuzzi was easy and fun. Great lighting, very romantic. Easy check in check out. Many of the comforts of home. never saw another person from the property. Close to the beaches but feels miles away. Wish I could have stayed a couple more days.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great Escape In The Hills of Santa Barbara

What an awesome experience my wife and I had at the Hourglass and S.B. Each day held a new adventure for us from a 6 mile walk (round-trip) on Arroyo Beach to hiking at the end of Paradise Road (Gibralter Road Dam trail) to wine tasting in Santa Ynez and Solvang to dining out at Stella Mare's, Opal, Cold Springs Tavern and Rudy's. Santa Barbara has so much to offer and the Hourglass is conveniently located so that you can reach many destinations in a very short time. 5 to 7 minutes to Arroyo Beach (our favorite beach we found), 20 to 25 minutes to Paradise Rd. and hiking trails, 30 to 35 minutes to Santa Ynez and Solvang and only minutes from all the shops and restaurants on State St. Another A+ for us was the tranquiluity of returning home to a clean, well-maintained chalet with hot shower, comfortable bed and relaxing hot tub that allows a view of the stars. We did extensive research online and explored quite a bit while we were there and believe you would be hard-pressed to find a better price, location and amenities then you can find at the Hourglass. We hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did. A&L from Arizona
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar, 2020
We are so happy to share a spot with our wonderful guests that truly offers all the best of Santa Barbara!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great!

This place is wonderful! The owner provided great correspondence and the property is exactly as described. I was a little sad to see that there were set hours on the hot tub, but that's just because I am a night owl. I would definitely have a car if staying here. I left my phone charger there and Wendy was kind enough to mail it to me. The the stay and experience was great!
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