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The Tugboat house - a fun and unique experience your family will never forget.

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The Tugboat House
Just five houses from the beach and boardwalk (no rooftop jacuzzi)
View from alley access.
Welcome to the Tugboat House
Ground floor kitchen

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 102300 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
San Diego, CA
  • Mission Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Mission Beach Boardwalk
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • SeaWorld
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom First Floor

1 Queen Bed and 1 King Bed

Bedroom Second Floor

1 King Bed

Bedroom Third Floor

+1
4 Single Beds and 1 Double Bed

Living Room Second Floor

1 Double Bed and 2 Queen Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 4

Shower only

Bathroom First Floor

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom Second Floor

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom Third Floor

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Tugboat house - a fun and unique experience your family will never forget.

This spacious 2300 square foot luxury home was built to resemble a vintage Tug Boat. Ideally located just steps to the sand in South Mission Beach this three story house is a dream boat as well. Lots of living space for a large or extended family to spend quality time together or spread out and have some alone time on the rooftop sun deck or cozy tropical yard. Spend the day enjoying the beach, nearby Sea World, and San Diego Zoo and come home to barbecues, cold beverages, and beautiful sunsets. The possibilities are endless.

AMENITIES:
SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS-
Third floor-5 beds 3 twin, 1 full, and 1 twin trundle
Second floor- King Size bed and three sleeper sofas in living room
First Floor- King Size bed and conversion sofa

HOME INVENTORY
Ready made beds and one bath towel , hand towel, and wash cloth per guest.
One beach towel per guest
Kitchen starter kit -
Steps from beach and baypatio and rooftop deck
Washer and Dryer
Two car garage
Gas BBQ
Fans provided

Saturday to Saturday stays are required from mid-June to mid-August

Please see my other listings for additional accommodation options.
The Ritzy Beachcomber #7582778, Seabreeze and Sunsets #3331071, and Cute Spanish Bugalow #3889181. Thank you for considering my home for your stay in San Diego.

Age requirement 25+ unless children are accompanied by parents (all groups must be approved by owner)

ATTENTION- This vacation home is located in a quiet family oriented neighborhood and is only suitable for quieter groups. Our rental policy includes a no tolerance policy regarding excessive noise, occupancy, and parties. Evictions and forfeitures of deposit for any violations of said policies are strictly enforced. Please be sure you are comfortable with these policies before renting The Tugboat House.


Property manager

Kevin Kuerbis
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children welcome
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
Pets considered
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking only

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number STR-04790L, 617502

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

San Diego

Located in Mission Beach, a neighbourhood in San Diego, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Mission Beach and Mission Bay, while San Diego Zoo and Waterfront Park are popular area attractions. Travelling with kids? Make time for USS Midway Museum, or head to an event or a match at Petco Park. Jet skiing and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and mountain biking nearby.
View more Holiday homes in San DiegoOpens in a new window
Map
San Diego, CA

What's nearby

  • Mission Beach - 8 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Belmont Park - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Mission Beach Boardwalk - 5 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Mission Bay - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
  • SeaWorld - 7 min drive - 4.9 km

Getting around

  • Morena - Linda Vista Station - 8 min drive
  • San Diego Coaster Sorrento Valley Station - 16 min drive
  • San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Draft - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Sandbar Grill - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Beach House Bar & Grill - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Coaster Saloon - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬16 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Tugboat house - a fun and unique experience your family will never forget. pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Tugboat house - a fun and unique experience your family will never forget.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Where is The Tugboat house - a fun and unique experience your family will never forget. located?

Nestled on the beach, this Mission Beach holiday home is just steps away from Mission and Pacific Beaches and Mission Beach Boardwalk. Mission Beach and Mission Bay are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 100 out of 112 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 112 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 112 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 112 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 112 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Ken S.

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

Great location

Host is very accommodating and location is great. Some amenities were not functional or missing upon arrival.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

David L.

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

Wonderful place for a large group

Fun house to stay at with our family and friends. Very clean and very spacious for hanging out at when we were not at the beach. Kevin is a great host and has a great tugboat house!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris N.

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

Great stay

Stayed with our adult children and had a great time. It was a fun, cozy place to stay. It could use some updating but it was a good place to stay
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard S.

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

Very Nice place

Very nice place. Really interesting architecture. Host very responsive. Great location. The flight path from the airport is right over Mission beach but only noticeable in the 3rd floor bedroom. I think any place in Mission Beach would have same issue.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

CD K.

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

Great location and roomy

Overall, we had a great stay here. The owner was super responsive to inquiries that we had. It is located near the beach and away from public parking so the beach wasn’t as busy as other places. It has plenty of activities inside the house and for the kids thank you for hosting us.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul M.

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

Great Location

This place was wonderful and very accommodating. We enjoyed or time in Mission Bay. The Host was great
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

John L.

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

Family Get Together

Great location and easily accommodated 10 adults. Fun house theme for entertaining.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Jan C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice Location!

We had a nice time at the tugboat house. We utilized all floors and had plenty of room. It is nice to have a dog-friendly home available for family getaways at the beach. It is a mere 5-minute walk to the beach and the garage is loaded with beach chairs, toys, boogie boards, etc. It's always nice to have full-sized washer and dryer at your disposal. We were a bit surprised to learn that the host hadn't addressed many of the negative observations from previous reviews. In correspondence following our stay, Kevin (the host) indicated that he was replacing the fridge/freezer and ensuring that all the cranks to the windows would be operational. Overall, we would give this stay a 7 of 10 stars. With the upgrades he described, future guests will enjoy a better experience.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edward F.

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

Great stay

Property was cool and unique. Kevin was super responsive for any questions we had. House was steps from the beach. With quick access to corner stores and a short walk to anything else you need.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeff D.

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

Fun time at the boat house!

This is a great property. Charming nautical theme throughout. Some rooms make you feel like you're on a large ship. Great location just a few properties from the beach and directly in front of a beach access point. Incredibly well stocked with utensils, plates, etc. as well as beach gear and even a pack-n-play and stroller. Great rooftop patio and large outdoor space for gathering on the ground level. Communication with the host was exceptional- very friendly and quick to respond when we had questions.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Zoie Patch P.

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

Kevin is a great host!

We last minute got switched to a different property due to repairs being needed but Kevin made the process so easy and accommodating. The other property was clean and exactly as pictured online. We were very pleased with our stay and highly recommend renting from Kevin.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susie R.

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

our visit

I loved the area...could come stay longer. Just needed a list for checkout duties and it would be nice to have a more comprehensive list of things in the house like soap,shampoo, coffee, hairdryer, foil, etc...maybe I missed this on the listing site. I know you can't list everything! only negative is the cooking pans could use a bit of an upgrade and some leftover contaiiners would be nice. Loved the great room with the christmas decor. the house was perfect for 10 of us! Lots of room!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Kathleen F.

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

New Year’s get together with our Italian Contingent.

Overall everyone had a blast. Well suited for families. As the main cook, I was disappointed with lack of conventional oven. Also lighting in first level bathroom was really inadequate. We selected this place because it was close to other family units in the area and that was a big plus. Enjoyed proximity to ocean and bay.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colin C.

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

Amazing!

Wonderful stay. Great place - everything we needed and more for an epic stay at mission beach. Great communication and wonderful amenities.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Winnie W.

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

Fun house

Close walk to the beach. The house id ideal for kids.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tricia D., Gilbert, AZ

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

Fantastic place!

My family has spent a lot of time on houseboat and water type vacations, so the Tugboat House was right up our alley. It really gives the feeling of being on a boat! From entering in the “galley” kitchen, the boat curve of the walls and the incredible beam ceilings, it is just a cool place. Very comfortable for everyone in our family and we had room to spare. The location is perfect as well, being on the south side of the beach right in between the beach and the bay, the walk to either side was easy. There’s an abundance of places to gather, outside in the small yard, the second “deck” at the table and then topside to watch the Sea World fireworks at night. We LOVED it!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bill S., Seattle

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

Great Spot for Families

The place was great for our extended family to stay together. It had all the beach toys we would want and was a very short walk to the beach. The place was clean and nice, but not so nice we had to worry about our young kids breaking anything. We noticed there was a lot of baby gear, which would have been a great way to travel light when we were in that stage of life. Overall a high recommendation for families.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

6/10 Okay

Michelle T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Needs some TLC

I have very mixed feelings about this property. First of all, the location is absolutely amazing with ocean views from the top deck. There are also a lot of comfortable beds. There were, however, many things I didn’t like. It is so odd and confusing that I nicknamed it the “figure it out” house. After four days, I still never found the light switch for the master vanity nor did I figure out how to work the extremely outdated oven. I would normally contact the owner for help, but there were just so many things to figure out, I would have been asking every couple of minutes. The front door automatically locks behind you after 30 seconds. There is not a single window in the home that opens and many of the blinds are completely trashed. If you want to use the dinner table, you have to carry all the food up a flight of stairs from the kitchen. Lastly, I thought I’ve used cheap toilet paper before, but this was the absolute worst, cheapest toilet paper on the planet.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Crystal L., Los Angeles

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

Nice family vacation near the beach

My family enjoyed our stay at the Tugboat house. Location was great! It was nice to be walking distance to the beach, Belmont Park and restaurants. The house was as described. It has 3 levels and lots of stairs but worked out for our group. Garage fit our 2 cars. Kevin was a great host and responded quickly to any questions I had. Would recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenneka R.

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

Perfect Location/Lots of Space

This property had it all! Location, everything from inside the house to the beach. We literally did not need to pack any of the fun stuff (boogie boards, beach chairs, etc.) We have multiple families with children so having an entire house was less stress on us. The roof top deck views were amazing and perfect spot to see the SeaWorld fireworks. Kevin was an excellent host! We will definitely be staying here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Janie T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

The tugboat house is in a great location- short walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants. The house needs several updates and deep cleaning.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great spot on mission beach

Rented the property with my family (2 adults, 7 yo, and 2 yo) and friend’s family (2 adults, 7 yo, 3 yo). The place is huge and easily could have fit another family. Location is great. Owner also provides lots of beach stuff, including a wagon, lots of chairs, boogie boards and surf boards. Great rental all around.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carl L.

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

Surpassed Expectations

When signing up to stay in the tugboat house, expectations are very high. Almost immediately they were surpassed. The house was equipped with almost everything you could need for a beach vacation, there were ample beds and the interior was inviting.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rachel K.

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

Unique house in fantastic location!

This is such a quirky and fun house to stay in. We were small group of teens and adults and we all loved the quick walk to the beach. The house has great views from the top deck and you really do feel like you’re on a ship. We all slept comfortably and the property manager, Kevin, was super responsive and helpful. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn O.

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

Great location / fun house

We had a super fun spring break here. Although unusual it was clean and comfortable. Plenty of room the spread out. Easy location. Lots within walking distance. Garage for parking. And we could watch the sea world fireworks every night from the rooftop patio. Great memories!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2022

About the host

Hosted by Kevin Kuerbis

Host profile image
California born and raised and proud to call San Diego my home. My father is aSan Diego native and our family has been here since the 1920's.

Why they chose this property

I have dreamed of owning a house at South Mission Beach as long as I can remember. Being an avid surfer and beach volleyball player probably has a little to do with that. So, when this house was listed for sale, I did everything I could possibly do to acquire it. I look forward to sharing it with my family and friends as well as yours for years to come.

What makes this property unique

The roof top deck is a nice place to lay in the sun with a little more privacy than the beach. The boardwalk that goes all the way up to Pacific beach is just outside my door and I have always seen something entertaining or unusual while walking or riding a bike on the boardwalk.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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