About this space
3 Bedroom 2 Bath Beach Condo with Flexible Workspace.
The space
We call our home The Sand Dollar
About this Space
On the Marina Del Rey Peninsula in the heart of “Silicon Beach”, The Sand Dollar, is just 100 yards from the sand and three blocks from the famous Venice Beach pier.
It is close enough to the join in the excitement that is Venice Beach but just enough away to enjoy the calmer aspects of beach life. If you want to hike, bike, check out the skate park, or swim in the ocean, it is all there for you but when you want world world class restaurants and nightlife, you can get your fill a short walk or Uber’s ride away.
The Sand Dollar is perfect for families or working couples with it’s open floor plan, gas BBQ, gas fireplace, large kitchen, strong WIFI, comfortable office space, beautiful outdoor gathering space, garage parking and, due to it’s solar panels, free EV charging!
The Building
The Sand Dollar is on one of the area’s “walk streets” where no vehicles are allowed. It is a single level 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit on the second floor of a small condo building with only 3 units.
Living room
The large Living room with adjoining kitchen and dining area has a view of the ocean and the “walk street” below. Every morning you can see the surfers walking past the Sand Dollar on their way to catch the morning waves. You may want to join them. We will supply the boogie boards but surf boards are available for rent just down the street. Why not take a lesson?
You can watch TV on the 70” LG above the fireplace. Although the TV has no cable, it does get local stations through its roof antenna. It’s ultra fast WIFI will allow you to watch all your favorite streaming channels while enjoying the flicker of the gas fireplace.
By removing the back pillows, the living room couch makes the equivalent of two rather comfortable single beds. This sleeping arrangement isn’t included in the total number of beds listed but is an option if the need arrises.
Kitchen
If cooking is on your agenda, you will find ample cookware and gas stove with electric oven. The Sand Dollar’s microwave, toaster oven, dish washer, garbage disposal and trash compactor round out the fully stocked kitchen. A full list of dish ware and appliances is available during booking.
Patio
You will enjoy the small patio off the living room. It’s just perfect to barbecue some steaks or dogs, have a cocktail and enjoy the sunset.
Dining
The dining table seats 8 and whether cooking yourself or ordering in from one of the many local restaurants, you will find sharing the heavy wooden dining table with friends or family a joy.
Bedrooms, Beds
The oversized primary bedroom has an adjoining bath and shower with enough drawer and closet space to house all the clothes that may be needed for even an extended beach stay. This room has a Blu Ray DVD player and a 65” LG TV that is capable of streaming all of your favorite shows from the comfort of the luxurious California king bed. This bedroom has blackout blinds to help you sleep in or just spend the morning in bed watching TV without the California sun insisting you live on it’s schedule.
Even with global warming, most of the area homes don’t have air conditioning. With the ocean breezes coming through the condo windows there is seldom a need for the mini split AC in the primary bedroom but on the few nights a year when those breezes and the overhead fans seem inadequate, guests are welcome to crank up that AC unit to cool the primary bedroom.
The second bedroom is a cozy room with dresser, a closet for lots of clothes, night stands and super comfy queen bed. It has overhead lights and ceiling fan. There are lamps, a clock on the nightstands and has wooden blinds that regulate the light in the room quite well. This space also has private access to the full bathroom off the hall to make it a quite functional and comfortable bedroom.
The third bedroom is usually used as our office. You may want to use it that way too with its two desks, rolling office chairs, wooden blinds, hotel style safe, ceiling fan, ample overhead light and space to work.
By pulling down the queen sized Murphy bed with it’s “Ghost Bed” mattress, the office is quickly converted into quite a comfortable bedroom with three clothes drawers and two areas to hang clothes. With the bed down and in place, one of the desks is still available to use as a dedicated work space if desired.
This room is easily converted from office to bedroom and back.
Let the host know, prior to check-in, how you would like to use the third bedroom and it will be put into the best configuration for your needs. You are also welcome to make those changes yourself.
Bathrooms
There are two full bathrooms with tubs and showers. They are serviced by a tankless water heater with endless hot water. One bathroom is in the primary bedroom and one is accessed by the second bedroom and the hallway.
Laundry
Free laundry facilities, vacuum, broom and cleaning products are located in the hallway closets. We will supply generic laundry detergent but if you require anything special, please, don’t forget to bring it.
Parking and Garage
Most of the time free street parking is available but sometimes it requires planning. Early morning street parking is usually plentiful but it fills up with beachgoers during the day. Be sure to check the signs as street cleaning is on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10:00 and noon. The parking enforcement officers mean business and start giving tickets promptly at 10:00 AM.
You may use the narrow garage for one car and a couple of bikes or a motorcycle. Before booking, make sure you will be comfortable with this narrow garage or street parking. The garage door is 95” wide and 75”tall. The garage interior width is 108”. (We drive a Volvo XC 40 recharge, and it fits very nicely.). Please make sure you car will fit if you intend to park in the garage.
Access to the garage door is via an app that you can put on your phone. The code is changed after every checkout.
There is an 40 amp level 2 EV “Charger” in the garage. You are welcome to use this at no additional cost it if it works for your car. Please be aware that due to “time of use” rate changes, the unit will only charge between 8:00 PM and 10:00 AM. I have been told that Teslas can be charged with the appropriate (guest supplied) adaptor.
Note that we do have some supplies stored in the garage that may require access during your stay. This access should not affect you stay but please be aware that it may occur.
Your Furry Friends
We really want to host your pet but they do cause additional wear and tear so we charge an additional 50.00 per stay to help defray those additional costs. This fee is included in your nightly rate assuming the pet was listed during booking.
Other things to note
The front door to the main building requires a code to get in. The lock on the front door to our unit has a unique code that changes with every guest. We will supply you with your codes to these doors the day before your arrival.
Please be aware that we are on the second floor with 16 steps up to the front door and may not be appropriate for guests with mobility issues.
The WIFI is very fast and runs throughout the interior of the condo. We have found it to be quite reliable.
We have a a fenced, shared, and well maintained outdoor space that you are welcome to use. Since there are only three units in the building, this lovely outdoor space is almost always available. Even if the outdoor area is in use, you may find it nice to get to know the other folks in the building or share some stories with the neighbors.
Our home is in an area where folks walk from the beach, restaurants or bars to their cars; unaware that ours is a residential area. You should expect that you may sometimes hear these folks. Similarly, as Paul Simon said, "One man's ceiling is another man's floor". You should expect there may be footfall noises coming from above and be aware that sound from your footsteps will transfer as well. Please be respectful. These occasional noises have never bothered us but If you or another member of your party is sensitive to any of these sounds, the Sand Dollar and the Venice/Marina Del Ray area may not be for you.
The Sand Dollar will provide 6 beach chairs, 2 boogie boards, 6 beach towels as well as miscellaneous other beach toys, for your use. We do not provide snorkeling gear or fins.
The owners have locked off several cabinets inside the unit for their and the cleaning crew’s use. Please do not attempt to use these locked spaces. Except in an emergency, no one will access the unit or any of these spaces during your stay.
The Sand Dollar has a strict no smoking, no vaping, no parties policy.
Your Co host, Al, lives on the property in the unit below the Sand Dollar and is available for any of your needs during your stay.
We have tried to list all the aspects of the home correctly. VRBO will not shorten your stay or refund any money for your stay if you have issues with anything that has been disclosed in the property description. Please Read Carefully.
Please enjoy our home and the fabulous Marina Del Rey / Venice Beach area.
