Our little family of 3 just returned from our vacation from Lisa's amazing Ventura hillside home, and we can't get over how lucky we were. From start to finish, the whole experience was just about as good as it can get. Lisa was very helpful and welcoming on emails when we were deciding where to book. I had trouble understanding how a 3,330sf+ home could be as affordable as a tiny shack on the beach, but she assured me that was the correct rate. Lisa was out of town for our dates, so she had her partner Maureen look after us during our stay, and she could not have been accommodating as well. The house was truly too much for a husband, wife, and a 2.5 year old. It's so beautifully thought out, with an open floor plan and rooms on 3 separate levels. It was tastefully decorated and well stocked. Our biggest problem was keeping track of our little gremlin because the house was so big and there were so many nooks and crannies for him to explore. Thoughtfully, Lisa called us in advance and expressed that the house wasn't exactly childproofed. But with a few adjustments and hiding a few reachable items, we had no problems at all. Owen loved exploring the yard and playing with all his trucks on the porch with just about the most amazing view you could imagine, until you go on the roof deck and see it gets even better. Seriously, you can basically see the entire coast from Emma Wood down to Silver Strand from this viewpoint, and the city lights look so beautiful at night as well. We didn't use them, but there are barbecues and fire pit tables on various levels that would be perfect for entertaining. But we mostly kept to ourselves and enjoyed the abundance of space. Oh, and the master bedroom is ridiculous: giant bed; fireplace: huge vanity; a tub so big we couldn't let Owen sit it by himself or he'd drown; the world's biggest double-shower that let all three of us get in at the same time and you could even towel off in the corner and not get wet while still IN the shower; and a walk-in closet that you could rent for about $1,400/month in San Francisco it's so big.
It's not just the size; everything was just really, really nice. It's a beautiful, quiet part of town with spectacular views, but then you're literally about 1.5 minutes from downtown where all the action is, and about 5 minutes from the beach. It's just a great place overall with good, kind people looking after it. The neighbors are all nice, too. So, go there and enjoy yourselves!