Rachel had cold beers and chips and salsa waiting for us when we arrived, along with a sign that said, "Welcome.'' We knew right away we would enjoy our stay, and it only got better from there.

The location of her place is ideal, walking distance to shops and restaurants on Washington and Abbot Kinney streets, and a mile from the beach. But what makes a stay at Rachel's cottage so special is her attention to detail and the thoughtful touches that give you the sense you're at home: shaving cream and diapers in the bathroom, olive oil and microwaveable popcorn in the kitchen cupboards. Rachel also lent us a couple of bikes, which served as a handy mode of transportation (and recreation) in exploring Venice Beach, the boardwalk, the Santa Monica pier, etc.

We arrived in the middle of a late-June heat wave and were concerned that the cottage does not have air conditioning, but found the ceiling fans and natural cooling off at night combined to provide a very comfortable environment. Our 14-year-old son even commented on how well he slept at night and deep into the morning.

We highly recommend Rachel's place and intend to book it again when we return to the area.