Connie’s little cottage-y get away was a true highlight of the trip. I cannot express how remarkable the spa bathroom is. The pictures don’t do it justice. The shower is at least 3x as big as the pictures. As a lanky 6’6” man I have never fully been able to experience a private indoor shower with the ease of a normal human until staying here. The shower space was as wide and long as it is tall. I’ve also never been able to comfortably share a shower with a partner due to my lumbering height inability to keep my elbows from hitting the walls or curtain/door. The vastness, layout, design and easy accessibility makes this place is the PERFECT getaway for a couple. The only issue that might arise in the bathroom is the not-fully-enclosed toilet. Luckily there’s wonderfully smelling and odor eliminating room spray to cover up potential aftermath aroma- but I would bring your own poo-pouri just in case. Another important feature is the door that separates the bathroom from the living space. DEFINITELY LISTEN TO CONNIE’s INSTRUCTIONS about closing the sliding door when taking a shower because you DO NOT want the room to heat up any more than it potentially could.
Speaking of her instructions,
The night before your arrival Connie will send you an extremely detailed list of instructions/potential troubleshooting solutions for the entire space. She covers basically every scenario or issue that could arise and gives thoughtful, detailed solutions for each one. My suggestion would be to SCREENSHOT these instructions because I found myself continuously scrolling and forgetting to read certain things because of the length of said message.
VERY IMPORTANT: The only issue my partner and I had on this trip did not have anything to do with Connie or the overall space itself. The unprecedented Los Angeles heat was the sole cause of our momentary strife. I’m connie’s instructions she lays out specific details of how to use the Air conditioner. It shuts off after being used for a couple hours which normally wouldn’t be a problem, but in 95+ degree outdoor temps, this was difficult. The wall next to the bed (opposite side from the door) was completely airless even with the AC on. After talking with Connie(who answered IMMEDIATELY) and some button finagling in the middle of the night, I realized the real issue was the ceiling fan. Apparently the previous guests had it in “reverse mode” which caused all the cool air to blow back towards the door and AC. Once we hit the “rev” button, we had no issues falling asleep. If this issue occurs for you, the ceiling fan controls are on the wall to the left of the tv.
My only other heat avoidance suggestion would be to wait to turn in the ac until right before bed so your optimum coolness for sleep lasts as long as possible.
The garden area is cute as hell. FYI There a few tiny spiders with lil webs on the bottom of the chairs. I’m usually freaked out by spiders but it did not bother me whatsoever bc our private garden area was next to connie’s tomato herb garden - so I believe these spiders keep out any mosquitos or other gross bugs from ruining your stay. To be honest, it made the place even more charming. The outdoor area was incredibly clean and was clearly cleaned before we arrived. The webs on the bottom of the chair looked brand new and, to be honest, actually added to the charm of the space. I even got some work done outside while my partner took a nap. And despite seeing a few spiders, it still felt pristine.
One fantastic part of this space is its location. Only a 10 min drive from the beach and less than a 5 min drive from a group of AMAZING restaurants. During a pandemic these restaurants take extraordinary measures for safety and some even have outdoor social distances seating. I highly recommend the Tangaora fish market restaurant with the best ceviche known to man. Right next door is Humble Potato, a Vietnamese-American comfort food spot with the best curry fries in the Western Hemisphere.
I live in Los Angeles about 10 miles inland from this location and I loved it so much that any time I need a getaway close to the beach, first thing I’ll do is look to see if Connie’s place is available.