We chose this spot based on the location. My husband and I were attending a wedding at Calamigos Ranch and Maureen and Brian's is a quick seven minute drive. We reserved for the mandatory two nights but only ended up staying for one because there was an issue with the smoke alarms that made it hard to sleep. The hosts were kind enough to marginally refund us for the inconvenience.
Pros:
-The location is amazing if you're canyon bound. Close enough to beach, food, and shopping.
-The pool and spa are lovelier in person than pictured. Towels of every size and sort are provided.
-The shower has a steam feature.
-The galley is nicely equipped with flatware and sundry refreshments.
-The TV is nicely sized and is equipped with all the channels you could possibly want.
-They provide WiFi. Woo!
Cons:
-The guest house had a stagnant odor when we arrived. Not sure where it comes from, but after leaving the doors open for a while the worst of it passed.
-A previous reviewer commented that the bed is a king. It is actually a queen. It, and the pillows, are on the soft side, and the frame has a fun little squeak in it. The listing for this says it sleeps three. I'm guessing that supposes one person will be sleeping in the living room. Just a heads up that almost one entire wall of the living room is a large sliding glass door sans window covering. Not a lot of privacy.
-Also, as another reviewer pointed out, there is no proper kitchen in the house. This was really only problematic when we were working with food and needed a place to wash.
-There is a nearby neighbor with a dog that barked all night. If you're a light sleeper this might be an issue. It was for me.
-Communication was a little bit of an issue.
On the whole, the refined rustic California charm was fine, not quite what we expected based on the glowing reviews of others.