WOW! what can I say - Morty's place was a dream!
Let's break it down:
Getting there:
Morty's place is at the top of a twisty drive up the Malibu hillsides. Don't get distracted by the STUNNING views, it is an involved drive with no guardrails on the way up. My group did this in multiple cars in the night after it rained and had no problem, just concentrate on the road :)
Parking:
In typical California canyon fashion, the driveway is sloped with enough space for 3 cars (two of which will be tandem), plus there is a very nice level auxiarlly lot near the mailbox that holds 3 cars as well.
Checking In:
Morty provided step-by-step instructions on how to enter. Entry with the keypad could not have been easier!
Layout:
I really enjoy the way this house is laid out, it makes the most of the hillside views. As you walk in you'll enter right to the kitchen/small dining area. Immediately on the right is the master bedroom with its own walk-in closet and bathroom (excellent toilet and shower!). On the left is the stairway up to the second floor, and past that is the other large bedroom that has a couch with a pull out bed (we put 3 basketball players in this room with no problem). The stairs take you up to a large living room with a TV, a leather couch set that seats 8, another pull-out sofa, a really well-modeled hallway bath, and another bedroom that connects to this bath. The absolute best part about Morty's place is the ENORMOUS deck that is accessible directly from the living room. This deck is truly worth staying here for. The view is phenomenal (during the day - clear views over the water, during the night - endless stars and in-between....the unbeatable California sunset). Remember here, there are only two bathrooms. We made it work and you can too.
Amenities:
We planned to cook all weekend - Morty had us covered! the kitchen is very well stocked with all utensils to work the stove and grill, plenty of dishwares to cook and serve, plenty of spices, and a coffee maker! We cooked for 10 people and had no issues. Plenty of pots, pans, plates, silverware, cups (for water and cocktails), and decent room in the fridge!). The TV was Roku equipped so we streamed music through Spotify onto that automatically, and the WIFI was lighting fast. No complaints.
Communication
Communicating with Morty was a treat - he is readily available to answer questions and sent a few check-in messages to ensure we got in and got out okay!
What's Around:
My group stayed here to go on the Malibu Wine Hikes on a Saturday. This was a 30 min drive away because of the canyon roads (not actually far at all). Keep in mind this means it will take Ubers some time to get to you (but they will come!). There is a nice Ralphs and shopping center nearby where we got all our groceries/Starbucks/takeout/etc (only about 15 mins, most of which is getting down the hill onto highway 1). There are a ton of restaurants nearby too, but we did not go to any.
Overall Thoughts:
Morty's place was the perfect get-away. Great host, great communication, great place, with AMAZING views. 10/10 would stay here again at the same price.