Jeff and Susan went "above and beyond" to create a relaxed, friendly, casual, at home, "ask anything you want" atmosphere which put us perfectly at ease and feeling very, very welcome. Some evenings we stayed "home" and comfortably watched movies with our hosts, selected from Jeff's vast collection of films. There were lots of laughs; hilarity reigned! Jeff has a humdinger, nutty sense of humor, and entertained us with stories about his most interesting life. Susan willingly and graciously shared her kitchen, which was state of the art both in appliances and utensils. Despite a vicious heat wave Jeff kept us comfortable with air conditioning, a fan, and open windows at night. The bed was comfortable, and there was plenty of closet and drawer space. The bathrooms; there were two, were roomy, modern, and had everything a guest would need. A minor problem with the bed was taken care of with alacrity, and a real sense of concern. Also, Jeff enquired frequently about the problem, long after it had been resolved. The host's suggestions for restaurants, museums, and beaches were spot on.

Snugged into the end of a cul-de-sac in a safe neighborhood, the location is perfect for those who want to visit the Santa Monica Mountains, the beaches and pier of Malibu, and the Getty Villa. The property is a few blocks from Las Virgenes Rd., which becomes Malibu Canyon Rd. and after a scenic 13 minute ride you are gazing at the Pacific. We recommend stopping at the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center, at the intersection of Las Virgenes and Mulholland Hwy., just a stones throw away from Marigold Court. Our favorite restaurants were Peddler's Fork in Old Town Calabasas, and Saddle Peak Lodge, a romantic mountain lodge with outdoor seating (always our preference) specializing in wild game.
Another highlight is The Getty Center, a vast museum of art, a little farther away, and closed on Monday (which we found out on arrival). The knowledge I gained on High Renaissance Art was worth the return trip in Tuesday. Our favorite Beach was Westward Beach, at the foot of Point Dume, the point which forms the northern end of the Santa Monica Bay. Instead of turning right into Zuma beach from the PCH, turn left onto Westward Beach Road and follow it to the end. Well worth the $15 fee.

So, If casual and friendly is your style, plus so much more, we recommend this Calabasas property, and at such an affordable price!! V.G. Helen Abel