**READ BEFORE BOOKING**
Hands down the worst stay and experience my family and I have ever had!
Pros:
1. Responsive host (see caveats below)
2. Well stocked and the little interior touches are appreciated
3. Location (also a catch 22, see below). It is 4 units from the beach
Cons (TLDR).
It's hard to order these. Each one would be reason enough NOT to stay here, especially for the Hollywood like listing descriptions, photos, etc.
1. Cleanliness - hands down the dirtiest place we have ever stayed at; (flies, gnats and ants in and outdoors around the unit). We also live in a SoCal beach city very close to the ocean. We have never seen anything like this. The insects literally live outside that front door and come in every time you run out the door. They also got into our car.
We spent 3 days and nights killing insects inside the rental. Go one block either way and the insects are nowhere like this.
And contributing to the filth - someone's dirty socks left under the couch along with food and food wrappers. Imagine our dismay (shock) when our preschooler brought us these items from the couch.
2. Location - Approx. 8 feet away from 2 large, new homes being built (started 2 weeks ago per the host).
Bring your hard hats 'cause you will feel apart of the construction crew. Work starts at around 7am and in our 3 nights ended between 4pm to 5pm daily. Likely permitted work can and will be done 6 days per week (Mon - Sat).
Yes, you can literally feel and hear every word spoken (brushed up are other language skills) nails hammered, boards cut, deliveries made, etc. We even learned the workers' cell phone ring tones first thing every morning.
3. Size - it's less than 600 sq ft (~57 sq m). It's been awhile since we stayed at a home with ~4 foot wide bathroom for 3 people.

Listing photos (hats off to the photographer's photoshop skills) depict the warm, welcoming, 'Bo-ho coastal' beach like feel.
Reality is...the blinds will never be up unless like us you raise them to kill more flies and gnats during your stay. 2 of the 3 sides of the unit face other occupied buildings (~4 feet away) this rental.
The remaining 'master' and living room windows along with the farmhouse door face the ~40' ft wide construction site. And yes, the workers can see right inside anytime.
4. Host transparency (do the right thing) - Arguably what truly ruined our experience
- Openly disclose important facts in the listing
- Give options proactively when things do come up whether they are in your control or not
The consistent responses (e.g., no accountability, ownership or actions taken) by this 'Superhost' was nothing we have ever experienced. Mind you we have traveled to nearly 100 countries collectively including living abroad in developing nations. Domestically, we have been to all 50 US states.
For those that might read other reviews and think this can't be real...Yes, we have some pics, and chats with the host.
Actual Host chat responses snippets:
- "I am sorry you feel that way" or
- Re: Construction "...we were taken by surprise because the developer has been waiting on a permit for a long time...." or ."....wish the construction project hadn't popped up on us." These direct written responses are contrary statements earlier during the stay (same day) that the permits have been in the works for ~9 months AND the work started ~2 weeks ago
- "We feel the listing description and the photos actively convey what the space is like...."We'll consider your point about adding the square footage."
And final food for thought from the host chat response...'there wasn't any construction when you booked.'
Actually, we literally booked 1 additional night 2 days prior to our stay....at which point the host had the opportunity to tell us (do the right thing) then about the construction. The host choose to be deceitful.
We hope this helps prevent anyone from our terrible experience with this 'Superhost' and this property.