this was THE BEST airbnb experience my husband and i ever had! we've stayed at several wonderful places, but this one really stood out. the beach bungalow was absolutely gorgeous and had so much charm and character, which i really appreciated (i'm a sucker for renos and old homes). i could feel the love and warmth of the place as soon as i walked in. it's very intimate, incredibly clean, had the beachy|cottage vibe we were looking for, and felt like it has been lived in, which i also appreciated. i'm not a fan of sterile homes that don't feel like they've been lived in or have no warmth to them. luckily for me, this home felt cozy and it was easy to relax in not to mention the neighborhood is wonderful. very quiet (outside of a few folks leaving the beach that were celebrating and having a good time, but it wasn't a nuisance) and we felt very safe. there is a family of birds that i believe live on top of the neighbor's home, which my husband and i got a kick out of. we hung out on the front porch and watched the birds care for their nest and feed their babies. it was adorable. the cottage is also two blocks from the beach and a hop, skip, and a jump to the boardwalk so my husband and i walked to the beach and hung out at the boardwalk and other cool spots in the area. the location is phenomenal. we had an absolute blast! also, if you forget anything, don't worry because i guarantee yvonne has you covered! we forgot a few items, but didn't have to go to the store because we found what we needed in the cottage. we also barbecued and hung out in the backyard (it's also gorgeous!) and played games (yvonne provides these too!), which was pretty neat. there is also a really cool book for guests to sign---this was delightful and i enjoyed reading other entries and leaving my own. finally, yvonne was very sweet, kind, attentive, and responsive. we had a small, minor issue when we arrived and she responded promptly and addressed it head on and everything was fine. she was a great host and you can tell she cares about curating a great experience for her guests. i can go on and on about this special place, but i'll stop here and encourage you to make a reservation. you will not regret it, especially if you are looking to relax, go to the beach, and take in the magnificence that is santa cruz. thank you yvonne for curating a wonderful experience for my husband and i. after an intense semester in graduate school for the both of us, it was exactly what we needed. we are already looking for new dates to return! =)