This is a clean, light-filled, peaceful getaway up in the woods above Santa Cruz. It’s only a few minutes to drive into town but it feels a world away. Only half a mile or so from the Mystery Spot, which is a must-see. I enjoyed drinking my French press coffee in the back yard in the mornings, looking at the flowers and trees and listening to the insects and birds. Hosts were welcoming yet unobtrusive, and have a friendly cat. Fancy bath stuff provided; beautiful claw foot tub. It got extremely warm inside (lots of lovely natural light thanks to the skylights), but that’s fixable by opening windows and using the various fans.
Minor cons: The microwave is on top of the fridge!? — I am 5’6” and could barely reach it. There is currently construction nearby onsite that gets started pretty early, so some noise. Finally, despite the $120 cleaning fee, house instructions included taking out the garbage and recycling ourselves. (This seems par for the course with other Airbnbs I’ve visited, but it still grates every time.)