If you see Crystal's place open, stop reading reviews—do yourself a favor and just book it. After searching for a place for a family reunion (of seven adults, one toddler and one infant), I found it—apparently less than an hour after someone had cancelled for those dates. It was fortuitous; we didn't know how lucky we got until we arrived.
Others have documented (rightfully so) about the phenomenal deck/view, proximity to the beach, and stunning decor—so I won't do that here. A few things that were uniquely impressive about this place, that put it into the top Airbnbs we've ever stayed at:
- The most considered, well-stocked place I've stayed. To give you the sense of the spectacular attention to detail and range of applied thoughtfulness (and this list is not exhaustive at all): two different types of Ziploc bags, 20+ spices that included Chipotle Pepper, baking dishes AND baking sheets, TWO coffee makers, a bin of blankets for inside AND outside (on the deck) use, and five boogie boards (two longer for bigger people, and three smaller).
- The versatility of the location. The young adults in our party got easily and happily tossed about on our boogie boards by some powerful waves, but steps away, a shallow stream flowed into the ocean was perfect for toddlers and infants to splash in and explore. Even on weekends the beach never felt packed; on weekdays, we saw people, but it felt remote and peaceful.
- Quality and durability. The soft leather chair, luxurious comforters, and soft blankets made it feel like you were being treated, but the outside deck's coffee table, dining room chairs and long wooden table (we used the supplied coasters, but even so) were remarkably durable. Such a special combination when the adults want to feel treated, but you have small kids with you.
A few notes for families with young kids. The living area has some sharp corners and some decorations are breakable, so we did have to move items out of reach and vigilantly keep an eye out for any kid collisions. The upstairs bathroom for the master bedroom is spacious—a pack n play fits in there nicely for naps, if you're short on rooms for kids. The blackout curtains throughout the master bedroom work well, but still let in some light, for kids that might need full darkness. Lastly, we had to block off the base of the spiral staircase and passage to the steep staircase to the front door to keep little ones from roaming where they shouldn't. These are all small adjustments to make for a phenomenal house, but just worth knowing before you go!
If you read this far, you likely didn't yet book and your dates are now gone. It's THAT good. Go book other dates! :)