While Barry resides out of town, he is easy to communicate with and has several local contacts (including the property's next door neighbor) to handle the welcome and/or any issues. The house is conveniently located close to many of the highlights you would want -- it's a 15 minute walk to the beach (Seabright Beach), about 10 minutes by foot to the restaurants (our favorites include The Crepe Place and Lillian's) and shopping on Soquel Avenue, and a comfortable 25-30 minute stroll to Downtown Santa Cruz. As other visitors have noted in their comments, La Casita is also close to Verve Coffee, a great little place to get your morning Joe that's only 4-5 blocks away.

All in all, the house is exceptionally clean, well-stocked, and quite comfy. The only tricky thing may be opening the foldout sofa in the living room. That may take a few tries, but once you get the hang of it...no worries.

La Casita is in a quiet and safe neighborhood, which those unfamiliar to the area should strongly consider when choosing a place to stay. Many people coming to town want to be nearby the Boardwalk and Downtown, but accommodations in those areas can be somewhat disappointing. You'd be much better off venturing out a little further and using a little foot-power (or taking a short drive) to see the sights and making La Casita your Santa Cruz home away from home.