Joan was a welcoming and informative host. The house was more comfortable and spectacular than described but what The listing doesn't tell you is what a wonderful beach neighbourhood is on your doorstep. Every night locals gather around beach fires to watch the sunset, giving the area a warm community feel. There is a friendly ocean front restaurant, a couple of bars and a small grocery store within 2 mins walk and all the excitement and quirkiness of Santa Cruz, 8 miles away. We only wished that we had more time to explore the local area more but in 4 nights there is really so much to see. Highly recommended.