Check-in and communication with the Liane and Mike went smoothly and expediently. The space is updated and has everything you need to enjoy your stay: a fully equipped kitchen, laundry, blankets, towels, etc.
The ability to walk from this Airbnb to Rio Del Mar beach is a definitely a positive.
I was, unfortunately, "lucky" enough to stay during a torrential rain storms. Consequently, Aptos Beach Dr. partially flooded. This neighborhood, aptly named "The Flats", is prone to flooding during heavy rain. I did not know this and the hosts did not give me a heads up; it would have been helpful to have been warned by the hosts, instead of me doing my own research. Luckily, I moved my car the night before the storm.
Another important thing to consider is that this Airbnb is located on a somewhat busy street. In the "master" bedroom, which is adjacent to the street, you can hear the sound of cars from early in the morning to late at night. This was annoying for me and may be an issue for light sleepers or people who like to sleep in past 9.
In addition, you quite literally can hear your neighbor sneeze. In this case, the neighbor had a loud, cacophonous, and chronic cough. This is not their fault nor the host's fault; nevertheless, this, too, can get quite annoying.
If you are looking for a respite and a place to perhaps unplug from the world, this is NOT the Airbnb for you. If, however, you are coming on a vacation with a family or a couple friends this place may suit you better.
Finally, I do not feel the value (over $4000 per month) is worth it due to the amount of noise. Also, there is extremely limited cable TV (like 20 channels max). For the price of the Airbnb I would expect a few more channels.