This delightful retreat pushed all the right buttons for us. Just walking in from the street through Chris’s lovely front garden set us up for a pleasurable experience. Entering El Nido through a private entrance, we found a charming, airy, beautifully furnished and decorated apartment, surprising with artwork and whimsical crafts at every turn. The entire place was supremely comfortable, inviting, and impeccably clean.
We found the sitting room even better looking in reality than in the photos. It opens onto a patio that Chris generously shares with her guests.
The quiet bedroom backs onto Valencia Creek and features a beautiful stained-glass window. The luxurious queen-size bed is flanked by two ingeniously adjustable reading floor lamps. The en-suite bathroom is spacious and contains everything you need (there were even toothpaste and tooth brushes, in case you forgot to bring your own). A commodious dressing room offers bathrobes and lots of hangers in a large closet. In the fridge, there are breakfast makings, including Chobani yogurt and English muffins.
El Nido is conveniently located a short drive away from good restaurants (we enjoyed dining at Persephone and Zameen, and breakfast at Pacific Coffee Roasting Co., all on Soquel Drive).
Chris was a very friendly and responsive host when we needed her. We heartily recommend this gem to anyone seeking beauty and tranquility.