tl;dr:
It's a little funky looking, but it's a relatively large, comfortable house in a great location with some recent remodeling and quality amenities.
Location:
Great property in a secluded neighborhood and with very easy access to the beach (less than a five minute walk). The lot is on a corner so you don't have neighbors to the east, and you have views out onto the lake/lagoon area and eucalyptus grove. In addition, the backyard is somewhat private with nice, shaded landscaping and small lawn. The street is very quiet and there is a decent amount of street parking, in addition to the 2-3 spaces in the driveway. The garage and the space to the side of the house are only big enough to comfortably fit a compact car, but the driveway can fit a larger vehicle (you may block in the space to teh side by parking in the driveway). There are several small trails right across the street, so green space is really accessible from here. Around this neighborhood it's almost all residential, so you will have a longer walk or a short drive to get to the corner store or cafe, but almost everything is accessible within a five-minute drive (grocery stores, restaurants, etc.). The beach at the end of the lagoon is perfect - not too big that it attracts large crowds but big enough to comfortably find space.
House:
The architecture of the house isn't typical, but overall it's a great space to hang out in. The house has been remodeled in sections, so it has new windows, the kitchen and second floor bathroom look newer, and the back section of the house with the glass walls and deck seem newer than the rest of the house. The ground level is the TV room, a sink, fridge/freezer, one bedroom, and one bathroom. The second floor has the main kitchen, the dining area, a large living room, another bathroom, and the master bedroom. The top loft has the two twin beds and is accessible only via a spiral staircase. The outside has a small patio, an outdoor shower, and a second-floor deck w/ a barbeque. The deck is constructed of metal bars, so the deck floor is not solid - cool design but would recommend bringing sandals to wear out there as it's uncomfortable for bare feet.
Interior:
- The first floor living room is a great space to hang out in, comfortable couches, good light, wetbar, nice TV and sound system (Sonos). The first floor bedroom is standard size and is right next to the living room. The floor beyond the entrance has radiant heat so it's extra cozy. The couches are big enough to comfortably fit an adult if someone chooses to sleep there.
- The second floor has an eclectic vibe to it. There are many curves, angles, and colors that catch your eye - clearly the house was designed by a creative person. It's distracting at first but the space works well and the eccentricities ended up becoming a conversation piece. The kitchen is relatively small considering the overall size of the house, but the appliances are very nice and everything is functional. We got a note about the fridge/freezer perhaps not being 100%, but that didn't turn out to be an issue (everything was fine). The master bedroom and hall bathroom on this floor are nicer, newer, and bigger than what's on the first floor.
- The loft is fairly small, and only small adults (< 5'6") or kids will fit here (hope they like blue). In addition, there is limited ventilation up there, as the room has only one window with no screen, so there is limited ability to cool that space. Also be aware that the door to this bedroom is mostly glass and does not have a covering. I'm guessing this space is not included as a 'bedroom' in the listing because bedrooms technically have to have a closet.
Amentities:
- The furniture and interior was nice overall and exceeded expectations. The beds were comfortable - no complaints. All the linens were fresh and a full set of towels were provided for each guest.
- The consumables are sparse (as advertised), so you should plan on bringing everything: lotion, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. In addition, you should probably bring an extra roll of TP and papertowels just in case.
- There is mention of a beach wagon and some other supplies, but you should always verify with the property manager ahead of time if you need something specific. Garage door opener was not functional, but also not needed for our stay (another thing to confirm with the property manager).
- There is good wifi in the house (there are mesh access points on each level).
- There are miscellaneous board games in the ground floor closet as well as the second floor pantry.
- There is a charcoal chimney out on the deck and some lighter fluid for the grill in the second floor pantry.
– The kitchen has a full set of cookware, knives (and steak knives), utensils, and other tools (pretty complete for an AirBnB). The stovetop is a gas range with a built-in griddle in the center. There are no pantry consumables in the kitchen just as described.
Logisitics:
Key has to be picked up from and dropped off at the local KPR (property manager) office. The property manager said they would be adding a lockbox or some type of keyless entry in the future. Two keys are provided upon check-in. Check out involves emptying all trash cans in the house, washing and putting away everything in the kitchen, and clearing out the refrigerators. Overall a pretty relaxed check out procedure compared to most AirBnBs. The only thing that stood out (but that we didn't have to deal with) is that it's noted that you may have to pay for extra trash at the curb.