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Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz!

Photo gallery for Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz!

Having coffee on the deck while watching the kids
Castle Beach Retreat offers a large open floor plan
View from Kitchen
The new kitchen offers state-of-the-art appliances and lots of new cabinets
Upstairs master bedroom

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 12278.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Santa Cruz, CA

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Downstairs Master

1 King Bed

Megan's room

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

O'Neal Room

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Master

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz!

Castle Beach Retreat (Santa Cruz City TOT registration certificate #001134T) offers a wonderful atmosphere that is unmatched by other beach rentals. It is perfect for extend family reunions and retreats.

Castle Beach Retreat is a 2-story, 3000sq ft home directly across from one of the best beaches in Santa Cruz - Seabright Beach. Full-length windows overlook the beach and Santa Cruz Pier - allowing you to watch the sunset while barbecuing on the spacious balcony or lie in bed listening to the waves.

Seabright State Beach, known to locals as Castle Beach, is a south-facing beach with the reputation of being the warmest, sunniest beach on the Monterey Bay. Great for families, this State Beach has restrooms, lifeguards*, and since Castle Beach Retreat sits at the beach's main entrance, there are no stairs or cliffs to negotiate. Enjoy roasting marshmallows on one of the only beaches that allows bonfires. Plus due to limited beach parking, traffic is much lighter here compared to other popular beaches.

Seabright Beach lies between the Santa Cruz Harbor and famed Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, home of the Giant Dipper roller coaster. The Boardwalk is 3 blocks over the old train bridge (the same bridge featured in the movie Lost Boys) or 1 1/2 blocks during low tide (but you might get your feet wet). The harbor is a great place to charter boats or rent paddle boards, Hobbies, kayaks, etc. It also has some great places to eat. - Our location has easy access for even families with small kids to both attractions without the hassle of the crowds or parking.

The Seabright area is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Santa Cruz. Centrally located, you are only a short walk from coffee shops, delis and great restaurants. There is also several theaters in the downtown shopping district and there are activities likes concerts, roller skating, bowling, laser tag, climbing, hiking, biking and much more just minutes away.

Castle Beach Retreat proudly maintains the highest sanitary practices, adheres to all local ordinances and is professional managed. This added level of quality offers the VRBO guest piece of mind and the ability to call someone when needed. The Retreat offers a beautiful setting with 4+ bedrooms/3.5 baths, including 2 master bedrooms with ocean views. There are beds for up to 11 people as well as other attractive features: We allow up to 10 adults max. We do allow an additional + 2 children or combinations of less adults and more children.

- Upstairs, the spacious grand room features an entire wall of full-length windows and sliding glass doors. They connect to the balcony and provide spectacular beach views. Our balcony is considered by many neighbors as the best in the area. There is also an outdoor gas BBQ, a dining table that seats 12, a bar that seats 6, a 65” 4K UHD TV with Tivo for local and network broadcasts and AppleTV for streaming apps, a fireplace, and exposed high beam ceilings. Castle Beach Retreat has a whole-house Sonos entertainment system

- The beautiful kitchen overlooks the grand room and ocean. It offers just about anything you are likely to need for even a Thanksgiving dinner party including: silverware, pots, pans, dishes, glasses, and serving utensils. This high-end kitchen is a chef's dream with a huge 11 foot working island attached to a bar for guests. It has the latest state-of-the art Jenn-Air microwave, warming drawer, double convention oven and inductive cook top. Also supplied is a toaster, coffee maker, coffee press, rice cooker and crock pot.

- You may never want to leave the upstairs master bedroom and bath. It offers a kingsize bed, 47' HDTV with AppleTV, Sonos entertainment system and walk-in closet. The master bath has a huge two person, extra deep tub, it's own 50” 4K UHD TV with AppleTV, Sonos sound system, and Robern vanities and cabinets.

- The downstairs master bedroom is a studio suite with a kingsize bed, kitchenette/dinning area, bath, 65” plasma HDTV with Tivo and AppleTV

- downstairs there are also two additional bedrooms, named the O Neil Room and Meg's Room respectively, and a large entertainment room/garage named the Ducati Room, as a solute to the famous motorcycle company. The Ducati Room offers guests a new 65' plasma HDTV, with Apple TV and Playstation 3 with BlueRay. It is perfect for the young or young at heart. The O Neil and Meg's Rooms are both connected to a “shotgun” bathroom. Meg's Room has a twin over double bunk-bed with an additional pull-out single bed. The O Neil Room has a queen-size bed.

- There is an outdoor shower with hot and cold water and a hose to rinse off the sand

Come enjoy an unbeatable beach getaway!

Notes:
To maintain the quality of our neighborhood, we ask that guests try to limit the number of cars in their party.

Please no requests for discounts or trades. Booking request that contain these requests will be reported.

Lifeguard service is seasonal

Notice of Exterior Security Cameras: In the 14 years we have owned our home, there has never been a security issue. However, for the safety of our guests, there are external security cameras that monitor the exterior of the house 24/7. There are no internal security cameras and the exterior cameras are not located with a view of the upstairs deck to ensure our guest’s privacy. The camera’s are intended for perimeter security only. This includes a camera integrated into the front door lock. This camera is activated when the lock and/or doorbell are used. The doorbell feature works well for contacting us and getting information/assistance if you are having trouble operating the lock combination.

Keywords: Castle Beach Retreat

Property manager

Lou Albert
Premier Host

Languages

Dutch, German

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Ocean view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Crib available, but no baby gate for staircase
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
There are no exceptions to this policy
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please do not proceed with booking if you're planning a Party, or bringing a pet. Neither of those are allowed! Absolutely no exceptions.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Santa Cruz

Located in Eastside Santa Cruz, a neighbourhood in Santa Cruz, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the beach. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Monterey Bay and Capitola Beach. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and Boardwalk Bowl are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Santa Cruz, CA

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Stagnaro Bros - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Crow's Nest Restaurant - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Boardwalk Bowl - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Los Viejones - ‬16 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Castle Beach Retreat - Relax at the Best Beach in Santa Cruz! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Eastside Santa Cruz holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Seabright Beach and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Monterey Bay is 2.3 mi (3.6 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 71 out of 80 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 80 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 80 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 80 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 80 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shannon V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Getaway

We had a wonderful weekend at the Castle Beach Retreat. The home was even better than expected, the location was perfect and our hosts went above and beyond with clear communication, expectations and ensuring everything was perfect. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

donald c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

A beautiful home overlooking Castle Beach in Santa Cruz
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karina L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So relaxing for big family gathering :)

Owners were wonderful to work with, space was lovely for a large group, memories were made (especially with a beach camp fire!).
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

James M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday Celebration

Nice Property, Great view!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roger W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thanksgiving 2024

Had a great time in this house with extended families! Location is perfect and everything worked just like it’s supposed to. Quirky light switches and lots of beeps and tones from fridge to ovens but it kept us on our toes!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

80 B-day

It was open spacious and comfortable. A great place to have a gathering. The view was amazing. I wish I could’ve spent more time there. Can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shanelle B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house in a gorgeous location!

We loved our stay! The house was perfect for our family and the view and access to the beach was ideal. We enjoyed walking to nearby restaurants and coffee shops, and taking long walks along the beach. We would love to stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelley K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Prefect Family Getaway

Our family was blessed to stay for 3 days in this spectacular home and with an ideal location. Lou was helpful with the check-in process and providing tips for local attractions. Wish we could have stayed longer...
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Raul M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Vacation Home

The upstairs kitchen and family area were perfect for the family to spend quality time together.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

MJ A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

xmas at the beach

Great location and gorgeous property for a large family gathering.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Steve L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

We had a lovely stay at the beach house. All was perfect! Thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location, Location, Location.

Clean, well appointed and great access to the beach. Also, close to the boardwalk, harbor, restaurants, etc. Very happy w this choice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house and location!

Great house for extended family vacation. Perfect location super close to the beach. The kitchen and main living area were awesome for hanging out and watching the beach. Communication with hosts was great - Lou was super responsive! Would definitely book again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matt S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We loved it.

The home was perfect for our family, and location is fantastic! Property manager was responsive and helpful. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

TIM M., ACAMPO

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ocean views, fantastic house.

Amazing home with new finishes, and the room too accommodate larger groups. Incredibly close access to the beach and decent parking on the street. House was beautiful inside, yet comfortable for our family/kids. The view of the ocean was amazing. Pictures online are great, but don’t due justice for the in person experience and view of the beach!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

Beautiful house!!

Beautiful house directly across from the beach. Sleeps large groups of people. Kid friendly.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Peter J.

Beach house

This house is as advertised. Very modern technology, comfortable house with plenty of room and excellent kitchen. Great location. We would certainly return.

10/10 Excellent

Tom H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

review

superb in every respect
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Afton S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location & amazing views

The upstairs main floor accommodations (living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom) were great. Views were amazing! We loved the location to beach and boardwalk. The downstairs bedrooms were a bit underwhelming. We had to self restock toilet paper, paper towels and garbage bags. With 9 guests for a full week and lots of cooking, the amounts provided were not enough. This was disappointing given the price we paid.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C., Fair Oaks

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun Getaway

Perfect place for mid to large gathering. Very comfortable with modern amenities,. Awesome view of the beach. Owner was available and informative. Thank you! See you next time.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen L., Santa Cruz, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, updated and very comfortable

It was a perfect stay and really beautifully maintained. It was nice to have the A/V, TV all updated and working well. It would be nice to have a selection of board games available for families to play. Thanks for everything.
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Patricia W., Stockton

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for family time

We love to cook and loved this kitchen. The Great room area was prefect for all of us to be together and the downstairs TV area, two huge decks and additional dining and kitchenette downstairs gave us plenty of room to have individual space too. View to die for.....beach 20 second walk.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Meg M., Where do you live?

Love this house!

Love, love, love this house!!! Fantastic location, super comfortable, clean and well appointed. Delightful owners! Would recommend to friends and relatives. This house is even better than the beautiful listing photos. Fantastic!!! We saw whales almost every day!

10/10 Excellent

Jodi R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Jodi R.

Loved this beach house, especially the ocean view! Very clean and well kept! Kids say lets go back next year! It was nice to be just a walk to the beach and to the boardwalk and pier, it was also fun to go down and watch the surfers in that same area! Thanks to the host Lou for a great place and for being so attentive and responding so quickly to our questions! Definitely 5 stars! We'll be back...
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Betsy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect!

The location is perfect. Literally right across the street to the beach. It was just a short walk to see beautiful homes and light house and harbor. It was about one mile walk to the fun zone rides. The house was perfectly set up with two bedroom and bathroom suites on the ground floor and master suite with steam shower and bathtub with TV on the second floor. The second floor also had an open plan of large kitchen, TV area with plenty of seating, table for sitting for ten, separate sitting area for two (to watch the beach). There were plenty of restaurants to drive to within a mile.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Lou Albert

Host profile image
Lou and Sacha have rented out their beach house for years. They live in Los Gatos and use the house for themselves and their kids frequently as well. Sacha is originally from the Netherlands and works in high tech public relations. Lou is from Northern California and works in high tech sales. They love to travel and often rent other homes on VRBO for their family trips.

Why they chose this property

What makes this property unique

Languages:

German, Dutch

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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