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Life is better by the pool

Photo gallery for Life is better by the pool

Pool
Gourmet kitchen
Pool
Room
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8213.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Valley Center, CA
  • Place, Castle Creek Country Club
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, The Oaks Course
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Bates Nut Farm
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Airport, Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar)
    ‪43 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Office 1

1 Large Single Futon

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bidet · Toilet · Jetted bathtub · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Life is better by the pool

Enjoy our Sun-Drenched Oasis with a private infinity salt water pool that is heated to the 80s all year. Soak your worries away in the salt water 102 degree spa. Have fun checking out our artistic landscape, hiking trails, picking fruit, enjoying farm fresh eggs, playing Horseshoes, Disc Golf, Corn Hole, Pool Basketball & many more games. Finish up your day enjoying a beverage with a lazy afternoon swim under the sun taking in the breathtaking views of a little slice of paradise. The "chef’s kitchen," and BBQs are waiting for you to create a delicious meal. This is the perfect, relaxing getaway for families and friends.
San Diego county is the perfect place to rest and relax. This is the 'Hidden Gem' of Valley Center with breathtaking views of the San Diego Mountains. We strive to have everything you need for a perfect getaway. Enjoy our secluded private 5 ac estate, it is absolutely fantastic with a infinity salt water pool and spa, fully fenced, walking trails, picnic areas, meditation spots.
Foosball table, Disc Golf, horseshoe's at the top of the property next to the view deck. Enjoy our organic fruit trees boasting the best orange juice you will ever taste.
San Diego County is a world class tourist destination best known for its excellent climate. The temperature is usually between 60 and 80 degrees in the winter and 70-90 degrees in the summer.
San Diego attracts tourists from all over the world to enjoy:
- beaches Oceanside and Carlsbad are only a 30 min drive
- ocean activities such as - surfing, canoeing, scuba diving, ocean fishing, boating, yachting, windsurfing, water skis, kite surfing and more
- Balboa Park - built a century ago for 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition
- Museums - art, history, technology, aviation, marine and many more.
- World Famous San Diego Zoo
- World Famous SeaWorld theme park
- World Famous Legoland
- Wild animal park a short 25 min drive
- Charming seaside villages - Seaport, Coronado, LaJolla, DelMar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Pacific Beach.
- Casinos with world class restaurants
- Near Fallbrook the World capital of Avocados
- Hot air balloons
- Temecula wine country isa 30 min drive - many wineries and wine tasting

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 35
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Only outside in designated area

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

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
This property uses solar energy
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

About the area

Valley Center

Located in Valley Center, this holiday home is in a rural area. Moonlight Ampitheatre and Avo Playhouse are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Alta Vista Gardens. Travelling with kids? Consider California Center For The Arts and The Wave Waterpark. Canoeing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and horse riding nearby.
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Map
Valley Center, CA

What's nearby

  • Castle Creek Country Club - 11 min drive - 9.3 km
  • The Oaks Course - 13 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Pala Mesa Resort - 19 min drive - 18.9 km
  • Bates Nut Farm - 20 min drive - 15.2 km
  • Valley View Casino - 22 min drive - 17.1 km

Getting around

  • Carlsbad Village Station - 33 min drive
  • Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Hidden Meadows Country Bar - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪The Market at Hidden Meadows - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Side Yard Public House - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Country Junction Deli - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Life is better by the pool have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

How much does it cost to stay at Life is better by the pool?

As of 9 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Life is better by the pool on 11 May 2026 start from NZ$861, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Life is better by the pool pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Life is better by the pool?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Life is better by the pool?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Life is better by the pool?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Life is better by the pool located?

Located in a rural location, this family-friendly holiday home is within 9 mi (15 km) of The Oaks Course, Bates Nut Farm and Cal-a-vie. Rancho Guajome Adobe and Valley View Casino are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

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. 63 out of 63 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 63 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

karen m.

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

Peaceful getaway😊

Enjoyed our stay. House is beautiful.. property is so nice . the view of the sunrise over the mountains is amazing! Would definitely stay here again😊
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Agustin O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Phenomenal! We felt right at home from the moment we arrived. The amazing pool provided endless fun and relaxation. A delightful bonus of picking up fresh oranges from the trees added a unique and memorable touch to our experience. Our stay at this house was truly exceptional!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David S.

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

Wonderful Stay

EVERYTHING you need is here to enjoy whatever kind of stay you desire. It couldn’t have been more convenient visiting both the top-notch San Diego Wildlife Safari or the LegoLand Park along with Wohlford Lake and Daley Ranch for morning hikes. We loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

RJ H.

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

Great stay

Had a great stay. House was clean and nice. Pool and hot tub were perfect. Picked oranges and made fresh OJ every morning. Perfect place to get away.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melinda M.

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

Excellent!

Beautiful house stocked with everything you need. Property is beautiful. Perfect for our family visit!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

James P.

Perfect. Just as avertised.

Perfect get away for solitude. Beautiful property. Great host.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2016
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristen H.

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

Fabulous all around

Great house pool spa and view!!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Kristin R.

So much fun!!

The house was gorgeous. Perfect for the six of us to stay before a wedding. The wonderful owner and housekeeper were so sweet and it was stocked with everything we could need! We had so much fun. Go Bears!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2016
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Colton H.

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

Sunny Retreat

Awesome property outside San Diego (30-40 minutes to the beach) with beautiful gardens and large heated pool/ spa with views of the Palomar mountains. Spacious house was very clean and well-stocked with everything we needed during our week stay, including a juicer for the fresh oranges! Easy communication with Tom & Cindy, who were great hosts!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jayson K.

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

Fantastic pool

Celebrated a birthday with extended family and kids. House was as advertised in the pool is amazing fantastic view. Tom was incredibly easy to reach and we enjoyed ourselves.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl K.

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

Gorgeous, peaceful, over the top house

Beautiful, fully equipped house. Everything was super comfortable, from the living room furniture, to the dining room table and our bedrooms. Backyard just spectacular. Tom was great, answering questions right away. Very quiet, peaceful area. Pool and hot tub probably our favorite way to spend a vacation ever. Thanks so much.
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Angiie D.

Absolutely Amazing!

Everything about our stay was perfect! The house was beautiful; the pool was clean and warm; the spa was hot and amazing at night when the fog rolled in; and the owners were easy to get hold of and very accommodating! It really could not have been any better! I highly recommend this rental for anyone wanting to escape the world for a few days to relax in quiet paradise!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2017
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah T.

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

Girls Trip Oasis

This property was absolutely stunning! My daughter, two friends and I stayed here for 4 nights and it was wonderful! The house was clean and well stocked, the pool was beautiful and a very comfortable temperature. I would highly recommend this place to everyone I know and would go back in a heartbeat! Tom and Cindy were easy to communicate with and you can tell they take very good care of their home and their guests.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lena

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We had a fantastic stay. Tom is a great host, very friendly with good communication. The house is more beautiful than all the pictures can express. A wonderful pool, the kids had a lot of fun.The kitchen is very well equipped, there is everything you need.Another highlight are the orange trees in the garden.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marsha S.

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

Beautiful View

We had a great experience at this rental. It is located in an area that is private and the property is very well maintained. Our host was very helpful and attentive. Upon our arrival we found several welcome gifts that were much appreciated. The space was clean and inviting. We hope to be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Lisa G.

Wanna getaway and unwind? You've found the place!

Stayed for 3 days for our annual chick trip and everyone loved this beautiful home. Tucked into the hills with a most amazing view, you truly feel like you are away from it all. Clean and comfy with a well equipped kitchen, we all agreed we would come back to this lovely and inviting home, no one wanted to leave! Besides being a few loungers short for all that wanted to lay out by the pool, we couldn't have asked for more, thanks Tom!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James S.

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

Peaceful, family friendly retreat

Absolutely beautiful home, photos do not do it justice! Gorgeous pool and spa area. We enjoyed the trails and citrus orchard. Only 30 minutes to SD Safari Park. Very much appreciated the paper products and pantry staples. Beds were clean and comfy. Would definitely return.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl E.

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

Great getaway!

House was well-appointed, spacious and clean! Kitchen is well stocked with more than basic necessities. Property was huge and have available private walking trails! Views from the backyard and pool area are amazing! Neighborhood is super quiet and is perfect for a getaway!! Lastly, freshly squeezed OJ every morning can’t be beat❤️❤️❤️Host is easy to communicate with. Thank you very much for the stay!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael A.

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

Fantastic!

This house is amazing. Better than advertised. Hosts were perfect, around but not around. Kids loved the pool, hiking trails and picking fruit. The oranges are excellent! We will definitely try and stay here if we are in the area again. Thanks Tom for sharing your home.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Monique F.

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

Simply beautiful!

Our family had the absolute best time at this home! The pictures online only gives you a glimpse. The view in the backyard is breathtaking. You can see it from the living room, the kitchen even the master bedroom. The house was very clean and stocked with more then we expected. Definitely would stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steve P.

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

Wonderful Home

My family really enjoyed staying here. It is a beautiful home with a great swimming pool and hot tub. The area is quiet and the weather was great. My kids loved playing foosball in the loft and they even have a horseshoe game set up. They have lots of orange trees on the property so we had fresh squeezed orange juice every morning. The kitchen is fully stocked with every utensil or pan needed, the bathrooms were fully stocked, and the beds were comfortable. We loved our stay at this house and would fully recommend it to all.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jim S.

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

Perfect views with peace and quiet

We loved this spacious property that lived up to the posted images and description. Most enjoyable was the pool, the views and opportunity to squeeze fresh orange juice each morning from fruit picked from trees in the yard. The perfect place for peace and quiet and privacy. Be prepared to travel 20 + minutes for restaurants and activities. This rental appeared in search for La Jolla which was misleading.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff J.

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

We had a wonderful time!

We were greeted with a thoughtful "Welcome Basket" of wine and fresh citrus from the owner which was a perfect start to our vacation. We quickly accommodated ourselves to the beautiful property and fantastic views with a refreshing dip in the infinity pool. What a great time! Reasonable driving distance to beaches, Wild Animal Park, and Sea World. In fact it was only an hour drive to Thousand Steps in Laguna Beach (which I highly recommend). When we weren't enjoying activities kids and adults both enjoyed the beautiful pool and relaxing spa. This property will be at the top our list to book the next time we visit.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carianne M.

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

Best One Yet!!

Normally, our vacations are on the beach or very close to one, so we were a little concerned about being so far away from everything. I have to say, it was the most relaxing and enjoyable vacation I have ever had! The pool and hot tub were fantastic and the view was just amazing! Tom and Cindy were excellent hosts. The house is exactly as the description states. It was very clean and the beds were so comfortable. Made going home very hard! We would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Iris

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We really enjoyed our stay at this gorgeous house. Lots of space for a family for 4. Every amenity you could think of. If you enjoy cooking, you are in heaven in a beautiful kitchen. The pool was very much enjoyed by all of us, but especially my kids. The spa was great to soak in at night after a long day out visiting the sites of San Diego. The best thing were the little extra touches that I've never seen in any other VRBO rental - the bottles of wine, the pizza, the full pantry. We especially enjoyed having the small orange orchard on the property and had fresh orange juice daily. If we're ever in this area again, we'll definitely rent this house in a heartbeat.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Tom Koretke 760-716-6771

Host profile image
We have enjoyed working in real estate since 1984, because it's not just a job, it's our passion. My wife Cindy and I purchased an undeveloped 5 ac piece of land in rural Valley Center in 2001, than built our dream home. Cindy and I are now traveling a lot and we look forward to staying at other vacation homes. We do not smoke, we take pride in maintaining our home and property. We enjoy knowing that other families are enjoying our home while we are out of town experiencing other cultures.

Why they chose this property

Because it is in a great centrally located area near all main attractions in the country with breathtaking views quiet and private home.

What makes this property unique

This awesome 3 br 2.5 ba estate built in 2003 with EV Charger and a private completely fenced awesome infinity salt water pool/spa view back yard. Hi speed internet, BBQ, ref, micro, oven, coffee maker all you need to bring is a good book, food & drink. This country get away will sleep up to 6+2 in the loft fully furnished, you will enjoy picking & eating all the organic fruit you can eat just out your back door and make fresh orange juice every morning.

Languages:

English
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