Come stay at this fantastic vacation home to see what everyone is talking about! When you first walk through the front door there is a fabulous whimsical feel to it that will surely please those who have a great interest in gardening. This home has it all from sand toys for the kids to the pool table upstairs in a great entertaining space. It is functional and convenient for the entire family. This two-story home offers 2+ bedrooms and 2 baths featuring a wood-burning fireplace. There's a full kitchen, living room, and family room, which opens up to the upper deck with great ocean views. A wonderful feature is the enclosed terrace with Jacuzzi and some vibrant plants making for a great indoor/outdoor feel! Just steps to the sand with a short beach walkway
Bedroom 1: California King Bedroom 2: Bunk Bed & Twin Other : Double Bed Additional: Double Futon
Hot tub is available for you to enjoy. Not Guaranteed
*3 minute walk to Seacliff State Beach *7 minute drive to Rancho Del Mar shopping center (Safeway, Ace Hardware, Peet's coffee, and more) *8 minute walk to Venus Coffee & Restaurant, Pixie Deli, & convenience store *25 minute drive to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk *30 minute drive to Natural Bridges State Beach
Please ask about monthly rates.
TOT Certificate #CO00115
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please place all Linens and towels (excluding comforters and blankets in a pile.
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
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 deadlock
Property Registration Number 241381
About the area
Aptos
Located in Seacliff, a neighbourhood in Aptos, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. Mystery Spot is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Capitola Beach and Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with sailing and surfing/body boarding nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
Cabrillo College - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
Seascape Golf Club - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
Getting around
San Martin Caltrain Station - 46 min drive
Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 17 min drive
Restaurants
Whale City Bakery Bar And Grill Aptos - 14 min walk
Poki Bowl - 14 min walk
Starbucks - 16 min walk
Marianne's Ice Cream - 13 min walk
Sushi Garden - Aptos - 15 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Charming Vacation Retreat pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Charming Vacation Retreat?
As of 31 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Charming Vacation Retreat on 27 April 2026 start from NZ$892, 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.
How much is parking at Charming Vacation Retreat?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Charming Vacation Retreat?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Charming Vacation Retreat?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Charming Vacation Retreat located?
Located in Seacliff, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Seacliff State Beach and Rio Del Mar Beach. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Aptos History Museum are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The house is well furnished and decorated and a very short stroll to the beach. My grandkids loved the pool table and we all enjoyed the hot tub. My only small complaint is the mattress in the MB is very firm so you may want to bring a pad if possible. Other than that, we had a great week and enjoyed our stay.
Adam H.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
23 July 2024
A great vacation
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We had a great experience this year. This house is always great: good shape, nearness to the beach, the creek in front, pool table for the kids. All was wonderful.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Denise A.
7 September 2023
Beach FUN!
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was very clean.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Great location, wonderful home! Beds could be more comfy and we had to buy additional toilet paper and paper towels because there wasn't enough. Regardless we loved the place!
Denise A.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Andy L.
22 July 2022
My Opinion of 136
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We feel that the place is not being taken care of. A couple of the hinges on the cabinet doors in the kitchen are tearing out of the wall of the cabinet. The doors are off line and therefore are hard to open or close, it appears to me that the house is being pushed forward from the hill in the back. The furniture is quite old.
Andy L.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Debra Leigh B.
8 October 2024
Gilroy Girls Class of 87
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We had a great time and the house was perfect for our group! We had plenty of room and we loved the location. Thank you for letting us stay at this property and make memories. ❤️
Debra Leigh B.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Carmen C.
29 August 2024
Best Ever
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
My 8 year old granddaughter said it was "the best house". For the last 3 or 4 years we've rented within this vicinity and we enjoyed the privacy and close proximity to the beach this house provided. The property description was accurate and it had all the amenities: washer, dryer, spa, pool table, bbq, etc. It was very roomy and comfortable. The people in the office were friendly & professional. We enjoyed driving to the Boardwalk and had the best fish tacos at Mijo's in Capitola - so good we went there 3 times! We had a beautiful hike at Nisen State park, and we mostly enjoyed the beach. This house is near the end of the private drive and there is a direct path to the beach, so the walk was very short. This home is the best.
Carmen C.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sandy P.
12 August 2024
Our home away from home!
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
This has been our family vacation rental for 6 years. It has a large family room to gather in. It has an ocean view and is a flat 5 minute walk to the beach.
Sandy P.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer Dolan H.
13 June 2024
Near Perfect Retreat
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The home was a perfect meet up for our family from three states to spend a weekend to connect.
Jennifer Dolan H.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Theresa P.
15 February 2024
A fun family beach house 😁
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
This two story home is wonderfully situated on Aptos Creek just steps away from the beach. We stayed there with our daughter her husband and our four active grandsons. The house is clean, fun, and nicely furnished in a very comfortable beach theme. The pool table upstairs was a big hit with the boys and this granny. Grandpa had fun simmering in the hot tub with his progeny and telling his grandpa stories. The hot tub is nicely situated in the lovely enclosed entryway garden. The outdoor shower was a definite boon when our sandy troops returned from their beach adventures. So were the washer and drier in their little shed just out back. Sure helped keep the sand out of the house. The bedrooms are downstairs and the kitchen and living areas are upstairs with a fun view of the creek and Rio Del Mar with the beach off to the right. There are beach chairs and sand toys available on the porch in the garden as well. My only suggestion would be to add one or two bigger pots in the kitchen to feed a hungry hoard of boys like ours. We had a most wonderful time!🥰
Theresa P.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
27 July 2023
Great, as Usual
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Our family had a wonderful time again in Aptos. The house is so close to the beach, has lots of space, and of course the kids love the pool table.
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Andy L.
21 July 2023
Andy in Stockton
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
All of the proposed questions were favorable. We have rented this property for a number of years and appreciated the furniture upgrades and in prior years appliance upgrades. We felt that the one issue that needs to be addressed is the mattresses on the beds being very hard lacking any softness and are not comfortable, seamed worn out in all of the rooms. Otherwise as usual in the years before we enjoyed our stay.
Andy L.
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Debi C.
11 October 2022
our vacation
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The house is as described. We did have a problem with ants in the kitchen. We lost a lot of food. The full bed mattress was auful, it was hard and lumpy like an old futon. We did love the hot tub and it was used everyday but the price increased $500 from our last years stay.
Debi C.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
26 July 2022
Great House
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We love the location of the house. It is only a block from the ocean which we can see from the deck. It is a quiet neighborhood. The house is large enough to house adults who need some quiet and kids who need to make noise. It has two decks, one in front and one in back. Love the pool table and the hot tub!
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
kira e.
20 June 2022
Treasure
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
This place is an absolute treasure ! I’d like to leave a bad review so no one else will rent it and it will always be available to me. But that wouldn’t be fair - so I’m all fairness I have to say I love this rental. It was just perfect for my husband and I. Our adult kids visited two nights and otherwise we had it to ourselves. It’s such a perfect location and has so much space to work, relax, hot tub ,play and enjoy. We will definitely stay here again. It’s a Gem!
kira e.
From a partner site
4/10 Poor
Casey N.
19 May 2022
Fine but no frills
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than helpful.
The vacation rental was somewhat dirty.
I was very happy with the location.
I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The house has a wonderful location only a short walk to the beach. We had three small children with us so the accessibility of the beach in addition to the house-provided sand toys and wagon were wonderful. The house itself is attractive and gets great sun on the upper deck. The open communal space, which is great for easy socializing and provides room to spread out, is all upstairs, and the bedrooms are downstairs. The downside to this is the house has zero insulation so every step and movement made by people walking around in the kitchen and living room is heard by those trying to sleep in the downstairs bedrooms. Not great for light sleepers or children needing to go to bed early. Also, the bedroom we stayed in smelled very moldy.The cleaning prior to our arrival could have been better. We found a cloth mask and a pair of kid's underwear under a bed and left on an outdoor table. The hot tub did not work and seemed as though it had not worked for some time given the sediment that I saw in the tub. That was very disappointing given it was a selling point for me. Seems this has been an ongoing issue with the property, so if you're looking for an operable hot tub, steer clear of this rental. Also, a major drawback is that only two very flimsy kitchen towels are provided for the entire stay and you have to bring your own toilet paper. Overall, the house was fine and provided the space we needed.
Great location and perfect space for hosting a small group of friends. My only complaint is that the house has a little bit of a musty smell downstairs, and there are some missing amenities that would have put the place over the edge (no hairdryer, only two tide pods for the dishwasher, no extra shampoo/soap.) You can’t beat that ocean view though!
Rachel G.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 May 2022
We are so happy you enjoyed your stay. We have had the carpets replaced and updated a few amenities, including a new bed. The new carpets have helped eliminate any smell of must. We hope you consider visiting us again.
Lisa
Bailey Property Management
This is a beautiful home just a short walk away from the beach. the downstairs is all sleeping area and upstairs is a big open space to hang out that worked well for entertaining a larger group. We used all of the amenities: fireplace, hot tub(which was clean and well maintained), and pool table. overall I had a lovely stay. my only comment is that the barbecue needs some maintenance. we tried to use it but there was only one functioning burner, so ended up just cooking inside. Not a big deal.
Loved this house, comfortable, terrific deck to sit and watch the water, and short walk to the beach.
Only feedback is that the house wasn't as clean as it could have been (found old food under the table and couch, the outside furniture had dirty and spider webs), and the kitchen was not well appointed, missing a few key items we needed for cooking.
But, still loved it and will come back!
Only a few steps from the beach, and with an enormous, bright living area, this is a great beach vacation house for a family or group. Our kids particularly loved the pool table and hot tub, and the location couldn't be better. We had a couple of maintenance needs that the rental management company dealt with impressively quickly. Only minor negatives are that the downstairs bedrooms are a little dark and damp, and the quality of the cleaning could have been better. But we had a great time and would recommend the house.
Craig M.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Jessica P.
30 May 2017
Amazing location, tons of living space
This is a perfect group vacation house. Lots of couches and balconies and patios to chase the sun throughout the day. It was clean and comfortable, easy check-in, easy instructions.
Jessica P.
Archival
6/10 Okay
Hannah L.
28 October 2016
Beautiful home- management company should have it prepared and give more local insight
The house was great, very clean and just as the pictures show. But we paid $500 a night and couldn't use the hot tub for the first two days. Would think management would have it heated and ready for you? 9 of us stayed there very comfortably. But they left us with one spare roll of toilet paper, only one roll of paper towels, no dish soap, and one trash bag. We take care of the places we stay, one trash bag for 9 people lasts a half day... And using paper towels to clean... Plus 6 of the 9 were girls and we were out of TP in a heartbeat. They brought some by after I called to ask, but we ended up buying the other supplies rather than continuing to call for what we need. People who pay $2500 for a rental and fly in from out of state are not looking to steal extra house supplies. Just stock the place, and have the hot tub ready. Also, a heads up about the season of red tide would have been nice. How would we know? That info materially changed our trip, but we could have been more prepared. So, overall the house was great. But if the management company had taken a bit more time to do what I understand to be their job, it could have very easily have been a 5 star rating that I'd tell everyone about. With the putrid red tide smell, lack of use of the hot tub all but one day (the red tide smelled so bad we lost two days due to the smell outside), and a lack of ready supplies takes it down to 3. People come on vacation, have things ready and make it easy. Otherwise, location is awesome and staff were very polite.