We had been looking for a Malibu beach home to rent, but found them to be either too expensive, not have a walkable beach or the beaches were too crowded. Renting on Mandalay Beach in Oxnard was the perfect solution. The drive from West LA was just over one hour. We could have showed up with nothing but clothing and would have been just fine. Homeowner, Rita, made sure the house had everything you would ever need. The beach location is amazing and virtually empty. The sunsets were stunning. The main house is perfect for 6-8 people. We are a family of four and had the two adults in the ocean facing room with incredible views. Our daughters shared one of the guest rooms and family friends visited for one night and used the other. We didn't even need the guesthouse. The living room and kitchen have tremendous beach and ocean views. It is perfectly setup for communal living with privacy if you want it. We rented Kayaks, a four person bike, and an electric boat on three different days. All three activities were great. We ordered takeout for all of our meals and never had to cook, but if you choose to, the kitchen is available.
My only negative thought is the town of Oxnard leaves a little to be desired. If you are looking to spend most of your time exploring a cute and quaint beach town, this is probably not it. If, like us, you plan to spend most of your time on the beach or in the house you will not be disappointed.
The homeowner was very responsive before, during and after our stay. We will definitely come again.