Spectacular location. Yes, the pics are correct. it truly does sit in the wave. train is behind it but you never notice it. you gotta like sleeping to the sounds of the ocean because you have your own ambient noise. it was great. it is a public beach so we really enjoyed watching people walking their dogs and people are super friendly. Nice folks, but not overly crowded. surrounded by other similar sized rentals but all individual and individualized. felt like you were in a little beach community. This place is just five minutes from the Montecito "strip" with shops and restaurants, 10 minutes from Vons and 15 minutes from the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Amazing. It is small, just right for two, tight for four, but very doable with a double bed and a big futon for a second bed.
Great place to read a book, and let me tell you why. They are honest, there is NO internet here. Actually we found it really difficult to even get bars on our phones. There is no land line, you can get better reception standing out on the beach, but no surfing the web on your phones. They have a dvd player and three dvds --- all the starwars trilogy, so BYODVDs or i suggested they get some more for a nickle in the CVS bin down the street. No TV.
I cook so i am picky about the kitchen. Stove, top burners, drip coffee worked well and lots of fridge space. Nothing to bake anything in so BYOBP (baking pans). i fashioned some tart pasteries by cooking them in molded tin foil. you can make do. Bear Gryll it. Basic kitchen implements, but nothing like a juicer, etc. and as all good cook know, either take a sharpening stone or bring a knife. The toaster gave up the ghost, but they will probably fix this. I do like the management company. they worked with me when i was trying to book from australia and had no good way to get a contract back to them. they we discussed a carpet cleaning charge again after the fact, which they removed. i am not saying they should always give the renters the benefit of the coubt, but willingness to discuss issues with me is the most important thing i think. it tells me that they have ethics and maturity that other agencies often lack. bottom line, sue loved it. good birthday.