five weeks stay at Garden Suite

Beat (Gelterkinden, Switzerland)
Review submitted: April 11, 2013   Date of arrival: February 7, 2013

I enjoyed my five weeks stay in the garden suite very much. This place is really beautiful and very quiet. I was also very lucky to meet some great people who stayed right next to me. Furthermore, Carla is a very nice and very helpful person. Whenever I come back to Sta Barbara I'll stay at the same place again.

Beat, Switzerland

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, romantic getaway

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Carla's Cottages

Lois (Bunkie, LA 71322)
Review submitted: January 20, 2013   Date of arrival: December 28, 2012

The cottage was perfect for our needs--clean, quiet with all needs met (kitchen, bath, quiet time, tv's, laundry). Assistance was also available when needed.

Recommended for: age 55+, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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relaxing place to get away

same (walnut creek)
Review submitted: October 23, 2012   Date of arrival: October 14, 2012

I love to stay at places that actually live up to their description and this was the case at this lovely garden suite. I enjoyed the accomondations...clean and well taken care of. I had a most relaxing time and got to unwind there. I always appreciate places where I can take my pampered pouch with me. I found the location just perfect for walking/hiking which I did a lot of while I was there. I highly recommend the garden suite. It is perfect for 1 or 2 people. I will definitely be back.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Hidden gem!!

LisaG (Menlo Park, CA, USA)
Review submitted: July 31, 2012   Date of arrival: April 26, 2012

What a find!! This beautiful estate in Montecito is in a great location to see all the nearby sights yet still retreat to a quiet gorgeous setting afterwards. It's a perfect spot for couples, families, groups - there's something for everyone. The grounds and pool area are just so beautiful and peaceful, and Carla is so welcoming and she really goes the extra mile to delight her guests. The Garden Suite was ideal for us (a couple with two small dogs) - there was a little dining area and kitchenette plus a full bath - everything we needed, charmingly and tastefully decorated, and it was WAY better than a hotel room, not to mention a better deal. Our dogs loved it too! We imagine this must be how movie stars live. We've already planned our return trip!

Recommended for: pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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We loved it (and so did our cat)

Montana (Helena, Montana, USA)
Review submitted: May 19, 2012   Date of arrival: December 27, 2011

My husband and I lived for two months in Carla’s Garden Suite in Montecito, CA, in January/February 2012. We are retirees who settled in Montana and then decided to get away for a winter. We (and our Siamese cat) had a wonderful stay and highly recommend Carla’s Cottages!

The cottages include 5 studio or one-bedroom apartments grouped around a beautiful pool and garden. Many of the other folks who stayed while we were there were also refugees from the frozen Northwest -- Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, Montana -- and the place had a friendly atmosphere that made it easy to get to know the neighbors (or not, if that’s your preference).

Our place -- the Garden Suite -- had a little more room than the other studio, with an alcove for a small table where we could eat or work at the computer. At the end of two months, we decided it was a bit small for two people for such a long time, but we enjoyed it nevertheless. The main drawback (and this was minor) was the lack of a kitchen sink (dishes must be washed in the bathroom sink or bathtub), which meant over time that we ate fewer meals at home and more meals out. We also found the rooms to be a bit chilly at times (it’s winter even in California, we discovered), and wished we had access to the temperature controls.

One of the main reasons we chose Carla’s was that she welcomed our Siamese cat, Fiji. In fact, Carla’s was the only vacation rental we found in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area that accepted cats. Fiji loved the garden, and was able to roam about at her leisure (during the day and only after we had ensured that the neighbor dogs were not out), because the garden is fully surrounded by secure fencing.

All in all, we have fond memories of our stay at Carla’s Cottages and know you will, too!

Recommended for: age 55+, pet-friendly

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

it was great!

Margo (Dallas)
Review submitted: April 28, 2012   Date of arrival: April 21, 2012

Staying at Carla's Cottages was great! Our room was nice and had everything we needed. Laundry facility is awesome! Kitchen was equipped well, the pool area is great too! The yard is beautiful and we enjoyed a wonderful glass of wine sitting on the patio upon our arrival! Location is awesome, will definitely stay here again. Thank you!

Recommended for: pet-friendly

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

Perfect little garden cottage

Island Girl (Long Beach, CA, USA)
Review submitted: April 2, 2012   Date of arrival: March 30, 2012

This is the most serene and beautiful place to stay. Minutes from Santa Barbara and the beach, we had such a wonderful stay for our anniversary weekend. Carla was so pleasant to work with, and I would highly recommend the property to any one. The photos and description are exactly as they seem. Everything is clean and very well-maintained, the kitchenette was well stocked. There is a nice little sitting area where we were able to eat a meal and have a drink. The place is very quiet, and the stars at night were amazing! We had looked into some B&B's in SB, but this was definitely worth it. I would definitely return when the weather is warmer, so we could make use of the pool. What a beautiful pool! We will definitely refer others to Carla and her cottages!

Recommended for: girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

Beautiful getaway in Montecito (Santa Barbara)

glaceq (Los Angeles)
Review submitted: April 4, 2011   Date of arrival: March 27, 2011

This place is absolutely amazing! I live in LA and I just needed to get away and decided to do a yoga retreat and juice cleanse in Santa Barbara. I found this little jewel online and I'm so happy I did! It was perfect for what I wanted. Carla and her mother, Carol, were so helpful and sweet. The pool and gardens are just gorgeous and you are surrounded by the mountains of Santa Barbara. The rooms are really little cottages with everything you need inside. There is also laundry on site. And dog-friendly! My dog loved playing in the grass and laying in the sun with me. Thanks Carla for a great stay! :)

Recommended for: girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 4 / 5

Fantastic Stay!!

stabo (Sitka, AK USA)
Review submitted: March 17, 2011   Date of arrival: February 13, 2011

My stay in the Garden Suite was absolutely perfect! Carla was friendly and accommodating in every way. The Garden Suite was clean and charming. I really enjoyed being able to keep a few groceries on hand and prepare meals in the kitchen.

I intend on returning to the area and I will definitely stay here again! I felt like I arrived as a guest and left with as a friend. Thank you so much, Carla!

See you soon!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Great get away

Jah (Escondido)
Review submitted: February 14, 2011   Date of arrival: February 11, 2011

My husband and I went to Montecito and stay at Carla's studio. We both enjoy our visit so much. We do not want to leave at all. You will feel like you are in a small, secluded town that have all luxury stores next doors. We woke up in the morning and only one exit away, we enjoy breakfast with great coffee. We had a chance to walk around the neighborhood, and we love it. If we go back to Santa Barbara, we will definitely stay at Carla's again. We love Montecito....

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

Our stay at the Garden Suite was sweet!

Review submitted: June 6, 2010   Date of arrival: May 17, 2010

Our stay at the Garden Suite was sweet! The accomodation exceeded our expectations. Lingering with a cup of tea in the garden, sunning by the pool, and driving through Montecito enjoying the neighborhood were all reasons why we will return in the fall.

Thanks for the hospitality!
JC

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Unforgettable!

loojer (Norwalk, CA)
Review submitted: June 1, 2010   Date of arrival: May 21, 2010

I imagined the studio to be larger than it actually was. You enter through a private gate. Be sure to go to the big sliding gate, versus the small gate with the intercom. There are windy roads and a lot of uphill driving to get to this vacation rental. The amenities are sufficient, and the only sink available is the bathroom sink. The property is very clean and quiet, which is ideal for couples. The owner is very friendly. There was a blackout due to strong winds at approximately 10:30PM, so we called the owners, and they quickly brought us a rechargable nightlight and a flash light. It's very easy to get in touch with her. The drive from Montecito to Santa Barbara is approximately 10 minutes away, so it's a nice place just outside the city limits of SB. Try "SAKANA", which is a sushi restaurant on Coast Village. The owners provide a list of restaurants in your room also. For free sight seeing, I went to the bird refuge on cabrillo, franceschi park, Stearns Wharf and the courthouse in downtown SB.

Recommended for: sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Montecito cozy cottage

plauenm (Scottsdale,AZ)
Review submitted: May 19, 2010   Date of arrival: May 11, 2010

pleasant stay at this charming compound,cute and cozy
and the owner is a delight,close to upper and lower village and to Beach
will definetely visit again soon

Recommended for: girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 3 / 3

Excellent Vacation Rental

Suzanne S (Tucson, AZ, USA)
Review submitted: April 27, 2010   Date of arrival: April 17, 2010

We were upgraded to the largest cottage which made our stay even more awesome. The property is very well kept and as great as the pictures we saw online. We were there for a week. We found it to be enchanting and exceeded all expectations!!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Garden Suite | Splendid Montecito

kellyannart (san francisco)
Review submitted: April 13, 2010   Date of arrival: April 7, 2010

Fabulous, Relaxing, Pool & Jacuzzi on Beautiful Grounds | Go and Relax!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 7 / 7