I have rented many VRBOs in the past and this rental deserves 5 stars; HOWEVER, there are a few details that need mentioning.
The details that matter most were great: super clean, great location, new comfortable clean furniture, comfortable beds with soft sheets, the kitchen came with decent pots and pans and plenty of dishes, glasses, coffee mugs, etc., easy check in, speedy wi-fi, and the parking spot was also wonderful. I thought it would be annoying with the only bathroom downstairs and the two bedrooms upstairs, but the rooms were only a short stair case away; it was fine. Also, it is just a cute beach cottage and there are not many small, cute cottages left on Balboa Island.
The HOWEVER comes from small details that can matter to some people. For instance, this cute cottage has unnecessary, stained curtains everywhere and some of the screens are torn. The shower caddy is rusted and broken. The top bunk has a ladder built into the footboard, which is inaccessible because it is pushed up against a wall. In order to use the top bunk, my son had to step on the bottom mattress, put a foot on the side table, and hike himself over the bars-not ideal. And, the bathroom could really use a new vanity.
These are small fixes the owner should really look into, but as far as my stay went, these details were nonconsequential. Bottom line: I would stay here again...we loved it!
