The Boxwood Experience
By Sea…
Reviews
Hello fellow travelers! When I first reviewed this property I was a little concerned-I mean how many properties get ALL 5’s in EVERY review? Well, this one does and let me tell you it is well deserved. We have done many VRBO’s and BNB’s and while never disappointed, this one takes the cake! Immediately on your arrival you are greeted in person by Lori-who is fab, along with all kinds of welcoming extras, like cake, wine, cheese, muffins-wow. All the bedrooms, bath and kitchen are fully equipped. And you get the feeling of a welcoming, relaxed, yet luxury, while right at “home”. I was SO glad we did not stay right in San Fran. (but that’s just 30-45 minutes away). Half Moon Bay is close, yet far away from the city life. The Coast is grand. Ano Neuve park with the Elephant Seals (Dec-Apr) was a great bonus, Half Moon Brewery is a nice way to enjoy the sail boats in the harbor over a local brew and lunch, recommend Sam’s Chowder for a special night out. And it’s all really close to this terrific property. Blankets even provided to sit out on the patio in the nice backyard. They have thought of every thing! Hosts were quick to respond to all my questions previous to the rental. And we had NO issues while there. Lori was very accommodating to our early check out. Would positively stay here again. If I could give it more than a 5 rating, we certainly would. The 6 of us were all completely satisfied.
A.R.
Vermont
I had a wonderful time. Not only is the house spacious, it is also equipped with everything that could be needed, from dishes, a washing machine and dryer, to extra towels and blankets, the most tasty chocolate cake (upon arrival), fruit, coffee, tea etc. I also appreciated the music selection a lot. The garden is the perfect location to soak up the sun all day. A lot of care and love went into the refurbishment of the property, and this was felt in every corner of it. It is also perfectly located to access the beach and Quarry Park. Several restaurants are close (Sam’s Chowder House, the Japanese place “Monster Chef”, and Barbara’s Fish trap can definitely be recommended). I can fully recommend the house to everyone who would like to relax in Half Moon Bay.
S.D.
Minnesota
As soon as you cross the doorstep of this house you get a hint of a perfect world, where you are personally welcome with a bottle of wine, crackers and cheese waiting for you, in a superb living room inviting you to relax. Rooms and bathrooms are matching those of a five stars hotel: comfortable beds, fine bed sheets, lush towels and bath robes, like you always dream to have when you travel. The house is just few minutes walk away from the beaches and long paths along the sea side, and as we stayed there late December we also had long evening to enjoy cooking in the nicely equipped kitchen, or reading by the fireplace one of the rare and carefully chosen old books. A nice experience!
J.P.
France
We spent several weeks here in the winter and couldn’t have been more comfortable. Every amenity you can think of was available to us, in fact they are more well stocked than my actual house. The thoughtful touches are many: Cake, coffee, and s’mores upon arrival. There are book, magazines, a child’s playhouse in the yard, fire pit, heat lamps, grill, outside blankets, bicycles, picnic stuff–everything to make you stay comfortable. Our favorite part was the proximity to the beach. Every single day it didn’t rain, we walked by the beach or rode the bikes. There are several charming unpretentious seaside restaurants all less than an 1.5 mile walk. Famous “Sam’s Chowder House” with it’s unending crowds was easily accessible to us since we could walk there and didn’t have to fight the parking scarcity. Old Princeton Landing was a grittier surf bar that made awesome from scratch food (and oddly enough had the best Acai’ bowls on the coast) and had bands on the weekend, a patio, and no lack of surfers. Miramar restaurant had spectacular views and old school super specials on Thursday. We enjoyed Cloud 9 foot massage that also offered regular massages for incredible prices and the Oceana Coastal Spa that was a little more plush and pricey, but more like a traditional Spa. Take a quick drive to Moss Beach–there is a short looped walk there through Cypress trees that has spectacular views of the ocean and on one end (depending on the season) the birthing grounds for hundreds of seals. Location: 30-40 minutes to the North you are in San Francisco, 30 minutes over the mountains and you have great little towns for shopping and dining–Burlingame, San Mateo, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, 2 hours South to Monterey and Carmel. 2 hours north-east Napa, Sonoma 3 hours north-east- Tahoe It is a great base location for exploring the Northern coast and cities of this area. This review is getting really long, but I wanted to share this homes great qualities with you. Last but not least is Lorri, the home’s caretaker and check in host. She is great to work with and very professional. She truly treats this house as her own and really cares if you are comfortable and have everything you need. The homes owners, Glenn and Theresa take meticulous care of this house and it should be a showpiece of beach houses everywhere. We were really sad to leave.
S.B.
Chicago
First, when we checked in for our stay, we were surprised to be greeted with a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers, a cake, and croissants for morning! We arrived late and it was nice to be able to settle in and not need to run out right away for supplies. The home is beautifully decorated and so comfortable. This house made a perfect base for our family of 5, which includes 3 kids- a15yo and 10yo boy/girl twins. We went hiking, visited Stanford, and rode Segways in Santa Cruz (there’s a place there that allows 10year olds), among other things. It was so nice to know that every evening we would be returning to a home where the beds are comfortable, the house is clean, there are lush towels and bathrobes, and activities for the kids. The patio and yard space were perfect for evening fun. Even though it was chilly in the evening, we were out there every night. Between the heat lamp, fire pit and fuzzy blankets, it was easy to stay warm and enjoy the evening. The kids had plenty of room to kick a ball around and, after dinner, they were delighted to make s’mores with the supplies that were left for us in the pantry. This is one of the nicest VRBOs that I have come across. Teresa & Glenn, thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.
C.R.
Texas
Most gorgeous home you can stay in. Literally like a Coastal Living magazine. I felt like a queen. First place I’m looking at if I need another stay in HMB. I never wanted to leave the house. Ugh, so amazing. Thank you for the delicious cake, fruits and the beautiful orchids. Till next time!
J.G.
California