The outside of this property is absolutely breathtaking. Would stay again and recommend to anyone we know. If you're looking for a property that offers peace and tranquility, this is it. The infinity pool and hot tub was relaxing. The decor of each bedroom was spot on. Only wish all the bedrooms had tvs. But with the pool table and all the different outside sitting areas we survived.

Our expectations for a one week vacation were really high based on the photos and reviews, and Lea & John’s home exceeded expectations. Beautiful architecture, tastefully decorated throughout, and the outside areas are stunning. We enjoyed the pool and spa every day, and the gardens are peaceful and ornate. Our group of ten spanned three generations and everyone had a blast. Also more than enough room. The views never get old. Highly recommended.

Our expectations for a one week vacation were really high based on the photos and reviews, and Lea & John’s home exceeded expectations. Beautiful architecture, tastefully decorated throughout, and the outside areas are stunning. We enjoyed the pool and spa every day, and the gardens are peaceful and ornate. Our group of ten spanned three generations and everyone had a blast. Also more than enough room. The views never get old. Highly recommended.

To say this property is spectacular is an understatement!! Besides the fantastic interior which is perfectly furnished, there are views for days. We never got tired of just relaxing and gazing at the mountains, the lake and the pool. The pictures don’t do this home justice. Our family of 9, which included 5 adults and 4 children were more than comfortable in the five bedrooms. The owners Lea and John go above and beyond, you will be so happy if you vacation at Villa de la Cuesta ! The Shuford Family New Orleans area

This was definitely the most beautiful vacation home we have ever stayed in. It was like having your own personal resort. The pool and views were gorgeous! We didn’t believe the home could live up to the property’s pictures, but it did and then some . It was the perfect family get away. My husband and I were traveling with our two adult children and their significant others. Everyone had a great time. Lea and John, the hosts were very attentive and made us feel right at home. We cannot wait to return!

This was definitely the most beautiful vacation home we have ever stayed in. It was like having your own personal resort. The pool and views were gorgeous! We didn’t believe the home could live up to the property’s pictures, but it did and then some . It was the perfect family get away. My husband and I were traveling with our two adult children and their significant others. Everyone had a great time. Lea and John, the hosts were very attentive and made us feel right at home. We cannot wait to return!

To say this property is spectacular is an understatement!! Besides the fantastic interior which is perfectly furnished, there are views for days. We never got tired of just relaxing and gazing at the mountains, the lake and the pool. The pictures don’t do this home justice. Our family of 9, which included 5 adults and 4 children were more than comfortable in the five bedrooms. The owners Lea and John go above and beyond, you will be so happy if you vacation at Villa de la Cuesta ! The Shuford Family New Orleans area

The Lake Hodges home is beautiful both inside and out. The architecture, the beautiful multi-level gardens, the furnishings, the well-appointed kitchen, the outdoor BBQ & pizza oven, and the infinity-edge pool are lovely and created a spectacular setting for a wonderful family vacation. Leah the owner, is kind and thoughtful (she welcomed us with warm banana bread and a beautiful cheese plate!). Do not hesitate to book this home for your next vacation. We will definitely rent this home in the future.

We rented this home with the intention of being close to nature and surrounded by natural beauty — everything about this residence delivered on those wishes! Probably some of the most beautiful gardens we have ever seen, we spent most of our time outside enjoying the landscape, the pool with its sensational views, and our children loved making pizzas in the brick oven— multiple times!! Everything you could want to make a gourmet meal is on site in the kitchen, and we found the home cozy and perfect for our family of four, while we worked remotely during the days. Would return in a heartbeat.

We could not have had a better stay at Lea and John's spectacular property. Lea showed extreme care and thoughtfulness--from our very first pre-check in conversation through the end of our 3.5 week stay. When we arrived we found a delicious homemade banana bread waiting for us, still warm from the oven-- such a wonderful touch after our very long drive down from the Bay Area! And Lea had even arranged for Father's Day balloons to be waiting for my husband, since she knew we would be arriving on that day. The house was spotless, with extra thoughtful touches during Covid-19, like a table supplied with Clorox wipes where we could wipe down any packages or groceries. The interior is spacious-- with plenty of room for our pre-teen and teen, my mother, and the two of us to spread out. My husband and I were both working during this trip, and the wifi was excellent, with ample desk and other space for us to take video conference calls and other meetings. The kitchen had everything we could have asked for and more, which is important as I love to cook. I especially appreciated the wide supply of spices, condiments and oils/vinegars so that I didnt have to re-buy all of that stuff!Finally-- and maybe best of all...the OUTDOOR SPACE. Just incredible. Truly spectacular views out over Lake Hodges-- we could look at that vista all day and never get tired of it (and we did!). Wonderful pool area, that the kids loved, a lovingly maintained garden filled with wonderful 'secret sitting areas' as my daughter called them, and an amazing outdoor kitchen and wood fired pizza oven, that made for several incredible family cooking nights. Lea and John were responsive and clearly cared deeply about sharing their wonderful home with us-- and we could not be more grateful! Thank you so much for such a lovely, much needed respite!!!!Alle and David

This home was elegantly beautiful with stunning, uninhibited views. All rooms are very spacious with plenty of room to be all alone or altogether. This home is very inviting with wonderful spaces both inside and out. Well tended landscaping with a lovely assortment of native plants and fruit trees all makes it feel like more than just a place to stay. Short, easy drive to San Diego and the ocean makes this place well worth the time it takes to get to either. Lasting family memories made.

This was the most beautiful vacation home our family of nine has ever stayed in, hands down!It was like having our own private resort--the spacious sitting areas both indoor & outdoor, perfectly placed built-in outdoor BBQ grill & pizza oven, the massive kitchen, beautifully furnished bedrooms with private baths and very comfortable beds (which is a must), the infinity pool and hot tub area, and that amazing view overlooking Lake Hodges, WOW! I've stayed at the Montage in Laguna Beach and this home felt like my own personal version of it--everything was high-end. Our family planned to visit San Diego and do various activities but once we got there, we spent most of of our time at the house. No one wanted to leave! There's a Costco and Sprouts just 10-15 minutes away and once the shopping was done, it was nothing but great home cooked meals (in a kitchen that had everything you needed) and lounging around poolside with the family. By the way there's a great indoor/outdoor sound system that kept the ambiance just perfect. The entire week we were there, we never got tired of the view. If you think the picture is amazing, just wait till you get in the hot tub and look over the infinity pool--you'll not want to leave the house either. I've rented many different vacation homes in the past and this one is now our family favorite. We will definitely be coming back! Thanks Lea for sharing your beautiful home with us and helping our family create some amazing memories! John, Hannah, and Family

WOW! We are coming back is the best testament to be given! A perfect Family getaway reunion. We felt at ease in this beautifully decorated home with all the special touches. AS a professional chef, the gourmet kitchen and outside cooking oven & grill was amazingly fun to prepare special meals for the entire family. Need we even speak about the pool and spa? Let alone the breath taking view that photos do no justice. Why need "any" ocean view with this in comparison. Merci to the host owners for the support in helping to heat the pool in the odd May SoCal weather. The sound system is great once you figure out how it works best for you:) We did not want to leave, but are returning!

From the owners to the house to the views to the location, we couldn’t have picked a more perfect place for our spring break location. My only hesitation in offering a review is that it increases the odds the property will be booked when we want to come back. To whomever it concerns, you can’t go wrong in choosing this property for some rest and relaxation.

Quiet neighborhood, gracious house, lovely view

Lea and Jon are great! So kind and accommodating from beginning to end. Lea even made us a loaf of pumpkin bread that was to die for! The house is even more beautiful in person and so comfortable. Everything about the house is perfect. We did so much hiking and exploring in the mornings and evenings and the neighborhood is amazing! Because we went in November, we didn’t get to fully enjoy the pool but the hot tub was spot on. Lea and Jon did their best to keep the pool as warm as possible and we really appreciated it. Thank you again for all your kindness and making your home available to us :)

Thanks to Lea and John for opening their beautiful home to our family! Villa de la Cresta was everything we imagined it would be and more. As beautiful as the photos are, the home is even more impressive in person. We were in San Diego for our daughter's wedding and had many functions to attend during the week. We plan to visit again when we can spend more time at the Villa!

We just returned from a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable week in this beautiful home. The views are even more amazing than pictures can capture, and each day we continued to be amazed at the landscaping and beautiful views. The home is very comfortable, spacious and has all the amenities you could possibly need in a vacation home. We had a lot of fun hosting a pizza pool party for our family, and the kids really enjoyed the pool. We look forward to returning to this property for another great vacation soon. Thank you for sharing it :)

Let me start off by saying that as I’m writing this, I wish I was back in Escondido, CA looking at Lake Hodges from the pool! This year, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and I was looking for a home that could sleep 10 people comfortably. As I researched homes, I struck by the views of the ‘backyard’. I also noticed all of the positive reviews and decided to reserve the home for the week. Upon my arrival, Lea greeted us with an anniversary balloon and cake for my parents. The five bedrooms were more than enough for my family. Four of the five bedrooms had their own bathrooms which allowed everyone their privacy. There’s also an extra sofa bed that was just as comfortable as the bedrooms. As we toured the house, I was struck by the layout and furnishings of the home. Pictures do not convey the beauty of the home. There are hand painted murals on the walls,a self playing piano, Sonos throughout the house and the backyard is spectacular. Behind the pool, there are walking paths with multiple seating areas with beautiful landscaping. We spent most of the time outside sitting by the pool and using the gas barbecue grill. We did use the fully stocked kitchen on some nights including the toaster, microwave and coffee maker. The house also has filtered water so no need for bottled water. On Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, the lake is open for boating and kayaking. We rented kayaks in the morning and enjoyed the peaceful time on the lake. I highly recommend this home. It’s not far from all of the typical San Diego attractions such as the zoo, Seaworld and Petco park and very close to Safari park. Del Mar beach and Torrey Pines golf course are also worth a visit. There is a mall close by with many restaurants and multiple supermarkets around the area. Reserve now, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to go back!

I have to start by making two points very clear: (1) my family and I are well-traveled vacationers, and our favorite type of vacation is renting a nice home in a picturesque location; and (2) I don't write reviews...never. My thinking had always been that since we typically stay at highly-rated homes--already with many reviews--my feedback would be lost in the noise of many other favorable reviews. That said, it would be an absolute shame not to share my feedback on what was my family's favorite vacation to date. Truly, this home has everything and more that a family (large or small) could want out of a vacation, from the pool (heated, well maintained, and with all of the amenities), to the views (second to none), to the location (15 minutes to the SD Zoo Safari Park, 40 minutes to the airport, 30 minutes to the beach, just up the hill from a great park with hiking and biking trails, and despite the home's seclusion, only five minutes to a nice mall and restaurants). However, what makes all of this even more compelling are the owners, who greeted my family and me with freshly baked pumpkin bread, homemade lemonade, and fresh pineapple. On top of that, they were incredibly helpful at all hours of the day and night with questions and recommendations about restaurants, activities, and the area in general. The pictures don't (they can't) do it justice, as it is a home that has to be seen and experienced to be appreciated, and it is one we can't wait to appreciate again!

If you've already read the other 5 star reviews, they're all true. The view is amazing and the custom built house is incredible as well. Lea is an awesome person and was super helpful our entire stay. But! If you're like me and had a 100 homes to look at while trying to find a place to vacation, here are somethings I don't see people talking about a lot when reviewing this place: - Pool. Just like everyone is saying, the pool is great. But the absolute killer feature is that it's heated via solar. That means you can use the pool at virtually anytime and you won't freeze when you first drop in. The water was always comfortable temperature wise, night or day. Also, it's a salt water pool so you don't feel like you had a chemical bath when you get out. - Hot tub The hot tub heats up super quick and is easy to work. - Walking trail There's a long nature trail past the pool on the property as well. Almost as if a lunatic was in charge of planting everything, there are probably a 100 types of plants on this trail with a different plant every few feet. It's super impressive and a great way to stretch your legs a bit. - Privacy/noise Looking at a Google Map of the place, it looks like you're in a typical noisy/busy suburb. Nope! The place is absolutely whisper quiet and we encountered almost no cars on the road. The only time we heard anything at all, was when they were doing a bike race down at the lake (which was awesome). The only time you can see a neighbor is if you go out of your way to look and judge their backyards versus yours. If this place is in your budget, you can't go wrong.