We booked this beautiful home for my parents to stay in for a 3 months 'trip of a lifetime' all the way from the UK. All the organizing and planning happened in January 2020 and Matt and Gloria were extremely responsive to all our emails and questions. Then Covid 19 hit and my parents trip was put in jeopardy because travel between the UK and USA was due to be cancelled 2 days before my parents were supposed to fly out. We managed to get them an earlier flight so they could arrive in the USA before the deadline and Matt and Gloria were amazing and basically made it possible for my parents to move in to the house 5 days early. What followed was a life enhancing 3 months of pure bliss for my parents and my family. During a time of lockdown and uncertainty we created our own little bubble. I stayed for a few nights when I delivered weekly groceries to my parents so they didn't have to go to any grocery stores. My parents are wonderful cooks and they both love preparing and making gourmet meals. They both felt right at home in the very well equipped kitchen and when using the outdoor grill. Being able to eat most of their meals outside in the garden surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees (and with the sound of the breaking surf in the distance) more than made up for the fact that all the restaurants and cafes were closed. The rest of the house was very bright and spacious with a lovely large TV room/Lounge and very comfortable sofa's and chairs. The bookshelves are well stocked with many books, photos and ornaments which give the house a very warm, homely feel. Two of the bedrooms have partial views of the ocean and you can hear waves from all of them. All of the beds were super comfy!! So I've saved the best for last - the beach!! This home is a 2 minute walk to the stairs that lead down to this world class beach. My parents walked on this beach, twice a day, everyday for their whole stay. My Mum, who has had 2 knee replacements and 1 hip replacement started off being able to walk 1/2 mile a day and ended her trip walking 4 miles everyday! Just amazing! I feel so grateful that my parents were able to stay here during this really stressful time in the world. They were safe, they were exceedingly happy and they were close to me, something I haven't had since I moved to America 18 years ago. A huge thank you to Matt and Gloria for sharing their little slice of heaven with us! We can't wait to come back again!

My husband and I planned a Carmel Thanksgiving getaway and chose this house based on location, little realizing how perfect it would be in every way! From the moment we first communicated with warm and accessible hosts Gloria and Matt, we felt pampered. (The welcome basket was an unexpected sweet and thoughtful touch.) The location is indeed perfect, a very short walk to the breathtaking beach-top path. The shops and restaurants in town are also very nearby, and Matt's tips on where to dine and shop, as well as options for outings, were quite helpful. The house is meticulously maintained while retaining its early 20th century charm and coziness. Beds and bedrooms were super comfortable. (We used the 2 upstairs rooms for our kids for Thanksgiving weekend, which was no issue for the hosts even though we had initially said we were only 2 people. ) We mostly hung out in the beautifully upgraded kitchen, but a few nights we settled into the living room in front of the big screen TV. We only had a few warm sunny days to take advantage of the country-style patio with its surrounding garden, so we will just have to come back to take more advantage of that! The house is well equipped in the kitchen and also with items one needs for young kids. Wifi and all appliances all functioned quite well. Carmel-by-the-Sea is a wonderful place to unwind in a calm and gorgeous setting. Can't wait to get back to this place with friends or family!

We feel so fortunate to have found this lovely home and to have been able to spend the month of October there. The owners, Matt and Gloria, could not have been more kind, thoughtful, considerate and friendly in their communication. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the house and property are considerable larger than they appear in the photographs. The corner lot is graciously landscaped, with a variety of mature trees and flowering bushes, well-tended and maintained during our stay by the friendly crew of landscapers. We ate most of our daylight meals outside on the large patio. The house itself is spacious, bright, well-furnished and exceedingly comfortable, with a first-floor master bedroom that has a partial view of the ocean and, with its windows open, brings in the sound of the waves - an incredibly pleasurable way to wake up. The kitchen held everything we needed and more - glassware, cooking utensils, plates, cutlery, etc. The most wondrous factor is the location, the primary reason we chose this house, and a continuous source of reward and pleasure. We were a literal two-minute walk from Carmel Beach, an indescribable wonder of North America, a marvel of grace on earth, a life-giving source of joy and beauty. We did not miss a single sunset, and returned to walk it every morning. To call the beach 'dog friendly' is an understatement. It is Dog Paradise. One of our two, who is 13, and who had had some difficult recent years, became young again, seeming to be half her age. The beach is also as close to human paradise as anything I know. Town is a short stroll and there were days when we didn't need the car at all. To be able to walk back through the quiet and dark streets after dinner was a great pleasure. We are looking forward to renting the house again. It felt like home.

We recently spent a month at Crane House and the overall experience was mixed. The home is located in Carmel's Golden Rectangle within easy walking distance of both the beach and village restaurants and shopping. The location is clearly the highlight of the property. Unfortunately, the home trades on that highlight and is lacking in local management and missing many basic amenities and conveniences. It ultimately feels like a beach house that is collectively owned by a group of siblings who are not willing to invest in it. Furniture is old and mismatched, kitchen amenities were lacking, the home had no iron or ironing board, bedrooms are small with extremely limited closet space, plumbing is old and leaky, there is no true master suite, etc. There was also no check-in process or house manual.. We simply arrived with a door code...were never met by anyone..and that was it. The owner does not employ a local property manager to help with any issues so you are left with issues that go unaddressed. We reported leaky faucets and a toilet that would not stop running and it was not fixed in the weeks that followed. Upon our arrival the home had not been properly cleaned and put back together. Towels were in the washer and dryer, dishwasher was full of dirty dishes, food was left in the refrigerator. The experience could have been improved with the hiring of a property manager, a better cleaning crew, and some minor investment in updating the home.

Best. Getaway. Ever. We LOVED the Crane House in the magical Carmel-by-the-Sea! The owners were friendly, responded immediately to all our questions, and are warm, gracious hosts. EASY ACCESS. Give yourself, friends and family, the treat of an easy get-away from the hustle of the Bay Area. If you avoid rush hour, it’s just 1.5 hours from the office in SF/Palo Alto to the front door of the Crane House. And another 2-minute walk to the glorious beach. EVERYTHING YOU NEED. The newly renovated kitchen has an expansive view into the garden patio and cheerful décor so we elected to spend time cooking together. You can prep the appetizers and enjoy an aperitif at the high-top island, while the chef-for-the-day cooks at the gas-top stove. There’s also a full-sized Weber BBQ on the patio, as well as table, chairs and lounges, which we used on our first evening to enjoy wine & cheese before walking to the Village for dinner at the popular French bistro, La Bicyclette. Be sure to make reservations and order the pizza, which belongs on the Food Network show “Best. Pizza. Ever.”—do not miss it! HANGING OUT. The cozy living room is perfect for group activities—playing board games, sharing stories, and watching the Warriors on the flat-panel TV. The WiFi worked well throughout the home, including the patio, and the sound system gave us all a little musical boost. The beds were comfortable and bedrooms quiet. The entire home is tastefully decorated with the original owner’s sculptures and current owner’s gorgeous photography. LOCATION! What’s more, the Crane House is located in the Golden Triangle – a few blocks from all the restaurants and cute shops on Ocean Avenue and a short block from the breath-taking Carmel beach. Every morning began, and every evening ended with a walk on that beautiful white-sand beach. We also took meandering walks through the neighbourhood, past Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch, to the Carmel Mission. Along the way we took in the original artist/Carmel cottage architecture and landmarks like the Frank Lloyd Wright Walker House. SO MUCH TO DO…OR NOT! The beach is host to walkers, joggers, families, and lots of frolicking dogs (also welcome in many of the restaurants). There’s surfing, boogie boarding, and tide-pooling. The world-renown Pebble Beach golf course sits on the bluff above. There’s plenty to do in Carmel, the Highlands, Monterey, and Big Sur. https://www.carmelchamber.org/ We can't wait to return!

This was our second stay in Crane House and even though the weather was pretty rainy compared to our prior visit it didn't dampened our fun and appreciation for Carmel. We live beside the Atlantic Ocean in the Boston area so it was especially thrilling to walk along the Pacific Ocean each morning with our coffee. Carmel beach with its surfers, dogs, joggers, and international flavor never disappoints. Our grandchildren played endlessly in the sand and it was easy to cart them back and forth - only two blocks! The house works well for a family as the old folk can be downstairs with their own bathroom and the younger generations can live upstairs. However, on rainy days there really is no where to escape except the master bedroom. The living room is spacious and comfortable and the garden is lovely - full of flowering plants even in February! The kitchen works well with a gas stove and big sink and you can eat informally there or enjoy a fancier meal around the elegant dining room table. My husband and I spent most of the month alone in the cottage and it was cozy, warm, and wonderfully light. Our favorite walk was down Carmelo, around Carmel Point to the River Beach and back on Scenic enjoying the sunset - a perfect way to end the day!

We recently had a wonderful vacation at this perfectly located house in Carmel-by-the-Sea. My husband and I were there with our two adult children, and the accommodations were ideal. We had peaceful breakfasts on the patio, surrounded by beautiful plantings. We went for breathtaking walks each day. We walked into the main part of town for breakfast out and browsing at the Carmel Art Association gallery. We had dinners around the ample family table, played games, caught some baseball and a movie or two on TV and had excellent wifi access when we needed it. At night, we could hear the surf from our bedroom. The house is spacious, comfortable and homey, enhanced by the beautiful artwork and photographs on the walls. The owners are responsive and make communication easy. Carmel is a special place, and this house is situated to enjoy it all. We were a 10 minute drive from spectacular Pt. Lobos. We could walk to downtown Carmel in ten minutes. Walking to the beach took less than five minutes. One evening, we were finishing dinner at 8:15, saw that the sun was setting at 8:23, and ran down the lane to the beach in time to witness the whole beautiful sunset over the Pacific. We heartily recommend this house for your next Carmel getaway!

My husband and I spent a delightful weekend at this Carmel retreat. If you enjoy walking, cycling, hiking, swimming you can have it all while staying at this lovely home. It's a five minute walk to the beach and the sunsets are spectacular. The house is spacious and beautifully decorated without feeling cluttered. In warm weather the large terrace provides another room for dining, lounging, etc. The kitchen is large enough to cook a big meal without tripping over your sous chef, and the bedrooms are quite comfortable and quiet. Many good restaurants and opportunities for shopping are a ten to fifteen minute walk away which is delightful because parking in downtown Carmel can be challenging. We look forward to returning with friends, as this spacious home can easily accomodate four to six people while maintaining a fair amount of privacy. The sights of Monterey and Carmel Valley are a short drive away.

Wonderful month in Carmel! Exactly as shown on web site! Best location, half block from beach,easy walk to town. All of my family loved it. Great memories! Thank you

Upon our arrival at the Crane House last week-end we took a very short walk ( two blocks) to the beach where we strolled along the ocean front path- watching the sunset over the Pacific. Later, we took a ten minute walk up to the hub of Carmel where we ate at Luca's Restaurant. It was simple and easy to take advantage of the shopping, galleries and other great places to eat without having to get in our car once all week-end. The yard is beautifully landscaped, a delightful place to relax while drinking our morning coffee or pre-dinner glass of wine. The interior is cozy, warm and artfully decorated with original photographs and prints. The large screen TV and sound system were appreciated as well. Though we were there with one other couple, it would be a wonderful place for a family to stay as well since one of the upstairs bedrooms has two double beds in a room that faces the ocean side of the house. But what ever room you sleep in, the sound of the ocean can be heard if you decide to open the windows. The owners are very friendly and clearly interested in maintaining their property. The kitchen is well stocked with good quality equipment. I have recommended this vacation home to my friends and family, not just because of the house itself, but because it is so well located within Carmel. Some of the most spectacular parts of the Northern California coastline including Pt. Lobos, Big Sur and Carmel Valley are all within an hour drive or so from this lovely home.

This lovely home has ocean views, classy touches and many creature comforts. We enjoyed family time together eating at the gorgeous formal dining table (beautiful leather seating for 10) after making meals together in the large kitchen, relaxing on the well-appointed couches in the stately living room after meals out, barbecuing in the beautifully-landscaped yard while reclining on high-end lawn furniture and sipping cocktails, and taking in the sea breeze through the many windows (well-ventilated!) after hikes on the beach a block away and after adventuring at point lobos. The washer/dryer sure made the experience a quality one! The master suite on the ground level makes this a particularly pleasant opportunity for families with aging (grand)parents to enjoy the house despite difficulties with stairs. the master suite and one of the upstairs bedrooms both have good ocean views... What a difference a month in Carmel made on our life perspective!

My wife and I had a great time staying at this house. It was a great location, so close to the water and the shops in Carmel. We will certainly look for this house next time we head to Monterey!