BEWARE OF BOOKING HERE. I'll echo the reviews made earlier. I had stayed in the Serenisea cabin on the bluff years ago. When I called the Serenisea number to book the specific "cabin on the bluff", I was misled by the owner and booked into their Cabin 6. The cabin that I actually wanted - Cabin 5 - is "on" the Serenisea grounds but NOT managed by the Serenisea owners! I canceled my Thanksgiving reservation in JULY, but the Serenisea owners - citing a reservation agreement that I never received, reviewed, nor agreed to - charged me a $20 "reservation fee" and would not refund it. Stay at your own risk. read more

We stayed a few nights in Cabin #1, a place with a view so fine it almost forgives the cabin for being what it is. The ocean rolls in and out like it has for centuries, the sunsets set the sky ablaze, and from the deck you can sit with a cup of something warm and feel, for a while, that you've made a good choice in life. There's space to stretch out, a sturdy dining table for a family feast, a comfy bed with plenty of heat to chase the chill, and firewood enough to kindle your pioneer spirit. They even take pets, which is a blessing if you can't bear to leave yours behind. But then you step inside and reality taps you on the shoulder. Cobwebs are woven into the corners like a decorator's flourish. Gnats--dead and alive--have taken up residence as if they too booked the cabin. The plumbing shrieks like a banshee, the fridge rumbles like a tractor and the handle is held together with duct tape, and the sink taps resist all attempts at courtesy. Cabin #1 is closer to the road, so you can hear the traffic because the windows are thin, and you stumble over steps where you didn't expect them. I found three fleas on me before the week was out, which made me wonder how many more were attending uninvited. The furnishings have that "estate sale bargain" charm. Doors stick, blinds are grimy, and the bathroom floor has known better decades. Even outdoors, many large trees stand dead and brittle, gutters choke with leaves, and plants have gone the way of all flesh. Hospitality, too, was a little tepid--more nod than embrace. There was no coffee, tea, or sugar waiting, and when you leave, you're asked to strip the beds, fold the blankets, and take out the trash. Internet and phone service wander off and don't come back. So here it is: a cabin in a glorious location, blessed with views you'll carry with you, and cursed with upkeep that seems to have been postponed indefinitely. If you can laugh at the quirks and overlook the fleas, you may just love it. If not, the ocean will still be there, magnificent and forgiving, even if the cabin isn't. read more

Do Not Stay Here!! Where to start? I thought it was weird when they snail mailed me a paper receipt of my $20 deposit and I should have trusted my spidey sense. But I didn't, upon arrival I noticed that distinct smell of electric heater and mold in the front office (another warning ignored) but I brushed it off, it's a little rainy and damp and there is a 16 year old dog in the main office trying to stay warm. Onto cabin 1. Entering: They don't lock doors here so it was unlocked, WTF is that smell? It's like bacon, smoke and maple syrup really strong and doesn't go away. The place itself looks put together and everything is wiped down but it's far from clean. There is dust and dirt on all the base boards. The linen and blankets look to be 30 years old (that smell though ) just a really old run down cabin. Oh.. the toilet doesn't flush, and there is no plunger the front desk person with the dog is long gone, didn't see them again. So now we have a indoor porta potty for a bathroom, the back deck from the living room which is shown on the website is torn apart with a caution sign written with a sharpie advising you not to go outside. No mention of that before I paid. Other slightly irritating things. The front door lock is a joke no deadbolt one good push with a shoulder and one could access the premises while you where out. The 40 year old fridge makes a constant high pitched ringing sound and the hot tub, it has an amazing view, but based on the condition of the cabin I really question the overall maintenance of the water and it's health in the hot tub. It had a very old school chlorine dispenser floaty for water cleanliness. After sitting in it the first day I developed a skin rash or possibly chem burn the hot tub was avoided after that. Also if you want to shower after sitting in the tub. I hope you are not over 6' because the showers is very small (I'm 6'2) but hey who doesn't love stooping down to rinse chlorine off while smelling the plugged toilet next to the shower. And this didn't actually become an issue because we stopped using the hot tub but who would we have gotten clean towels from if needed? The electrical as another review pointed out is highly questionable and because of the lock, electrical and skin issues a good nights sleep did not happen. (The beds are comfortable though) The back drop of the pacific and the land around here is amazing and I think that's why this place has been able to get away with it's sub par accommodations for so long. Full disclosure I choose this place over Airbnb because I thought I would be supporting a local business. But I can not support this and sooner than later something unfortunate will happen to a guest due to the dilapidated conditions. I've stayed in cabins in Tahoe, rented a cabin tent in Yosemite those experiences where rustic and charming this is neither. It's a run down dump. There isn't even anyone here that I can ask for a refund from. What this place really robs you of besides your money is your time, sure you will enjoy the beautiful scenery despite all the issues but in the back of your mind you are thinking about all the problems with this place which is why you wanted to do a getaway in the first place, to not have to deal with day to day BS and pay to have everything taken care of Don't stay here. . read more

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I hate to write this review because I have enjoyed visiting here for the past 20+ years, but this will be my last. This review is specifically about the Saunders Reef home, which I am sure if you look at prior reviews, mine won't be completely different. I am wishing I read these reviews prior to booking. To give credit where it is due, upon arrival the home seemed well enough. The views were amazing, the home layout is very nice and spacious with a very large kitchen. The fridge was very clean... that was about the only clean thing. When I went to use the small hallway bathroom, I noticed a smell of urine... strange... upon further inspection, I noticed the bath mat had an abundance of mouse droppings. Bingo, that's where the smell is coming from. Now I'm on edge and aware of this issue. I found multiple different areas with droppings, they kept appearing. Kitchen cabinets, in corners of the house, etc. I called. A nice lady answered and apologized, but did not offer any solution. Ok, fine. We are only here one more night. The next day, I arrive to drop off the key. I was asked how my stay was. I notified her again and in more detail of the problem. Excuses. That's all I was given. She even had the nerve to call me and inform me that I was wrong, it was bugs that the housekeeper found... yup. I saw those too, but I chose to ignore those. I now regret not taking any pictures. She tried to tell me given the location & time of year, these things happen sometimes, but this is the first time they have heard of a mouse problem. If you read previous reviews you would find that's a lie. I also lived in Gualala and worked at RCMS. I can say there were never mouse or bug issues at either place. Poor excuse. Be warned. If you have an issue, you will not get it resolved. You will not get a refund or discount. Stay at your own risk. I know I won't be. read more

LET THIS BE A WARNING TO YOU! After coming to Serenisea for many years, something finally happened that was so egregious that I knew I could not return. Many times I arrived to find something broken but I kept coming back for the awesome views, especially in the hot tub perched on the edge of a cliff and the low price of $125/night for Cabin #2. Once there was no hot water. Once the hot tub was broken. For about two years the living room heater was broken and he put a space heater in there. The shelves on the door of the refrigerator broke and it was never replaced. A couple burners on the electric stove stopped working. But because I love the beauty of the gorgeous spot and the quiet and tranquility I kept forgiving all the problems, until I couldn't. Here's what happened. I spent a fabulous day in Mendocino and returned to Serenisea around 6:00 to discover that my key wouldn't work in the lock. I spent a good half hour fiddling with it to no avail. I had planned to soak in the hot tub and then fix myself some dinner but I couldn't get into my cabin! The owner was not home - he lives on the property - so I decided to go get some dinner and maybe he'd be home when I returned. I went to the Thai restaurant in Anchor Bay, which is very good. I asked the people who worked there if anyone knew Jim who owns Serenisea and might have his mobile number. Someone did and texted him that I was locked out and gave him my number to call me. A very kind person who worked at the restaurant offered to come back with me and fiddle with the lock and key. We returned and he tried everything but to no avail. He confirmed that the lock was broken. He then left. So there I was at 9:00 at night locked out of my cabin where I had all my clothes, food, books, laptop, phone charger, sleep herbs, everything. The owner still hadn't returned or responded to the texts. There was no one else I could call. I was too tired to drive around at night looking for somewhere else to sleep. I discovered one of the four cabins was not rented out and was unlocked so I went in there and spent the night. I was awake all night worrying about what to do about the lock in the morning. I didn't know where the owner was. Was he dead? Lying in a ditch somewhere? In the morning I got up and sat in my car, where I could charge my phone and waited to see if someone would show up at the office at 9:00. Right on time his employee arrived. She was so sorry when I told her about being locked out. She said that the lock had been sticking recently but didn't realize how close it was to breaking. She tried all her tricks to jiggle the lock. Nothing worked. She even found YouTube videos of how to pick a lock but couldn't get anywhere. She said the owner had taken off overnight to go to a concert in SF. He left no number to call in case of emergency. I drove to both hardware stores in town to see if anyone knew of a local locksmith. I discovered the only locksmith in town was recovering from surgery and out of commission for a few days. Finally, the housekeeper's husband busted open the door through sheer force. I was able to collect my things, pack up my car and drive home. I was supposed to stay a third night but that broken lock put me through too much stress to want to stay there. I've watched it slowly deteriorate as Jim, now in his 70s, has let the property lapse, doing the most minimal upkeep. I kept thinking of it as rustic but worth it for the beauty and the low price. But this lock out was finally a deal breaker. I come up there to get away from stress - not to spend my time coping with more. I know Jim is burned out on the responsibility of caring for the place and will let it continue to break, shrugging off the problems and not caring about his guests' experience. He has told me as much. So, this is a warning. Things could go fine for you. Or a pipe could burst. A loose wire could start a fire. Things are gerry rigged together. I highly doubt that things are up to code. As the years have passed it has continued to worsen. The owner does not appear to care. He doesn't appear to care about the property and he doesn't appear to care care about you. The owner never called to apologize or offer any compensation for what happened. After staying there more than 50 times over many years I am shocked. read more

I love this place!!! It's in Gualala. Dog friendly!! I stayed in Cabin #1. It's a RUSTIC small cabin with 2 bedroom. It was clean. Great View of the ocean! It has a kitchen equipped coffee maker,refrigerator, microwave, stove. It has minimumal cooking pots, pans, & utensils. If you are going to cook, I suggest bringing your own cookware, spices, & zip lock bags, foil & Saran wrap. There plenty of places to eat near by! When you check out, you are responsible for stripping your linen, emptying the trash, cleaning up your dishes etc. Old school charm!!! You have to CALL to make your reservation! No wifi, cell service is spotty here! They do have a hot tub that over looks the ocean! Great place to relax & enjoy NATURE!! read more

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We stayed in the big house that sleeps 10. Beautiful area of he coast. Highly recomend you visit this part of highway 1 just stay somewhere else. The water smelled so bad if sulfur that we had to go to the nearest market and buy drinking water. Also, no one showered the whole weekend because they couldn't stomach the smell. And we found a couple of dead mice in the drawer below the oven. Nasty. Contacted the owner to ask for some sort of partial refund and he refused. read more

Serenisea - Guest Houses Near Me - Gualala, California

Moonstar Cottage was very problematic. the bed is just awful. It has a large hump in the middle, running head to foot, and consequently both sides slope down toward the floor. There is no flat space. Besides that the place is minimally ok. It has a half fridge, decent furniture, a fine bathroom and a gorgeous view. But it is RIGHT on the highway, there is no place to walk directly from the cottage and it is a 5-10 mile drive to a decent walking place. we left after one utterly miserable night. read more

This place needs to be shut down as I'm sure it has broken multiple violations. In hind site I should have called the sheriff right while the owner was standing right in front of me robbing us. Our cabin smelled like the carpet was once on fire and put out by buckets of water. The moldy burn smell is so bad that you cannot sleep because you feel sick to your stomach. We had to leave the windows open and try to keep warm but that is very difficult on the coast. As an example of how poorly things are done there we have photo's where electrical wires are sticking out of the wall capped off at the ends with yellow twist on connectors. Is that even up to code? My wife had just beat four brain surgeries the prior year, picked this place because we once loved it and needed to try to get back to celebrating life once again. But this was just such a horrible experience and Jim, the owner, wouldn't refund any portion of our money. He raised his voice and was shouting at me saying "it's fine, I stayed in there the other night and the smell is gone". When I told him that I would post the way I was treated and him shouting at me on social media he told me to "knock myself out!". "Do whatever makes you feel better but you're not getting a penny back!". I don't know of anyone who has been treated like this before. No one. I read another reviewer with a similar coupon experience as well. We also had a coupon to stay there three nights for the price of two that was NOT blocked out by certain dates. Jim basically shouted at me that he would not honor it because the employee who quoted my wife is no longer with the company and he could not verify it. After you travel there four hours (from where we live), arrive after the office is closed, tells you the next day that something was honored on the phone is no good!?! What!?! How many laws has this guy broken if not just the most unscrupulous person I've ever met. Don't ever give this guy/business an ounce of your time. There are better places to stay in Gualala with great people to meet. read more

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I was super excited to have a few days off, so my husband and I drove to Gualala to start our vacation. My aunt had raved about Serenisea and how wonderful it once was. I can say I am horribly disappointed, and I along with other yelpers agree that you should not waste your money here. We ended up paying close to $600 for 2 nights, the math didn't add up at all, seeing that the price we reserved was $235 a night still very expensive. We stayed in cabin #6. The pictures online are very deceiving. Our bathroom felt very unfinished. the grout and netting under the tile were exposed and half of the glass shower door was missing. The place didn't provide extra towels or blankets, which was a disappointment because it was really cold and the only thing on the bed was a thin sheet and thin comforter. The wifi is a joke, good luck getting any reception and hopefully you dont have anything important to work on. The owner didn't care one bit about anyone or their experience, heck the coffee maker didn't even have the right coffee filters with it, let alone coffee. The kettle on the stove was still filled with water from people before us and there were floaties in the water, there were boxers and shaving cream under one of the beds and I am not sure if the place is every cleaned. You are expected to clean up the place when you leave, no, not just pick up, actually clean, strip your sheets wash the counters, floors, bathrooms, etc. and there is a place in there that says if it isn't to their standards (which obviously aren't very high) you will be fined extra money. I am paying close to $300 a night and I have to be the maid too? And they don't even supply coffee? This was one of the worst coastal experiences I have ever had and advise you to not waste your time on such a dump. You wouldn't pay 235 for a camping spot right? read more

Stayed in Moonstar House. The view is amazing and the hot tub was great, but the house was dirty, cluttered, and poorly maintained. Space heaters didn't work, lightbulbs missing (not burned out... actually missing), not enough hot water, carpet was dirty, common areas were cluttered with junk and dust. read more

Spent a long weekend at one of the rental houses and loved every minute of it. Stayed in the Cove House, which is on the bluff's edge, fairly isolated and quiet (a plus, if you're looking to escape) except for some road noise closeby and has a KILLER view of the cove a kick ass hot tub that is pretty much on the edge of the bluff. Sunsets are gorgeous. Sit on the deck and just chill. Not windy b/c of the cove. Not a 5 star house, but cozy and fantastic for this city gal. Views are amazing, amazing, AMAZING!!!!!! The website pics do not do it justice. Also, I found the staff very nice (I was a bit wary based on some reviews). Not much to do in gualala, but it's perfect if you want to get the hell away from city craziness and hear the ocean waves crash and smell the fresh air. (Oh, get some brisket at Bones if you are in Gualala!!!) One thing to note: there are racoons at night, so close the screen door (esp in light of recent racoon attacks in Alameda and the racoons that tried to eat a baby in Georgia while she was in her crib). Those things are apparently smart and vicious. read more

Serenisea - View from the deck of Cove House (note: Cabin #5 is across the Cove--see right corner of the photo) - Guest Houses Near Me - Gualala, California

What a sweet, sweet place! This was THE perfect location to share my 75th birthday celebration with family and friends. For 5 fun days and 4 comfortable and cozy nights we were constantly content - hanging out, hiking, hot tubbing, scuba diving, hot tubbing, exploring, sunset gazing, watching our dogs enjoy their freedom all over the property, and of course hot tubbing during every sunset. I was expecting 'rustic' when I arrived, and I would have been fine with that, because the location looked like it would make up for any inconveniences. Happy to say, the place was SO much better than 'rustic.' Not fancy, but little touches (in the well equipped kitchens, in the bathrooms, and abundant firewood for the 2 cabins with wood burning fireplaces) showed that someone truly cares about the place and guests' positive experiences. This is the time of Covid, and none of us felt any concern at all that each unit was anything but spotlessly cleaned and made ready for us. My birthday was filled with happiness made all the better by the complete delight all of us felt at Serenisea. We're definitely thinking about commandeering the property again in March for another family member's birthday. Thank you Jim, and thank you Jeannine. read more

Serenisea - A little before sunset. Just. So. Beautiful. - Guest Houses Near Me - Gualala, California

My very wonderful and deeply loved friend Laurel F. and her family gave my husband and I the gift of a honeymoon at a cabin overlooking the ocean. She was anxious to know how it went. The view made me cry. We got there at sunset, and when I got out of the car, people, I wept. It was the kind of beautiful that you can't believe is happening to you. The little MoonStar cottage, which is a one-bedroom place two feet from a bluff that plunges its toes in the roiling Pacific ocean, was clean, comfortable, and just the right size. It shares the property with the MoonStar house, but even with guests there, we felt alone together in the nicest way. The deck had a two-person hot tub, and we sat out there in the rain and watched the waves. We came in and dried off by the wood stove (natural gas, no Boy Scouts necessary). We made s'mores. And then, of course, we sat out there in the hot tub again the next morning and worked the stiffness out of our backs from sleeping on what may be the world's firmest mattress. That thing was nuts. But you know, the hot tub was there. The cottage was actually in Anchor Bay, which is much smaller than it sounds, and it's a great setting-off point for adventures up Highway 1. We drove around, ate at a couple of restaurants, and cooked dinner in one night with the charcoal grill out back and the fully-functional kitchen (fridge is a little mini, but everything else is regular kitchen size). We had a blast, everything was clean and worked the way it was designed to work, and you're surrounded by the craggy, fierce Mendocino coast. Make reservations immediately. read more

The manager of Serenisea is a crooked rip off artist and total jerk. The view is beautiful and the cabins are neat, but dealing with Jim just isn't worth it. Cabin #5, with the best view and deck, is privately owned and rented separate from the rest of the cabins, and is your best bet. These cabins would be so much better is someone competent and less shady was managing them. What a waste of a great little resort. read more

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We love Gualala and if it weren't for the treacherous drive up Highway 1, we would spend a lot more time there. Serenisea is a vacation rental service that offers accommodations in cabins on their property and private homes throughout Gualala and Anchor Bay. Through their website, you can get an overview of the different options. Most of the homes have hot tubs and a few accept pets. Some have ocean views and/or access to a fantastic beach. We have stayed in The Threehouse and Vista del Mar and loved both of them! Vista del Mar had more space than we needed, but we still loved it....especially for its location and pet-friendly factor. It sits on the border of a cool, historic cemetery and has a partial ocean view. The hot tub is really private and you can pretty much walk around nude on the deck. Another plus is the awesome country store at the bottom of the hill. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find tons of organic and vegetarian items there. We brought our dog Webster on that trip and he loved Vista del Mar. He hung out by the fire and sat out on the deck whenever we decided to take a dip in the hot tub. Another tip....the beach that we had access to allows dogs and Webster loved frolicking in the sand! If you are craving a little oceanside romance, peace, and quiet, you should rent one of the Serenisea properties in Gualala. The calm pace of life, sound of ocean waves, and general vibe will send you back to the city well-rested and rejuvenated. read more

Pretty cool spot, nice eclectic rooms, ocean roars nearby, hot tub overlooking the ocean - quite a romantic getaway. Ya feel me? read more

Julie, the wonderful, knowledgeable person who was there for a few months has moved on to her own business. It's all back to the infamous Jim and his one star reputation again. He can't keep guests, his staff moves on quickly... read more

I love this company and their houses! I have been staying in the houses under their management since my destination wedding in 2006. Our friends and family rented though Serenisea. I had the opportunity to enter each of the 6 houses that we rented. All were very well kept. All were in working order. We now return at least once a year to visit this area and always stay in one of the houses. I have two experiences where the house had problems and we received outstanding service. 1. We arrived and the heater for the front of the house would not turn on. I called the office and someone was at the house relighting the pilot light within an hour. 2. A week before we arrived the office called to let us know that the hot tub at the house was broken. They said a service man was coming out but could not guarantee that it would be fixed before our arrival. The offered for us to switch houses or we could chance it and if the hot tub was still broken they would give us a 10% discount. I have never had any problems with their service or their houses. I would highly recommend this place to anyone staying the the Gualala, Anchor Bay, Point Arena area! Take a few minutes to look at the pictures of the houses that you are thinking about renting or ask a few questions when you call. With a little bit of work you can get exactly what you are looking for. read more

Don't be deceived by their consumer-fraud discount coupon. Their "3 nights for the price of 2" coupon is a form of consumer deception. Even though it includes your name and an identifying coupon number, they will not access that information on their computer when you check-in, and will insist you cannot get the discount unless you bring the printed coupon itself. And if you cancel because of this unreasonable policy you will be charged a late-cancellation fee on your credit card. Some deal! read more

The first cabin's hot tub didn't work. The management office offered to call a service man, but wasn't sure they could get someone in time. The TV didn't work. We requested another cabin, and couldn't get the heat working in that place - ended up freezing with a couple of space heaters. Emails/inquiries with the company have been ignored. I would never rent again. There are many rental properties in Sea Ranch and Gualala, and there's no need to experience that poor a level of customer service. read more

I hadn't checked out the Yelp reviews prior to coming on to write this one and was surprised to see one that is the exact opposite of what I had planned to write! After hearing about it from a client, my fiance booked cabin 2 for us for the weekend. We absolutely loved it. Yes, the cabin was a little run down and dated, but it was very clean and comfortable. We had no issues with the water pressure or amount of hot water in the shower. Maybe improvements made since the last review? We loved the hot tub. You can reserve it for an hour at a time, which ensures that you have access to it and don't have to share. The view, as it's right on the cliff, is awesome. There is also some beach/coast access, but the walk down is a little steep. Just a heads up! The flowers and tide pools down there are worth taking a peek at. The front desk staff was very nice and helpful. We were so excited to find a place that had no problem allowing our dog to tag along for the ride. My only (very) mild complaint is that the cabin is advertised as having wifi, but you have to literally sit in front of the main office to get a signal. My parents regularly stay down the road at Sea Ranch, but pay at least 3x the price. We will gladly return to Serenisea! read more

We stayed for a weekend at Moonstar House. You can't beat the views here and honestly, being outside the house is the best part. The deck is great, the hot tub functioned well and we really enjoyed the sunset. This place is weird. Half of the house is in some strange time warp. It's older, there are old decorations and random 'stuff' everywhere, the kitchen is a hodge podge of mismatched utensils and cook ware. It's kind of like staying at your grammas circa 1970? Then, on the other side of the house, you go down the hallway and it's been redecorated and seems new. It's completely different. Heating and cooling is a problem in this place. During the afternoon the sun blazes in and it's hotter than Hades even with the shades down. Then, at night, it gets colder than cold. Oddly enough, the heating on the old side of the house is great - and the new side has space heaters. Oh, wait ... no ... one was broken. So, we froze in the main bedroom. Cue 8am, sun starts blazing and you have to strip of your clothes to keep cool. It was an interesting stay. My note to the owners. EDIT. Get rid of the random dusty crap. Old microwave ovens on the step outside the entry are a turn off. Half painted houses, same deal. Get the decorator you had who did the new side of the house to decorate the old side of the house. When a visitor has to keep their shoes on so their feet don't get dirty from the floor, it's time to invest in some new tile. This place could be great. 2 stars because the view, the hot tub and the sunset were your saving grace. read more

My husband took me here for my 31st birthday. It was clean, spacious and just what we needed to "get away". We brought a Netflix dvd with us as there was a working dvd player in our cabin. This was a plus. The best part about this place is indeed the hot tub. We went out on a clear night during a full moon, and it was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. The tub is very private and literally sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean. I will agree, the customer service left something to be desired, as did the decor, but we came for the alone time and got a really nice weekend away. read more

Had the most spectacular girls weekend!! The views at serenisare stunning, very relaxing!

One of the recent reviews here claims that Serenisea is under new management, and when I called them earlier this year, it sure seemed that way - I spoke with a very pleasant woman who answered my preliminary questions fully and professionally. Unfortunately, when I visited in person a couple of weeks ago, I found that Jim - the infamous Jim featured in so many other reviews here - still haunts the property. He was fairly snotty with me - and all I wanted to do was see how things looked first-hand - and the two cabins I checked out seemed to be pretty worn down. So I noted that as too bad for the actual owners of the properties that he (mis)manages and moved on. read more

This is a review for the Saunders Reef home, one of the properties managed by Serenisea. It is a great vacation home for a group of 6-10 people, and very reasonably priced for what you get. We bid on a weekend at the house at a charity auction and added on an additional night. The extra night as well worth it. The house is conveniently located in between the many natural attractions near Sea Ranch, Gualala, and points north of there. The house is very comfortable and clean, and has any amenities you would want. The house comes complete with an ocean view and the only reason I gave four stars instead of five is because there is a power pole in the middle of that view -- obviously not the homeowner's fault. We couldn't have had a better place for our group to gather and enjoy the nearby sights and then relax back at the house, play games and share memories and laughs. I highly recommend this house to somebody looking for a place to stay in the Gualala area. read more

With the exception of the view - which was fabulous, and I cannot fault - cabin 6 was not all it was shown to be. I could complain about the list of chores we had to do, and the many problems in the kitchen and bathroom (leaking toilet, leaks from the ceiling when it rained, no garbage bags, etc.) but what concerns me the most are the bugs. Yes, you read right, bugs. When we arrived, I noticed several bugs in the window sill of one of the bedrooms, and mentioned to my husband how gross I thought it was. Two days later, when we packed up to go, I noticed a living version of the same bug crawling across the bed I had just spent 2 nights in. Talk about making your skin crawl. As if that weren't bad enough, when I got home, I found a baby version of the same bug in my weekend bag. On my clothing. This is completely unacceptable. My family and I are extremely disappointed and will not be staying here again. Shame, since the view was so good. read more

Serenisea - Guest Houses Near Me - Gualala, California

The difference between perceiving Serenisea as either a scenic, rustic, retro, seaside hideaway, or an unpleasant, regrettable, dirty, rundown, rip-off of a stay is largely up to how the management treats the guests. Yes, the furnishings are dated, the place looks a little run down, the wifi is essentially nonexistent in most cabins, and the chores and rules for which the guest is responsible (and can be fined for not abiding by) are off-putting and take up a whole page of the "Guest Receipt". We stayed in Cabin 1 back in July 2014 and had a nice time. The room rate was reasonable and watching the sunset from the hot tub was magical. The young woman who worked the desk was pleasant and accommodating, and genuinely acted as though she appreciated our business. Our visit in August 2016 was exactly the opposite from the 2014 visit, and that is in large due to the manager (Jim?). It started with my wife making the reservation. After she got off the phone with him she said he seemed a little gruff and condescending. So maybe he had a bad day. Then when we checked-in, I was informed by this guy that the hot tub was out of order (huge bummer). This would be the only time the manager would speak to us face-to-face. Other times, when we had a question, we would walk over to the office and have to speak to him from a phone that was outside the locked office. Now the office doubles as the manager residence, so he's just ten feet away on the other side of a wall, but he could not be bothered to come to the door to talk to us, even during regular office hours. At one point we asked about the wifi not working. He responded by saying (via the ten-foot phone call) that the website clearly states that wifi was "limited", and he suggested that I take my laptop and sit in my car outside the office to access the office-based wifi. When I asked for the password for the the "Cabin 5" wifi that showed on my computer he said he did not have the password. (Note - I do not think the same person owns all the cabins, but rather simply manages the rental of them.) Later, when I asked about the ceiling lights not working in two of the bedrooms he curtly suggested that I simply use the bedside lamps (which had ultra-low wattage bulbs). Funny, while the guest is under threat of additional charges if they do not clean the room, strip the sheets and neatly fold the bedding, take out the trash to the bins out near the highway, etc., while the management takes no responsibility for the condition of the cabins. The refrigerator was filthy and the broken door racks were held together with duct tape. The shower (which had one of the shower doors missing) has mold in the grout. Oh and the water heater is bodged into one of the bedroom closets. The only interest this guy ever showed in our stay there was to collect our money. Of all those things, it was this man's disregard for us that the most negative effect on our experience. We were not welcomed, and we felt used. What could have been seen as kitsch instead felt contemptuous. Whether this guy is the owner or manager of this business, my advice is for you to stay away until he goes away. read more

We booked one of the properties manages by Jim at Serenisea for our honeymoon. We arrived to be told that they had accidentally double-booked the house we reserved. They had also written our phone number down wrong so we did not find this out until we arrived. After driving 4 hours to get there, our only option was to choose from one of the other houses they had available (and pay the price difference too). The house we ended up in was musty and dirty, there was no coffee pot, the DVD player did not work, the toilet was leaking and noisy, and the hot tub lights were broken. It was nothing like the house we had reserved, and it was quite a disappointing environment for a honeymoon. Jim was combative when we confronted him and begrudgingly offered us a measly 10% discount. He was barley apologetic and generally refused to take responsibility for his mistake. We will not be back read more

I brought my wife here for our 2 year anniversary, on a recommendation from a friend, who went in 08' and said it was awesome. Everything was a huge disappoint. We stayed in cabin 6. It was musty, shower panel missing, exposed wood in the bathroom. Very unfurnished, and no charm or ocean feel at all. NO COFFEE, I mean I paid $230 a night and there can't even be a basic can folders in the cupboard? No towels. The hot tub view was great, but the hot tub was a bit dirty. Virtually no wifi, we ended up using the local store WiFi. For the price I paid, I expect alot more. The list of cleaning I had to do for $230 is stupid. We will be filing a claim with our credit card. read more

Jim gave us completely awful customer service. We drove all the way up and were approaching Sea Ranch (coming from the City) on the day of our reservation, only to get a phone call from Jim that had misread his "new" reservation system, and had just realized that the house we had reserved was closed for a few months for repair. Now, we had made our reservation a little over three months prior. So, he had plenty of time to figure it out and contact us. In fact, I had called the week prior, and was given permission for an early check-in. More or less unapologetic and certainly defensive, Jim stated that I/we should be thankful he called at all, because he could have just let us show up and then discover the home we reserved is under construction. He actually said that. He did NOT even refund my deposit! He said that since we could have stayed in another house (one NOT of equal quality or value, totally different configuration, different view, etc), that he had no obligation to refund anything. I suggested he should give us a free night at the original house when it reopens. That's about the time when the phone hung up! Completely awful. So, we turned around and drove three hours home. Too bad for us. In-laws had flown in from out of state for the trip. Bummer indeed. read more

I am sorry that I must give Serenisea such a poor review. Our stay wasn't entirely bad and for that I'd like to avoid completely discouraging other travelers from a weekend stay here. Credit where credit is due: the location is stunning and the price is good. We stayed in the Moonstar cabin and the view is mesmerizing. There are some quirks like having to strip your own bed and leave dishes clean or risk a fee for not doing so, a minor irritation but nothing more. If all I had to say was that I was forced to clean up after myself, I would have given Serenisea 5 stars. The issue is not with the accommodations, it is with the employees and the management. We reserved the room 2 months in advance, I provided the number of nights for our stay and a credit card. When we actually arrive, I found that we were actually booked for an extra night. I informed the receptionist and I was told this could fixed and we would only pay for 2 nights, but that I would need to talk to the office manager the following day since my card was already billed. I spoke to the office manager who said she could not actually approve the refund of one night, despite the first receptionist saying she could, and leaving her a note, in writing, that she had erred in taking the reservation originally. I was told I would need to speak to the owner, Jim, though she would write an appeal to him on my behalf...not a good sign. So I speak to Jim. If you've read the reviews on this site, you probably know where this is going. I referred to the two written appeals on my behalf, went through my situation and ask if something can be done about the extra day's charge. I was told they sent a confirmation letter showing the 3 days and that, if I'm quoting him correctly, "If we don't follow the cancellation policy, we'd be like the government and no one would know what is going on." I had received this confirmation, though I did not check the numbers of days listed, which is an error on my part. My failure to catch his employee's mistake aside - which really should not be my job incidentally - I accepted that I could have been more diligent, however I am still out for a night I did not use and that he did not earn (speaking of the government...). I did not feel a full refund was realistic, although I would have probably booked Serenisea for all my vacations had he agreed to that. I asked for a partial refund or for my extra night to be credited to another stay, really anything. Every accommodation was refused, and combatively so. In short, his staff screws up the reservation, I fail to catch their error, and I bear all the consequences. My advice to anyone make a reservation: confirm the dates, call several times to confirm the dates, and if you don't, or if the reservation is still wrong, consider the money lost. As patrons, we are a dime a dozen and they will make no effort to keep you as a customer. It is a beautiful place, but it is by far not the only game in town. read more

Be aware!!! Jim the property manger doesn't care about nothing but the money , incredibly rude guy. ... My husband and I stayed April 23-25 2015* First off when we arrived around 4pm , the office we check into had no power to run credit card etc. didn't think much off it . We stayed in the Colt which was down about 2 miles from office. We wanted to go grab food before it got too dark ,so we dropped are stuff off and went to get some food. When we got back I went to turn on light and found out we had no power , which mean (no light,no frig, no HOT water, NO Phone, No Jett's on Hot tub) we went down the road to let them know and see what the problem was, Jim was incredible unprofessional, he gave us a small set of candles (the wicks fell out) lol and said we had everything we needed. Which really upset my husband and I for the lack of empathy! You would think he would have offered a discount because we didn't get what we paid for. Basic electricity and hot water!!! We decide to go back and wait out see if power would come back, finally at 10:30pm, then the alarm to the septic went off the remainder of the night!! Yippee! No sleep!! By the way ,bed SUCKS! Next morning I phoned and spoke to Mallory, she was the first person to apologize after I explained are first night. She had someone come out and address the alarm. We went about are day down to Fort Bragg and had a wonderful day!! When we checked out nothing ... Nobody care, lack of customer service no follow up. I followed up with a call when I got home still haven't heard anything about a credit after are experience. Really? Are you that greedy, the owner of the Colt cabin should fire Jim as a Property Manger. He has terrible people skills. My total was $457.30 and first night was miserable. Take it from me , lots of coastal property out there for rent!! read more

After being overcharged for an unsatisfactory stay and having the owner yell at us condescendingly for a mistake that his staff had made rather than work with us to resolver our issue, I had to make a claim with my bank regarding the fraudulent charges that this scum of the earth scam artist tried to take off my card. The bank sided with me and refunded my money, I suggest anyone else who falls victim to Jim's bait and switch scheme do the same and not let this criminal steal your money. read more

Blue Haven: one of the bedrooms is not a "room" but part of the living room, kitchen, and just to the left of the entry; come to think of it, the entire floorplan is awkward. The plumbing fixtures are quirky, each with it a unique "sequence" to turn on and get water to the right temperature (if at all) The fireplace is a nice feature, when it works--on a recent visit, we were warned not to "have a big fire and keep kitchen stove hood vent going..."--well, even a small fire with the hood vent at full-blast filled the room with so much smoke that we had to open all the doors and windows(the ones that open) to keep from choking on the smoke. The t.v., sound system are a joke. I know you dont come up here to watch tv, but come on, this stuff is from the 80's (as in: 19-inch tube t.v. & VHS) internet, too, extremely is slow, if you can get it at all. There is a deck just off the "open bedroom" with a hot tub; that the extent of the outdoor area with views, and there is no outdoor furniture (There is a nice garden in front). The upholstered living room furniture and all the bed linens are worn out and gross. Bring your own bedding, and definatletly something to cover the couch, sofas and chair. There is a functioning Viking stove--home's best feature--but the pots and pans are gross. Again, bring your own. The house has beautiful ocean views and beach access nearby. The rental contract is peppered with a list of do's and don't, fees and penalties-- they want you to come, stay, and clean up after yourself; if you dont, they wont be nice about it. But if you do, theyll send a certificate (which gives you a few dollars off after the 3rd night mon-thurs) read more

DO NOT STAY HERE! I came with my mom hoping for a nice vacation it was ruined b/c the owner was a total jerk. Our cabin (#2) was really run-down and felt like an ax murderer frequented the place. When we also found out that the Gualala River was closed for kayaking, we decided to try and move up the coast to do some sea kayaking and hiking. The receptionist was really understanding and willing to help us out either with a refund or a voucher to return but when she talked to her owner, he refused to both options. I talked to him personally and he was incredibly rude! The receptionist was so embarrassed and apologized profusely for her obstinate boss. So we had to stay in that horrible little cabin for another night but were so upset by the encounter with the owner that we almost went home! I have read the other reviews on TripAdvisor and the majority of them say the same thing about the owner, Jim. He's incredibly rude and see people as walking pocketbooks. There are also super weird clauses in the form you sign when you check-in that hold you liable for all kinds of crazy charges. For instance, if you don't strip your bed sheets at the end of your stay, they will charge you $26. And dirty dishes are $5/dish. Seriously? Who does that? Shouldn't maid/clean-up service be included? One reviewer from TripAdvisor said Jim charged them an extra $100 and refused to even talk to them about it. What a jerk! I also spoke with other locals in Gualala who confirmed his awful reputation. The only great thing about this place is the cliff side hot tub. BUT is it worth it? Not in my opinion! There are tons of other great places to stay with cliff side hot tubs -- Greenwood Pier Inn has a AMAZING hot tub on the cliff. I've stayed there twice before and the rooms are fantastic. Even better, the staff is amazing! Wouldn't you rather pay patronage to an establishment that actually cares about its customers? read more

We stayed at the Colt Cabin and this is the second time staying. Our last visit was during our 40th wedding anniversary. I can verify this place is the most quiet and serine place to stay. I love coming here and feeling the cool breeze from the ocean. The hot tub was wonderful and so relaxing. It's under new management and all of the staff are great. I can't wait to come back . read more

My wife and I were looking for privacy, and we were able to get it here with the beautiful backdrop of the Pacific Ocean in the backyard. That being said, if we came with our whole family we would have had a problem with a number of things: 1)three of four deck chairs were broken 2)mattress in the loft was thread bare and nasty looking. I would not let anyone I know sleep on it. 3)the Jets on the hot tub are not working properly...probably 20%. The water is hot but jets are not great. 4)the deck needs to be power washed and have a few boards replaced. Again, we had a wonderful, peaceful time. The house could use some attention. read more

This is a review I'm sorry to write, when it comes to honoring treasured memories. But, I'm happy to write it, too, because I'm hoping we may be the last people to get ripped off by this place. We'd been to Serenisea 26 years ago, in cabin #5, and had loved it all...the accommodations, the receptionist, the hot tub over the ocean...it was all fabulous. We came back on the 3rd of June this year, and stayed in cabin #2. Near as I can tell, nothing has been done to this cabin, since we were last here. The carpeting looked like it had once been used to dispose of a body...it was worn and filthy. The couch and chair in the "sitting room," were at least 20-30 years old and felt like it when you tried to get out of either one. The mattress was observably old to the sight, as we could see how it all bowed in towards the center (this was with all the linens ON). We had a HORRIBLE night's sleep, and both my wife and I were in pain when we got out of bed the next morning. Our trip into the hot tub on Sunday night still afforded the great view, but the tub had a stench to it that was noticeably strong and repelling...we stuck with it for a bit for the view...but we both showered AFTER being in it, because that smell was on our skin. So, how frequently that tub has been cleaned and re-filled is a subject for debate. When my wife took a shower on Monday morning, there was not much hot water. I waited a half hour to get in, and there still wasn't much hot water, and then when I tried to turn the water off, it wouldn't turn off. We had to get the owner to come fix it, and all he did was turn off the water to the cabin and tell us that he'd fix it later. The stove (which also looked to be at least 30 years old) had a burner that would not turn off all the way unless you moved the knob in a counter-intuitive way. Lastly, the kitchen had no microwave! In this day and age, I've never been to a place like this that didn't have a microwave. The baseboard heaters worked ok, but look to have not been replaced since the place opened. We looked in cabin #6, which was vacant, to see if it would be suitable to switch to for our second night...but, the beds in there felt to be just as old as the one we'd tried sleeping in the night before. So, we decided we just couldn't stay there for our second night, and the owner - in spite of hearing how dissatisfied and physically uncomfortable we were - would not give us a refund for our second night...unbelievably bad customer service. However, it was worth it to give up the $110 to defray potential chiropractic costs that would've been incurred had we stayed. It's truly a shame that the owner has allowed this beautiful property to deteriorate the way it has...it literally looks like nothing's been done to this place to upgrade or maintain it beyond the bare minimum in the last 26 years since we were last here. So, in spite of so many positive reviews (most of which are over a year old), I have to say that being here left a very bitter taste in our mouths, and we not only wouldn't ever come back, but we strongly recommend that others stay away...you can do SO much better further on up the road, including the Inn At School House Creek. read more