Dolphin Suite - Seaside

We were the first people to stay in the Sun Suite at Swell Vacation Rental Properties, what an awesome place.

We were greeted by Missy who showed us the electronic door entry system which is really awesome because you don’t have to worry about who has the keys or getting locked out. She gave us a nice tour of the place pointing out all of the amenities which even included beach equipment, chairs, boogie boards, etc. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to utilize all that stuff but the fact that it’s provided is fantastic.

We stayed in the upstairs unit on the east(?) end of the property, the one furthest from the beach. The view from our unit is still really nice but the real star is the interior – totally high-end all the way around. Killer flat screen TV with all the goodies, brand new appliances throughout the kitchen, nice cookware and utensils – even if you’re a foodie, as we are, you won’t be disappointed! The beds are really comfortable too and they have a wall mounted flat screen TV in each room.

This is one of the nicest mini vacation experiences we’ve ever had, top notch throughout! Extremely professional and personable management team that knows how to take care of their customers.

We will definitely be staying here again, or at one of their other properties, when heading down into north San Diego county.
Recommended for: Everyone, families with young children, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.

We were fortunate to be the first people to stay at Carlsbad Kai. We initially wanted to stay at another property of these owners, Carlsbad at the Beach. It was booked for the week we wanted. Patrick told us about this property and believed the renovation would be complete by our arrival. He sent us photos of the property’s progress a couple of times.

When we arrived, Patrick met us and toured the property with us. (It was 4 of us, myself and my husband, our son and daughter-in-law). The photos are very accurate. They have a number of games there for guests’ use: Ms. Pac Man, Foosball, Shuffleboard. We enjoyed playing them. They have two bicycles for guests use along with boogie boards, etc.

The kitchen is very nice. We are foodies who like to cook. They even have good knives…a rarity in a vacation rental. We’ve stayed in a lot of vacation rental properties. This is one of the nicest. This is a professionally managed property, without some of the issues we have sometimes faced with mom and pop properties.

We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. Also, we paid by credit card because that provides some recourse if there is a problem. (They charge 2.5% additional for using a credit card.) After staying at the property and interacting with Patrick, we would have no worries about paying by check the next time.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

We rented both floors for the whole family prior to a son’s wedding in Carlsbad. Most of the out of town guests stayed at the Inn so the location worked perfectly for entertaining. We made it a point to see every sunset while we were there from the 2nd floor balcony. The place was beautiful. I can’t wait to go back. The listing description was exactly as advertised. I would recommend this place to friends and relatives.

Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway, tourists without a car.

My husband and I rented the Pelican Suite (which is the upstairs suite of the house.) There are unobstructed 180 degree ocean views. It is simply breathtaking! We saw dolphins swimming each morning from the comfort of our living room and even saw a whale spouting offshore. The finishes are all top end and tastefully done. I am not a cook, but the kitchen has high end appliances and is well equipped with nearly every gadget you will need. You can easily walk to town for dinner. Patrick and Missy made the booking and check in process a breeze. Our deposit check was returned to us within three days of our return home.

There was a young couple with a toddler downstairs in the Dolphin suite during the majority of our stay, and we did not hear a sound. The place is incredibly well insulated and private. Of note, this home is across the street from the beach and the road is very busy. Please DO NOT let this deter you. This unit is very quiet when closed up for evening, and the views more than make up for the busy street. The pedestrian crossing is right out the front door with stairs leading directly down to the beach. There are surfboards, boogie boards, beach chairs and umbrellas provided. As well as, buckets, frisbees and shovels for any kids. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the linens top notch.

I am very picky, and this home more than exceeded our expectations. I hesitate to write such a good review out of fear that the home will not be available when we want to return! We will certainly book this home again. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

OMG! What a beautiful rental. CLEAN! BEAUTIFUL! VIEWS! LOCATION! AMAZING, WELL-FURNISHED KITCHEN! FIREPIT! AND THE MOST COMFORTABLE BEDS EVER EXPERIENCED BY ALL!

I was skeptical enough about this rental prior to booking that I had our in-laws drive by to check it out. Nope, it’s for real. We rented both floors for a family of 8 (4 couples, no children), and for a surprise 60th birthday celebration. When we arrived, he couldln’t believe we were staying there. The ocean was practically on the front lawn, and whales … yes, whales … were swimming by. We saw them again on Tuesday right before we left. Miserable weather couldn’t even destroy this stay.

The only caution I would want to share, if you are considering this rental, would be that you ARE right on the street/highway, and you do hear the traffic along with the waves. However, I wouldn’t let it stop me. You are also able to watch surfers, whales, bikers, runners, walkers, boats, fishermen, helicopters, sunsets and more … from the sofa. And we turned on a fan at night.

We were so thrilled to be able to rent a beach house this year for our family’s vacation and Carlsbad At The Beach surpassed all expectations. They had EVERYTHING at the house that we could’ve possibly needed. A surfboard for my husband’s surf lesson, a highchair for our 6 month old, games for our 4 year old, a hairdryer and wine glasses for me Not to mention, the house lines up with both the crosswalk to cross the street to the beach and the staircase to get down there – ideal when you have two small children! The two parking spots were such a plus as beach parking on a holiday weekend can come at a premium. We were able to walk to the grocery store, multiple restaurants and bars, all within a half mile radius. We stayed in the lower unit the “dolphin suite” and never heard the upstairs neighbors once! The front yard with the firepit and BBQ were perfect for get togethers and sunsets. It had all the creature comforts as home!

The location, property and price all contributed to the best rental experience we’ve ever had. Easy walk to Carlsbad Village (pizza port brewery, shops, restaurants, etc) or across the street to the beach (never crowded and no riff raff)
House had everything we needed. We found Jimbos Natural Grocery store close by where we stocked up on good stuff to eat and drink. The home is on a pretty busy road and stretch of beach for people exercising. Walking across the street is super easy – cars will stop for you every time. We enjoyed sitting on the balcony (Pelican Suite) and people watching but found that it was a bit to noisy to leave the doors open all the time. Home is well insulated so no issues with doors closed. Again, we’ve simply not found a better combination of property, price and location in our 5 years of doing this. Communication with property manager was always prompt, courteous and helpful. Thanks for a great stay!