Family-friendly holiday rentals in Rio del Mar

I had a great stay here with my daighter and german shepherd. It was great to have the beach all to ourselves every morning by walking just a block over. The house was beautiful, comfortable, and the greenery outside was wonderful. Would definitely stay again!

The home met out needs perfectly and Sun is a very welcoming host. Our family was very comfortable and we enjoyed the home as a great place to gather and have family time. The home is beautiful and we took great family pictures is the backyard. The location is quiet and felt private.

Tranquility Base…surely lived up to its name. So comfortable, so charming we felt like a part of the forest. The whole place had so much personality we felt right at home Magical and enchanting getaway Highly recommended We’ll be back

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We walked to the beach to boogie board, went to the boardwalk and enjoyed the local farmer’s market. The house was amazing and more than we expected. We enjoyed the backyard with all of its amenities including the hot tub and outdoor shower especially after coming back from a day at the beach. Shari was very proactive in her communications and we are looking forward to coming back again for a longer visit.

Place was great! Small, but that was great for us. Loved that it came with the bikes, surfboards, hot tub, fire pit, etc. we used everything! Evan was very responsive to questions and helpful with recommendations.

Annie was a great host and the place was exactly as described and just what we needed for a relaxing beach getaway. We loved the hot tub in the backyard and the beach cottage feel of the place. Thank you for hosting us!

We had a lovely visit in Santa Cruz. We were in town for an event at UCSC and this place worked great for our needs. Erin was lovely and the Airbnb was cute and as described.

We had a wonderful time! Dog and kid friendly. Definitely recommend!

Very clean and spacious place! The bed was comfortable. Would definitely book again when out visiting in the area!

⸻ I had such a wonderful two-week stay at the farm. From the moment I arrived, everyone was incredibly friendly—especially the sweet little black cat named Teva, who wore a green collar and quickly became a favorite companion. Toni was so kind and responsive, always making sure everything was just right. The farm felt very safe and peaceful throughout my stay. Being in a cabin on a farm, a few bugs are to be expected, but it wasn’t an issue—I came prepared with essential oils, which worked well to keep them at bay. The cabin itself is cozy and compact, but the many windows let in so much natural light that it felt bright and open. The shower was great too—good water pressure and ventilation, though it might be a bit snug for some. Overall, it’s a lovely little escape—close enough to San Jose for convenience, but with a feeling of peaceful seclusion that makes it feel like a true retreat.

Sarah's place was perfect for our family gathering! It was comfortable for 7 and the location was awesome. Only a couple blocks from the beach! The view was nice and we enjoyed eating outside on the pation. Great stay.

Jane’s place was a peaceful quaint spot for our weekend getaway. There’s a beautiful sunroof above the bed which gave great natural light, and the whole place had everything we needed and more, especially the kitchen, despite it size – even though we didn’t cook, in the case of a stay in night, we knew Jane’s kitchen was well equipped, same with the bathroom. Jane was very communicative throughout the whole weekend, with clear instructions on checking in and checking out. She was also very flexible with the check-in time, which we really appreciated. Overall, Jane’s space was a great spot to get away for the weekend and get out of town. Thanks again, Jane!

Our stay in Aptos was very relaxing. It took about 20 minutes to get to and from downtown Santa Cruz via the freeway. We had 5 people in our group and really appreciated that the property was pet friendly. Communication with the host was excellent throughout. There is a cleaning checklist for checkout, but it wasn’t an issue. The home is two stories, with the bedrooms and a shared bathroom located downstairs, and the kitchen upstairs. It’s conveniently located near a Chase bank, Rite Aid, Safeway, and Peet’s Coffee. The neighborhood itself is very quiet. Overall, we had a great stay.

We absolutely LOVED our stay!! Everything was perfect. It was exactly as described…actually it was better! The house was spacious, clean, cozy, and super close to the beach! We loved getting coffee in the morning and walking the beach, pizza by the slice for lunch and delicious restaurants close by for dinner. We will never stay anywhere else when we visit the area. Thank you so much for being such an incredible host!

Exactly what I needed for my long weekend in Santa Cruz. Soquel is super quiet and it’s minutes from Capitola Beach. Great option for me as a solo traveler on a budget.

My son and husband wanted to ride the Santa Cruz Flow Trail. Mark's place was the most convenient option by far! We enjoyed dinner and breakfast at the Summit Store that is close by and has a wide variety of prepared food options. For dinner and breakfast on the second day we enjoyed Capitola. If you love birds, you'll love this spot.

This neighborhood is safe and peaceful. We have stayed at The Dunes numerous times over the last 4 years. Lisa’s home is beautiful and inviting. We all felt very comfortable and relaxed. It is such a gorgeous area and the staff at the front gate is always so helpful too. I had to reach out to Lisa multiple times throughout our stay and each time her responses were quick and respectful. It was a delight to chat with her and we are definitely planning to come back and would rent this home again.

A recent stay at Robert’s home in Ben Lomond was exceptional. The property felt like home from the pictures on the wall to the books in the bookcase. The fully equipped kitchen, comfortable beds and toiletries was like walking into our personal family vacation home with everything clean and organized. Upon our arrival, we contacted the owner to let them know we arrived. We enjoyed a welcoming orientation of the property. The location was ideal with convenient access to stores and restaurants. We could not have selected a better place to enjoy quality family time and celebrate a graduation from UC Santa Cruz. This was a super stay and gets our highest recommendation.

We had a wonderful short getaway at Sue’s place! The condo is just steps from the beach, pool, and jacuzzi. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves was relaxing, and the ocean breeze was very refreshing. It was exactly what we needed to reset and recharge. Everything was just as described, and we would stay here again! Thank you, Sue!

Amy was the perfect host. She was kind and responsive. Great location and beautiful view. We will stay here again!

Love this place! Will definitely come back!

As expected, a gorgeous place. Location is great—right across the Tesla shop, walking distance to everywhere in Santana Row. Highly recommended.

It was beautiful, private, and a hidden gem! We had lots of fun and enjoyed all the views throughout the house. The house is even better than the pictures. We had our 2 boys, had plenty to do between the beach, books, basketball, spa, ping pong, and games! We definitely recommend and would go back! Not to mention I love artichokes and this house is located in artichoke city!! So amazing!! 10/10 you won’t be disappointed!

Wonderful place in a wonderful environment. We had an excellent time with the kids, very nice pool, beaches close by and in the middle of the nice green hills of California