Now that Summer is approaching, I’m often asked by travelers to California’s Central Coast for the best way to lodge and experience beautiful Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a destination point filled with amazing lodging for tourists. Some of the most amazing hotels and Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals and campsites on this part of the scenic coast are available in this charming seaside town.
What about those tourists seeking to experience the Central Coast without having to pay the high prices for food and lodging that is typical of Santa Barbara, including the Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals? Santa Barbara is bordered by Montecito, a small enclave of multi-million dollar homes and high scale dining. Forget it. Bit a little further down the ocean – only 12 miles – frugal tourists will find themselves in the charming seaside town of Carpinteria. Carpinteria is small – population of less than 15,000 residents.
Many of the private and affordable Carpinteria Vacation Rentals are not only more cost effective than the heftily-priced Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals up the coast, but are also located right on the sand of what is known as “The World Safest Beach”.
While the small town is well represented with nice hotels, motels and a bed and breakfast inn, the most popular lodging each summer in Carpinteria is the Carpinteria State Beach Campsite which has become a tradition for many families visiting Carpinteria and Santa Barbara each summer. This campground is surrounded by a Salt Marsh Nature Park to the North and the seal and sea lion sanctuary to the South. Surrounding the same area are many private beach homes and condos that are rented out each summer as Carpinteria Vacation Rentals.
Carpinteria is unique this way because these Carpinteria Vacation Rentals are located chiefly within 4 blocks of the ocean. And most of those are located on the famous Sandyland Road, a street that runs adjacent to the ocean front and is lined with private beach homes that are meticulously decorated with
beach and surfing themes. By contrast, Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals are not typically located anywhere close to the ocean because the city of Santa Barbara isn’t set up that way.
Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals are mostly located inland, requiring a bus or taxi – or rental car – to reach the ocean. Santa Barbara is a sprawling city compared to the small feel of the tiny town of Carpinteria so Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals are located anywhere and everywhere in the city. In Carpinteria there is always enough time to enjoy the beach, restaurants and other points of interest and still have time to drive the 12 miles North to visit Santa Barbara, to partake of Santa Barbara’s amazing dining offerings.
Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals are typically privately owned by well-to-do property owners who own and live in other properties and actually rent these properties out all year round. Owners meticulously decorate these fully stocked Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals with everything you need to live for a week. During the summer, Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals and Carpinteria Vacation Rentals alike typically require at least a one week stay, even though some owners will entertain offers to stay with a three day minimum.
The Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals and Carpinteria Vacation Rentals are usually stocked with sheets and linens, pots and pans, to make your weekly stay feel like home. Some owners even stock the closets with beach kites, Frisbees, boogie boards and beach umbrellas. These are amenities that you can’t get by going camping or staying at a hotel.
Typical costs differences between Carpinteria Vacation Rentals and Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals are considerable. In Carpinteria, you can expect to pay minimum of $1800 for a two bedroom vacation rental on the ocean for one week. The same size for Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals will cost $2500. In the Winter, Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals and Carpinteria Vacation Rentals plummet as far as rates to, as the Summer tourist season slows down and weekly rates switch to monthly rates.
So what is the conclusion on the question of value when comparing Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals to Carpinteria Vacation Rentals? If you don’t mind driving 12 miles to visit Santa Barbara, then Carpinteria V