Paradise Retreats — Local services in Santa Barbara

My husband and I rented a beautiful property through Paradise Retreats 2 years ago and had a seamless experience with Paradise Retreats. Everything worked very well! Two days ago, we signed a Reservation Agreement and paid the required 25% deposit to rent another one of their properties for a month for next winter. Paradise Retreats acknowledged electronic receipt of our Agreement. I even spoke to one of their agents 1 day ago and verified with her that all documents were submitted successfully. Basically, my husband and I were all set, or so we thought. This morning I received an email from Paradise Retreats stating that the property owner had increased the rates for winter stays and that the cost of the one month rental would now be approximately $6,000 additional dollars. So, this was after we had a signed Reservation Agreement for around $6,000 less. I asked one of their very polite agents to please help me understand where specifically in the Agreement it said that the homeowner had the right to change the terms of the signed agreement unless there were circumstances out of his or her control. She only stated that this wasn’t “typical” but that it occasionally happened and that she was so sorry that it had happened to us. She offered to help me with rentals in the future. I thanked her for her offer but stated that we wouldn’t be doing business with a company that didn’t honor a...

My husband, two children, and I stayed at the Paradise Resort property in Goleta/Santa Barbara from December 24 - 27, 2024, drawn by its promise of breathtaking views and a tranquil, private setting. On these fronts, the property delivered—the panoramic vistas were stunning, and the privacy created a peaceful retreat.

However, the experience was marred by significant issues with the property itself. Upon entering, we were met with a pervasive moldy odor, raising immediate concerns about cleanliness and air quality. Odor control containers placed in every room seemed more like an attempt to mask the problem than address it.

The air inside felt stale, making it uncomfortable to stay indoors. Compounding this, on day three of our stay, we discovered water entering the house, soaking part of the bedroom carpet in the primary bedroom. Despite promptly reporting this to the property management company, the issue remained unresolved throughout our stay, leaving us feeling ignored and disappointed.

It’s unfortunate that such a beautiful property is undermined by avoidable maintenance and air...

I spent the last part of our stay cleaning... It was VERY clean when we left. My son was getting married and we got a large house so that grandparents and aunt and uncle (respectable, and over 55) would have a place close by. The house itself was nice. But very expensive. The "cleaning fee" (albeit in the contract) is outrageous and you wont get it back. Trust me.

They will then charge you for dirty towels, etc.. For example: we cleaned up a spill in the kitche (on the counter top so no damage ). but we were charged $14.00 for a washcloth. After grandpa and gramma were gone, I cleaned. I put the linens in a stack by the washer and dryer. The company took pictures and "tallied" and charged me for the damage. Example. Some drips of coffee on a sheet $120.00. A washcloth $14.00. They didn't even wash them to see if the coffee drips came out. They just took a picture and proceeded to charge me hundreds , yes hundreds, of dollars above and beyond the cleaning and deposits.

Be prepared to be charged hundred of dollars more. than you thought you'd...