🌿 Serene Sunset Cottage 🌿 – San Francisco Bay View

El Cerrito, CA, United States
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About

‘The earth laughs in flowers!’ ~ R.W. Emerson Live among the wild flowers, butterflies and birdsongs! 🦋🦋🦋 Secluded, sunny, peaceful and private - Serene Sunset Cottage is the perfect sanctuary, nestled in El Cerrito Natural Reserve with amazing views of Golden Gate Bridge, golden hills and San Francisco Bay Berkeley 10 - 20 min drive San Francisco 30 - 50 min drive Napa / Wine Country 45 - 50 min Writers / Art / Meditation retreat - peaceful, quiet, surrounded by nature Private driveway!

Good to know

The perfect urban oasis – artists, writers, creators, meditation retreat. 🌿…Since the thing perhaps is to eat flowers and not to be afraid. - e.e. cummings 🌿 Our home is a serene, sunny, completely private, stand-alone one-bedroom cottage, sitting on a 5,000 sq ft garden lot, wrapped in greenery, flowers, and bird songs. Sip wine on the flowering patio or catch a stunning sunset on the small hill ( 2 min hike ) right behind the house. Off street parking on our long driveway or free street parking, just in front of our property. 🅿️ 🚗 Uber and Lyft are recommended if you don’t have a car. Fast Fiber Optic internet. 🛜 The cottage is tucked away in the foothills of El Cerrito Natural Reserve. Beautiful hiking trails are starting in your own backyard, offering stunning Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, and Bay views everywhere you turn. Perfect for daily hikes, meditation, and taking in the stunning sunsets over Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and Mount Tam. Perfect for people who love experiencing nature at their doorstep! Flower state of mind!🌿🦋 Pick your own Meyer lemons from the pollinator’s heaven garden, listen to the bird songs while relaxing with your favorite book in the hammock or hike the trails behind the house - here, nature is everywhere you turn. It's the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced city life, yet Berkeley is a short 20 min drive and San Francisco is just 16 miles away or a 30-50 min drive or a 30 min gorgeous ferry ride from Richmond Marina. It is designed with functionality in mind where nature meets modern, urban, sustainable living. Our primary goal was to minimize our footprint as much as possible, focusing on the outdoor living and being one with nature! It has a fast fiber optic internet 1000 mbps. Adults only accommodation. Not childproof. 🌿 MAX OCCUPANCY: 🌿 2 people at all times! Registered guests only. Going to the city? We highly recommend taking the new Richmond Ferry ( 13 min drive or a $7-14 Uber ride ) rather than BART ( 5 min drive away) to get to San Francisco’s Embarcadero. It’s the most beautiful way to get into the city and once on the ferry, it takes only 20 min to the city, total of 30-40 min from our door. Parking is plenty and it’s free. Yes, we are Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Butterfly and Bee friendly garden! PARKING is a breeze - back up on our long driveway OR plenty of street parking! It's located on a quiet residential street with gorgeous views of beautiful San Francisco city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge and the new Bay Bridge. The back garden offers a serene view of the El Cerrito hills and hiking trails are starting in your own backyard. It's close to Solano Ave, UC Berkeley, Berkeley downtown, Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco, Marin and strategically located to reach Napa, Sonoma and the entire wine country within 50-60 min. Sip a glass of wine on the deck and take in on a gorgeous golden sunset over the San Francisco Bay or catch it from a bird point of view from the hill behind the house ( 2 min hike ) The feel is modern and warm with many wood accents and thoughtful touches. OUR GUESTS: Perfect for: ~ visiting UC BERKELEY professors or neighbors; ~ UC Berkeley students' visiting families; ~ Ph.D. students; ~ business professionals; ~ writer’s retreat; ~ artist’s retreat; ~ meditation / silent retreat; ~ relocating folks; ~ couples having a wonderful getaway; ~ or anyone that is looking for a place to stay in East Bay close to Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, etc. We are looking for KIND and loving folks only! Self - sufficient, respectful and friendly. PRIVACY: Our cottage is completely private. No shared walls, no other people on the premises. It's a stand alone little house. It's nestled in El Cerrito natural reserve. Enjoy our Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden / Certified Butterfly and Bee friendly sanctuary. Our Serene Sunset Cottage is situated on a beautiful natural reserve, offering a unique connection to the surrounding environment. While we maintain regular monthly pest control services and diligently clear spiders and cobwebs, harmless spiders and occasional cobwebs may still be present due to our location within a natural setting. For guests accustomed to urban environments who may be uncomfortable with encountering spiders, we recommend considering alternative accommodations to ensure a comfortable stay. Our guests understand having nature at your doorstep brings some animal encounters like different type of birds, deer, foxes, geckos and occasionally ants and spiders.

Other Details to Note

Please confirm the following information when sending a booking request, as it’s essential for both us and our insurance company to confirm your booking: 1. What brings you in town? 2. Total number of ALL guests? 3. Full NAMES ( first and last name ) and AGE of all guests who will be staying. 4. Your approximate CHECK-IN / CHECK-OUT times, to ensure we are on the lookout for your arrival and ensure a smooth check-in should you need any assistance. • FYI, our check-in time is: 4 pm • Our check-out time is: 11 am ***NOTE 🔻: • EARLY CHECK-IN : Subject to availability and a $25/hour fee paid via guest portal. Please request at booking or at least 48 hours in advance. Same-day or short-notice requests cannot be accommodated. Early check-in only available when we are away and not using our home ourselves. • LATE CHECK-OUT : Subject to availability and a fee $25/h. It needs to be approved by us in writing at least 48 hours prior. 5. ✅ REFUNDABLE $500 Refundable AIRBNB SECURITY DEPOSIT CREDIT CARD Policy: We have $500 fully refundable standard credit card security deposit, placed 2 days prior arrival and released 2 days after if all is good and all house rules followed. Guests need to authorize it via our guest portal on Hospitable which is an Airbnb Preferred Authorized Partner. Your deposit is refundable in full unless there is a case of a damaged property or violation of house rules. In such case, we reserved the right to communicate to you and Airbnb any damage and your deposit might be partially or fully claimed! In rare incidents of severely damaged property including but not limited to an artwork, you might owe more than your deposit is worth. By booking our home, you agree to authorize the temporary security deposit credit card via our management software Hospitable, Official Airbnb Preferred Partner. **** Having the best of both worlds is PRICELESS: • a gorgeous garden views in the front - enjoy the birds and the butterflies. • a hiking trail in the back with stunning Gilden Gate Bridge / San Francisco Skyline / Bay views - take in those amazing golden sunsets. Hiking trails starting right off your own backyard. • for the safety of our guests and our home, plus for insurance purposes, we have outdoor security monitoring driveways and point of entry, motion triggered recording video and audio 24/7 🎥 • For longer stays, we provide a STARTER PACK of essentials ( since we give a 15% discount). Guests are responsible for replenishing any additional items they may need. You can use instacart to order whatever you need for yourself and they will deliver it to you. *** • Please note that California is experiencing a SEVERE DROUGHT and asking everyone to be MINDFUL and CONSERVE WATER. • NO A/C ( air-conditioning ) It’s very rare for the Bay tempretures to rise above 80• and the cool ocean breeze is our natural AC. House maintains 72• F - 74•F in summer months. We experience heat waves 1-2 times a year that last less than 3 days and nights are down to lower 60s. Our utility provider ask people who have an AC to set it to 78 or higher and conserve energy to prevent rolling blackouts since the grid can’t handle the energy demand. We manage those rare heat waves by opening our windows at night to cool the house down and we hit our favorite beaches during the day. Air conditioning in San Francisco? In San Francisco, air conditioning is not present in many of the residences, offices, theaters as well as older, boutique style hotels as we have our own unique, natural air-conditioning - a constant cool ocean breeze and the fog rolling in the summer. WEATHER ADVISORY for San Francisco: Mark Twain is believed to have said, although not proven : “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." Seasons in San Francisco don't necessarily follow universal trends. The city can often feel quite chilly, although the temperature rarely drops below freezing. Even when summer arrives, residents know not to leave the house in short sleeves until September / October—that's when San Francisco enjoys its warmest weather. Temperatures remain moderate year round: 51 - 65°F (10.5 - 18.3 °C). No matter the season, it is always SMART to DRESS in LAYERS and be prepared for sudden weather changes when in San Francisco Bay Area. • ALLERGIES DISCLAIMER: Guests with allergies are responsible for bringing any necessary medications or supplies to manage their condition. Our property is a pet-free and smoke-free environment, and we use mostly organic, natural, and harsh chemical-free cleaning supplies. Bedding is 100% cotton, and we use scent-free laundry wash pods. However, we cannot guarantee that our property is free from allergens, including but not limited to dust, pollen, or other potential triggers. While we maintain thorough cleaning protocols, we do not provide specialized allergen-free environments. By booking, you acknowledge that you assume full responsibility for managing your allergies and that we are not liable for any allergic reactions or related issues during your stay. Please carefully assess the suitability of our property for your needs before making a reservation. *** 🦋 For longer stays 7+ night, we provide a STARTER PACK of essentials. Guests are responsible for replenishing any additional items they may need as described in our listing. You can use instacart to order whatever you need for yourself and they will deliver it to you or purchase from nearby stores. 🦋Bed Sheets and towels refresh? You are welcome to use our laundry and refresh your own sheets and towels or hire our cleaning service for $150. Ask for scheduling. Check-out our other listings below, some are in the same location. In case, you need to have a few co-workers or a big family to stay together, ask us about it: http://www.airbnb.com/p/modernlivinginsanfranciscobay

Availability

What this place offers

Amenities

Common

  • Cleaning products
  • Cooking basics Pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper
  • Dishes and silverware
  • Dryer In the building, free or for a fee
  • Essentials Towels, bed sheets, soap, toilet paper, and pillows
  • Hair dryer
  • Heating Central heating or a heater in the listing
  • Kitchen Space where guests can cook their own meals
  • Dedicated workspace
  • TV
  • Washing Machine
  • Wifi

Bathroom

  • Bathtub
  • Bidet
  • Body soap
  • Conditioner
  • Hot Water
  • Shampoo
  • Shower gel

Bedroom and laundry

  • Bed linens
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Extra pillows and blankets
  • Hangers
  • Iron
  • Mosquito net
  • Room-darkening shades
  • Clothing storage

Common

  • Cleaning products
  • Cooking basics Pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper
  • Dishes and silverware
  • Dryer In the building, free or for a fee
  • Essentials Towels, bed sheets, soap, toilet paper, and pillows
  • Hair dryer
  • Heating Central heating or a heater in the listing
  • Kitchen Space where guests can cook their own meals
  • Dedicated workspace
  • TV
  • Washing Machine
  • Wifi

Bathroom

  • Bathtub
  • Bidet
  • Body soap
  • Conditioner
  • Hot Water
  • Shampoo
  • Shower gel

Bedroom and laundry

  • Bed linens
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Extra pillows and blankets
  • Hangers
  • Iron
  • Mosquito net
  • Room-darkening shades
  • Clothing storage

Entertainment

  • Sound system

Heating and cooling

  • Portable fans

Home safety

  • Carbon monoxide detector
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Smoke detector

Kitchen and dining

  • Baking sheet
  • Coffee
  • Coffee maker
  • Dining table
  • Dishwasher
  • Freezer
  • Hot water kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stove
  • Toaster
  • Wine glasses

Location features

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Private entrance Separate street or building entrance

Outdoors

  • Garden or backyard
  • Outdoor seating
  • Patio or balcony

Parking and facilities

  • Free parking on premises
  • Single level home No stairs in home
  • Free street parking

Services

  • Long term stays allowed Allow stay for 28 days or more

House Rules

HOUSE RULES: 1. Check in time: after 4 pm We can be flexible if there aren’t any other guests checking in or checking out on the same day. However, early check-in or late check-out is subject to a $25/hour fee and availability. It’s important to communicate and agree on this in advance at the time of booking. Last-minute requests on the same day are unlikely to be accommodated. Our cleaning crew is scheduled for 11:15 am after check-out. • CHECK-OUT is: 11 am ‼️LATE check-out FEE: $25/ hour rounded to the hour for the first hour; after 12 pm you agree to pay for one extra night since we would need to reschedule our cleaning crew and not able to turn around our place for the next guest coming at 4 pm. ‼️ * Please communicate promptly your approximate CHECK-IN and CHECK-OUT time, so we can plan our day ahead of time. 2. NO SMOKING! 🚭 No smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes, NOT 420 friendly. For smoking inside our home, there will be a fee up to $150. Smoking outside is also prohibited because of an agreement with our neighbors and a city ordinance. We live next to a nature reserve, and there is a real risk of fire. 3 .Thank you for respecting your hosts, our neighbors, and our property! 4. NO PARTIES! NO EVENTS! No parties, events, or get-togethers are allowed. If a party occurs, a $2500 event fee will be charged, and the reservation will be canceled immediately. You will be asked to leave immediately, and all fees will be forfeited. Parties/ gatherings / events will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If a party takes place, you agree to pay $2,500 for negligence and rule violation AND you will be asked to leave the premises immediately; no refund will be issued for the remaining nights on your reservation. 5. ZERO tolerance for drug / alcohol abuse! 6. Occupancy - Max occupancy 2 people at all times unless approved otherwise by the hosts! •REGISTERED GUESTS ONLY!• Prior to arrival, we must obtain the first and last names of each guest. Unless previously approved by us, no additional guests or visitors are allowed on premises PER OUR INSURANCE policy! For any additional visitors not on the reservation found on the property, you agree to pay $150 per person per day. (Unless authorized by us in writing.) 7. NO pets! 🔻NO animals! This is our home and we have family member with an extreme allergy which is a serious health concern. If you bring an unauthorized animal you agree to pay: $500 violation fee + hiring a company for a deep cleaning If you violate our ‘no pets policy’, you agreed to pay $300 a day penalty fee. We cannot accommodate animals due to health concerns and this being our primary residence. 8. NO loud noise after 10 pm. 9. DO NOT block our neighbors' driveways. DO NOT park in front of their houses. Please, feel free to park on the driveway or use the street parking spot in front of the house. 10. We are looking for kind, mature, respectful and easy-going people ONLY! We ask for clear, direct, open and prompt communication via the AIRBNB messaging system ONLY! Call us in emergency situations only, otherwise just message us via Airbnb system and we'll usually get back to you within minutes. 11. Please, leave the apartment, the way you found it! • please, wash your dishes! • take out your trash, recycling, etc. • remove perishables from the fridge IMPORTANT: Excessive deep cleaning fee of up to $150 may occur if you leave the place with stains, messy and dirty beyond a reasonable wear and tear. 12. We live on a natural reserve and we are certified wildlife habitat and a bee friendly garden. This translates into using only green and non-toxic pest and weed control. If you leave open containers of food, crumbs on the floor and kitchen table, you are inviting ants inside the house. If you seeing ants or spiders affects your stay, please do not book with us! We do our best to deter ants by maintaining high clean standards for each and every guest entering our home. We do not use pesticide, we do not spray toxic and hazardous chemicals inside or outside our house. We use green and non-toxic products and maintaining high CLEANLINESS standards is our BEST defense to keep the pest away. Please, do not eat in bed and maintain the floor and countertops crumb-free at all times and use the compost green bin outside to dispose all of left-over food. Do not put leftover food in the recycling / trash bin inside the house to prevent attracting pests. 13. We reserved the right to enter our home for maintenance issues if needed, and will notify the guest in advance unless it is an emergency. 14. GUESTS have 1 hour from time of checking in to inspect property and voice any issues / concerns or make other arrangements otherwise guests are accepting the accommodation AS IS. ✅ $500 AIRBNB DEPOSIT Policy ADVISORY: We have $500 security deposit, collected 2 days prior arrival and refunded 2 days after. Your deposit is refundable in full unless there is a case of a damaged property! In such case, we reserved the right to communicate to you and Airbnb any damage and your deposit might be partially or fully claimed! In rare incidents of severely damaged property including but not limited to an artwork, you might owe more than your deposit is worth! <<<< • DISCLAIMER: For insurance purposes, for our safety and the safety of others, exterior surveillance cameras are installed outdoors at this property monitoring the driveway and the point of entry. ***Our Policy on Additional Airbnb Services*** For insurance and liability purposes, we do not participate in or endorse any additional services suggested or offered through Airbnb, including but not limited to third-party experiences, on-site vendors, concierge-style offerings, or any other external services. We also do not permit 3-rd party outside vendors or service providers to operate on-site at any time. Our goal is to provide a secure and enjoyable stay, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation. <<<< Please RESPECT house rules! In the case of significant violation of house rules, the reservation will be immediately terminated, and all fees paid will be forfeited! Other things to note: • Thank you for your efforts in keeping our beautiful home clean and happy! • Thank you for your efforts in trying to recycle and compost! Yes, we have a trash ( blue bin ), a recycling ( gray bin ) and a compost bin ( green bin ). By clicking on BOOK IT button, you acknowledge that you accept this rules! * We reserve the right to change our furniture and design in our home without further notice!

Accessibility

Neighborhood

NEIGHBORHOOD: El Cerrito is a hidden gem in East Bay. Very peaceful neighborhood, quiet and close to Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco. Napa valley is about an hour away. We are located on a quiet, residential street and the house is nestled in the foothills of natural reserve. The views are breathtaking, the hiking trails are perfect for people who enjoy the outdoors. El Cerrito means "the little hill" in Spanish, and the town that is perched on the hill above San Francisco Bay offers easy access to Interstate 80 and Interstate 580 to Marin. Hillside homes along the curving streets deliver sweeping views of San Francisco and sunsets over the Golden Gate Bridge. El Cerrito's main shopping corridor is undergoing a rebirth, beginning with Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, which was restored from the former Cerrito Speakeasy Theater. Access to open space and parkland is extensive, with Arlington Park, Cerrito Vista Park, Hillside Natural Area, Huber Park, Poinsett Park, and Tassajara Park & Pottery Studio all nearby. The Ohlone Greenway is a popular trail with hikers and bikers. The University of California, Berkeley UC BERKELEY is several miles away, and two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations, at El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte, make commuting easy. El Cerrito Plaza is a major shopping center housing grocery stores, restaurants, bookstores, a pharmacy, and smaller mom-and-pop stores.

Guest Access

ACCESS: Guests have access to the entire 1 bedroom, stand - alone cottage, sitting on a 5000 sq.ft garden lot, nestled in the El Cerrito Natural Preserve hills - with spectacular views of Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay and city skyline from the hill behind, 2 - 3 min hike. It offers serenity, complete privacy and all the amenities for a comfortable stay for max of 2 people at all times: • 1 bedroom with a brand new, comfortable QUEEN bed with organic cotton sheets and city views • well - equipped gourmet kitchen with everything you need to prepare a great meal • dishwasher • a new bathroom with a bath tub and shower • living room with views • front patio with Bay views • backyard with hill views • smart 3D 65" Samsung TV ( you can stream your favorite content on Pandora, YouTube, Hulu; watch your shows on Netflix; 60+ local channels, HBO ) • welcome to use our laundry on siteu

Find us

TRANSPORTATION: The closest BART station is about 5 min drive or 24 min walking distance. It's a beautiful walk actually, along vineyards and breathtaking views. Getting to UC BERKELEY by car: 20 min ; by public transit is about: 39 min We also recommend Uber and / or Lyft as a more affordable taxi alternative. Just download their app on your smart phone. They arrive within minutes. Going to the city? We highly recommend taking the new Richmond Ferry ( 13 min drive or a $7-14 Uber ride ) rather than BART ( 5 min drive away) to get to San Francisco’s Embarcadero. It’s the most beautiful way to get into the city and once on the ferry, it takes only 20 min to the city, total of 30-40 min from our door. Parking is free.

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Approximate location. Full address will be provided on booking.