Thank you for staying at our Penthouse. On this page you will find a personal message from us (Simon & Jodi) along with the Penthouse guide, house rules, tips, tricks and directions. This page is designed to help you get the most out of your stay at our Penthouse. Please take a moment to review and enjoy your stay.

Here is a quick summary of what you'll find:

< A personal note from your hosts, Simon & Jodi
< Directions to the Penthouse (please review as online directions are not always correct)
< House rules
< Before you leave (check out instructions)
< Property map (where to find what fruit)
< Restaurants, stores and fun destinations nearby
< Fun spots within 10 - 50 miles

A note from your hosts, Simon and Jodi:

Dear Guest,

Thank you for choosing to stay at our Penthouse!

We love this property and we hope you do too! The hilltop location, sweeping views, endless sunlight, and the serenity provided by almost 500 avocado trees charmed us into buying this slice of paradise in December 2021.

How cool is it to be surrounded by your own forest in southern California? This is a truly unique location. We feel privileged to have found it … and to be able to share it with you.

The house itself needed a lot of work, so we completely remodeled and upgraded the Hilltop Villa & Penthouse. We poured our heart and soul into the remodel, and with the help of some very skilled and dedicated craftsmen completed the project in July 2022.

Since then we complete many other projects, such as the complete pool remodel, landscaping, outside lighting and we are working on building a pickleball court (estimated completion: February 2026).

We are not a big anonymous vacation rental conglomerate. This property is the only property we own and it’s very special to us. We want to share it with you, we want you to enjoy it like we do, but we also need to protect it. For this reason, we have put together a few house rules (see below).

Please know that we are not trying to be harsh or rigid, but we hope that communicating the house rules clearly will be a win-win situation for you and us.

Please enjoy your stay and let us know if we can do anything to make it even better.

Sincerely,

Your hosts,
Simon & Jodi
Simon cell: 858-205-4900

DIRECTIONS TO THE PENTHOUSE

HOUSE RULES

< No parking on the street at any time, all cars must be kept on property inside the gate
< No smoking
< No drugs of any kind
< No getting drunk
< No events, photo-or video shoots unless specifically permitted in writing by owner
< No loud noise (including music) after 10pm
< Only the number of booked and paid for guests are allowed on the property. Additional guests or brief visitors require owner's permission (and possibly payment of additional fee).
< No pets allowed without prior permission
< No jumping on beds
< No taping, glueing, stapling, decorations on ceiling or walls
< No glitter or glitter powder
< No candles
< If you break something, please let us know

PENTHOUSE GUIDE

Parking:
Please use the gravel parking lot right be the front door, this will protect you from potentially getting blocked in by main house guests' cars. Maneuver carefully so you don't get stuck in gravel.

Wi-fi internet:
Network: NETGEAR17 -- Password: smilingtree058

Washer/Dryer:
Washer/Dryer are located in the kitchen (big cabinet in the back). Detergent is in the lower cabinet or under sink.

Trash:
Trash bins are by the front gate. PLEASE PUT ALL TRASH IN BINS BEFORE LEAVING (gray bin = garbage, blue bin = recyclables, DO NOT USE GREEN BINS).

Front Gate I Small Gate:
The front gate doesn’t open automatically when you walk up to it. There is a small, unlocked door left (north) of the big gate that allows you to walk through.

Ceiling Fans:
There are ceiling fans in the bedroom and living room. Both ceiling fans primarily work as light (operated via light switch) and secondarily as fan. To turn the light on, simply flip the wall switch. The bedroom switch is right next to the door. The living room switch is on the wall by the kitchen. To turn on the fan, flip the switch (to turn on the power to the fan) and then use the remote (one for bedroom, one for living room) to turn on the fan (and turn off the light if you wish). PLEASE RETURN REMOTES TO ORIGINAL PLACE

TVs:
We have smart TVs with access to Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, ROKU (please use your personal account for paid movies, shows, etc.) in the bed room and living room. PLEASE RETURN REMOTES TO ORIGINAL PLACE.

Air Conditioning & Heating:
A/C and heating are controlled via the Honeywell thermostat in the hallway. Simply touch the screen, turn on AC and heating. PLEASE TURN OFF A/C AND HEAT WHEN NOT AT HOME.

Fire place:
The fire place in the living room is not to be used. We placed a variety of electric candles into the fire place that can be turned on for nice ambiance. PLEASE RETURN REMOTE TO ORIGINAL PLACE.

EV Charger:
We have an EV charger in the main house (Villa). It is available to be used if there are no guests at the main house (please inquire).

Kitchen:
The kitchen is equipped with the following: Refrigerator with freezer, filtered water, ice dispenser, full size cooktop and range with built in Air Fry, dishwasher, Nespresso (original) coffee machine (or French Press), drip coffee machine, toaster, blender, electric citrus juicer, and common staples like spices, oil, vinegar, etc.

Basic supplies:
We provide all of the following: Towels, linens, sheets, pillows, blankets, toilet paper, shampoos, laundry & dishwasher detergent, kitchen sponge, Nespresso pods (coffee).

Pool I Hot tub:
Our paradise pool and hot tub is for exclusive use of main house guests. However, you are welcome to use the pool area if no guests are booked for the main house. Please inquire first.

Pool vacuum:
To keep our pool clean and clear we have a pool vacuum that roams around. Please untangle the vacuum if it gets stuck and let us know if it is not moving during 'regular roaming hours' (9am - 4pm). IF THE VACUUM IS IN YOUR WAY AND WANT TO REMOVE IT, PLEASE ASK FOR DIRECTION FIRST TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE POOL EQUIPMENT.

Propane BBQ I Patio Heater I Fire pit:
Propane gas BBQ, and fire pit are outside. It’s logistically difficult to keep propane tanks full all the time, that’s why we don’t guarantee a full propane tank. Tanks can be refilled at Daniel’s Market (7 min. away), Home Depot, ACE Hardware, etc. If you finish the tank, it would be a kindness to refill for the next guest.

Hair Dryers:
Hair dryers is kept in bathroom.

Iron I Vacuum:
Iron is kept in the hallway cabinet. A full-size vacuum is kept in the storage area (wooden gate at lower level of guest house)

Cameras:
We have security cameras in various outside locations and the garage. No cameras inside.

Avocados:
Our avocado grove needs water equivalent to 5 inches worth of rain every month. The map on the next page shows where our ~470 avocado trees are located. We sell the avocados commercially to pay for the water bill. Please only pick avocados you can use. Avocados picked from the tree take 10 – 14 days to ripen. Throughout much of the year you will find avocados on the ground (especially January – June). Unlike store-bought avocado, even fruit that looks dark and ‘ugly’ is usually good and tasty. Simply pick it up, slice it open, and enjoy. Peak avocado season is from January (when avocados are maturing) to June (when they are picked). ‘Babycados’ (new crop of avocados) start growing in July. PLEASE DO NOT PICK AVOCADOS FROM JULY – DECEMBER AS FRUIT WILL NOT RIPEN AND NOT TASTE GOOD.

Citrus Trees:
There are various citrus trees on the property: Different types of oranges, grapefruit, tangerine, kumquats (pop in the whole thing) and lemon.
The various varieties ripen at different times, but the map below highlights the two areas where you’ll find the citrus trees. Have fun exploring ... and put the electric citrus juicer (kitchen) to work.

Macadamia Nuts:
Left and right of the front gate are macadamia nut trees. Unfortunately the nuts don’t grow cracked open and dipped in chocolate. They are truly a tough nut to crack. Feel free to pick some and take home (please don’t break our knifes or kitchen countertop trying to crack them open).

Disclaimer:
Our property is in the country. This means you may see wildlife like Coyotes, squirrels, skunks, roadrunners, racoons, etc. Although we haven’t had any issues yet, please note that there might be less adorable characters such as scorpions, rattlesnakes, etc. CLOSE SCREENS AT ALL TIMES. If screens are open, insects and animals come inside. We are not liable for any injuries or damages caused by animals or slipping, tripping, etc. on the property.

Main House:
There is a main house (Villa) on the same property. The Villa is also available for rent. You can view the proximity via aerial pictures of our listing. Although a small portion of the driveway is shared, Villa guests do not infringe on Penthouse guests as the backyard is facing away from the Penthouse. None of our guests (Penthouse or Villa) have ever complained about lack of privacy.

Contact:
You can contact me (Simon) on my cell phone (858-205-4900) at any time.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE (CHECK OUT INSTRUCTIONS)

< Please put back all remotes (ceiling fans, TVs, etc.) to where they below
< Please turn off A/C, heating, lights and appliances not being used
< Please put dirty dishes in dishwasher and start dishwasher (1-hr cycle)
< Please put all trash in trash bins outside the front gate. DO NOT USE GREEN BINS
< Please leave linens on bed
< Rule of thumb: Please leave our Penthouse as you've found it

PROPERTY MAP (WHERE TO FIND FRUIT)

We grow a variety of fruits on our property. Pink & white grapefruits, different varieties of oranges tangerines grow just south and west of the pool (upper red box). Additional varieties of oranges and tangerines along with cumquats grow further south inside the avocado grove (lower red box). We also grow cherimoya's and passionfruit (can you find them :). An electric citrus juicer is in the kitchen. Enjoy!

RESTAURANTS, STORES & FUN DESTINATIONS NEARBY

< El Parque: Just 2-3 miles away. Mexican restaurant with other options like bowls, burgers, fish & chips. Quaint place with neat outside ambiance. Inexpensive, good food. Beer on draft.
< Monserate Winery: Just down the road, 10-15 minute walk away. Wine tastings, casual fare and upscale restaurant.
< Z-Cafe: Great food at affordable prices.
< Z South: Mexican food. Delicious and more upscale.
< Peking Wok: Best Chinese food in town. Good lunch specials.
< Fresco Grill: Upscale Italian food.
< Estrella's: Good Mexican food.
< Veranda at Grand Traditions. Upscale restaurant with nice ambiance
< Daniel's Market: Closest supermarket. Not upscale but has all the basics and is know for its Burgundy Tri-tip. It's great on the BBQ.
< Albertsons: The nicest grocery store around.
< Grocery Outlet: Groceries at a discount with some neat and changing food items and good prices on the basics.
< Kenny's Strawberry Farm: Open Friday - Sunday (usually January - July)
< Fallbrook Winery: Another nearby winery
< Toasted Oak Vineyard and Winery

FUN SPOTS WITHIN 10 - 50 MILES

< Temecula wineries. There are dozens to choose from. Some of our favorites are Leoness and Renzoni winery.
< Ocean (Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar ... you can just travel Highway 101 from Oceanside to La Jolla).
< LEGOLAND (Carlsbad)
< San Diego Wild Animal Park (Escondido)
< San Diego Zoo (San Diego)
< Seaworld (San Diego)
< Balboa Park (San Diego)
< Gaslamp Quarter (Downtown San Diego)
< San Diego Harbor