We encourage and welcome reviews. So please leave us a review at the bottom of this page. 

Our Flipkey Reviews are listed in the window below. Following that are just some of the reviews we’ve received from guests. Or you can read some more of our over 190 AirBNB reviews.  Also, please read our Facebook reviews and like us on Facebook.

What our guests are saying about us.

Peter M.

This was our best airbnb experience yet. We realised our mistake as soon as we arrived: we should have booked two nights, not just one. We were warmly greeted on arrival, the location was sensational, the property beautiful, the room very comfortable, the hosts charming, the food delicious. It’s a long and windy drive up the mountain but well worth it. Our dinner on the terrace, with our private chef, Darren, was an experience beyond price. It was so peaceful and the views so stunning we wished we could have stayed much longer. We can hardly wait to go back. What a lucky find.

John L. and Yongja

Our experience and stay with Monte & Darren could not have been better. They are both very gracious hosts, friendly and were very conscious of our privacy and alone time. The directions to find their home were spot on. The 6.5 mile up the mountain was easy and made it more adventurous and fun! AT&T is the only internet service that works in the area so we were fine and able to use our GPS as back up. We were celebrating a birthday and were very happy we had decided to go with the dinner option they offered. I have owned several restaurants and I can confidently say Darren is a fabulous cook and knows food very well. All the ingredients were high quality and organic, bought fresh that day from the market and local butcher shop. Great value for the price as portion size were perfect. The ambience and attention to detail provided were superb. Their home is beautifully decorated and the massive outdoor deck allows alternate locations for dining and ample room for lounging. The view is spectacular as you are deep in nature and surrounded by beautiful landscape, trees and mountains. Their two dogs, John & Grace are very sweet, low key and friendly. We would definitely return and would highly recommend Monte & Darren’s hidden getaway to friends.

Gilles and Fred

We keep a very good memory of our moment with Monte and Darre. they are amezing hosts. We appreciate this quiet place, the wonderful area and of course the cooking ! We advice the host dinner. Gracy and Johnny complete this peace full place. Monte and Darren are welcome in their next travel for Paris ! Fred and Gilles



Matt K



Monte and Darren are incredible hosts! They provided beautiful accommodation, including a lovely bedroom and our own lounge area and private bathroom. We felt comfortable using the common kitchen space as well as the the TV room and front room areas. In addition to great accommodation Monte and Darren also provided a fantastic overall experience – they were extremely friendly, welcoming and warm and were happy to chat and keep us company or leave us to ourselves. The continental breakfast they offer is delicious and fresh. We opted to have dinner cooked for us one evening – divine! Darren is an amazing chef and the meal he and Monte served us was the equivalent to eating at a fine restaurant. What a treat! We hope to return one day and will recommend Monte and Darren to our friends and family.


Noah M



This remote hideaway was a great place for us to relax and retreat for a few days. The setting is beautiful, with awesome strolls and hikes within a 30-minute driving distance. The coast is more like an hour away, but we were happy sticking to the mountains. Monte and Darren were fun, attentive hosts. Breakfasts were delicious, and their home-cooked dinner was a convenient option. It was also great to be able to use their kitchen and fridge. We left feeling renewed!


Tamsin W



The location is wonderful, the hosts (dogs included) were delightful and very welcoming, and the meal which Monte and Darren cooked for us was superb, as were the breakfasts. Staying here was the perfect start to our holiday in California.


Mike N



Monte and Darren were perfect hosts. I’m not used to such great and personal service. I loved the house furnishings, nicer than my own, of course… I don’t have a Moose so it’s not exactly fair. 😉 Monte made a great bonfire while Darren cooked a delicious meal. Highly recommend the dinner by Darren, one of the best salads I’ve ever had. Their dogs were wonderful and fun to have around. Very much enjoyed my stay there and look forward to returning.


Jasmin B



Darren & Monte were exceptional hosts. Their house is exquisite and the breakfast out on the deck overlooking the mountains was divine. They have two of the most well behaved, docile and gentle dogs I’ve ever seen. We will definitely be back!


Mireille K



The Carmel Valley Mountain Top stay was definitely a highlight of our trip. Our fantastic hosts Monte and Darren went above and beyond our expectations and all we had to do was soak up the incredible views while having the best breakfasts of our trip out on the deck. This is a great place to relax and enjoy everything the region has to offer; great driving, wine, food, Carmel and Monterey. Darren’s 5 star dinner is highly recommended, and we just had a great time. Thanks so much.


Paul C



An amazing stay. The view from this secluded spot is incredible, and is matched by Monte and Darren’s hospitality and home. We highly recommend the optional three-course dinner cooked by the duo, which was one of the best meals we had in our three-week tour of California, and was topped by the finest local wine. If you’re looking for a stylish, comfortable getaway, this is your place.


Melody J



Quiet, peaceful and very comfortable. If watching the stars from the bamboo deck or having breakfast with only the view of the Carmel mountains is your kind of thing, you will love Monty and Darren’s place.


Jonathan O



Monte and Darren were amazing hosts! They were very friendly and welcomed us into their beautiful home. They trusted us with full use of their kitchen, and we had a great night’s sleep in the comfortable bed. In the morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast including tons of fresh fruit, good coffee, and an amazing view of the Carmel Mountains. We will definitely be back!


Ryan C



Monte and Darren have a wonderful little place that is absolutely beautiful! Very secluded with a breathtaking view. My wife and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary here and can’t wait to go back. I highly recommend having Darren prepare dinner for you; the food was divine.


Greg W



Monte and Darren are absolutely wonderful hosts, with a fabulous property in a stunning location. We had a wonderful rest in the comfortable bed, and they were very conscientious about our dietary requirements for breakfast. We took them up on the offer for an included dinner, and it was a delicious meal, expertly prepared with the freshest of ingredients. The highlight of our stay was simply hanging out with Monte and Darren. We passed several hours with effortless and entertaining conversation, and my wife and I feel as though we made two new friends.


Nancy K



Monte and Darren provide an incredibly relaxing atmosphere – beautiful home and spectacular views. They are wonderful hosts who gave us as much privacy and as much social conversation as we wanted – nice balance. We loved staying at their place and will suggest it to anyone who ask. The description of how to get there is accurate except that the beauty and interest on the way was understated. We loved the entire experience from the time we started on the drive to their home through the return trip. Breakfast was really wonderful, as well! Thanks so much!


Molly C



Monte and Darren are the perfect hosts! Their mountain top home is absolutely gorgeous–every morning we had breakfast on the patio, overlooking the valley. We had a lot of privacy–the whole top floor (a bedroom, living room, and bathroom) was ours for the weekend. But we also loved chatting with Monte and Darren over a glass of wine! We can’t wait to go back!


Julia G



Staying with Monte and Darren was our best airbnb-stay ever! Their house was so beautiful, the view was awesome and breathtaking – they were the most amazing hosts. The breakfast was excellent! During our stay we requested dinner and Monte and Pam (Darren´s sister) prepared dinner on the level of a 5-star restaurant! Thank you so much – we had a wonderful time and will definitely come back if we visit Carmel valley again. We highly recommend staying with Monte and Darren!!!


Eric D



I wanted to take my wife on a quick get-away from our busy lives in San Luis Obispo for the weekend to celebrate her birthday. I was a little hesitant about being to hopeful for a really amazing weekend using AirBnB- mainly, because i hadn’t had any experience with it before. But thankfully, the weekend went flawlessly. Darren and Monte’s place in the hills of Carmel Valley was unbelievably gorgeous. The atmosphere and views were so peaceful and breathtaking- it was just what we wanted for our 1-day retreat. We requested an additional meal (dinner) and Darren prepared a feast worth of a 5-star restaurant. He also went and got a sampling of the local wines for our meal. I was blown at the level of hospitality Darren provided, especially considering the reasonable fare. Since we got back (3 days ago) I’ve nearly convinced 4-5 of our close couple friends to plan a getaway here in the next coming months. Thank you so much Darren (and Monte) we will be back soon!


Richard B



I have been privileged to stay at many excellent place over the years, and Monte and Darren’s place is one of the very best. I would easily to place it in my top 3 of all time. The house was immaculate, the food was excellent, and the hosts were amazing and the view is awesome. It’s a long, but beautiful drive and well worth it when you get there. I cannot recommend it highly enough and it will be my pleasure to stay again…if they’ll have me…lol