S has landed a nice internship in Santa Monica, so H and I are thinking of renting an apartment/house/condo for the summer for him and for any family members/friends who want to drop in…including us! I’ve checked Airbnb and Craigslist. Does anyone know of a reputable broker? Or corporate rentals? Looking for REALLY clean and upscale with maid service…I’d prefer something almost like a hotel, rather than someone’s home.
Why about VRBO?
LOL, almost everything in Santa Monica should be upscale.
Try the Oakwood Apartments. There are several Oakwood complexes in Santa Monica and Marina del Rey. You can rent furnished or unfurnished apartments. We’ve stayed at the Oakwood in MdR and commuted from MdR to Santa Monica by bicycle.
OH, how lucky you all are! We were in Santa Monica for the first time last June (stayed at The Shore Hotel…so cool) and absolutely loved it. What a beautiful, healthy town and lifestyle. Great views, great shopping, wonderful restaurants in Malibu just a short 15 minute drive. Lucky Lucky Lucky you!
If you want to go luxurious with a touch of old Hollywood glamour, the Miramar Hotel has bungalows. Google its history for details. The Fairmont group now owns it.
Although I no longer live in Santa Monica, I know it very well. I can’t help with real estate brokers, but if you have other questions I’ll try to answer them.
Santa Monica is so nice. D1 and I splurged and stayed at Shutters on the Beach once. We saw Diane Keaton in the lobby and David Beckham and his boys several times (Victoria was there but I never saw her). Lindsey Lohan got arrested right outside the hotel while we were there.
Beautiful beach, the pier is fun, etc.
If you didn’t find anything on Craigslist or Airbnb then I would look at VRBO or Westside Rentals. Santa Monica is a fun place to visit!
No, this is absolutely not true! 85% of Santa Monica consists of decidedly non-upscale bungalows and beat- up apartments. Expensive, but not upscale. 15% – the neighborhoods north of Montana – would appear to be “upscale.” Most of Santa Monica appears pretty run down.
Like others suggested, check VRBO. For every vacation we’ve taken where we’ve rented a house, there were always at least three more VRBO houses for every airbnb house available in the same area. I really do try to give airbnb a chance to prove me wrong, but their selection is usually dismal compared to VRBO.
A lot of Santa Monica is not upscale. Rent control is still extremely strong in SM. If an apartment owner has LNG term tenants paying extremely low rents they have to no incentive to upgrade their inventory. In SM they would have to pay the tenant relocation plus offer them an apartment in the new upgraded building for what they were paying previously.
Google Santa Monica city and vacation rentals. The city is not happy with rental housing being taken out of circulation and becoming Short term rentals. They are working on new ordinances and how to enforce the present ordinance of minimum rental term bring 30 days. You won’t have a problem since you want the entire summer but others should beware.
Haha, roughing it up, Nrdsb4! I have seen worse places.
As far as the OP, you might consider looking up this person.
http://www.santamonicahomes.net/ and the relocating services at http://www.santamonicahomes.net/relocate.html
I understand that he has helped UCLA folks find temporary housing, and I do not think he has joined the retiring dinosaurs yet. Perhaps a long shot but he surely will know the market and tons about colleges.
Thanks for all of the help. Already looked at Oakwood Apartments, which is a good option, and there is a lot on VRBO. Yes, upscale means $5K and up per month. Lots of $2K dumpy apartments that I wouldn’t set foot in. NYC prices for sure.
Don’t bother with Oakwood Apts. My brother used to live in one decades ago and they are just typical apts, thin walls, young tenants, nothing special. I’ve driven by several in San Jose area and they haven’t changed.
It was supposed to be funny, nottelling. Guess it wasn’t :(. I have a friend who owns rental property in nearby Venice. There are some pretty creepy areas and shabby housing there.
Im surprised that Oakwood Apts are not so great. The pics look nice and their prices are very high. Thanks for the advice - I’ll look Santa Monica homes and Westside Rentals. I’ve stayed at the Fairmont Miramar, and I don’t think it’s appropriate for a three month rental…more of a resort. Very nice though and great food.
@xiggi, yeah, I don’t know how we did it, but we did survive. 
I figured since we were touring schools in CA and were on our way to see the University of Spoiled Children that we might as well live the part. 
If this is the kind of company I think it is then it’s in Venice beach, Maria Del Rey is nearby, nice too.
You might also consider Brentwood. It’s 10 minutes or so from Santa Monica and very nice.
Brentwood is even more expensive than Santa Monica if I recall.