The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals (2021) s02e08 Episode Script

So Cal Style

1
Okay, beautiful. Wow, what a day!
- Southern California!
- Whoo!
It feels like a playground of my dreams.
When I was a kid, I used to think
of California only being Hollywood, LA,
but then as we travel
obviously more and more and more,
we realize that Los Angeles
is just a very small part
of such a beautiful state.
In the vacation rental world,
Southern California
offers something for everybody.
From the beach
to the mountains to the desert,
we picked our favorites
to inspire your next trip
to the Golden State.
And we start at this old western town
here in the desert.
To this incredible beachfront estate
here in Malibu.
To this budget stay here in Montecito.
It's crazy
because when we're living in LA,
you could take a two-hour trip
and be in a different world.
And that's why I love Southern California.
Like, shout-out to So Cal!
For real!
When you think
of Southern California,
you might think of the glitz and glam
of Hollywood,
but then I thought, how can
I make that even more unique, right?
Like, what is more unique
than going to to Hollywood?
It's going back in time
to go to Hollywood.
First up on our Southern California
journey is my unique property,
which is located on the edge
of a very unique town
which actually got its start
as a Western movie set.
So the place that I'm taking you guys to
is in Pioneertown,
which has this wild history.
It was built in the 1940s
by Western actors and Hollywood investors.
One of them was Roy Rogers.
And they wanted to build a movie set/town
that they could actually live in,
and we're staying in a property
that happens to be in that town.
Look at this place!
Welcome to our vacation rental.
- This property's called The Outlaw.
- Whoa!
So, what do you think?
This is one
of the craziest amenities I've ever seen.
You have your own town
outside of your property.
This is amazing.
I've never experienced
something like this before.
But that's the point.
Located on the outskirts of Pioneertown,
The Outlaw is a combination
of an 1880s Western movie set
and a traditional ranch-style home.
Filled with eclectic pop culture design,
this one-of-a-kind rental
includes four bedrooms
five-and-a-half bathrooms
and your very own Western town.
With your own saloon and a caboose,
other amenities include a chapel,
a group hammock area
and a cowboy soaking tub.
It sleeps ten and you get all of this
just for you and your guests
starting at $1,600 per night.
Okay, so let's see the house.
I love it.
It feels like it has personality.
It does. A lot of personality.
Love these steps!
Welcome home!
Whoa!
Take a look at the views.
Views on views on views on views.
- Oh, my God, it keeps going!
- This is great!
This is incredible.
It's such a unique place, Joanna.
Every inch has something with a story.
It's like desert bohemian
chic, eclectic.
I love it!
So, every single item that you see here
was sourced from thrift stores
all around the States,
and every single item
is meant to spark joy.
Like, his intention was
to make people happy.
I love this guy.
The design of this place
is so all over the place
that it makes complete sense.
It's like you!
Thank you for the compliment.
So welcome to your home,
Megan, the kitchen.
- This is a beautiful kitchen.
- Yeah, you have light everywhere.
The layout is perfect.
So having the kitchen central this way
and having, like,
a conversation space here,
they do a really good job
with space in here.
The eclectic design
continues into the four en suite bedrooms.
Oh, come on!
Each room has its very own
incredible private desert view.
And this is, I think, my bedroom?
So gorgeous.
- Wow, Jo, this is the money shot.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
- This is it. This is my wake-up view.
But the real magic of the property
is outside.
Because you're not just renting a home,
you're renting an entire
miniature Western town
and all of its buildings,
and you get all of this
just for you and your guests.
- We get this private patio.
- Wow!
This is so cool.
This is the plunge area.
A hot tub and a cowboy tub,
which is a cold tub.
- Wow!
- This is a first.
We've never stayed
on a property that has a chapel.
- No way!
- Okay, this is adorable.
- Nice!
- This is so cool.
Look how they painted
the ceiling blue so it feels like the sky.
- I love it.
- I love it.
Okay, there's still more to see.
There is something
to see inside of this caboose.
Oh, you can go inside?
Welcome home, Luis.
- Oh, my gosh, this is awesome.
- No! This is a bedroom?
- This is the coolest thing in the world!
- How fun is this?
- There's a bathroom in here as well.
- Oh, my God! This is amazing.
Okay, look outside now.
Look at this.
It's like you're in the West.
You're in a different world.
That is for sure.
Okay, but this is it right here.
So this is like a morning coffee moment.
You come out here after a shower.
You take your coffee.
- You're like, "Wow, am I in a Western?"
- Wow!
Waking up tomorrow
is gonna be so confusing.
- Opening up my eyes and seeing that?
- I love this!
All right, welcome to the saloon.
Oh!
Oh, my gosh!
- What?
- You have greeters.
- Wow, gentlemen. Should we come in?
- Wow!
- Whoa!
- I love this so much.
This is like an extended living room.
Yeah,
it really is like a little den.
- How much fun is this?
- This is so fun.
- Y'all want a lighting change?
- Uh-oh. She's opening the doors.
- Look at that.
- Wow!
Different place all of a sudden.
- Okay, the bar is empty.
- This bar is really impressive.
Look, the pendant lights are
coming from upside down cowboy boots.
They've got all the old-world touches
that gives it a really true,
authentic old feel,
but the fact that
they've put modern furniture in it
makes it feel hipster cool,
like people our age
would wanna come here.
Doesn't it feel like you rented out
your own bar?
This is so fun.
I don't think
I've seen amenities like this ever.
I mean, you're renting your own town.
- Yeah.
- See, now I understand the price point.
Wow, wow, wow, wow!
With five en suite rooms,
this desert oasis is an ideal getaway
for a group of friends who are ready
to indulge in a secluded retreat
with incredible desert views.
- You see these mountains over here?
- Yes.
They're called the Sawtooth Mountains.
Look, you see the little jagged edges?
- Yeah! Oh!
- Oh, nice.
How cool is that?
I feel I feel like I'm, you know,
in your own world. Literally.
Like, if you think about Hollywood,
it's all about transporting the audience
and the actors
To another world.
Which is why it's the perfect place
to build Pioneertown.
Okay, one of the things that's inspiring
me the most is the collection of chairs.
The fact that there are so many
and the fact that they're all different.
You got a saddle chair.
You have an 1890s dentist chair.
Just sitting on history, no big deal.
You have a live edge recliner,
almost like an Adirondack chair,
but from the primitive ages.
There's a cowhide-tufted Barcelona chair
right next to a high-back chair
with a patina.
How are these two chairs in conversation?
They've even added a swing
to give it a playful element
so that you can take in this view
from the living room!
The coolest thing about this is that
all of them are so different,
but they're all getting along.
I think we should
take a note from these chairs.
Hollywood was made to make people believe
that there are worlds outside of ours.
Pioneertown started
as a real estate investment.
And in the past couple of years,
it's grown all the way
from $300 per square foot average
to $500 per square foot
for residential homes.
From a real estate standpoint,
this entire town was built to create,
to inspire.
You can feel it.
You can live it, and it's beautiful.
Okay, so, we rented some bikes
'cause I love a little bike ride, right?
I'm so excited. We're gonna go into town.
Go explore, maybe get a little beer.
Just enjoy the desert.
This is so freeing! Whoo!
Just over a third of a mile
away from the property,
is the historic Pioneertown
Okay, we're almost there.
where hundreds of movies
were filmed in its heyday.
It's also home to Pappy and Harriet's,
one of the world's
most hidden gems for music.
We're in an iconic place.
We brought the party!
So if you're driving past
this unassuming building,
you'd probably never guess
that performers like Robert Plant
and Sir Paul McCartney performed here.
Imagine you're in the desert
and you stop in the only bar that's alive
and randomly, Paul McCartney stands up
and starts playing you a concert?
This is, like, Americana. Cheers.
So, after exploring Pioneertown,
it was time to go back
to our own little town, The Outlaw.
So, when you have a property
that's a special as this one,
you gotta have some fun with it,
Hollywood style.
We could put you in this
and then you in this.
- Wow!
- Wow!
- Look at you!
- We are ready.
I'm digging the dirt and ♪
Okay, so here is a travel tip.
Make your trip extra unique,
find an amazing photographer on Instagram.
We're tired of taking selfies
on our trips.
Oh, my gosh! Imagine these photos.
- Cheers!
- To a great property, Joanna.
I mean, all of your properties
are so unique,
but this one I will never forget.
I love your outfits.
I'm not changing.
We couldn't do So Cal
without a beach.
- Correct.
- Absolutely.
It's not just any beach.
We're gonna come into Malibu like locals,
and I'm gonna take you to a place
that's gonna blow your mind!
Blow your mind!
Whoo!
Our Southern California journey
continues
with my luxury property here
in the iconic beach town of Malibu.
I found a house, and it's secluded.
It's almost like your own private
little world inside of Malibu.
You know what we're going to do that
we haven't done at one of my properties,
a real party with our people.
- Ooh! I love that!
- Nice!
I was thinking that
because you live in LA.
You used to be in LA.
I got some friends in LA.
I think we should call everybody,
tell 'em we got a house in Malibu.
I am down!
All right, so here we are.
Wow.
This is our home?
This is next level.
The amount of stone! Beautiful.
This is crazy.
Hey, this is luxury. Not bad, huh?
- Not bad.
- Not bad at all!
This is crazy!
Casa Di Pietra is a luxury modern
villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
It offers spacious indoor
and outdoor living areas
that include five bedrooms
four-and-a-half bathrooms,
sleeps 12 guests,
all for the price
of around $5,000 per night.
Okay, Malibu!
Whoa, this is a sense of arrival.
Look at the spiral staircase.
Doesn't that look like a piece of art?
This looks like a wave.
- Great! Look at this. Wow!
- Ooh! Look at this fireplace!
I know you don't care about stone,
but this is so gorgeous.
Look at the ceiling height
and that chandelier.
- You could fit 120 people here.
- You could.
Um, Megan, look behind you.
No!
Look at this size
of this kitchen, Megan. Just for you.
This is huge!
Two stoves, two sinks,
two fridges, open shelving.
Let me interrupt this kitchen moment,
so that we can all take a moment
and hear the soundtrack to this house.
- The waves.
- Yeah.
Okay, can we go see this?
- Come on.
- Please. Megan, come on.
Look at this!
Yes!
Yes this, but that.
This is your private entrance
into the beach.
I would just sit here all day.
Like, the property's beautiful,
but this is my jam.
It's beautiful. I love it.
But what I love is this view.
The stone, the lounging, the pool.
I like the ocean for a backdrop.
Everyone wins.
- Me and you in the water.
- Yes.
- She'll be in the pool.
- Mm-hmm.
So, what are these two balconies
sitting at the top?
Those are
the two mirror image primary suites.
- So we don't have to fight over one.
- Show me! Show me! Show me!
Wow, look at this suite!
It's huge!
Look, you guys,
this is a two-sided fireplace
that's in the bedroom and the bathroom.
- Like, how often do you see this?
- Hardly ever.
But, guys, this is the money.
- Oh, look at this view!
- Okay.
- Look at this view.
- Oh, the breeze. The sunlight.
Oh,
this is all that I've ever wanted!
Wow. And look at this couch.
This is
when you take your shoes off.
That's how you know
you really feel at home.
- Yeah, look at this nice surfboard.
- That. I love that.
Even though
I've stayed away from Malibu
because it does have this
very expensive reputation,
I feel the low-key So Cal energy here,
which makes me feel comfortable.
Wait till you sleep with the waves
and wake up.
Your life will never be the same.
- Okay, let's go see that tub.
- Yep! Bathtub time!
I'm gonna chill here for a minute.
You see, to me, Malibu
is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods
when it comes to the most
celebrated people of our lifetime.
Actors, producers, rock stars.
It's kind of like a very private club
that the whole world knows about,
but it's hard to get in to.
Now $5,000 as an entry point?
When you divide it among 12 guests,
it's a hell of a deal.
Who knows?
You might bump into Adam Sandler.
You might end up
starring in his next movie. What a life.
This is the bathroom?
- Okay.
- Oh!
- Okay!
- All right.
When you have a bath
and you're looking at the ocean like this.
- gasps]
- You can't make this up.
Okay, here's what I'm learning
about being in Luis' luxury properties.
They are so big that you can become
overwhelmed with everything.
But what I do is I like to focus in
on the small details.
Like this.
This is the bottom of my shower.
It's a geometric stone pattern
that I think is so beautiful.
And this is a design tip
that I'm taking away.
You can be bold and playful,
even if it's in a shower.
Something small like this
will change the entire space.
When you have big houses like this,
you open doors,
you find rooms you never knew existed.
Like this billiards room right here
with a beautiful wine cooler
and a nice TV.
And let's not forget
a state-of-the-art dedicated media room,
an outdoor kitchen with barbecue
and brick pizza oven.
This Malibu estate
is a beachfront getaway,
perfectly designed for entertaining.
A huge walk-in closet
with a little balcony.
Who has a balcony in their closet? No one.
Wow.
Okay, guys,
let's go check out the roof.
- Oh, my God. Come on!
- Oh.
I never got Malibu. I get it now.
You think about how busy cities are.
Mm-hmm.
You're in Los Angeles.
You are working so hard.
All you want is this. This is all I want.
Peace and nature and quiet and a cabana.
I think this is one of your properties
that is the biggest
entertainer's paradise.
Even in this one floor,
I can't see any other moment.
So, you could have a private moment
in this cabana.
Other people could have a private moment
at the fireplace or the dining area.
If you don't have these conversations,
it was not a party.
Agreed.
- I love that.
- Oh, yeah?
This ain't a bad way to wake up.
Not bad.
When I was looking to book
a vacation rental in Southern California,
I already knew I wanted to come to Malibu,
and the obvious choice is
to go to Carbon Beach, right?
That's where the billionaires are,
where the scene is,
where the restaurants are
But you drive 15 minutes north,
and you have this,
a house double the size, half the price,
but completely private,
surrounded by nature.
Three acres of private land
with direct access to the beach.
So my point is, it's not about popularity.
It's not about where people are going.
In fact, it's what the place
does for you in return.
There's something magical
about Malibu in the mornings.
Waking up to the sound of the ocean
makes the waters of the Pacific
impossible to resist.
Luis, this is this is crazy!
This is a beautiful moment for them.
I'm gonna take a nap.
I love this!
That's how you do Malibu!
To start the day, we're gonna do
a proper cleansing, Malibu style.
We got all of our supplements.
Hmm.
One thing we will do
in this particular property, party.
A Malibu beach house party?
I've always wanted
to go to one of those.
- My brother! ¡Hola!
- Nice to meet you.
Hey! Look at
the sunset we got here for you.
Let's go see it.
All the gold in the world ♪
Can't shine like the sun in LA ♪
Sunset ♪
Wow!
Shine like we do in LA ♪
You guys know where the party's at.
Cheers! Cheers!
- So what do you think of the house?
- Beautiful. The sunset, the moon. Love it.
First of all, #goals.
All right, guys,
I have an announcement to make.
The one thing that you want
at three in the morning
in Southern California what is it, Megan?
- Tacos!
- Yes!
Let's go eat!
Wow, look at this!
- This is so ridiculous!
- Wow!
- I love this!
- Tacos!
This is the best thing you've ever done.
You know that right?
- Yeah. Who wants more tacos?
- Me!
It doesn't get better than this!
Taco truck at a Malibu beach house!
Oh, my God!
What a life!
I am here in Montecito to show you
the ritzy lifestyle
that California has to offer.
Meghan Markle just moved here.
Oprah lives here.
And I'm gonna show you
how to have this lifestyle on a budget.
- How?
- I'll show you!
Less than two hours northwest
of Los Angeles, California,
Montecito is a small
but very exclusive town
that lies on the Pacific coast
in the rolling foothills
of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Are we working for somebody?
Are we, like, being the butler staff
in somebody's estate?
We're not working in the estate,
but it is a guesthouse to the estate.
- That's so clever.
- Ah!
So, this is Hedgerow neighborhood.
All the houses are super private
because of these massive hedges.
You don't know who's behind there.
It could be Ellen, could be Oprah.
Could be anyone.
That's crazy.
Welcome to Casa Mimosa!
Is this the house?
I I think we have to go past the hedges
to even see what's there.
Well, I guess we'll find out.
Behind door number one
- Look, how pretty!
- Mm. That's nice.
Are you sure we're not breaking in?
Did you make a reservation really?
- I did. Open the door.
- Okay.
This is not like
our normal budget property.
No, no, no. Like, you sure this is budget?
No, this is definitely
the main house.
Oh, it's huge!
- This is massive.
- Wow, this is huge.
Look at these freakin' gardens!
- Ooh. Oh, my God.
- What?
There's just so much space!
- Wow.
- Look at all the space.
That's our house.
That looks like
a cleaning supply closet.
We even supposed to be here?
Seriously, no.
Feels like we broke into somebody's house.
We are allowed. This is ours.
Everything that you see here,
everything is ours.
Oh, this is it?
- Turn right
- Got it. Whoa!
- So cute!
- Wow, this is very nice.
- Very charming.
- Right?
Our 850-square-foot guesthouse
is a small gem
on a Spanish Revival-style estate
called Casa Mimosa.
It has one bedroom
one bathroom and sleeps six guests.
This rental cottage includes a pool,
tennis court,
full gym and many more amenities
for about $1,200 per night.
Welcome home.
Oh, it's so cute!
- It's cozy, I love it.
- Oh, but it's cozy. It's nice.
It's like it's like a very small
one-bedroom apartment in New York.
Look at all the places that you
have here. You've got a breakfast nook.
You have a huge, oversized couch,
a conversation set and a kitchen.
And a fireplace!
And a fireplace.
Look at the size of that fireplace.
How many bedrooms you have?
You have one bed?
There's one bedroom upstairs
with two beds.
And this is a pull-out couch, so
- So, two, four, six.
- Oh, there's two beds.
I think this place would be nice
for a group of friends,
especially like a group of girlfriends.
Imagine you're, like,
a wedding party or a baby shower.
I know that $1,200 is not cheap,
but to me, this is a budget hack
because you can split the guesthouse
with six friends and only pay $200 apiece.
That's a great price
for a luxury experience
and access to the entire grounds.
- This is like a private theme park.
- Yes! That's a great way of putting it.
If you're only spending
$200 apiece for this place,
it's definitely a budget hack.
And check this out.
We have our very own clay tennis court.
This is amazing.
- What is this?
- Uh-oh, señor Ortiz!
- Wow!
- It's your skate park!
- Ha-ha!
- Oh, yeah!
Wow, there's a board.
- Hold on.
- Oh, nice!
Wow, this is amazing! You know how much
I want a skate park behind my house?
I bet.
- Oh, my God, I'm so happy. He's so happy.
- Wow, this is crazy.
- He's so happy!
- Whoo!
- I feel like I'm in eighth grade again.
- Bravo!
- That was amazing.
- You killed it!
Wow!
You look so happy.
- I have never
- He looks like a kid again.
in the history of vacation rentals ever,
no hotel, no place, no palace,
no country, no nothing
has ever had a skate park.
This is a six-star in my book.
So far, these amenities
have delivered on the promise
of fun and enjoyment.
We couldn't come to Casa Mimosa
without having a mimosa.
And to keep the party going,
we move poolside.
- Oh, God.
- Oh!
You almost fell right through!
You look like you own this place.
Staying at a guesthouse is not bad
until we get kicked out by the owners
when they find out that we broke in.
- Bedtime?
- Bedtime!
Like, I don't think I've ever
seen a grown person wear a pajama set.
Oh, my God!
You bought a pajama set
for the road.
Fashion never sleeps. Good night.
I'm done with you. Good night. Huh!
Wow, what a beautiful morning.
Have you ever wondered
what's on the other side
of these hedges
in wealthy neighborhoods like this?
Because as a designer,
I am always curious.
But now that this is my rental hedge,
I get to show you
what's on the other side.
You have a European rose garden,
obviously!
A pool Jacuzzi and pool house,
that's standard equipment.
A clay tennis court, now that's extra.
Now a boccie ball court,
that's extra extra.
You know how much this guesthouse
makes a year?
I'm not exactly sure, but let's talk
about some ballpark numbers.
At 1,200 a night, at 65% occupancy,
almost $300,000 in one year.
If you have a guesthouse
or a space for a guesthouse,
there is no better time
to make use of it than today.
Because this trend is blowing out
like there was no tomorrow.
She was going down.
At Casa Mimosa, you've gotta
make sure to get your money's worth
from every amenity.
From the gym
to the skate park
Yes!
to the pool
and even the paddleboards.
Yeah, you look so good!
You can also hire a private coach
to come help you brush up on your game.
Or maybe to get some game at all.
This is the championship.
We can get this one!
Joanna Franco, attacking on the corner!
And she scores! Oh, my God!
- That was the greatest I've ever seen!
- I won!
One of the best amenities of all
happens to be just a short walk
or bike ride from Casa Mimosa.
It's the beach.
I don't wanna look away ♪
So miss it, look away
'Cause it'll pass me ♪
Look away
'Cause this moment, it's perfect ♪
- This is nice.
- This is nice.
- I love this so much.
- I know, right?
This, to me,
is the quintessential So Cal moment.
You're biking on a boardwalk.
You have palm trees to your right.
You have the ocean to your left.
What more do you need?
This place has it all.
After spending some time here,
it almost feels already
that this is our house.
When you walked in,
you felt like you were trespassing.
- You couldn't speak with an outside voice.
- Yes.
He was whispering.
But now look at us,
we're using the firepit
in the rose garden
right in front of the estate.
The amount of things
that you can do in here
is still more than I think we've ever seen
in another vacation rental.
Megan, your mission
was for us to have fun.
- Did you?
- You killed it, girl!
- You had fun?
- I had a lot of fun.
Southern California feels like
you're in so many different places.
Like, you can travel the world
right here in one state.
Casa Di Pietra was spectacular,
but my favorite rental
was definitely Pioneertown
because it's so unique
that you get to rent your own little town.
Casa Mimosa got me
because of the skate park
Whoo!
But I have to say,
my favorite was really Pioneertown.
I always say, "Live the movie,"
and here you can really, really do that.
Wow, wow, wow!
Casa Mimosa was so much fun.
But I'm with you guys.
It was Pioneertown for me, hands down.
It was like walking into a movie set
that made you have fun
right from the start.
All around the world we move ♪
All around the world we move ♪
All around the world we move ♪
All around the world we move ♪
All around the world we move ♪
All around the world we go ♪
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