San Miguel

A second-floor studio in the historic Hitchcock House, a corner unit within a block of East Beach in Santa Barbara. It is small and specific: a queen bed with hotel-quality linens, large picture windows that let in ample natural light, and one big window looking over the shared patio to the mountains in the distance.

For a month or more, the working corners are what matter. There is a writing desk, and a Victorian parlor chair makes a reading spot. The studio includes a TV, a mini-refrigerator and freezer, a microwave, a coffee maker and an electric kettle.

The large shared patio is effectively your extra room: a table for four, an umbrella-covered table, loungers, benches and a gas grill. East Beach is a block away, and wine tasting, hiking, kayaking, golf, sunset cruises, museums and the Santa Barbara Zoo are all nearby.

Be clear-eyed about the trade-offs before you commit to a long stay. This unit is not equipped with air conditioning, though it is rarely needed with the mild summer temperatures at the beach, and a ceiling fan keeps a breeze moving. You are half a block from the Amtrak rails and near the 101 freeway, so passing trains may occasionally be heard; earplugs are provided in each unit. This is an older historical building with multiple units, so you may hear noises from adjacent units.

P.S. Primary renter must be 25 years of age (proof of age required).