Petite Retreat | The Perfect (Affordable) Montecito Surf Cottage

Montecito, California is my second favorite beach town on earth. Why? Montecito is only five minutes south of my favorite beach town, Santa Barbara, and is only a short drive to some of the best surfing in Southern California: Rincon and Mondos, where I teach surf lessons. Montecito, or “Cito” as locals call it, is also home to many amazing beaches, (my favorite is Butterfly Beach where I just got engaged!), and tons of fabulous restaurants (Lucky’s for dinner and Los Arroyos for lunch). But this beauty and convenience comes at a price. Cito is notoriously expensive (Oprah, Drew Barrymore, and many other celebrities have second homes there) so it has always been outside of a traveling surfer’s budget, until now.

Thanks to AirBnB I found Petite Retreat, sn adorable surf cottage that I was able to rent for way less than any hotel in Montecito. At just $145/night this little studio is a steal. It’s decorated in a clean, beach chic decor, is a close walk to restaurants and the beach, and Kathleen, who lives next door in the main house, is the perfect host. But the best part about this rental? The outside shower! That’s right, you take a hot private shower, outside under the sun or stars. It’s not for everyone but for a surfer girl like me, or anyone who is adventurous or loves the outdoors or just wants a cute, affordable place to stay in Montecito, this place is for you.

There’s a surf rack and a line to hang dry wetsuits, but surfboards do not come with this rental. If you don’t have your boards with you, Rincon Designs in Carpinteria offers surfboard and wetsuit rentals year-round. 

BOOK YOUR STAY > PETITE RETREAT 

Looking for a luxury stay in Montecito?
Request the Jasmine cottage at San Ysidro Ranch. It has a private patio with a jacuzzi tube + outside shower. The perfect luxury surf retreat!