Stinson Beach Redwoods Haus

I'm glad we didn't end up staying, even though the whole experience was disorganized. My mother and I drove past later and saw a vacancy sign, so I went up to ask. The owners were in the living room, but when I knocked, they spoke to each other instead of answering. Through the screen they told me the sign was old and there were no rooms. Earlier, I had called about a night for my mother's visit and was told a room was free. The older man who answered asked whether I was married and how old my mother was, which already felt off. The next morning his wife called to say we had no reservation after all because an online booking site had taken the room. She said she'd just had surgery and couldn't help, and they wouldn't honor what we'd been told. We went to Stintson anyway.

Stinson Beach itself is lovely, but this place was vile. It seemed like Redwood Haus had its heyday in the 60s or 70s, and the funky vibe might have been cool if it had been cared for. Instead it looked unclean for years: old, dirty furnishings, a strange smell, and disgusting bedding. The room was cramped and awkward, and I didn't feel comfortable using the shower. Outside could be beautiful, but tarps and junk were all over it. It was way overpriced. I would have left, but there was nowhere else to go. The people seemed well meaning enough, and finding a decent hotel nearby seemed difficult, maybe Airbnb would be an option.

The price was extremely high, and breakfast wasn't included. The beds were uncomfortable, and the owners were only passably pleasant, not especially welcoming. More concerning, I hurt my toe here and expect it to take about 18 months to heal. The steps, ceiling, and the whole house are nowhere near ADA compliant. This is a private residence that felt like a hoarder's nest for the owner-operators. I would recommend staying somewhere else.

We checked in, looked around, and left to find somewhere else. The only positive was that when I asked for a refund, she returned the money to my card right away without questions. It seemed like this had happened before. The place smelled musty and moldy, with a dark, dirty, cluttered downstairs. Reaching the room meant climbing two very steep staircases with small steps, narrow hallways, and old stained carpet. There was no light on the stairs, so getting to the shared bathroom at the top of the first staircase at night would mean walking in darkness. We hadn't known the bathroom was shared. People we saw there looked sketchy, and other reviews mention many building and fire code violations. I don't understand how rooms can be rented here.