Whether you’re looking for a place to play by the sea, hang out around a pool, enjoy thrills at theme parks, hike mountains, go wine tasting and touring, or explore cultural attractions, California is an ideal destination for a vacation. What can make planning a little more difficult is having a large group. You can’t squeeze 10 or more people into a hotel room which means having to rent multiple rooms which can be rather costly. Fortunately, there are some great vacation rentals like these that offer plenty of space for a group, and oftentimes, you’ll get a host of amenities that can’t be found at most hotels.
Farm House, 10 Acres, Gardens, Hot Tub, 18 Guests - Aptos
Located on 10-acre historic Sand Rock Farm, this home provides plenty of space for up to 18 guests, with five bedrooms that are all en-suite and come with Jacuzzi tubs, one that’s outdoors with the others in-room. Highlights include a chef’s kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and an outdoor fire pit for chats under the stars. When you want to explore, there are wineries, beaches famous for surfing, biking and hiking trails and opportunities for whale watching all within easy reach.
Hilltop Sierra Citrus Ranch - Exeter
Located near the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, this four-bedroom home sits on a citrus ranch providing picturesque mountain views. It accommodates up to 15 and includes a large pool, fire pit, BBQ grill, and an area for alfresco dining. Inside, you’ll have lots of space, including a comfortable sitting area with a 60″ flat-screen TV. There’s another 48″ TV in a TV room, a full kitchen and dining table for eight, and a laundry room with a washer and dryer.
Amazing Vacation Villa Sunset Ocean View - San Diego
This seven-bedroom villa sleeps up to 22 guests and features 10,000 square feet for indoor and outdoor living, including a large heated pool and hot tub with views of the ocean, Coronado Bridge, and even Mexico. There are four indoor fireplaces and one outdoors, a Ping Pong table, Foosball and an Xbox with a selection of video games, seven Smart TVs with Direct TV and Netflix, a kitchen with high-end appliances, and many other luxurious amenities.
Hilltop Mansion perfect for Families - Fallbrook
This seven-bedroom hilltop mansion sleeps up to 25 and offers spectacular views of Fallbrook, distant mountains, and on a clear day, the ocean. There are multiple big-screen TVs with surround sound, including one in the room with video and gaming where you’ll also find a pool table and Ping Pong table. It boasts a 400-square-foot theater room with more than 200 movies, a wellness studio with all sorts of fitness equipment, including cardio machines, and an outdoor lagoon-style saltwater pool with a 50′ infinity edge and a 50′ slide leading into a splash pool. Just imagine any luxury and you’ll probably find it here.
Seven-Acre Estate with Private Vineyard & Pool - Sonoma
Large groups exploring the Sonoma area of California can stay at this home with a pool that’s listed on Airbnb. It has six bedrooms, nine beds, and five bathrooms. The home is on seven acres of land in the Carneros region and in a location that’s 10 minutes from Sonoma Square and 15 minutes from Napa. The estate is 5,600 square feet in size and offers full access to the guest house, 60-foot swimming pool, and billiards room. The pool is not heated and best enjoyed from May through September.
Villa Habana Mediterranean Style Home - Monte Rio
This Mediterranean-style home in Sonoma County includes a main house as well as a detached cottage, accommodating up to 12 guests in six bedrooms. It has a spacious riverfront deck furnished for outdoor dining. with seasonal access (typically May through October) to the river. A canoe, rowboat and two kayaks are provided for guest use. You’ll have access to a gazebo with a hot tub too, along with all the essentials like Wi-Fi, a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and TV.
Eagle Ridge - Big Bear Lake
Sleeping up to 16 in six bedrooms, Eagle Ridge is a luxurious rental overlooking Big Bear Lake and Bakers Pond from high atop an eagle ridge. Here you’ll enjoy magnificent views and many impressive amenities, including a deck with a hot tub for relaxing with that glorious vista, a propane grill, and indoor entertainment, with shuffleboard and a pool table. The master bedroom has its own private deck, fireplace, and full bath with a whirlpool tub, and in the living area, you can cozy up to a rock fireplace and watch movies on the flat-screen TV.
Three Levels of Waterfront & Five Outdoor Spaces - San Diego
This Vrbo combines three individual waterfront units for a total of nine bedrooms, accommodating as many as 22, with a maximum of 17 adults. All boast breathtaking ocean and sunrise views with floor-to-ceiling glass while being ideally located in the heart of Mission Beach for easy access to activities on the sand and in the swim-friendly bay. It includes complimentary beach chairs, boogie boards, and sand toys too. Among the other highlights are laundry facilities in each unit, five outdoor spaces with multiple seating areas, three BBQ grills, and an outdoor shower.
Beautiful and Modern House near Golden Gate Park - San Francisco
A rare find in San Francisco, this four-bedroom not only sleeps as many as 15 but it’s located in a quiet residential area in trendy Inner Sunset, just three blocks to Golden Gate Park and its many attractions, with a Muni Station right around the corner to reach downtown and other parts of the city. A vintage home dating to the early 1930s, it’s been fully modernized with amenities that include TV streaming services, fast Wi-Fi, and work desks along with a fabulous kitchen and sunroom. Plus, one of the bathrooms has a Jacuzzi tub, providing that much-needed in-home spa retreat after a day of exploring.
Heavenly Home with Indoor Pool & Home Theater - South Lake Tahoe
Located in one of California’s most popular travel destinations, this fantastic vacation home accommodates up to 14 guests and includes many impressive features. The master bedroom has a Jacuzzi tub and everyone can enjoy the indoor pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna, billiard and poker tables, and a home theater with a 106″ screen. Just a few of the other highlights include three outdoor decks, a BBQ grill for cookouts, and a gourmet kitchen. Plus you’ll be only minutes from the lake, beaches, and casino while Heavenly Valley Ski Resort is just blocks away.
Villa Magnifica - Temecula
Villa Magnifica provides a resort-like stay that’s perfect for weddings, accommodating up to 24 on two acres in Temecula wine country. The backyard features a large pool and spa, a putting green with a sand trap and mound, a bocce court, basketball hoop, a ping pong table, and more. There’s 5,000 square feet of lighted turf for enjoying all sorts of backyard games after dark too, from Corn Hole to Frisbee, volleyball, and pickleball. You’ll even have an outdoor kitchen with two large gas grills, two burners, a refrigerator, an ice maker, a beverage fridge, and a pizza oven. The highlights inside are too numerous to list, including a large kitchen with two dishwashers and nine wall-mounted 4K Smart TVs with commercial-free Hulu and free Netflix accounts. There’s even a 400-square foot honeymoon suite, with hair and makeup stations, a champagne bar, large wall-mounted TV, photo booth station, and a queen-size bed.
Home in the Mountains - South Lake Tahoe
This seven-bedroom South Lake Tahoe rental was custom built and sits at the base of Echo Summit in Christmas Valley. A luxurious log home, it accommodates up to 18 with the master suite featuring a private Jacuzzi bath and two-way fireplace. All bedrooms have flat-screen TVs and you can also take advantage of the sauna room, steam room, hot tub and jacuzzi bath, as well as a game room with a pool table. There’s a gourmet kitchen to suit all your dining and entertainment needs, with three refrigerators, and two dishwashers. Plus, the home backs to the El Dorado National Forest which provides endless outdoor activities.
Sunset Sanctuary - Crescent City
Sunset Sanctuary is a Northern California gem, accommodating up to a dozen guests who can look forward to being in the most spectacular vantage point for ocean and sunset views. There’s a covered outdoor deck where you can relax and take it all in while watching for migrating whales, a piano for sing-alongs, and a wood-burning stove to cozy up to on chilly winter nights. You’ll have all the essentials too, including a well-stocked kitchen with a French press and drip coffeemaker, TV, Wi-Fi, and a washer/dryer.
Luxurious, Yosemite Pines Lodge Pool, Spa & Ponies - Mariposa
One of the most luxurious stays in the Yosemite area, this newly renovated 3-story lodge is just a short drive from Yosemite National Park. It’s surrounded by 2.5 acres and includes a year-round spa and seasonal above-ground swimming pool, while the outdoor area also includes patio tables, a picnic table, and a large lawn for kids to play. The 1000-square-foot deck also has a fire pit for staying warm on cool evenings. You can also do plenty of wildlife watching, as local deer, rabbits, turkeys, and quail can often be seen roaming around the property.
Lake Front House with Private Dock & Views - Jamestown
Accommodating up to 12 in four bedrooms, guests at this lakefront rental in the Sierra foothills will be just a five-minute walk from a beach, playground, and boat rentals. Enjoy swimming off the dock or just relaxing with an awe-inspiring view. A boat slip, gas grill, and outdoor dining area are all included along with the necessities, like a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, coffeemaker, and plenty of extras you might not expect, such as a ricemaker.
The Outlaw - Pioneertown
Ideal for a large group, if you book The Outlaw, you’ll get your own town. It’s kitschy western, accommodates 16, and comes complete with a huge saloon for entertaining, a wood deck with a built-in hot tub, a cowboy tub, two fire pits, and a chapel with a working bell. In addition to the four bedrooms in the main house, there’s a refurbished sleeping train car that provides another bedroom and bathroom. Set across 17 acres, you can even walk nature trails on the property leading to a nature preserve while providing sweeping views of undeveloped wilderness.
Amazing Hillside Retreat - San Jose
Located on a seven-acre property in San Jose’s Almaden Valley neighborhood, this six-bedroom home is nestled in the hills providing a fantastic view overlooking Silicon Valley yet it’s just a 20-minute drive from San Jose International Airport. It sleeps up to 13 and comes with a host of amenities, including a private sauna and outdoor heated infinity saltwater pool. Enjoy soaking in the hot tub, playing tennis, putting, movie nights and more, all without ever leaving.
Dolphin Watch Beach House - La Jolla
Ocean views abound at this La Jolla beach home as it sits right across the street from the Pacific. It’s not only ultra-luxurious, but it sleeps up to 13 in five bedrooms, including dual master bedrooms and a kids’ room with bunk beds. The larger master overlooks the spa and garden while the smaller one enjoys ocean views. Dining will be easy too, with a granite countertop space that seats seven, plus a large dining table that can seat eight to 10. Special extras like beach towels, beach chairs, and beach toys are included too.
The Historic Kenney House - Elk
Located along one of the world’s most stunning coastlines a few hours north of San Francisco, the Historic Kenney House comfortably accommodates a dozen guests in six bedrooms. It sits on a historic coastal ranch with two miles of coastline and over a thousand acres of pristine meadows and forested land. Highlights include a kitchen with high-end appliances like a gas wolf range, a library, washer and dryer, and a propane BBQ for cookouts.
