Meet Carlos & Jenny Encinas | Entrepreneurs & Parents

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlos & Jenny Encinas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlos & Jenny, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We were new parents with full time, demanding jobs that did not leave much time or energy for family or each other. Once our oldest son started elementary school in 2016 we realized if something didn’t change we were going to miss out on our kids growing up, volunteering in the classroom, sporting events, etc. because we were tied to offices and deadlines. We had been hearing more and more about vacation rentals growing in popularity and decided to turn our long time family condo in Mammoth Lakes, CA from a long term rental into a short term rental as a test run and a way to start a side hustle.

After our first year of renting in the mountains we realized that the demand for vacation homes for family’s like ourselves was definitely there. We saw the need for guests wanting more space, full size kitchens and multiple bedrooms that felt like home. In addition to the demand we fell in love with the dream of being able to vacation with our own family as a job! We decided to take a leap of faith and our entire savings and purchase another short term rental closer to home in La Quinta, CA in 2017. This location was such a success with the calendar full almost every single weekend the first year we decided we needed to keep the momentum going and find the next hot vacation spot.

Our good friends and neighbors had been renting in Lake Havasu with great success for a few years and invited us out to check out the town and available properties. We immediately fell in love with the beautiful desert landscape against the turquoise lake. You can’t miss it as you enter town and it just takes your breathe away. You immediately feel like you have been transported to another world. The town is laid back, casual, family friendly and a whole lot of fun! Exactly what we were looking for to get away from the crowds and busy schedules at home. We were in “Vacation Mode!” This is where we knew we wanted to be as much as possible! lake life was going to be our family life!

We started our search in Lake Havasu City, AZ for the perfect family vacation home. We knew what we looked for in a vacation home was also what our target market was looking for in a vacation home- 4-5 bedrooms, close to the lake and of course a pool! From there we purchased CoCo Cabana. We partnered with CMSlater Construction, LLC to remodel the dated home and make it modern and inviting for families coming to the lake. We furnished the house with families in mind. King beds in the guest rooms, a bunk bed room for the kids, large smart tv and comfy sleeper couches in the living room. This formula ended up being very successful and from there we have gone on to purchase, remodel, furnish and manage 6 rentals in Lake Havasu!

What should our readers know about your business?
We create memories. Not many people have the blessing to call that their job. Our own family memories with our family are what inspired us to get into this crazy business of short term rentals to begin with.

We have the privilege of meeting so many amazing families from all over the world. Whether they are celebrating a milestone birthday, anniversary, or family reunion its cool to know that we had a part in making that trip something they will talk about fondly for years to come.

I believe what sets us a part from other hosts is how much we care about the entire guest experience. From the initial inquiry to after check out we want each guest to feel like family. We are available 24/7 to answer questions, troubleshoot problems or offer a great suggestion for dinner. We truly want each and every guest that vacations with us to have a great experience.

In the design of each of our properties we try to make it feel like home. We have big comfy beds with great sheets and pillows, tv’s in almost every room, fully stoked modern kitchens with everything you would need to cook for a large group. Our backyards are an extension of the homes to fully enjoy the Lake Havasu lifestyle. Sparkling clean pools, plenty of seating and large bbq’s for backyard grilling.

With over 500, 5 star reviews on Airbnb and being honored as Super Hosts for 27 consecutive quarters we have become one of the highest rated vacation home managers in Arizona!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here is our recipe for the best day in Havasu-with kids!

Lake Havasu definitely has a reputation for being a spring break mecca for college students, but over the past 10 years we have really seen that change. The college kids that partied here in their youth in the 90’s & early 2000’s are now in their 30’s & 40’s with kids and want to share the beauty of Lake Havasu with their families.

Our FAVORITE place to spend a day in Lake Havasu is obviously the lake! Before we head out we always stop for our favorite coffees and frozen hot chocolate for the kids at The Human Bean. My favorite is an Iced Mexican Mocha! Now you are super charged and ready for fun!

Renting or bringing your own pontoon boat is essential for a great family day on the lake. My boys are 8 & 10 and love to go fishing so we would get up early with our gear to find a great cove to try our luck. Lake Havasu is home to some of the best Bass fishing in the western United States. Before we head out we always stop for our favorite coffees and frozen hot chocolate for the kids at The Human Bean. My favorite is an Iced Mexican Mocha!

By now the kids are probably starving so its time to grab some lunch! We like to head over to Turtle Grill at The Nautical on the island while spending a day on the lake. They offer docks and a beach for Boat-in Dining on the sand. They have a great lakefront patio right on the sand! The food is basic bar food and kid friendly. If your in Havasu without kids this is also a great spot at night when the restaurant turns into a lakefront party with DJ’s, and dancing!

After lunch and some time enjoying the beach its time to head out on the open lake for some tubing! This is so much fun for all ages! Have a contest to see who stays on the longest! We spend hours laughing at each other fly off the tube after a sharp turn on a wake. Make sure you have a waterproof cover for your phone because the videos are priceless!

Once we have had a full, fun filled day on the lake its time to enjoy dinner and one of Lake Havasu’s amazing sunsets! Our vacation rental, Villa La Isla offers panoramic lake views for enjoying the lake’s famous sunsets. With the homes outdoor kitchen, pool house bar, pool, spa and views you will never want to leave! It is truly a resort compound with plenty of seating and no wait times! This home is also the closest luxury home to the lake available in Lake Havasu!

We love to grill carne asada on the outdoor grill while enjoying the views from the backyard. We always stop to get our meat, guacamole, salsa, chips & tortillas from Carniceria El Corral. They have over a dozen fresh, pre marinated carne asadas to choose from. They also have the freshest salsa anywhere in Lake Havasu. A must for chips and margaritas by the pool.

After dinner its time for the kids to watch a movie downstairs while the adults head upstairs to the adult game room. This private area has a pool table, private bar, large tv, more incredible views and games to enjoy. Its pretty nice to have an after dinner cocktail and adult conversation while the kids are snug downstairs watching their favorite movie. Everyone in the family is happy and comfortable!

When its time for bed everyone has room and is comfortable. With 6 bedrooms and 5 baths there is room for the entire family to enjoy the magic of Lake Havasu!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We would like to credit our Shoutout to our sons, Shea age 10 and Cayden age 8.

You guys are the reason we took this leap of faith and started a business that would allow us to have a better work/life balance to spend as much time making memories with you both as you grow up. We hope our legacy of taking risks, handwork and never giving up inspires you both to follow all of your dreams.

Website: SurfSnowSand.staydirectly.com

Instagram: @surfsnowsandvacations

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@surfsnowsandvacationhomes7569/videos

Other: Airbnb Pro Hosting Page https://www.airbnb.com/users/24426879/listings