Welcome to Cardo Vacation Rentals, your gateway to unforgettable San Diego experiences. We offer a curated collection of charming beach cottages and upscale condos, each designed for comfort and convenience. Enjoy modern amenities, personalized service, and local expertise from our dedicated team. Let Cardo Vacation Rentals be your home away from home, creating memories that last a lifetime.
In 2012, while working as a Media Manager, I discovered Airbnb and decided to rent out my apartment as a side hustle. The venture turned out to be so profitable that I expanded to multiple units, often sleeping in whichever one was unrented for the night. In 2013, after meeting my wife, we secured a permanent home, and she encouraged me to leave my job to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. That decision ultimately led to the creation of Cardo.
By 2016, I was managing around 10 units and realized the need for reliable turnover services. This inspired me to launch Happy Host, which provided cleaning, linen delivery, and amenities for vacation rentals. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 brought significant challenges. Over 200 bookings were canceled, and the financial strain forced my family to move in with relatives. With the help of government loans, I sustained the businesses and rethought operations by hiring virtual assistants and transitioning from rental arbitrage to commission-based management.
When travel resumed in 2021, I was ready to meet the demand for vacation rental management. Since then, Cardo has grown steadily and is now San Diego’s premier vacation home management company. Today, we serve diverse clients with a “no-fail” attitude that reflects our bootstrap beginnings.
– Richard Scherf, CEO
Cardo embodies a culture of helpful service with all its customers and internally with its employees. During Christmas of 2025, I took a trip with my family to the Philippines. I stayed in luxury hotels, as well as very minimal hotels. Unless it was a 4-star hotel, our accommodations often did not include hot water (it is not a required amenity there), and the cleaning and upkeep on the properties were sometimes mediocre at best. However what stood out was the commitment to extraordinary customer service. I quickly realized that speedy and helpful service was incredibly powerful, turning around mediocre experiences into great ones. A warm greeting, readily available staff, and helpful solutions to active issues, created multiple “Wow moments” that could have ruined a good trip otherwise.
Cardo wants to bring “Wow moments” to each and every one of our guests. We don’t just provide answers, which can fail to resolve the root of an issue; we provide helpful solutions. We don’t just rent units, we cultivate a trip experience by asking the purpose of the trip and offering helpful suggestions.
The leadership at Cardo Vacation Rentals sets the standard for excellence in property management. Our team combines experience in hospitality and a passion for innovation to ensure both property owners and guests have an exceptional experience. We are dedicated to providing outstanding results through integrity, transparency, and a customer-first approach.
