Rachel's was a great host and welcomed us warmly. She provided many essentials so that we did not have to run out and find simple basics, she had already thought of most everything. Her place was roomy, clean and nicely decorated with everything you could want whether you are heading to the beach or busy visiting colleges, like we were. The kitchen is small, but not too small. It was clean and had everything we needed. Parking was pretty easy, with always a spot somewhere within a block's radius. Just be careful of the red lines, and notes about street cleaning mornings. Rachel provides warnings about that too. It was my first visit to LA, so I misjudged and thought we'd be able to walk to a variety of restaurants and shops, but really, we drove everywhere. Being originally from NYC, it was not a big deal dealing with the traffic or parking. Driving was just easier...which is LA's biggest problem, I guess.
I highly recommend Rachel's Venice beach house. It is a great place and she was a great host.