This place is great. It is really well located in a quiet residential street that is close to everything. I love to walk and get to know the place by foot, so this was ideal. So many great restaurants close by, easy access to the promenade, a short walk to the ocean. The pier itself is a longer ~20min walk, but you will be glad to stay in a more secluded area for the night. Despite this being a private room, you really get your own small hallway, that includes access to your room, private bathroom, and a sink area - it feels really private. The room itself is spacious and comfortable. I especially liked the addition of a mini fridge. To be completely transparent, the only con I have found is that sound travels really easy in that apartment building, so you can often hear neighbors talking in the hallways from your room. It quiets down significantly at night and wasn't an issue for me.
As great as the place is, Liz is the star of the show here. You can tell she really enjoys what she does, and often goes the extra mile to ensure her guests are happy and have everything they need. She greeted me during check in, showed me how everything worked, and always checked in to make sure my needs were covered. She has lots of interesting stories about LA and Santa Monica to share. Liz is also extremely quick to respond to communications, either before booking or during the trip.
The host pup, Albee, is a cutie and an absolute sweetheart. Having him around made my stay 100% more fun!