Our family stayed here for a couple of nights and they didn't lie - it is literally steps to the boardwalk/beach! The photos really do not do the location justice. We really loved the place and the colourful folks that were around there. We enjoyed that it was pretty much half way between Venice and Santa Monica piers but still with heaps going on.
Tiffany was great to deal with, especially as we arrived earlier than expected. She gave us some good recommendations on places to eat and see. Great to have a bike/skate hire place a few doors down and I would recommend getting on these and visiting the boardwalk, piers, canals and great eating places.
Would have loved to stay longer and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends.