I stayed at Howard and Jacqui's home for one month - to wfh in a location that would be fun and have some sun. I am familiar with LA so knew exactly where there home was located, and knew it would be accessible to many restaurants, stores and the beach, but away enough from the hustle and bustle.
Due to Covid-19, I chose to stay at an AirBnB home, rather than a hotel or an AirBnB condo because I was concerned about cleanliness, too much traffic from visitors as well as having a kitchen so that I can cook. While staying there, I also quickly learned another benefit of renting a home during COVID was that I could easily get deliveries (e.g., amazon, groceries, food, etc.) brought right to your doorstep.
With my first night I checked in - Howard and Jacqui were so warm and welcoming (more to come on these two great hosts!). The home was absolutely perfect, and they did a great job with the design and décor of the home. For example, there is a skylight that you can open/close with a touch of a button.
After checking in I noticed they had a welcome basket of fruit and chocolates, which was a nice treat after a flight. As I stayed there, I discovered more thoughtful touches throughout the home. For example, they had all new packages of soap, shampoo, conditioner, make up removal wipes and hand lotion. Having these items brand new/disposable was super important, especially with my concerns with covid and making sure everything is clean. I also appreciated how they stocked everything with nicer quality products, from the dishwashing soap and laundry soap they were all brands I would use at home. They even had nicer paper products (e.g., napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) with extra supplies in the cabinets in case you run out. This may sound minor, but it’s these little things that make you feel at home and you can see the extra steps taken for the guest's comfort.
To make this review easy to read, I will make the rest in bullet points:
WiFi: As I was wfh, I was concerned about wifi speed. There was absolutely no issue, and even better than some of the hotels I have stayed at previously. The wifi was so great, I was able to work outside on video conference calls on their picnic bench (with an umbrella!).
Beds: Similar to other reviews, you will have a great night sleep. Their bed, linens and pillow were so comfortable. They thoughtfully have another set already clean and ready to go, if you need to change them.
TV: I am not a TV person, but their TV was amazing, easy to use, and available in each of the rooms. If you have streaming subscriptions, you can just login and pick up to watch.
Convenience and cleanliness: I can go on and on, about all the wonderful touches and how they really made it convenient for the guest (e.g., cleanliness, great gas stove, power strip, birthday candles – yes birthday candles). I won’t give away all the little nice touches, so that other guests can also be pleasantly surprised too.
Kitchen/Kitchen ware: The kitchen was well stocked with all the equipment, tableware and glassware you need (yes there are two ways to make coffee, and grind your own beans). I was so happy to see a disposable oven tray (with a lid), where I was able to make my lasagna, store it, then toss the mess. As a Korean American, I still need to get my Asian food fix. I was also happy to see other equipment like a rice cooker, slow cooker and chopsticks that you normally don’t get anywhere else.
Keyless entry: This may sound again simple, but having a keyless entry (keypad), was super convenient. I would go out for quick walks with my dog throughout the day, and did not have to carry anything with me or worry about losing the key.
Hosts: Saving the best for last. Howard and Jacqui (and Maya – their new puppy) were amazing hosts. They were very warm, welcoming and helpful. Even though they live next door, I still felt I had my privacy, but knew they also were responsive to any text/email I sent if I had any questions, or had to borrow anything. They also surprised me with a hot pizza that they made from their Italian woodfire pizza oven (delicious!).