My stay at Akiko's home was great and even better than I had expected. She was extremely kind and accommodating, allowing me to check in earlier than scheduled. I was exhausted from an 8am flight from San Francisco and was hoping to just drop off my bag and roam around Santa Monica for a bit. So thankful for that.
The room was clean, good amount of natural light, and the bed was comfortable for a good night's rest. She even provided fresh bananas and an apple, plus water bottles! There are two bathrooms to share, never had to wait, and the showers were nice and toasty. I even relaxed in her wonderful backyard for a bit.
The location was also pretty good, clean and safe, while also just a 20 minute walk to the Santa Monica Pier or surrounding convenience stops like Whole Foods Market. There are nearby e-bikes/scooters to use as well.
Would definitely recommend Akiko's house to others and will be back for future visits to Santa Monica. Thanks for having me, Akiko!