Looking for a peaceful getaway in the heart of the city? You won't find a better one than Venus' room. The room is in a converted garage. It is completely finished, with an ensuite bath and two beds. The room was very clean and well appointed. Internet service was provided by a WiFi extender, and worked but was slow - but this was in character with the property. It's the kind of place to relax and read, not to work.
Venus is a good host who pays attention to details. There was a heater in case it got cold at night, and a new hairdryer. She provided clean towels and bathroom amenities as well. Venus also provided some delicious home grown fruit.
The neighborhood is a quiet working class family neighborhood, traditionally Latino, but with a growing Asian population. The neighbors have chickens and you'll hear the crowing of roosters in the morning, a bit of countryside in the heart of the city. It is situated near the Chinese neighborhood of Hacienda Heights. So whether you like Chinese or Latino food, you'll have a wide variety of options nearby.
Like many Chinese family homes, Venus' place has a security gate and fence. You'll need to let her know when you're coming and going, and she will open the gate; however, she made this very easy because I could just call her. It was no issue for us to come back after a late dinner.
Venus is a recent immigrant and she is learning English, but it is still quite limited. That's OK, because my Chinese is also very limited. :) In between her limited English and my (very) basic Mandarin, we were able to communicate just fine. Don't let this worry you; Google Translate works wonders.
Overall, a very nice stay, and highly recommended!