As a first Airbnb user, it can be a little nerve-wracking finding a comfortable place to stay--especially when last-minute plans fall through and you're desperate for a bed! Stephanie responded to our request for a place to crash in SF just in time. What we didn't expect was that we would find a 'home,' in all meanings of the word.

From the start of correspondence, Stephanie's friendly and hospitable personality shined. We discussed travel plans, housing expectations, etc. to make sure that both of us felt comfortable with the match. She was super flexible with our arrival schedule, knowing that we would want to take advantage of sightseeing in SF and allowing us to drop off our stuff early so we could take advantage of a full day.

When we arrived to meet her, she gave us a lovely tour of her garden and home, with additional verbal introductions from her stellar bird. Her personal touches and thoughtfulness made the experience even better, really making it feel like we were staying with an old friend (not a stranger!). She had towels out for us, printed directions to get into the city, a map, and even brought an extra air mattress (we couldn't afford two beds in our search, so she accommodated for us). Not to mention, she gave us amazing tips for a ice cream walking tour!

She left for her weekend trip and an invitation to call her if we had any questions, as well as flexibility for our checkout time. We enjoyed her home greatly...it's beautiful decor, cozy vibes, comfy bed, safe neighborhood (not to mention great parking), and great location just outside the city. And on top, she's got a stellar book collection with some fun reads that had me writing down titles for future use.

Getting back and forth from the Oakland house into the city wasn't difficult. In fact, I much preferred it since it was nice to avoid the crazy parking and crowded streets. She's also close to a CVS and grocery store, which allowed us to more easily pick up forgotten necessities--which would have been a nightmare downtown!

We ended up leaving before seeing her, but she coordinated an easy way to get her keys to her. This experience was just what I was hoping to get out of an airbnb--the warm, relational exchange that's missing from the typical hotel experience. THANK YOU Stephanie for meeting and exceeding our expectations. Next time we're in the area, we will certainly be looking you up!