Carl is such a great host! I booked his place at the last minute when I couldn’t find anything suitable in the Mission (where my daughter lives) and thought maybe I should venture into a new neighborhood to discover more about San Francisco.
After exchanging emails with Carl, I realized that the room is actually in his family home, which they have set up as a “guest house“ with a few rooms for rent (this one has a private bathroom). I was skeptical, but since he was so helpful and communicative, I thought it was worth a try… And I’m so glad that I chose to stay there.
My three main priorities in an Airbnb are privacy, cleanliness, and location ... and Carl’s place offered all three. (Unfortunately, the weather was not great during my visit… kind of chilly and rainy… so I did not get to explore the neighborhood as much as I would have liked but, as my daughter tells me, “the Lower Haight is the second coolest neighborhood in San Francisco” - keeping in mind that she is partial to the Mission).
The one nice thing about Carl’s place if you are traveling alone, you will feel completely safe. Being in the family home - and not alone in some basement Mother-in-law suite (I’ve stayed in a lot of them in SF), feels so much more secure. Also the house is located near a semi-busy intersection in a safe and walkable neighborhood. (If you are looking for a place that is totally your own space, then this is probably not what you’re looking for… as it is a room in a family home with other guests. But if you’re looking for a comfortable room, a safe, secure and clean environment, a helpful but non-intrusive host, and a fun and funky neighborhood, this is it.)
BTW - I tend to Uber or Lyft (but usually share) most everywhere in SF. I rarely waited much more than one or two minutes for a car since the neighborhood is a popular one.