Let me preface this review by saying I stay in hotels about 40-50% of the year and have pretty high standards. Kristen's flat exceeded all of them!
1/2 a block from the Marina, her flat is so close to eveything - 5 mins to Chestnut with coffee, restaurants, shopping, bike rentals. You can walk along the marina path or ride bikes, 10-15 min walk to Ghiradhelli Square. We loved that it was out of the "tourist zone", but could easily get there.
The location was was easy find with plenty of on street parking (you can ask Kristen for a permit for a small fee). Now more about the flat - it was recently renovated and WOW. Kristen has amazing taste. It was like walking into an Elm Street catalog, with amazing touches everywhere. Beach towels, sand toys and outdoor play things for the littles. Board games and DVDs. In the BEAUTIFUL kitchen, Kristen had left us a basket of snacks welcoming us to SF, and even postcards with stamps on them ready to send. So cool! There were little touches everywhere that made you feel just like you were at home. At the end of the day of touring the sights, it was so wonderful to come back to a little slice of heaven.
The linens and towels were soft and fluffy. The pillows were great. My daughter said "WOW! Can she decorate my room? I want one just like this!" Everything was just perfect.
I can't thank Kristen enough for making my kids first visit to SF amazing. We'd absolutely stay again and felt it was a great value (2 BR, kitchen, 2 baths, living room) for less than a semi-nice hotel in the Bay. She's an amazing host...you should go see her place!
Nate, Maddie & Jack - Portland, OR