We stayed at Phil's studio with 3 people for 3 nights and found it to be the perfect base for exploring the city. It is very quiet at night, and a 5 mins morning walk from a supermarkt. We started our first day by walking to Golden Gate Park and returned by trolley bus which goes on Turk street from the centre to the front door (well, almost). Next day we took the same bus into town and returned by taxi from the piers, which costs about 25$.
Phil was absent during our stay, but his instructions were perfectly self sufficiënt, to the extent we never had to bother the contact person guarding the house.