Fantastic. Why can we only give 5 stars? This stay warranted 10. Let us count the ways of how we loved our 6 day-visit with Kathleen:
1. She is the consummate hostess, treating us like cherished relatives whom she couldn't wait to pamper and spoil. We even had dinner together on the patio one evening, sharing personal conversation until late into the night, and celebrated an impromptu Tuesday Taco party with more than a dozen of previous AirBnB guests (all now living permanently in San Diego) who had become close friends.
2. We appreciated Kathleen's patience and good will as we had a billing issue with AirBnB that took a few days to sort out.
3. Kathleen provided spacious, comfortable, beautifully furnished bedrooms and a bathroom, with plenty of space to store our clothes and personal items. In addition to the usual furnishings like bed, side tables, chairs, closet, etc., our room also included a brandnew smart TV, Wifi, a coffee maker, and a dorm-sized fridge. Everything was very clean with lots of plush towels. The house has central HVAC, but we did not need to use it thanks to the mild climate.
4. Kathleen had set the table in our room set with beautiful tableware and wineglasses and filled a fruit bowl filled with fresh fruit and pastries--what a special, thoughtful touch.
5. Our room had a separate entryway to a back patio, where we enjoyed eating our meals and playing board games. This was a perfect spot to enjoy the Southern California weather.
6. We had access to the kitchen, which was great for washing our dishes. Kathleen also offered the use of her washer and dryer, and although we didn't use them, we were grateful for the option.
7. The location is excellent. We didn't need to rent a car or even involve Lyft, but walked or took public transportation. From Kathleen's house, it's an easy 5-10 minute walk to the bus stop and 15-20 minute walk into La Jolla Shores and the beach. It's a 5-minute bus ride into La Jolla Village and Cove, and it's easy to transfer to other bus lines to reach additional destinations.
8. The neighborhood is beautiful and conducive to walking. It's an attractive, well-kept area with gorgeous homes and landscaping. Although there is quite a bit of traffic on the main thoroughfares, there are wide bike lanes/walking paths everywhere and many quiet side streets.
9. The nearby beach, La Jolla Shores, is all what you hope for from a beach. It's well kept, and much larger than La Jolla Cove and nicer for swimming, boogie boarding and tanning. Snorkeling, kayaking and surfing tours and lessons are offered by many of the nearby businesses.
10. We have an invitation to come back! We'd love to, Kathleen. Thanks for everything!