This place is in a great downtown location and is a good value for the price. I was able to walk to Petco Park in about 15 minutes, which was fantastic. It’s located on the 21st floor of a very tall building and the view is pretty amazing.
The apartment itself feels like a hotel room much more than a home. Sparsely decorated, but all the basics are there.
The check in instructions gave me anxiety and I started having second thoughts as soon as I got them. Apparently Air BnB is “frowned upon” in the area, as a result, they had to get a little creative. The key and garage opener/elevator fob is located in a lockbox at a local gas station. So you have to pick that up first, then enter the parking garage, then use the key fob to access the elevator to get up to the room. There were multiple reminders to never mention Air BnB to anyone in the building, to not enter the building through the main lobby, and for me to tell anyone who asks that I am a friend of “Julio.” I felt really uncomfortable about all of that but once I got to the place and saw how the building was laid out it really wasn’t as big of a hassle as I anticipated. I didn’t encounter anyone asking about my presence in the building. It’s huge and lots of people live there so I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. The owners are just extra precautious, which is understandable given the circumstances.
Communication was excellent. The hosts are very friendly. I was having a hard time figuring out how to open the door to the balcony so I sent a message and got an immediate response.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in the heart of the Gaslamp with a great view, you probably won’t find a better deal than this, just be aware of the unorthodox check in ritual. Having said that, the presence of other lockboxes chained to the gas station fence leads me to believe this is just the way things work in the area.