Brian's place was particularly charming and well equipped. It has the quirkiness of an older home, along with the benefit of nicely updated kitchen and bathroom spaces. We also appreciated being able to use the outdoor seating/firepit area for a family gathering one evening. The location is very central, but it's definitely in a very "urban" setting; there's a good bit of noise drifting in from the nearby freeways, and we encountered a few homeless people in the neighborhood. However, the noise wasn't really bothersome, and we never felt unsafe. Overall, it's a great place to stay when visiting San Diego!