Hi Tim,
My husband and I have been shuttling annually or bi-annually from Germany to San Diego for the last 5 years. At that time, we moved my mother from her house in Big Bear Lake to a facility in San Diego, where she grew up and still has nieces and nephews.
During that time we have stayed sometimes with family, but mostly at various airbnbs, Home Stays or Hotels in La Mesa, where my mother lives in Assisted Living. We have never before stayed someplace that met our needs as perfectly as your loft, and that at a reasonable price.
We loved the openness of the studio, with light coming in from the balcony and the street side window. The design of the room is aesthetic and stylish, while still being warm and comfortable. You and Kerstin managed to consider all weather needs, providing the overhead fan, the portable AC, the space heater for cold mornings—-all used and greatly appreciated. The furnishings that matter and get lots of use are good quality-from the sturdy and really useful mirrored medicine cabinet in the bathroom (first time we had enough space for our toiletries. Coming from overseas, thats always an issue.), to the quality and cozy comforter, good capsule espresso/milk foamer, or the beautifully done shower where the door, water pressure, drainage, etc WORKED because you invested in dependable quality. Also appreciated was the quantity of what you provided; there were enough coffee capsules for our long stay, extra towels in the closet available, an extra set of sheets on site, plenty of toilet paper and hangers in the closet, plus usable, interesting and not outdated spices and condiments in fridge and cupboard. Cleanliness; the place was very clean, and to mention the spices again, the spice containers had obviously been wiped down and the drawer cleaned and freshened up after the last guests. Simple little things that make a great difference. Also, the cleaning supplies in the closet made sense, so it was possible to tidy up in between. Sometimes, the supplies available to the renter are insufficient or worn out, so self cleaning becomes difficult. It was also apparent that you‘d thought through what travelers might need; Ive never seen such a perfectly suited corner sofa set in that small size—and really this was a highlight to have somewhere comfy to relax after a strenuous day of being on the go doing many tasks for my mother, and the stresses that go with taking care of everything in less than two weeks, dealing with family, etc. Also mush mention the nice cloth napkins and tablecloth provided, enjoyed having something nicer available.
We enjoyed the place so much that I even felt comfortable inviting an old school friend for lunch-never an option in other rentals.
You were so very accommodating to our various requests, which was so important for our peace of mind. All in all, we felt that your place was a wonderful port in a storm, a refuge for us, where we could sort ourselves and re-charge for the next day. The location was perfect, in a lovely, calm neighborhood, and the studio itself being above the garage, felt a bit like being in a treehouse. Floating above it all. We enjoyed meeting you, Kerstin and Jackson very much, and hope to stay with you next time!
Thanks again for everything!
All the best for you and your family,
Sharon and Uwe (Alex)
******I’ve written to you privately with a few small items we missed having☺️