PROS:
~ GREAT value!! Perfect for longer SD vacations!
~ Awesome location: a pleasant walking distance to Balboa Park! Ocean Beach (see the sunset on the pier!) is a quick drive away, and La Jolla and even Coronado Island are reasonable driving distances away too. And the Zoo!
~ Charming, sunlit, breezy little home in what seems like a relatively safe neighborhood.
~ It's CLEAN. And we didn't see a bug one!
~ Host Gilbert responded quickly when we experienced problems.
~ On-site person to address any questions or problems.
~ Fairly well-stocked kitchen (no toaster though).
~ There's a nice standing fan and a good reading light by the bed.
~ heavy drapes to block morning sun, if desired.
~ Super comfy trundle bed, and plenty of pillows
~ plenty of hot water!
CONS:
~ The home is not nearly as swanky/blue/new as it looks in the photos. We were puzzled by that, as there's quite a bit of wear and tear that needs some sprucing up. It's still a great little home, so I chose not to focus on feeling misled by the photos. If you can do the same, you'll probably be quite happy here.
~ It's right near the airport, so you will hear constant planes. Surprisingly, it's more like whooshing than screeching though, so it didn't interrupt our sleep.
~ the neighborhood is not consistently super quiet, in case that's important to you. We heard someone roaming the streets just crazily screaming one night, and on one day there was a car alarm going off again and again, plus TVs blaring from across the courtyard. Most of the time it was quiet though.
~ the main bed has a mattress that's really warped at the upper end, on one side. If you get that side of the bed, you may need to use an extra pillow or two to even out the dip in the mattress. The mattress should be replaced!
~TV, stove, and microwave were on the blink when we arrived. Front door knob fell off. These problems were resolved promptly by the on-site manager, but I did suggest the host should have someone do a walk-through before new guests arrive.
~As we were checking out, the door knob fell off yet again, even though we were very careful with it after it was initially 'fixed.' My husband managed to re-attach it again, but the doorknob problem really needs to be fixed by an actual repair person.
All in all, we were grateful to have found this adorable little home on such short notice, for our San Diego vacation. If the mattress were replaced and the doorknob problem fixed, we would most definitely stay here again!