This was our first stay in La Jolla so we didn't know much about the right area to book a house. We chose this house because, for our party of seven, each person or pair could have their own room and everything was on one level. The house has a lot of outdoor spaces with shade, perfect for hot days and warm nights. In December it is a bit chilly to use the outdoor spaces early in the morning and after the sun goes down. David does provide gas heat stands on the porch and the gas grill worked great. There are three full baths but only one bathtub. The beds have Thermorest mattresses and were very comfortable. Although the house has radiant floor heating, there are additional heating units in all rooms for when the temperature dips down below 50, which it did during our stay. The kitchen is spacious and there are plenty of staples, pots, pans and glasses for cooking and eating. It was great that many items were stocked for guest use such as soaps, detergents, foil, trash bags, etc. Crossing Torrey Pines Road is a bit of a challenge but cars will stop as though it is a crosswalk. The Coast Trail is closed due to an unstable bridge and so the trail head closest to the house cannot be accessed. There are two public beaches that are quickly accessible from the house. One within walking distance and the larger one with the lifeguard stand has a free parking area but it seemed best to drive to this one, especially with beach chairs and towels.
When we arrived, repairs were being made to the roof and the exterior gas lines. Although we were told we could have an early check-in the house wasn't quite ready and so we got a quick tour from David and then went grocery shopping. By 4 p.m. the house was cleaned and ready. We did not have hot water that evening and it took a day and a half for the hot water heater to be up and running. The dishwasher was also having difficulties but was fixed by our second day. There were also several light bulbs/fixtures that had to be repaired. David was very conscientious about trying to get these items fixed in a timely manner and gave us a credit towards our fees for our inconvenience. David was a good host and was eager to receive feedback to help him improve guest experiences. This is a great house for families and centrally located in La Jolla as well as right off Interstate 5.