Our stay at Emily's house near the beach was everything we could have hoped for, and more. Run, don't walk, to rent her place.

I have been to San Diego many times and never found so much charm as in her area of Ocean Beach. The house is situated on a perfect block for accessing restaurants and the beach, but also for getting quick access to the local main roads and interstates. People are friendly and will say "hello" to you on the street, which is a nice change coming from Brooklyn. Another important tidbit about the neighborhood - there is an abundance of local gem businesses in this area. This made the experience a lot more quaint and cozy than other areas of San Diego where I've stayed, and ultimately more relaxing.

We were able to let ourselves into the house at the beginning of our stay, so we did not meet Emily, but she was very attentive with any messages we sent, even early on a Saturday morning. She also made a point of reminding us to visit the Ocean Beach farmers market, which takes place every Wednesday afternoon. As a New Yorker, I think I know a good street fair and farmers market, and then Ocean Beach proves me wrong. A wide variety of veggies and flowers (...and people watching) were available and made our barbecue all the more special that evening. Don't miss it!

The home itself is exactly as described in the listing. Emily leaves plenty of discreetly placed notes around the house to eliminate any guesswork, which we all found to be very helpful. The fireplace was a nice touch on evenings where it became a bit chilly, and the house tends to circulate air very nicely on the warmer days. We found the climate comfortable throughout our stay.

The bathrooms and kitchen were quite clean upon our arrival. The kitchen was also very well stocked and made it easy to have a barbecue and take advantage of the backyard and deck/patio. Our beds were comfortable and we were provided with plenty of linens and towels.

I should also mention that we were a group of four young adults (20-26) sharing the house for the week, and it was definitely plenty of space. My sister and brother in law came to barbecue and there was still enough parking in the backyard for another 3-4 cars if we wanted. Several benches and a nice patio table in the backyard allow for plenty of outdoor seating.

My only wish now is that I could be back on Emily's porch sipping some iced water with a splash of Meyer lemon from the tree in her backyard. I'll be back, though. That's for sure.