We stayed at unit 3 for a month while we waited to relocate to our new house. The overall experience was not what I expected and was mostly a disappointment. The only reason we continued to stay was that our move was delayed twice and we didn't want to move around too much to reduce our exposure in the middle of a pandemic . In the end we requested to be moved to an upstairs unit when it became available which was slightly better. To try and be as succinct as possible:
Pros:
Location. In. the heart of La Jolla Cove/ downtown La Jolla
Newly renovated apt inside with new appliances and fixtures, nicely decorated and clean.
Cons:
*No AC. Big problem. The building is sandwiched between 2 others so not much airflow to rely on ocean breeze also there is ZERO privacy in having windows open. As I think another reviewer pointed out you have to choose between airflow/ light or privacy. Living room window right next to entrance gate and a garage in constant use along with ongoing construction and delivery trucks to local business makes it almost impossible to keep windows open comfortably. The bedroom window faces a really shabby alley which is super dirty with leftover building materials from what seems to be the apt renovation, broken glass and long term residents belongings strewn about. While we were there a permanent resident next door would walk up and down the alley at all hours and also hang his clothes to dry right outside our window making it super awkward and unpleasant to keep windows open for air especially at night. On a sidetone another reviewer talked about pics being misleading which they are they have cleverly opened all the shades and flooded images with light balances blurring out what lays outside the windows (a dirty wall a dirty alley and dark entrance )The pictures in the listing for unit 3 of the living room and of the kitchen are not accurate since there is a door in the kitchen with a smaller window than that shown in pictures and the living room window looks out to the bottom of stairs outside making it very dark.
*Common Laundry Room super dark dingy and I didn't feel comfortable washing my clothes there and instead had it laundered elsewhere.
If you google map the property you will its a run down looking multi unit apt complex kinda looks like a motel. There are maybe a dozen or so units of which half are avantstay units the other half permanent residents. It's neither here nor there really. The units in and of themselves ( I stayed in unit 3 and 6 ) are newly renovated and as I have stated are clean and nicely decorated. However the basics like no AC, no decent laundry and overall shabbiness of exterior common areas nullifies whatever reno they've done to the units. I wouldn't stay here again or recommend it to anyone unless they added AC to each unit, added a compact laundry unit within each apt which can easily be housed in large bedroom closets, and cleaned and spruce up exterior common areas and alley. Its a shame Airbnb doesn't allow posting of pictures which I did take of all these issues I mentioned when I contacted Alex, their customer service person, who took days to get back to me.