We stayed at Paolo's place for an anniversary trip and it definitely exceeded our expectations. We had a car so transportation from place to place wasn't an issue.
Pros.
1. Location. Place is centrally located and close to all the hotspots such as Balboa park, La Jolla, Mission beach, airport, etc.
2. Amenities. Hot tub and coffee were awesome and exceeded our expectations.
3. Host. Paolo was very attentive to our needs and even provided a pot to make breakfast in the morning.
Cons. Noise from airplanes. Not sure anything can be done about this because there are so many planes which take off. This is likely an issue intrinsic to San Diego no matter where you stay.
Amazing place, well kept, and with great amenities. Definitely a hidden gem.