The good:
- The location is very nice, in a very quiet neighborhood and close to the freeway, shops and restaurants. Also, being relatively close to the ocean, the temperature was very pleasant and no air conditioning was necessary even on a hot summer like 2020
- The house is very clean
- The host welcomed us with some nice snacks and a bottle of red wine, which was a nice touch. Besides the snacks and fruits, the fridge was nicely stocked with milk, juice, bread, butter, jams, coffee, etc. which helped quite a bit with our breakfast
- The host is quite responsive and good communicator (except for the issues mentioned below)
- The kitchen is well stocked, with condiments, olive oil, etc.
- There's a nice and quiet patio in the back
The bad:
- The earliest check in time is mentioned as 3PM, but not the latest, which was an issue for us driving from out of state. The host was not even willing to negotiate a compromise and told us if we don't show up by 7PM sharp, the reservation will be cancelled!
- The listing says that parking is available on the street, but forgets to mention that during daytime (8 AM to 6 PM) there's a 2 hour limit for their side of the street, which may be an issue depending on your schedule. That's because you'd have to either park on the other side of the street, which doesn't have this limitation (but most of the times there are no spots available at all because half of the street has the same issue) or find a parking spot half a mile away in a poorly lit area. That means you have to wake up before 10AM (except Sunday) and move the car every 2 hours to avoid being ticketed if you plan to stay in for the day.
- Both beds are old and creak quite badly at the slightest move and that's very annoying if your partner is a light sleeper. I was expecting the double bed to snap at any time!
- There are many spiders throughout the house. This is not an issue for me, but it is for my daughter.
- Even though the listing says this is a great place for surfers, swimmers, hikers, etc. and it may appear the location is close to the beach, it is not within walking distance.