Mary Elena's place is excellently situated near the restaurants and shops on Pearl. It is within walking distance to Wind n' Sea and to downtown La Jolla. The place itself is surprisingly comfortable for being so small. The beds are all excellent and the rooms all actual bedrooms. The sitting room is also spacious. The kitchen is as small as other reviewers noted, but it is also perfectly functional for one cook & for light cooking. If your goal is to cook and enjoy large holiday meals while away from home, Mary Elena's place is not for you. But if you are visiting relatives (as we were) or enjoying the beaches and the upscale So Cal lifestyle of La Jolla, it is a wonderful place to rest comfortably after an eventful day out, eat take-out from nearby places, and get a great night's sleep before doing it all again the next day.