We felt very at home in this beautiful, clean and perfectly located airbnb! First - the location: situated on a residential street in Ocean Beach, this cottage is two blocks walking distance from Newport Ave, the main drag in OB where there are great restaurants and shops. Traveling to San Diego for the first time, we were sooo relieved that this was in a beach town and not the urban part of downtown. It's an 8 min drive to seaworld, 15 min drive to the airport, and 20-30 min drive to La Jolla. It's a 10 minute walk to the beach and lots of great restaurants. Highly recommend Lighthouse Ice Cream and Hodad's! Target and CVS are also two blocks away if you need anything and there are a few grocery stores very close to the house. Other reviewers mentioned the noise from the airport being close by - you definitely will hear planes overhead, and it wasn't bad at all, except if you are a light sleeper you might want to sleep with the bedroom windows closed to block out the plane noise. It's a house in a beach town so it's expected for there to be a little bit of noise but it's not too noticeable.
Second - the cottage: The pictures do not do the place justice. Everything is newly renovated and very clean with beautiful artwork throughout. The living room futon and reclining chair are more comfortable than they look and there are tons of windows and a few ceiling fans throughout the house to provide a calming and soothing breeze. The queen bed is really comfortable and we slept really well. There is a gorgeous butterfly garden in front that is home to many beautiful fluttering butterflies on the property. There is a back patio eating area as well. The kitchen has pretty much everything you need to cook, and even had some things leftover from other renters including salt n pepper, spices, and olive oil. We were relieved that we didn't have to buy ziplock bags, plastic wrap, paper towels, detergent or cleaning supplies because the house came with it! It is a really beautiful, homey spot to rent.
Third - the amenities: We loved that this place came with beach gear, including an umbrella, 4 beach chairs, a boogey board, beach cart to carry stuff, and there are even coolers to take if you want. There is a parking garage but we found it easier to park in the designated spot in the lot behind the house. We also made use of the washer/dryer and dishwasher which made cleanup easy.
Lastly - Check in/Checkout: Cathy met us because Mark wasn't feeling well and she gave us a tour of the place that was about 10-15 minutes. She showed us around and told us where to find things, how to work the fans and lights and other essential info to feel comfortable in the space. Then she left us to enjoy our vacation and have our privacy, which was the perfect balance for us! When we checked out, we just followed instructions and left.
Overall it was a truly wonderful experience and we WILL be back!!! Thank you Mark and Cathy for your kindness and hospitality and sharing your beautiful home with us!!