First the Bad -
We arrived on a Monday afternoon with no option for an early check-in because of COVID protocols. Fair enough and definitely understandable. But the initial day took a hard turn when the question of “truth in advertising” reared its head. The house was billed as having 2 Kings, 2 Queens, 1 Double, 1 Twin, and one sofa bed and four rooms. Upon arrival, we discovered there were only 5 beds instead of the promised 6 + 1. And as the beds appeared to be smaller than advertised, we felt compelled to purchase a tape measurer. Ultimately, we confirmed there were 2 California Kings, 2 Queens, 1 Twin and the sofa bed; we were missing a Double. While there was no harm in the kids doubling up, it was rather interesting that an entire bed was MIA. Also interesting was the fact that there were numerous dead lights. In the first-floor master bathroom, only 1 of 6 lights were functional; and the GFI was intermittent so occasionally the solitary light went out…and this without us even utilizing the outlet. Similarly, 2 of 6 chandler lights over the dining room table and 3 of 6 lights in the kitchen actually worked. The kids reported the same issue with dead or missing lightbulbs in the various other rooms; and perhaps most significant, the lightbulb outside the front door was also dead…nothing like trying to enter the house code in a darkened alley.
The listing notes “stunning views” from every window. Not so much. Most of the windows looked onto the concrete walls of the neighboring houses. Or perhaps they were commenting on the stunning views of my wife, as the rattan window blinds in the first-floor master bedroom were all but see-through and the “black out” window dressings were just that, “window dressings” which did not cover the entire French door by any stretch of the imagination. The listing also described two dining room tables, but in truth, one was a two-seater table – adequate for a quiet “couple’s coffee” in the morning…if only the two wooden folding chairs weren’t so rickety that they threatened to disintegrate with the slightest of touching.
Prior renters had commented on the garage. The listing does describe it as adequate for two small cars or one large car. Given the narrowness of the alley (one car width), I would have a hard time imagining two cars of any size, other than two smart cars, fitting the garage. We rented one oversized SUV and were able to fit the car in at an angle. I would imagine that any large group utilizing more than one vehicle would be forced to find on street parking, which has been noted by others. Prior renters had also commented upon the cleanliness of the facility. The house was clean, though showing its age through scuffing and grime on the baseboards and various bathroom fixtures; indeed, one of the shower doors would not close completely because the magnetic catch had corroded away. Having lived by the beach, I understand the corrosion issue mentioned by one of the other reviewers, but this is more about maintenance and upkeep than super glossy finishes. Curiously, we received only enough bath towels for the seven of us; no hand towels and no wash clothes, not even in the half-bath. Lastly, the first-floor bedroom could have utilized a dehumidifier. I understand that we are by the beach; and the weather at the time was actually wet for California. But the room smelled dank and mildewy, prompting us to buy an air freshener for the area.
As for the Good –
Although I spent 50 minutes on hold on Monday trying to reach customer service, the on-line folks were actually quite responsive, returning the initial email within 10 minutes. And, they were quite timely, delivering a complete set of additional linens and a new toaster (the original was no longer working) by the next morning. The double bed remained MIA for the duration of the trip, as did the light bulbs. But despite its shortcomings, what the house does have in abundance is Location, Location, Location. The house is a brief, 3-minute walk to the beach. Directly across the street is a great coffee shop and a small taco place. Short walks in either direction also yield numerous small eateries and within 20 minutes is the pier with additional shops and restaurants. And short drives place one within the heart of San Diego and the various attractions. The WiFi and cable worked without any issue; and the laundry facilities in the garage were adequate for the job. And you could tell the hosts had tried as there was an abundance of family games in the living room. Really, with some touch ups and more honest advertising, the house could be the ideal getaway for a larger family or vacationing group.