Marilynn was a great host! We were in a heatwave when I stayed here (around 108-110 degrees outside) and she made sure to leave the air conditioner on for me before I arrived. It was a small gesture but I really appreciated that she went out of her way to make sure I would be comfortable when I arrived.
Communication with her was fast and pleasant. I messaged her a few times during my trip and I would receive a response within a few minutes.
The studio is located in the hills of San Carlos and it kind of makes you feel like you are in the forest. It's still located within a 5-minute drive to downtown but far enough away that you have a sense of privacy. I didn't drive a car when staying here but there is a lot of parking on the street, if necessary.
The studio itself was great. The bed was comfortable and I had no issues falling asleep quickly here.
The water pressure was good and the hot water was hot (even though I took cold showers to counter the heatwave). Dove soap and shampoo were provided which is a definite plus. I believe that they have a soft water system installed because it felt like I was having trouble rinsing the soap off of my body. Also, the water tasted pretty good.
The kitchen is equipped with everything you'd need to cook a meal. Olive oil and basic seasonings are provided in case you need it. A 1-cup Keurig machine is provided alongside an assortment of coffees, teas, and sweeteners. Powdered creamer was found in the cupboard. I really appreciated that coffee was provided since I basically live off of caffeine at this point. A little basket with cookies, trail mix, and various organic fruit snacks was also provided.
As I mentioned before, I stayed here during the middle of an unprecedented heatwave with temperatures reaching 110 degrees (Fahrenheit) on certain days. There was a portable air conditioner provided as well as a Vornado fan. When I combined the two together, I actually managed to stay very comfortable. If you are staying here during the winter, there is also a heater I found in the closet.
If you are staying here during a business trip or like to stream a lot of videos, the internet speed here is fast. I was getting internet speeds around 100 Mbps down and 100 Mbps up over Wi-Fi.
The only suggestion that I have would be to put in some black-out curtains to provide a little more privacy and to block out some light early in the morning. The front windows have some lace curtains which allow you to look outside without having to open them, however, you can imagine that at night time people outside can most likely see you if the lights are on. Just make sure you aren't walking around in your underwear unless you are in the bathroom.
Overall I really enjoyed my stay here. Marilynn is a great host and the studio was comfortable. I would definitely stay here again.