Downtown Denver was absolutely full when I booked this charming, hipster loft 2 miles north of downtown. This was my first AirBnB venture, so keep in mind that I usually book big, luxury homes or upscale hotels. I was looking for a place to spread out and work with a coauthor on a book project, and this was perfect for that. The kitchen was well equipped and included all the condiments and basics you would need, so don't bring mustard because there were 11 in the refrigerator last time I checked.

The weather was abysmal, so we were unable to enjoy the outdoor spaces, which are absolutely a feature of the home. This would be a great spot for a group of people who want to spend most of their time together at one place, or are willing to Uber or drive elsewhere. Much has been written about the neighborhood. I left an expensive car on the street out front with no problem. The neighborhood is amazingly quiet, and is on the edge of a gentrifying neighborhood. But this is the nicest home on the block, set back from the street in a way that makes it feel like a compound, amidst smaller homes with bars on the windows. The windows on the house are high, and with the concrete wall around the property, I felt very safe. There really is nothing compelling within walking distance, because the distance to the heart of RiNo includes underpasses and very busy streets. Plan on driving or using Uber, which was always within 5 minutes of the request.

Compared to a luxury home rental, the towels are a bit raggedy, but that's probably my biggest complaint. The black-velvet art is funky, but you just have to go with the flow on it. As to Mark, he was charming and responsive. He readily texted as we left the airport and called when we arrived to make sure everything was in place, also giving us local restaurant recommendations. The house printed guide is very thorough as well. When we asked for a hairdryer, a brand new one showed up a few hours later. Plus we had a decent bottle of wine to greet us. All in all, I would readily stay here again, but you should have a sense of urban adventure to agree with me.