Staying at Laura’s place was wonderful. As a family of 2 that then became 4 during our 3 month stay, we had been looking for a spacious 1 bedroom place that allowed for enough room and separation when needed.
The place is spacious with a large open living room, kitchen and study area. All of the basics are available in the place. The kitchen has basic amenities; we would recommend a blender which could be a nice addition for smoothies and drinks in the warm weather! The king size bed is very comfortable and the bedroom is equipped with an AC unit that we used often during the summer and especially with newborns (it’s the only room with AC). Yes, there are cockroaches and geckos - it is a tropical climate after all. The shower is large. Having our own washer and dryer was a plus - very much needed with newborns. The place has a cute small garden next to it. There’s also an outdoor shower, which is very convenient after trips to the beach.
Although the place is on the same property as Laura’s house, it is very private. The neighborhood is quiet and safe. The beach access point to Kalama Beach is about an 8-10 minute walk. It was very easy to get out there to watch sunrises or for beach time in the afternoons. Walking to town is only 20 minutes and very easy to get to.
Laura is extremely kind, thoughtful and quick to respond. She provided extra curtains to keep the rooms darker for the newborns, had kids shampoo and bath wash available and even let us borrow her rocking chair. If there were any issues such as with appliances, etc. she was very quick to respond to it. She also contacted us ahead of time in case any yard work in the garden needed to be done.