Maureen's place is lovelier than the photos show. The space is surprisingly large and yet cozy. There is an ample kitchenette, a comfortable bed, and great living room space to relax in. There's also a great library of books, so if you have some time to kill, definitely skim the titles.

The location is a leafy street just minutes away from downtown Palo Alto, and a couple of blocks from a great park. If you're game, Maureen will lend you her bike -- an excellent way to get around Palo Alto if you need it.

Finally, Maureen is a wonderful host. She was flexible on a time for welcoming me, took care to show me around, and answered my questions about getting around. I accidentally took her bike key with me, and she was not perturbed when I told her it would take a couple of days to send it back!

I highly recommend staying with her, whether you're coming to Palo Alto for business (as I did), or for pleasure.