The host was somewhat elusive and responded very curtly to my initial message. Subsequent attempts at communication did not seem to work, until I received an email from rent-a-share. The room itself had a bit of a strange smell, though this could have been due to the other residents. The bathroom and kitchen could have been cleaner, but again, a lot of the mess was a result of many people sharing the same space. I found the bed very comfortable, though there was almost no light at all in the room during the day, even with the blinds open. The common area, however, was very spacious and well-lit with comfortable couches. The convenience of the location could not have been any more ideal--super close to downtown Palo Alto but in a very quiet neighborhood nonetheless. I also enjoyed making use of the backyard area.