San Diego is all about managing expectations. If you book a house expecting the Four Seasons, you are gonna be disappointed. Beach properties are usually a collection of under-sized, well-used, high-volume rental houses, with minimal upkeep and just enough comfort to keep you from writing a negative review. In short, you're not there for the house, and the owners and property managers know this. So, when you rent an ocean front (on boardwalk) property and pay a premium you should also have the expectation that the property provides minimalistic necessities but million-dollar views and that's what we expected.
This property was actually better than our expectations. It was really clean upon arrival. The access is as promised. The garage was nice and very clean, albeit cramped with nothing wider than a Honda Pilot-sized vehicle accommodations. The bedrooms were nice and clean, the beds always a tad on the cheap and uncomfortable side. The appliances in the kitchen are old and outdated and ugly, but again, we aren't there for that and they know it. The last three SDO vacation houses actually supplied olive oil, foil, napkins, beach towels, salt and pepper and a host of spices cause it's such a pain to buy or bring your own - but this house did not. And even though we knew that going in, it still sucked. The BBQ appliance actually is very nice and works better than most rentals and is natural gas so no worry of replacing tanks. The showers were excellent w great pressure and temperatures. The AC was so welcomed as we had near-record heat during the day. But make no mistake this property wins because of its location and the accordion (pocket) doors that open the entire length of the living room. Those doors were open almost the entire time we were home and they made the small unit feel much larger than it is. Having such doors open wide means that you not only feel the ocean breezes throughout the house but you also hear the crashing waves pretty much 24-7. It is a whole new experience to beachfront living. And one that I will look for from now on. It was that cool.
So we stayed a week. Enjoyed the entire house thoroughly. Could it have been bigger? Could it have been better equipped? Could it have been more comfortable? Yes of course. But that's not why you are there and they know that. Just temper your expectations and you will love it. This property, by San Diego standards, was excellent.
