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North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues

Apartment near Balboa Park in San Diego

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TV
1 bedroom, WiFi, bed sheets
TV
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
1 bedroom, WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire apartment

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 21 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
San Diego, CA
  • Place, San Diego Black Ensemble Theater
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Balboa Park
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, San Diego Zoo
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪10 min drive‬

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About the neighborhood

San Diego

University Heights stay.Your stay at this University Heights apartment places you within 2 miles (3 km) of Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo. San Diego Natural History Museum and San Diego Museum of Art are also within 2 miles (3 km).
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What's nearby

  • J.A. Cooley Museum - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • San Diego Black Ensemble Theater - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Balboa Park - 15 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • San Diego Zoo - 4 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • San Diego Natural History Museum - 5 min drive - 1.4 miles

Getting around

  • Mission Valley Center Station - 4 min drive
  • Old Town Transit Center - 11 min drive
  • San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Colima's Mexican Food - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Pecs Bar - ‬4 min walk
  • Denny's
  • ‪TapRoom Beer Company - ‬7 min walk

About this property

North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues

Retro cottage apartment sleeps 2- 3. Thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between stays with contactless check-in. Perfect for a romantic getaway or road trip destination, a relaxing place to stay close to everything San Diego has to offer. Within minutes of downtown, walking distance to the world famous Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo. 15 minutes from my favorite beach, Ocean Beach (OB).
You will walk into a private gated entrance on the community, which leads your private entrance. The cozy bedroom with a queen bed, with private bath, full kitchen, and a beautiful large garden to be enjoyed by all after a long day visiting all the amazing sights San Diego has to offer. BTW- North Park was voted as one of the hippiest communities to live in by Forbes magazine, do come and enjoy!

You will be able to stroll down from the complex to University Ave and engage all your senses in every delight and sight. No matter which direction you may head, you'll find yourself immersed in the pulse of San Diego. Enjoy!

Mosey down 30th street, walk over to the world famous Balboa Park, or catch a show at the Observatory. Check out the popular farmers market on Thursday, maybe visit one of the many new microbreweries in the area. Take advantage of the one-of-the-kind dining experiences North Park has to offer.

The property is very unique and unlike anything in the area. There is a lovely, large community garden with outdoor seating to enjoy the amazing weather that San Diego had to offer.

I live close by, but you will not see me. Myself and my assistant can assist you with any of your needs. Of course, you are welcome to text or call us anytime.

Uber, Lyft, Bird, run, walk, or stroll minutes to the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. 15 minutes to the beach, 5 to 10 minutes to downtown, and only 15 minutes from the San Diego airport. Come enjoy!

There is no A/C but there is a portable fan (stored in the closet).

If this unit isn't available, please check my other units at this same property. Thanks!

https://www.vrbo.com/1353709?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=earned:vrbo:sharecopylink:USA&utm_content=1353709

AND

https://www.vrbo.com/1678969?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=earned:vrbo:sharecopylink:USA&utm_content=1678969

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  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Microwave
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Street parking available
  • Car not required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Chef service

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating
  • Portable fan

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed
  • Note from host: Please do not smoke on the premises

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping mall

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Whale watching nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1 square foot

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

Please be respectful of the neighbors and tenants in the building. Please read street parking signs to avoid tickets: 4th Tuesday of the month.
Quiet time after 10:00, if you are looking for a party place this is not the spot
Enjoy every moment of your stay

Access methods

Private entrance

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please do not smoke on the premises

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number 12340, STR-12340L

Property is also known as

Park Balboa Park Secret Oasis
New North Park Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis Apartment
New North Park Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis San Diego
New North Park Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis
New North Park Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis Apartment
New North Park Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis San Diego
Apartment New, North Park, Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis
New North Park Balboa Park Secret Garden Oasis Apartment
New North Park Balboa Park Secret Garden Oasis San Diego
Apartment New, North Park, Melanie's-2nd Secret Garden Oasis
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New North Park Melanie's 2nd Secret Garden Oasis
New North Park Balboa Park Secret Garden Oasis
Apartment New, North Park, Balboa Park, Secret Garden Oasis
New, North Park, Balboa Park, Secret Garden Oasis San Diego
New North Park Melanie's 2nd Secret Garden Oasis
Park Balboa Park Secret Oasis
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New North Park Melanie's 2nd Secret Garden Oasis

Frequently asked questions

How close is North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues to the airport?

This apartment is 5.8 mi (20-min drive) away from the San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this apartment.

How close is North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues to the beach?

This apartment is 8.6 mi (18-min drive) from Mission Beach and 13.4 mi (24-min drive) from La Jolla Cove. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues offer free breakfast?

This apartment does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues ?

No, there is no casino at this apartment.

What time is check-in at North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues ?

Free parking is not available at this apartment.

Does North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues have a pool?

This apartment does not have a pool.

Does North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this apartment.

How close is North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues to downtown San Diego?

This apartment is 2.7 mi away from San Diego.

North Park, charming Garden Cottage by Balboa Park, Zoo, & popular venues Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 42 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amos D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute little apartment. Perfect for our short trip to San Diego!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Adrienne S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot! Great host!

We had a very good time here, the host was lovely and gave us some great recommendations :) The space was clean, well looked after, and comfortable. So close to lots of fun things and good food. We would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Karen R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute place and neighborhood

We enjoyed our stay in this very convenient one bedroom. Very close to restaurants and nice neighborhood. Parking is a bit tricky but we managed just fine. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Cindy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good location, clean, adequate

This little old cottage was just what we needed, had more than we needed and was clean. Wish the parking was better and the heater was updated.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ardys D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location and comfy rooms!

The cottage was perfect for two people and the host was exceptional. Francesca made us feel most welcome, almost part of the family. It was an easy walk to Morley Field, to University Heights, Hillcrest, and South Park. We walked home from the Zoo and Balboa Park Museums, but drove to the Maritime Museum and the Library downtown. We'll definitely be back.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Eric S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Close to everywhere I wanted to go.

Attending my son's graduation and a little vacation while there. Minutes from airport, balboa park, San Diego zoo. Very pleasant cottage like dwelling, great for two. Coin operated washer and dryer on premises. On street parking available. Just make sure your back to your VRBO by 4/5pm. Just inherit to this area of San Diego.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jennifer B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great apartment, great location

The apartment was fully appointed, spacious, clean, and comfortable, and easy walking distance to 2 bus lines and Balboa Park itself, as well as coffee shops, grocery stores, and restaurants. The patio was pretty bare of plants and greenery so did not particularly have an inviting garden feel, but did offer plenty of seating.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint cottage in North Park

Great location near all the eats, drinks, and entertainment. Parking is rough in the evenings. Area is flat so walking from car to cottage was easy. Suggest ubering. Hotspot at the Lafayette Hotel within walking distance.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

joni p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Warm get away

We arrived late at night, really difficult to find the little house with out a porch light on.Otherwise just fine. The rain had made the patio kinda messy but we still enjoyed the sunshine.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for What I Need

As a senior, I need a quiet place to rest in the afternoon and sleep at night. Visiting my son in North Park we were out early and walked 5-8 miles a day exploring different places. Everything (including my son) was an easy walk from this rental. I plan on returning.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Rodney H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Quaint and clean.

Nice place, calm and quiet. Very comfortable. Parking was tough. Description said lots of parking on the street, but we had to park about a quarter of a mile away every time we needed to park.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

batbara r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tiniest of tips

This is a perfectly lovely place to stay and I will come again. You may wish to have a small fan available for bedroom. It was hot this weekend and that would have been the very best thing to have.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Toni H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

San Diego

Apt was as i expected; perfect location as it was literally 6 blocks from my other daughters apt and walking distance to coffee etc. Had all the amenities that we needed for our short stay. There was an unusual heat wave of 89 degrees and there was a fan but somehow it didnt work that well as it think it needed to be cleaned.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Lauren R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little place to stay

Great place to stay, my only complaint was a hair dryer was listed under amenities but couldn’t find one in unit. Also there were some hanging ornaments above bed that kept bumping into each other at night and making noise, I’d recommend moving these out of the bedroom. Other than that, great location and unit.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emma D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Conference stay

My friend and I stayed here for a few days while attending a conference in town. The cottage is small but super cute, nice neighborhood, walkable to restaurants and coffee. The only slight issues were that the heater, even when off, produced some heat. The shower had very low water pressure and felt like it couldn't fully rinse of soap/shampoo etc. Otherwise the host was quickly responsive and the cottage was very clean!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

kelly k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Communication

Review

Very noisy in the area and the unit itself especially the furnace. Thin walls could here neighbors.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

GIGI M.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Cute dwelling, nice neighborhood

The property is duplex, not a stand-alone cottage. It was a good size for two people, and close to our family member living nearby. Many restaurants, shops, bars etc. within walking distance. The site exterior photos need to be updated. There is not a garden anymore, it is all paved with patio chairs. Guests need to be told the name of the dwelling as well as the address. Confusing otherwise, but a nice neighbor showed us to the door.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Wade T.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Cancelled hours before stay

I received a cancellation a few hours before my stay was scheduled to begin and had to scramble to find another place for the night. Being a holiday weekend, this was not easy or cheap. Will not attempt to stay here in the future.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patty K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice apartment in North Park

This is a small apartment but clean and comfortable. We stayed in this area because our daughter lives close by. It’s residential so I’m not sure if there are places to walk to but it’s a good location. Easy check in with a code. There are a couple of other units. There was good communication. It was quiet. We didn’t have any problems finding street parking.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melodi H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Felicity

I had originally booked for an August trip, and was unable to make the trip, Francesca worked with me to push my reservations to this weekend. Was sent a door code a few days before, it was about 15 mins from airport. The unit was spotless, I am in love with the old kitchen cabinetry. I did at one point have a problem with the Wi-Fi but after checking with Francesca and a few people I knew in SD, it’s turned out that it was my provider. (AT&T) Looking forward to a return trip & hoping to try one of the upstairs units.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Russ R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome stay for near but out of downtown!

I was going to stay in a hotel downtown and I am SO VERY GLAD I chose instead to try a VRBO outside of downtown. This was a perfect experience. The location was perfect! Walking distance to restaurants and coffee shops (you must try Baja Betty’s) and a very calm and quaint neighborhood. The communication from the property owners was great. They were even flexible and when my dates shifted by a day, since there was availability, they said “No problem! “ and made the change for me. Internet worked great! Roomy shower with really hot water which was great too! Plenty of room for two! If you have a car, be aware of the parking restrictions…posted ONLY at the corners. No parking on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 7 am to 10 am for street sweeping. Got hit with a $56 parking fine. If I have to stay in the area again, I will look for Francesca’s properties!! Thank you so much for a great VRBO experience!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Lorraine B.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Double Booked/Did not stay at unit

We booked the unit in July to be close to our daughter when she gave birth in October and arrived to find out the unit had been long-term books and we had not been cancelled. I am unable to say anything about the condition of the unit but the rating system only allows for 1-5 stars. The owner was contacted and apologized profusely, but it did take several hours of phone calls and emails to resolve. Overall, we were disappointed, but VRBO staff did find accommodation for us that first night and we were able to book a hotel instead of a VRBO for the remainder of our visit.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ajay S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pleasant courtyard, good location

This apartment “Felicity” is between North Park and University Heights, and walking distance to Hillcrest, which is a fun neighborhood. A short 5-10 min drive or a long walk gets you to the edge of Balboa Park. Liked: Adequate for the needs of two people for a short stay; superb, well-maintained courtyard with cool plants and seating make for a great place to relax outdoors in the shade and chat or drink tea or coffee (especially great if you have family or friends staying in one of the other units!); excellent ceiling fan in the tiny living room area makes the room a pleasant place to relax indoors Could be better: no ceiling fan in the bedroom and the window fan is noisy = can get warm in there at night - a tower fan would be welcome; it’s a nice residential neighborhood with a lot of cars so you may have to hunt around for parking on other blocks if you get in late Nice stay overall, and yes I’d stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Ron G.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy

Small

Pictures were from a different larger unit -- unit was very small - outside was filthy - write up said main places were within walking distince - they wernt - i was very upset about the place & would never go back even if it was free
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rainbow w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

fantastic place for the price and a great area. lots to do in walking distance.

The place was very homey and felt like my historical home in college. The are was great to walk around in. The property had other units rented on it and I had thought it was only just the one at first. however everyone was so nice and kept to themselves, i will definitely stay here again and recommend it to anyone who likes the area where your able to walk to the store, to dinner and just to take in all the history of the homes of the area. As an architect I enjoyed staying in this area.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021