Marin Edwardian Mansion overlooking San Francisco Bay

It was a lovely stay. Great hosts. I’m not sure that the listing is entirely clear…it is an 2nd floor apartment created within the historic Edwardian home. The unit was modern, spacious, comfortable, and clean. There is one closed bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen/living area where there is a lofted twin bed. The owners are in the process of making improvements (new locked gate, window repairs needed), so if you’re ok with using AC and not windows, the stay is comfortable. The outside of the home could use some clean-up (stored cars and other items). However, that did not entirely take away from the experience, and I know the owners (also busy parents of 4!) intend to address that. Perks: beautiful view of San Rafael and the inner bay, nice shower and amenities, bidet, great kitchen to cook in! Good value…would stay again!

This VRBO is a mixture of good and bad. The unit itself was very clean; parts of it were new/well kept, others were pretty bad & worn out. The location & the price was reasonable for a bay area visit. When I made the reservation, I sent a message to the host about us & why we were visiting, they made no response.Entrance is difficult to find, located on winding roads & small or unmarked driveways. The gate is new and worked well. Numerous vehicles parked everywhere, some covered with tarps. Parking is kind of marked, but you are on your own to figure it out. There are gravel areas with kids toys & gardening stuff strewn around. The listing does not indicate that this old house has been chopped up into numerous units. The listing does not clearly state that the unit is up a very steep set of stairs. That staircase leads to two landings. One that houses the sauna, which is shoved in a corner of a crowded area that they use for storage. The other landing contains the entrance to two units; one of which seemed to be occupied by renters who were entering at the same time, & seemed to linger while we were trying to access the keypad, didn't feel secure or safe. The inside of the unit was clean, but some furniture was so worn out, the wood finishes were scuffed off. The window coverings were short curtains on a cable cord that sagged down, very janky. The bathroom had nowhere to put toiletries & the sink was cracked. Some bedding was stinky. View marred by power lines.

Property had everything we needed for a stay and plenty of notes to help with our stay. Kitchen and suite area was great to congregate with views of the city. Few downsides were the bedroom and entry way smelt like a nursing home and we wished there were more opportunities to be outside. There were only two functional windows; none in the bedroom to help with the smell. The area also isn’t very good for walking as the streets are windy and tight.

Great giant window in living room. Beautiful kitchen. Take note that the stairs up to the unit are steep. Responsive host.

Very cozy stay!