This home was adorable. The yard was perfect for our dogs. Very clean and had everything we needed. Communication with Maggie was great.

Maggie is a great host with an awesome oasis. I loved exploring the home's decor and uniqueness. I highly recommend this clean and comfy place.

We had a great time at Maggie's. The property was clean and comfortable. We enjoyed all of her memorabilia. One friend who visited for breakfast called the house charming, which it is. Also, the beds are very comfortable. and the yard and seating areas are fabulous. Thank you so much!!!

First time for us in the La Mesa neighborhood. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw how nice this home was. For it’s small size, it had unique charm and pride in ownership. The yard was beautiful and very spacious with lots of fruit trees. The region is very close to downtown and the beach-20 minutes. The town boasts great food and shops and we walked only 2 miles to get there. The host provided great neighborhood recommendations for trails, and restaurants in a nice booklet. The only things I would suggest changing would be to have a better seating arrangement around the TV with one additional sofa or couch on the opposite side for family, and a 4 slice toaster. We would definitely stay again!

Maggie was by the way the best host I’ve experienced with a rental! Her communication, thoughtfulness, etc were wonderful. Her home was just right for our family vacay. The backyard is amazing and perfect for kids, too!

The owner had everything we needed. It was perfect for us to visit with family and friends. Very nice backyard.

Maggie's place is exceptionally beautiful and peaceful. I highly recommend staying in La Mesa at the 'Travel Writer's Pad'!

Maggie's place is exceptionally beautiful and peaceful. I highly recommend staying in La Mesa at the 'Travel Writer's Pad'!

Maggie's property is awesome! The location was so convenient to SDSU, La Mesa's cute downtown, the 70th Street trolley station, and the freeway, making it a good home-base for exploring San Diego. The decor inside the home was fun to peruse, the kitchen is well-appointed, and the back yard cannot be beat. We hope to return!

Maggie's property is awesome! The location was so convenient to SDSU, La Mesa's cute downtown, the 70th Street trolley station, and the freeway, making it a good home-base for exploring San Diego. The decor inside the home was fun to peruse, the kitchen is well-appointed, and the back yard cannot be beat. We hope to return!

My sister and I very much enjoyed our stay! Great outdoor space for gatherings and dogs. Perfect for exploring San Diego. We hope to stay here again soon!

My sister and I very much enjoyed our stay! Great outdoor space for gatherings and dogs. Perfect for exploring San Diego. We hope to stay here again soon!

Maggie was super friendly and helpful, greeted us and showed us around the entire home! Beautiful place, clean, cozy and the back yard was huge, nice outside patio area with fire pit, logs, beach toys, chairs… we had everything we needed! It’s a hidden gem, convenient to airport and beach and restaurants… hope to be back soon

Maggie was super friendly and helpful, greeted us and showed us around the entire home! Beautiful place, clean, cozy and the back yard was huge, nice outside patio area with fire pit, logs, beach toys, chairs… we had everything we needed! It’s a hidden gem, convenient to airport and beach and restaurants… hope to be back soon

We loved our stay at the Travel Writer’s Pad, especially enjoying the variety of outdoor seating areas in the spacious porch, patio and yard. Our gracious host met us at the house for a tour and was always very responsive during our stay. Great location for local walks in the neighborhood (check out the Rainbow Stairs and the walk-up Mission Brew Coffee) and hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park, and easy drive to Balboa Park to ride the historic carousel and stroll through the Japanese Friendship Garden. Thanks for providing such a lovely spot, Maggie!

We loved our stay at the Travel Writer’s Pad, especially enjoying the variety of outdoor seating areas in the spacious porch, patio and yard. Our gracious host met us at the house for a tour and was always very responsive during our stay. Great location for local walks in the neighborhood (check out the Rainbow Stairs and the walk-up Mission Brew Coffee) and hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park, and easy drive to Balboa Park to ride the historic carousel and stroll through the Japanese Friendship Garden. Thanks for providing such a lovely spot, Maggie!

Great neighborhood, easy access to highway, property owner was very helpful and accommodating.

Great neighborhood, easy access to highway, property owner was very helpful and accommodating.

This property offers easy freeway access for getting around San Diego in all directions while being in a lovely, quiet neighborhood. We were welcomed into the home with a personalized chalkboard greeting sign, snacks, and cheery Christmas decorations including a beautiful Christmas tree as well as a tour of the property by neighbor Judi who helps Maggie, the Traveling Writer from time to time. The outdoor space is peaceful and delightful, and the huge yard is an oasis, especially for travelers with dogs. Our dog loved having her own private dog park to explore. Note: we were told that there can be skunks in the area, so we used a leash after dark. The home is a charming, vintage bungalow with lovely original hardwood floors. The retro furnishings from Granny's attic give the home a comfortable 1950's feel along with the diverse and unique collection of kitchen items and a large assortment of the owner's travel memorabilia filling every room with interesting items, books, and decor. Good wifi and TV in all rooms including the bathroom were easy to use. We had plenty of nice towels. The queen bed in the master has a comfy memory foam topper but it makes the bed quite high to climb into for those of us with shorter legs and the comforter looked as though it was sized for a double as it only covered the top of the bed. The duvet insert was flat in places and lumpy in others, but it was warm and cozy. The laundry facility in the garage was great but note that access is either through the back door, down 2 steps and through a gate or out the front door, down 4 steps and down the driveway. This was not a problem for us, but potential guests with any mobility challenges might want to know this. Maggie the host checked in on us via text and seemed easy to reach if we had any problems, which we did not. She even dropped off cookies to the front porch one evening -- so nice! -- and asked us to leave her mail for her to pick up on the front porch bench. Overall, this was a lovely and quaint place to stay.

This property offers easy freeway access for getting around San Diego in all directions while being in a lovely, quiet neighborhood. We were welcomed into the home with a personalized chalkboard greeting sign, snacks, and cheery Christmas decorations including a beautiful Christmas tree as well as a tour of the property by neighbor Judi who helps Maggie, the Traveling Writer from time to time. The outdoor space is peaceful and delightful, and the huge yard is an oasis, especially for travelers with dogs. Our dog loved having her own private dog park to explore. Note: we were told that there can be skunks in the area, so we used a leash after dark. The home is a charming, vintage bungalow with lovely original hardwood floors. The retro furnishings from Granny's attic give the home a comfortable 1950's feel along with the diverse and unique collection of kitchen items and a large assortment of the owner's travel memorabilia filling every room with interesting items, books, and decor. Good wifi and TV in all rooms including the bathroom were easy to use. We had plenty of nice towels. The queen bed in the master has a comfy memory foam topper but it makes the bed quite high to climb into for those of us with shorter legs and the comforter looked as though it was sized for a double as it only covered the top of the bed. The duvet insert was flat in places and lumpy in others, but it was warm and cozy. The laundry facility in the garage was great but note that access is either through the back door, down 2 steps and through a gate or out the front door, down 4 steps and down the driveway. This was not a problem for us, but potential guests with any mobility challenges might want to know this. Maggie the host checked in on us via text and seemed easy to reach if we had any problems, which we did not. She even dropped off cookies to the front porch one evening -- so nice! -- and asked us to leave her mail for her to pick up on the front porch bench. Overall, this was a lovely and quaint place to stay.

We enjoyed our stay! The backyard is especially nice!

We enjoyed our stay! The backyard is especially nice!

Everything was clean and easy. You basically have a park attached to your backyard so we had a lot of fun.

Everything was clean and easy. You basically have a park attached to your backyard so we had a lot of fun.

The Travel Writer’s Pad is a magical mashup: part France, part India, part old Mexico, part 1930’s San Diego, and ALL WONDERFUL! Every corner is thoughtfully and artistically curated to create fantastical moments of beauty and joy! The backyard is incredible! Like having our own private park! Maggie met us when we arrived to give us a tour and make sure we were comfortable. It is not hyperbolic to say this is our favorite place we have ever stayed, right up there with the Madonna Inn. We can’t wait to come back again and again!

Experience from first greeting online with Maggie to our stay was excellent. Grounds are beautiful. Home has eclectic appeal to it. We enjoyed our visit immensely.

Nice neighborhood for walking the dog with lots of nice neighbors and dogs to meet. The house was well equipped and worked well for 4 adults. Would work well for children too. My dog loved the backyard and found several hiding places to observe from. We enjoyed the evenings outside with the chimera. Very close to San Diego State area. We spent the week here for my son's graduation.

Experience from first greeting online with Maggie to our stay was excellent. Grounds are beautiful. Home has eclectic appeal to it. We enjoyed our visit immensely.

Nice neighborhood for walking the dog with lots of nice neighbors and dogs to meet. The house was well equipped and worked well for 4 adults. Would work well for children too. My dog loved the backyard and found several hiding places to observe from. We enjoyed the evenings outside with the chimera. Very close to San Diego State area. We spent the week here for my son's graduation.

This listing is absolutely everything it claims to be! This is our 2nd stay here and will not be our last! The backyard is large and beautiful just as the pics show. We enjoyed grilling in the back porch outdoor area which is beautiful and relaxing! They are in the process of putting in a Doggie park 8n the far back part of the yard- we can't wait to check it out on our next stay! Maggie is an absolute doll of a host! Responsive to anything you need and has thought of everything to make the stay great! The house was clean bed is comfy and overall the house smelled fabulous! The property is conveniently located takes 15 mins or so to get to the beaches or anything you need really...the zoo sea world etc.

This listing is absolutely everything it claims to be! This is our 2nd stay here and will not be our last! The backyard is large and beautiful just as the pics show. We enjoyed grilling in the back porch outdoor area which is beautiful and relaxing! They are in the process of putting in a Doggie park 8n the far back part of the yard- we can't wait to check it out on our next stay! Maggie is an absolute doll of a host! Responsive to anything you need and has thought of everything to make the stay great! The house was clean bed is comfy and overall the house smelled fabulous! The property is conveniently located takes 15 mins or so to get to the beaches or anything you need really...the zoo sea world etc.

This home was perfect for our recent visit to relatives. The yard was a great place to wear out our grand pup. We were also able to social distance while having wonderful meals out on the patio by the fire. We're already planning to come back!