My fiancé and I had to relocate to San Diego on short notice as she was offered a CRNA position at the hospital she wanted. We needed a place to call home until we could find something permanent. Originally, we were looking for a private studio, but this place ended up working out great. What the hosts call “The Gillespie House” seems to be a refuse for people traveling to San Diego for a few months and needing a comfortable home-base. This isn’t like the usual Airbnb listing. Instead of renting a room in the host’s house, everyone at this huge house is an Airbnb guest and typically spends their non-work time hunting for permanent jobs in sunny San Diego. In fact, staying there and sharing large common areas turned out to be a plus instead of a negative. We were able to share job hunting tips and experiences with the other guests over freshly squeezed juice in the morning, or over a bottle of wine in the evening. We felt like we were in a community of like-minded people all in the same boat and on the same mission. At the same time we had our own private space to retreat to when we wanted time to ourselves. We really felt comfortable there. The house is located in a quiet residential neighborhood, but there’s plenty nearby—a wide variety of restaurants, grocery stores, and even a couple of shopping malls. Speedy Wi-Fi and ample space to work on our laptops made it easy to be online. Because the house is close to two major highways, it’s very easy to get to any part of San Diego County. The hosts were great. Not only have they set the space up so that each guest has their own space and plenty of privacy, but they were also quite flexible about our departure date. Their understanding turned out to be a valuable asset, as we almost did not find a house before our booking ended. They bent over backwards to be able to accommodate us longer, and we have no doubt that they would have if we had needed it. They are able to do this because they have units other than the Gillespie House and are familiar with the unique needs of guests in our situation. I believe that the hosts have found a niche solution to a problem that can currently only be solved by overpriced “extended-stay” hotel chains. If you are relocating, need a place for an extended period, and may not be sure of your end date, the Gillespie House just might fit the bill.
