Entire home

Travel Writer's Pad

Photo gallery for Travel Writer's Pad

A single-story house with a bay window, a front porch, and a small garden with various plants and flowers.
A residential house with a well-maintained lawn, a flower bed with pink and white flowers, and a clear sky.
An outdoor patio with a round table, chairs, and a yellow umbrella.
A living room with a wooden floor, a black console table with a potted plant, and a framed poster on the wall.
A kitchen with white cabinets, a stove, and a sink.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends
    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.
  • Garage parking available
    Enjoy the convenience of garage parking - a rare offering in the area.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
La Mesa, CA
  • Place, Mission Trails Regional Park Lake Murray
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, The Salvation Army Kroc Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, San Diego State University
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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Living area
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  • Washing machine
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About the area

La Mesa

Located in La Mesa, this holiday home is in the city centre and in the mountains. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego State Park, while San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Snapdragon Stadium or Petco Park. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like cycling and hiking.
View more Holiday homes in La MesaOpens in a new window
Map
La Mesa, CA

What's nearby

  • Mission Trails Regional Park Lake Murray - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • The Salvation Army Kroc Center - 4 min drive - 1.5 km
  • San Diego State University - 4 min drive - 3.8 km
  • San Diego Zoo - 17 min drive - 18.7 km
  • San Diego Convention Center - 18 min drive - 21.3 km

Getting around

  • Old Town Transit Center - 17 min drive
  • 70th St. Trolley Station - 17 min walk
  • San Diego, CA (SEE-Gillespie Field) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Better Buzz Coffee - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Chuy's Taco Shop - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Marie Callender's - ‬16 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Travel Writer's Pad pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

How much does it cost to stay at Travel Writer's Pad?

As of 5 November 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Travel Writer's Pad on 9 December 2026 start from NZ$1,233, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Travel Writer's Pad?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Travel Writer's Pad?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Travel Writer's Pad?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Travel Writer's Pad located?

Located in the heart of La Mesa, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of San Diego State University, Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater and Viejas Arena. Snapdragon Stadium and Sharp Grossmont Hospital are also within 6 miles (10 km). 70th St. Trolley Station is 17 minutes by foot and Alvarado Station is 25 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 50 out of 53 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 53 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 53 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 53 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 53 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It's a great place to hang out with the family. We're hoping to stay again next year.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Second time staying here. Great little house centrally located in San Diego. Nice big backyard for the dog, big plus if you’re traveling with your pet.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a lovely place to stay! Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Maggie's place was wonderful. We immediately felt relaxed and comfortable. The back yard was perfect for our dogs. No complaints about anything. The location was perfect for seeing our daughter, husband and grandson. We have already booked another stay. Best vrbo for san diego county.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very Nice property, Clean and prepared for all our family needs including our dog. Lovely outdoor space and very quiet neighborhood during the day & night.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I enjoyed this charming property very much. The hosts are gracious and helpful. My dog loved the big backyard.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

very comfortable stay

The home is extremely comfortable and the patio and back yard is terrific for a relaxing vacation (we used the outside extensively). The host met us on the 1st day, walked us around and through the property, has a wonderful personality and made us very confident that this was a terrific choice for a stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Sweet home away from home

Cute place with beautiful back yard
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome host/house

The host and house were amazing, huge back yard for the kids to run around.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Loved Our Stay

This home was adorable. The yard was perfect for our dogs. Very clean and had everything we needed. Communication with Maggie was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Very impressed

The property was very nice and cozy. Was very clean and organized enjoyed all the amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 2 April 2020
Thanks Heri! It was a pleasure having your family stay at the house. ~Maggie
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome Find!

If you're looking for a centrally located gem this is it! The house was clean well decorated the yard is beautiful and let me tell you Maggie has thought of everything to make your stay peaceful and worry free!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

2nd time stay

This is the second time staying here. Always a comfortable place to stay. We really enjoy the backyard. It is a large yard for your dog to romp around on.
Stayed 15 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful home, quiet neighborhood

Stayed here for our daughter's graduation weekend. Quick drive to campus from this neighborhood. House was very cute, yard was huge and very beautiful!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

La Mesa Charmer

This charming cottage was very comfortable. The 1940/1950 construction has been well preserved and maintained. The patio was cozy and the huge back yard was amazing. The location was perfect for East San Diego activities and there was easy access to Hwy 80.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was beautiful. The yard was amazing. Maggie was great on all the details. We were so happy that it had air conditioning as it was HOT for San Diego. My kids and grandkids came; they loved the big yard, barbecuing and playing in the sprinkler. It was a wonderful time had by all. Thanks, Maggie.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Best home ❤️

My husband and his came to San Diego to visit our daughter. The Traveler Writer's Pad is the peaceful, we decided to spend a whole day resting and enjoying the serenity of the back yard. We are very grateful to have found this gem in La Mesa.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Just AWESOME!!

The property is lovely-spacious, attractive and spotless. The host is delightful and provided little amenities to make our stay special. She also did an in-person walkthrough. This was great as I was was traveling with my two young dongs and was able ask her questions in person. Total thumbs up/paws up! We look forward to returning!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect getaway

Best getaway my family has had in a long time. We all LOVED this house. And our dog did too. The backyard is enormous, lots of space for our dog to run around/lay in the sun. We loved eating outside on the patio every morning and at night playing games. Maggie is the perfect host, she literally has thought of everything, The Travel Writers Pad has it all. This house was absolutely wonderful, quiet neighborhood, close to everything and to say we had a great time is an understatement. Next time we are in San Diego, we will be staying here.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

San Diego Fun Times

Maggie's place is beautiful! The whole house and yard are immaculately clean and tidy. Maggie thought of everything to make your stay welcoming, fun, and interesting, with so many little touches that make you feel at home. And it is perfect for bringing your dogs! The yard is large and private. It's completely fenced, with flood lights at night, which makes it safe and easy to use. Plus, it is very centrally located, making it super easy to get around San Diego. We loved staying here and hope to return again and again! Thank You Maggie, for everything!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 2 April 2020
Carol, it was a pleasure having you, Michael and your sweet dogs stay at the house. Thanks so much for the kind words. Hope to see you all again. You're welcome to stay at the house whenever you're visiting San Diego!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Maggie is a fantastic host & The Travel Writer's Pad is a charming & comfortable place to stay. We especially liked how clean it was & the yard was perfect for our little poodle. The back patio & yard is a great place to hangout. Just like the photos show, it is lovely. There are so many special touches & amenities, we didn't lack for anything. The neighborhood is nice & in a good location, with many restaurants & stores close by, along with many attractions & beaches just a short drive away. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Cecilia who gave us a informative tour of the house & grounds. This was a very nice touch. Unfortunately, we stayed at a place in Oceanside that was nothing like the photos. It was horrible. That is not the case with The Travelers Writer's Pad. The photos show what a lovely place this is. We highly recommend a stay here.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a FANTASTIC place to stay. Our hostess was the mostest! She has created the perfect place where doggies are taken into consideration. An enormous back yard to play and throw the ball, a little dog park in the back area I. The back and so many different places to sit outside and relax and a great BBQ was available for a great outdoor dining experience . Inside the house is spacious, clean, roomy and cozy at the same time. Great sized refrigerator/freezer. We were never at a loss for supplies. The kitchen was fully loaded including a Keurig with plenty of various coffees and creamers. There is a washer dryer outside in the garage but we didn’t get around to using it. The WIFI was strong enough to host six of us using it at the same time without a glitch or slowdown. We are looking coming back to this La Mesa treasure again in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Delightful place to stay! Feels like home!

Outdoor Oasis is wonderful. It is a very nicely kept home in a quiet neighborhood in La Mesa. The home is stocked with everything you need for a weekend stay or a week long vacation. The decoration of the home is travel themed and very warm and welcoming. The bedrooms are comfortable and quiet. Plenty of tv's for entertainment. The yard is outstanding - huge and private, with little covered seating areas and places to enjoy the weather. I enjoyed watching the sun rise from the patio. The location is pretty central in La Mesa, with easy access to Rolando Park, La Mesa Village, SDSU, MIssion Trails, etc... Walk to local Terra for a good meal or Tako Factory if on the run and want tasty takos. . Maggie was awesome and was helpful when we checked in. She was very responsive when I had a question. Overall a wonderful stay. I would go back for sure! (Oh - very pet friendly property!!!!! :)
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 2 April 2020
Thanks, Trenton! It was a joy having your two and four-legged family members stay at the house. I'm glad you enjoyed your staycation in San Diego. Thank you for leaving the home sooo clean! Take care, and hugs to your sweet kitty, Cheeto! ~Maggie
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a beautiful home! I love older homes and this one is kept up so well. The host is so kind and welcoming. We love that is was dog friendly. Thank you again! We would love to stay here again in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The perfect place

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
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