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Entire home

A Gem in the Heart of Tucson

Photo gallery for A Gem in the Heart of Tucson

Room
Room
Living area
Bathroom
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Onsite parking available
    Convenient and secure on-site parking, a rare amenity in the area.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Tucson Greyhound Park
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Internet access
  • Living area

Explore the area

View map
Tucson, AZ
  • Place, Tucson Greyhound Park
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Southside Presbyterian Church
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Cruz Church
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Airport, Tucson, AZ (TUS-Tucson Intl.)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Twin Bedroom

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Hall Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Master Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

A Gem in the Heart of Tucson

Lic# 20731308 This 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom home is great for events near the heart of downtown Tucson such as The Gem Show, Rodeo, and El Tour de Tucson. The Tucson Convention Center is just a short Lyft or Uber away! This is also a great hide away for days when you just want to take a break from all the activity. Free parking in a gated driveway is a fresh break from parking fees! Mexican restaurants are just a short walk or drive to get your fill of the southwestern cuisine!

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please park your car inside the gated driveway.
Please, as needed, place garbage in the bins outside. There are new garbage bags under the kitchen sink.
Please chat us on the app or text my cell at xxx-xxx-xxxx upon departing. Thank you for staying with us!

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1690964vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Tucson

Located in Tucson, this holiday home is in the city centre. Tucson Mall and Tuscon Spectrum are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Saguaro National Park and Sweetwater Preserve. Children's Museum Tucson and El Centro Cultural de las Americas are also worth visiting.
View more Holiday homes in TucsonOpens in a new window
Map
Tucson, AZ

What's nearby

  • Tucson Greyhound Park - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Southside Presbyterian Church - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Santa Cruz Church - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Jewish History Museum - 3 min drive - 2.3 km
  • El Fronterizo - 3 min drive - 2.7 km

Getting around

  • Roy Laos Transit Center - 5 min drive
  • Tucson Station - 9 min drive
  • Tucson International Airport (TUS) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Whataburger - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Circle K - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Tacos Apson - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is A Gem in the Heart of Tucson pet-friendly?

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

How much is parking at A Gem in the Heart of Tucson?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A Gem in the Heart of Tucson?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Gem in the Heart of Tucson?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Gem in the Heart of Tucson located?

Located in South Tucson, this holiday home is 0.6 mi (1 km) from Tucson Greyhound Park and 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from University of Arizona. Santa Cruz Church and El Fronterizo are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

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. 11 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

7.2/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a wonderful stay. The neighborhood is not fancy. The place is not fancy. However, it was clean and exactly as described. Communication was good. Everything was well stocked. Good value!
Stayed 14 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Clean room.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Danita E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Mark was very responsive whenever we contacted him.
Stayed 57 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Travis B.

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

Was a very nice place to stay

We definitely enjoyed staying here as it was quiet safe and comfortable
Stayed 22 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
It was perfect for what we needed!! Cute and quaint and perfect for a family with small children. Great communication from the owners.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Luz G

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Wonderful time...Host very attentive and helpful
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lois W.

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

Clean,quiet,

Well prepared , was well stocked,even had coffee in cubbered
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Ken V.

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

Tucson rental home

The house was very well equipped, very clean, spacious bathrooms, and bedrooms. It seamed that the main ptack unit in the kitchen area could not keep that area very warm. In the morning when we would get up the temp in that room would be in the lower 60s. Once the day progressed it would warm up. The parking area is tight quarters especially when you are driving a full sized vehicle. Over all we enjoyed the accommodations. Thanks
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

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

Convenient for Travel, But Come Prepared

This property was very close to I10, which made travel to everywhere we needed to go easy. It was also well cleaned. Make sure to bring extra long device cables as many of the outlets are loose and don't hold the cords well. Also, be prepared for the weather. The heating did not work great in all of the rooms, and I expect the cooling during the summer would be the same. Also, if you are sensitive to noise, make sure to pack earplugs as the air/heating units make some noise during the night that might bother some people. Finally, the gate is set up for a padlock, so if you need the extra security just make sure to bring a good lock with with you.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 February 2023
I asked the guest upon their arrival to read about the thermostats and I said I can help them if needed. They never asked for help and did not ever change the setting to increase the temperature. Also there is space heater to use if they chose to. The system cools perfectly in summer. Don't rely on speculation!
Verified

6/10 Okay

Constance B.

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

Not a gem

We were in town to have ceramic coating installed on our RV and truck so we wanted something in close proximity. This home was convenient, but not in the best of neighborhoods. There was constant foot traffic of what appeared to be unhoused folks, but we were not approached by any of them. The home is older and in need of some updates. PROs: VERY Clean, Very Well Stocked for cooking. There were plenty of cleaning products in shower, linens, blankets, etc. All appliances worked well. The floors were all tile and in good condition. Cons: No window treatments in the master bath, allowing night time lighting to illuminate the bedroom. Ceiling leaked in two locations during a rain storm. Manager was notified for mitigation. We did place towels and then a couple pans under to prevent further mess. These leaks occurred in the kitchen and did not cause any damage to anything. **Dogs adjacent to the property were constantly barking (no fault of VRBO). The entrance/exit door opened on the side of the barking dogs and our last night the dogs barked constantly for twenty minutes while we were trying to go to sleep. Although we would not feel comfortable staying at this location again, it was convenient for what we needed this time. I commend the owner/manager for trying to improve the neighborhood!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 20 March 2024
We value all of our guests that stay at our Property. This is a Gem and many guests do like to stay here. It is a safe home and we have nice neighbors. This guest had pets of which she forgot to pay the pet fee for. Also aggressively ask to check in early and depart 4 hours after check out time and never thought she should pay extra which many hosts would require. We continue to improve our property and it was a rare situation to have a leak in the roof.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LINDA H.

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

Perfect for what we needed

Nice little house, had everything we needed for a weeks stay. Very close to Walgreens, grocery store and laundromat. Easy access to 10. Would stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bruce C.

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

Spotless house in quiet neighborhood.

Well-kept secure house in a quiet neighborhood. Convenient to downtown Tucson and quick access to I-10. A good central location for visiting the many venues of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2022
Verified

4/10 Poor

Adam G.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, location

You get what you pay for.

We were looking for a place close to the gem shows. This place definitely checked that box. It was minutes to Kino and JOGS. But that’s the only positive. This house felt like I was staying at my Tia’s house. The fans were dusty, the shower curtains had mildew and the master bed blanket was dirty! I have pictures to prove it. The worst part was there was constant sketchy activity happening all around. The police were constantly pulling people over. There we’re always cars parked outside. If we went to get something from the truck the security lights on the house would scare them off. The parking is gated but we still didn’t feel super safe. We never took any of our gem show haul out of the car for fear of the neighbors being tempted to break in. Inside the house there were weird motion sensors in multiple areas. Like seriously! Why? The heaters worked well and the one sofa in the house was comfy. We never cooked in the house. We would have left for a hotel but i didn’t want to use our gem show money. :( I would never stay here again. The owner was responsive but didn’t seem to concerned when I reported the dirty blankets. If you stay here, just know the area is a little scary. I would definitely not let my kids play in the small yard outside.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 6 February 2022
We are sorry that this guest was not satisfied with their stay. We do our best to provide a nice clean pleasant place for our guests to stay. We did not find any issues with the linens. We are not able to control the neighborhood, but the neighbors next door are very nice people. Obviously we are not able to please every guest, but as you can read from previous reviews, we are able to please most of them.
Verified

8/10 Good

Cassandra K.

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

great place for dog owners

Good place to stay if you on a bird hunting trip.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence S.

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

It is a Gem

The house was exactly as advertised. Conveniently located about 10 minutes from just about everything to include the University of Arizona, which was our prime reason for being in Tucson (Parents weekend). The neighborhood was quiet, the accommodations comfortable and clean. It was easy to find our way around from there. It will be on our list of places to return to!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

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

Great stay in Tucson!

We enjoyed the flavor of South Tucson in Mark's historic adobe casita. It is conveniently located near local restaurants, downtown Tucson, UofA and Saguaro National Park West. We look forward to returning. Michael and Brenda
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dennis J.

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

The house was comfortable and very relaxing.

A great experience and Marc made sure everything was good to go. We are pleased with the time spent here.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

About the host

Hosted by Mark Johnson

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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