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Zen Retreat San Diego

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Room

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

View map
La Mesa, CA
  • Place, Mount Helix Park
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Place, Sharp Grossmont Hospital
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, Canine Corners Dog Park
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪24 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Zen Retreat San Diego

Enjoy the feeling of a cozy Zen Retreat on lovely Mt Helix in San Diego county.
Mt. Helix is a short 15 minutes from the San Diego downtown, airport, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.

This is a one bedroom, one bath, with a small kitchen with eating area and full size stainless steel appliances. Central heat and AC. Because the kitchen is small, and only has a small window, therefore can only be used for light cooking (stove top) during the summer heat months. We prefer you not use oven during high heat times, however, there is a toaster oven provided if you need to bake something.

*Since VRBO merged with Expedia and some other companies, I do not have access to those other companies directly. And I have been told that they have checked some boxes that are incorrect and can't find a way to access for changes. We do not have a hot tub or a bathtub. No use of washer and dryer. If you are unsure of amenities, please inquire before booking.

Also note there is a low beam in the kitchen, so must be used with caution.

*Note: Please realize this unit will only occupy two people. (I have been getting a lot of requests for 3 or more people to occupy, there is only one full size bed, and it is not set up for small children. Due to the number of requests, I will not be able to reply to those requests.)

Please see amenity info below. Occupants must be at least 21 years of age, or child with parent. Rental contract is now part of this listing when paying through this site directly. By paying through this site constitutes an agreement to the rental contract terms and will be binding by the state of California. Rental agreement will be emailed and must be signed and brought with you for ckeck in.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Mountain view
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Rental Agreement will be emailed to guest. Add guest's name and vehicle info. A signed copy of the rental agreement must be presented at check in.
Check in must be coordinated with the host and the latest check in time is 9:00 pm.

Important information

You need to know

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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

La Mesa

Located in Mount Helix, a neighbourhood in La Mesa, this holiday home is near theme parks. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego State Park, while San Diego Zoo and Waterfront Park are popular area attractions. Check out an event or a game at Petco Park, and consider making time for USS Midway Museum, a top attraction not to be missed. Take in the nearby slopes with skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging and ice skating.
View more Holiday homes in La MesaOpens in a new window
Map
La Mesa, CA

What's nearby

  • Mount Helix Park - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Canine Corners Dog Park - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • San Diego Convention Center - 20 min drive - 23.9 km
  • San Diego Zoo - 20 min drive - 23.1 km

Getting around

  • Amaya Trolley Station - 2 min drive
  • Old Town Transit Center - 15 min drive
  • San Diego, CA (SEE-Gillespie Field) - 14 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Brigantine - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Olive Garden - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Panda Express - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Zen Retreat San Diego pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Zen Retreat San Diego?

As of 9 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Zen Retreat San Diego on 14 May 2026 start from NZ$180, 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 Zen Retreat San Diego?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Zen Retreat San Diego?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Zen Retreat San Diego?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Zen Retreat San Diego located?

Located in Mount Helix, this holiday home is 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from Sharp Grossmont Hospital and within 3 miles (5 km) of Mount Helix Park and The Magnolia. Grossmont College and Cowles Mountain are also within 6 miles (10 km). Amaya Trolley Station is 20 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.4

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. 26 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

8.8/10

Location

8.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Gerald Y.

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

Great location

I had an awesome time. Great host
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kele G.

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

Great place for 2 people

This property was a great price and location for my husband and I. The property owner was easy to communicate with and very helpful with all our questions. Would stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine M.

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

Cute little apt

Perfect little apartment for our 3 night stay!! Very quiet and peaceful, which is just what we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dave D.

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

Zen retreat

This place was great. Perfect location for us. Easy on to freeway. Communication was great. With a lot of extra touches.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darrell L.

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

Beautiful location

Ideal location between my mom and brother in El Cajon, and my son's family in La Mesa. Neighborhood reminds me of the Berkeley hills
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa B.

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

Centrally Located

We were in town to see family who are spread out around San Diego. This property was in a great location and within minutes from everyone. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

kim S.

CHarming and quiet

Charming and quiet
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018

4/10 Poor

nick S.

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

Do your homework before you book

It was very small and does not look like what’s on the pictures Showing
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gloria B.

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

Exactly what we hoped for!

Kris is a wonderful host! She was flexible about our arrival time (important to us bc we were driving quite a distance). She was warm and welcoming when we arrived, making sure we had all the information needed to enjoy our stay. Her place was spotlessly clean, quiet, and well-appointed. Kris asked if we'd like to enjoy fresh oranges from her tree and suggested juicing them. Wow! Such deliciousness. It was a memorable part of our stay! We'll look forward to staying with Kris again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Lisa S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Not very clean

Pretty dirty, cheap sheets, cheap towels need to be thrown away. The tv didn’t work for the first day. She needs to have it professionally cleaned after each guest. Wouldn’t stay there again. Too bad, great location.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Brent P.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy

False Advertisement

Ad said AC, Wash Machine, hot tub, etc. All not true. Also the TV reception was horrible. Cuts out constantly. The host was nice and friendly. Gave us oranges and peaches that she grew. Saw lots of spiders and a few webs in the corners of the ceiling. Would not recommend in hot months especially!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

LeChonne W.

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

Small but pleasing

Had a pleasant stay at Kris's. She was extremely nice and we had great conversations. There is everything you need in a very compact area. While I only needed the space to sleep while in the area, there was a semi-connect kitchen with all the amenities you could want for a short stay. The bathroom was clean with a stand-in shower (no tub, which I did not need) and provided necessary towels for the duration of the stay. The bed was comfortable. I used my own bedding on top of what was there, but everything provided was clean and useable. Parking is located on the front street side of the home and was a good space for my SUV. Many fresh fruit trees on site that she will pick for you if you request any in-season fruits.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela G.

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

Great stay at Zen Retreat

Kris was a great host. Her unit was comfortable and had everything we needed for our stay. We'll definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ann D.

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

Visiting our Grand Daughter

Nice property, but small. The kitchen was nice and well stocked. The owner was very attentive making sure we had everything we needed. I enjoyed my stay here and would stay again.
Stayed 19 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

kathy b.

Pleasant San Diego stay

Thank you again to Kris. All went as expected. Clean, comfy and close to all our needs.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

8/10 Good

Penelope F.

Very clean and cozy

So clean, convenient, comfortable and quiet. Highly recommended. An excellent hostess. Thank you Kris.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

kathy b.

Truly a Zen Retreat-Quiet hidden away setting close to everything one could want to do in San Diego!

My son and I were greeted by Kris right on time. She acquainted us with the details of her lovely place. Cozy and just the right amount fun details to make a relaxing home away from home. The location is close to the freeways and minutes to shopping for anything. Twenty minutes or less to attractions of all kinds, which is just what we wanted. We will likely return to San Diego and the Zen Retreat will hopefully be available. Thank you Kris!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful San Diego Getaway!

We loved our stay at Kris' home! She's very communicative and her cozy apt was welcoming and organized. Her place is 20 mins from everywhere. She even had beach gear for us, ready for the beach! Kris knows it's all about the details! We will definitely stay here again if we're ever visiting San Diego again. Thanks!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

8/10 Good

April S., Dallas, TX

In and Out Stay

I had to book this location last minute because my airbnb account was hacked. I'm so grateful that Kris allowed me to stay at her quaint cozy apartment styled space. Felt like I had an entire place to myself. Very clean, although I woke up to a caterpillar looking critter in my luggage that I left open on the floor. No biggie. It's also walking distance to Brigantine restaurant. My friends and I arrived very late back to San Diego after driving from San Fran. I was literally there from 8pm till 5am. Would have been nice to stay longer or to be charged by the hour instead of the entire day. That has nothing to do with how great this space is. You should definitely book it if you're in the area. Kris also provided me a link to get $10 off for the Lyft to use back to the airport. I couldn't get it to work so the drive to the airport will cost you about $22 without it. I would most definitely stay again. Kris is very very pleasant and welcoming.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

8/10 Good

Cristina D.

Great stay! Excellent location. The apartment was clean and tastefully furnished.

We would return in future. It was close to many great restaurants and stores. La Mesa itself is a clean, safe community, probably underrated. The host was excellent. Thanks for a great stay!
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nice cozy place

convenient to downtown, full kitchen, comfortable for a couple.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cecilia l.

Good

We stayed here for 5 nights, we had been on a long 3 week vacation,this was our last leg. Kris allowed us to use the washer and dryer, which made things much easier. This location for us was great we have grandchildren in Santee and was a short drive. We had no trouble locating it. It was private, quiet and fit our needs. Thank you for sharing your house with us.
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

10/10 Excellent

Bill S.

Cozy In-law Suite

The owners were very communicative and this helped me select this location; I am glad that I did. I only had need a couple of times but they were very easy to get in-touch with and responded immediately. The property is only a few blocks from the interstate but is insulated well enough that there is no noise. There is plenty within walking distance. Within a few blocks there is a convenience store/gas-station and at least 3 restaurants. At just 1.2 miles away there is a shopping mall with everything you could want, including a movie theatre. I happened to stay during an epic heat wave and the temperature was always cool and comfortable inside. I rarely heard anything even though the owners were upstairs; I did hear a dog bark once or twice but never in the evening and I never saw a dog. The full kitchen had everything, much more than most would use. I especially appreciated the assortment of teas available to me since I don't drink coffee. The bed was comfy, plenty of pillows and extra blankets, but the sheets could be softer. I will be sure to see if I can stay again on my text trip out and I will definitely recommend this to my friends.
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

8/10 Good

:+: Beautiful :+:

It is a beautiful place to stay. The only things I didn't like were: 1) no cable even though it was listed with cable 2) no dvd player or any way to buy and use one with the tv 3) The owner lives upstairs so if you're a light sleeper, it's difficult to sleep with all the footsteps. Overall, it's a great inexpensive place to stay. Beautiful and peaceful area with a mall nearby.
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jenifer B.

Relaxing retreat

I thoroughly enjoyed my 2-night stay at the Zen Retreat. Kris is a gracious hostess and made me feel welcome. I loved being in a residential neighborhood instead of a commercial complex. The hike up to Mt. Helix from the unit was a fun way to spent part of the morning. I would definitely recommend this special retreat.

About the host

Hosted by Kris Elig

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

Safe & Quiet neighborhood. Close to freeway entrance.

What makes this property unique

Full size bed, loveseat, Direct TV, Wifi, Fully outfitted with starter sundries. Central heat and AC is controlled by main house. Since we are close by, we can assist you with anything you need. Included is a small, but full kitchen with all the dishes, utensils, pot & pans, Cuisinart Grind & Brew coffee maker, Espresso & cappuccino maker. We provide a variety of teas and coffee. Kitchen has full size appliances for your use, however, we do not allow oven cooking during the summer months due to the small space with only a small window. we do provide a toaster oven for small baking items.. Small patio sitting area in front of the unit. Use of washer and dryer are not included.

For the beach; use of boogie board, snorkel and fins, beach umbrella, beach blanket, towels, and small ice chest. We can pick fresh oranges for you from our organic orange trees when in season. Juicer available. Peaches also available when in season usually end of May, beginning of June.

It's the small details that sets us apart! Come and experience for yourself.

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