Having just stayed for one noisy night at a fairly basic city serviced apartment, the contrast was stark in every way with Emilia's apartment. To start with was her personal greeting, handing over the key, escorting me down to the reserved car park and showing me up to the apartment. Secondly the post-arrival support - immediately answering by phone a couple of my rather urgent queries. Thirdly, the apartment was so quiet despite being close to the rail line and a main road, the windows facing a large courtyard and other apartments blocking any noise. Fourthly, it very quickly felt like home because it has all the things you might reasonably need ranging from cleaning products and kitchenware to breakfast food and a bottle of wine, plus the personal touches like a throw-rug on the sofa, pictures and other decorative items. Finally, it's in a brilliant location near the Glenferrie Road shops and dining places ranging from the Glenferrie Hotel to ethnic cafes/restaurants, a five minute walk to the trams and Glenferrie station and easy driving access to major arterial roads.
I just hope that when I return to Melbourne next year the apartment will still be available.