As other reviewers have noted, the check in process is too complex for international travellers without a local phone line and coming directly from the airport via a taxi. Fortunately for us, the host made other arrangements to facilitate our entry into the apartment, once we made it clear that the process for collecting the key from another location wouldn’t work for us.
PROs: Fantastic location close to many attractions and dining options. Spacious apartment with plenty of room to move for 2 people. And there is a portable air conditioner which helps cool the place during summer though it was still very warm at night, as we had to shut the windows due to the noise from the busy street below.
CONs: The apartment is quite bare, save for the furniture and appliances shown in the listing photos. The so called ‘High End American sofa’ is way past its prime and has very little support left in it. The same comment applies to the mattress which is way too soft and squeaky. The kitchen faucet is faulty, and should be fixed. The cups, plates and cutlery supplied in the kitchen are very basic, and feels like they came from discarded sets. The towels, hand towels and kitchen towels had residual stains which were not appealing to use. There weren’t any complimentary provisions such as coffee pods, washing machine detergent, hair conditioner or even a box of tissues. The TV is not connected to an antenna or cable service which means having a tv is like having no tv at all. Missing or broken blades in the blinds let in light both day and night (from nearby neon signs) making it difficult to sleep, let alone sleep in. No helpful materials provided for tourists such as local maps or brochures for things to do. Basically, it lacks any sense of charm, welcome or generosity. And it’s worth noting that this accommodation is not cheap. The nightly cost is close to hotel prices, when you include service fees and cleaning fees.
In summary, there is a lot of room for improvement to justify the high price point. When it came time for us to leave, we couldn’t wait to move to a hotel where you can be assured of quality furniture, a functioning tv, a quality bed, decent blinds, stain-free towels, and a comfortable room temperature all day and night. And also not having to negotiate the super creaky stairs at night when needing a toilet break!
Would we stay here again? That would be a No. Would we recommend to family and friends? Same answer. Not for the current asking price. Being in a great location alone is just not enough.