I value reviews written by others about potential properties, and do my best to provide accurate information so others can make informed decisions too. So it surprised us to find that this apartment is directly next door, and looks out over, a massive construction site. The view was no big deal, but the noise was. Concrete cutting, drilling and excavation started each morning at 7.45am, except Sunday. We’ve stayed in many old apartments in busy cities, and have always marvelled at how effective soundproofing is when you shut the windows. Unfortunately this apartment’s double-glazing was not at all effective.
The pros:
- Other than the above, the location is good, close to the old town, transport, restaurants, and supermarkets, etc.
- Very comfortable furnishings; the bed was fabulous.
- Soundproofing between apartments was excellent.
- The lift was very handy for luggage.
- Air conditioning
The cons:
- Outside noise. In addition to the construction site, there’s a bar downstairs. Directly behind the apartment building are steps leading down to the river. People gather there for picnics, pizza and drinks. Some stay late and get loud. We used the the air conditioning for white noise, but it barely put a dent in it.
- Drainage from the shower and hand basin can’t keep up with the volume. After a decent shower (washing and conditioning hair), you’re standing in 1-2 cm of water and the shower is at risk of overflowing.
- If you’re sensitive to light, bring an eye mask. The shutters in the bedroom have large gaps and there are only shears as curtains.
- Unlike the photos, it just seemed a bit tired and unloved. The shelving in the shower was broken and sitting on the shower floor. Not normally a problem, except when it’s swimming in water. The shower grouting was a bit black. The wooden floor boards, while gorgeous to look at, were very uneven, some shifted significantly under foot, and creaked loudly with every step.