I hate to write this review because the host was so friendly and responsive, but I feel an obligation to inform future travelers of what they'll get themselves into. I certainly didn't expect a 5 star stay, but the abundance of raving reviews didn't suggest a stay in a public toilet either. Here goes my list of this apartment's worst offenders:
1) Stench. The bathroom smelled like a public restroom and mold. That odor permeated the place so there was nowhere to hide. The mold in the bathroom dots the ceilings and corners of the floor, so travelers with mold allergies beware.
2) Dirtiness: There's mold and rust in the bathroom. The couch had a stain and a lot of crumbs on it when I checked in. Kitchen brush and sponge are black.
3) Noise. Located in front of the building's main door, anyone coming in and out will greet you with a loud bang. Over the weekend, partying went on past 2am.
4) Teeny bathroom. I'm of average height and very thin, but I couldn't bend over the sink with the bathroom door closed. I also need to sit diagonally on the toilet bc it's so cramped.
5) Privacy. The rickety old blinds do not cover the window completely. It leaves cracks that anyone lurking can see through. Walk around unfully clothed at your own risk.
To give the host some benefit of the doubt, it's possible that her cleaners had an off day, which made my experience an anomaly. Overall, having traveled to more than 2 dozen developed and developing countries and staying in many Airbnbs along the way, this was my worst experience.