This was a very interesting and unique space, and if attention were given to a few crucial points it could be a very fun experience.
I’ll begin with the good:
* it is indeed a very eclectic and enigmatic apartment, complete with trinkets, fixtures, and all sorts of elaborate decorations. Further, it is located in a very trendy and fun neighborhood. The host was very generous and communicative during check-in (our flight got us in quite late). The space itself was very large, including a very big kitchen. There are a lot of fun diversions in the apartment, such as a pool table.
The bad:
There were a number of significant issues.
First, there is misrepresentation in the listing:
* the photos do not reflect the space in jarring ways. Two themes that dominate the decor throughout the house are sex and horror, which one doesn’t see in the listing. For instance, as you enter, there are skeletons and skulls in the small hallway immediately inside of the door (compare to a knight with a boa in the photos).
* There are references to and paraphernalia pointing to sex and BDSM throughout the house, and especially in the master bedroom (such as a figurine of a female with her skirt being blown up, and a large ‘sex’ sign, which are not included in photos, but discussed at greater length by an earlier reviewer). The issue is less with lifestyle choices than with the fact that guests relying upon the listing’s photos will likely find themselves feeling at least misled and at most uncomfortable in distressing ways, especially if they bring children or if they are triggered by shocking imagery.
* There are many other touches that could make people very uncomfortable or scared (e.g., prints of bloody hands on the inside door of the bathroom).
* there are only strobe lights / disco ball / dimmed colorful lights in the main living room (at least I couldn’t find any other lights for this room). The entire space was fairly dark even during the day, in contrast to the listing’s photos.
It was dirty:
* there was molding food in the refrigerator
* there was some sort of mildew on the floor of the shower
* countertops were dirty
* it overall did not seem like there had been a thorough cleaning since the previous guests checked out
The steps:
* the listing now says the flat is on the 3rd floor and there is no lift. This is technically true, but be advised that these are not typical floors. You will be climbing 67 or so steep steps (I counted). This, I would think, should be made more clear, for the sake of guests who for one reason or another cannot handle too much stair climbing. Even for Paris / Europe, these stood out.
* there is a very large step just to get past the gate. Again, without warning this could be a real hazard.
Overall, the positives did not fully compensate for the negatives. I do think that were the cleanliness to be addressed and if the listing showed the space as it really is, that those seeking such an experience could have a very memorable time, and those not interested in such an experience won’t find themselves guided into one through no fault of their own.