Thank you for the stay. The location of the apartment was very convenient with easy access to metro stations, restaurants, supermarkets, sites, basically everything. I also appreciated how quickly I received responses to any messages I sent. For example, I had trouble getting the door open when I first checked-in to the apartment and received a response within minutes and was able to open the door with their helpful explanation (there was no real issue with the door, it’s just that we don’t tend to have that type in the US, so no that’s not their fault at all). Many of the amenities were also nice (other apartments did not have a washer/dryer nor an AC). It was also nice that the apartment was quiet because it faced the courtyard rather than the street.
I didn’t provide 5 stars primarily because of the cleanliness and general maintenance of the apartment. I had expected from the photos that the apartment would be more modern, well maintained, and larger. One issue was a musty, unpleasant smell throughout the apartment. As other examples, there was some pink mold in the shower and the drain clogged several times and we had to unclog it, along with a blanket on the couch to hide stains. The wifi was often spotty.
A couple of light bulbs had gone out and not replaced (in the shower room) and overall the apartment lighting was dim. I didn’t realize while booking that it would be uncomfortable to open the curtains because several windows are right across the courtyard, so that made the apartment darker. I didn’t open the windows for air because there was no screen and I didn’t want bugs to come in from the courtyard. I’m not sure if screens are common in Paris.
If I had decided to contact the owners, I am certain they would have sent a cleaning/maintenance person to address some of these issues (the ones that could be addressed quickly), but scheduling this is personally not something I wanted to deal with on vacation. I expected the apartment be in better shape without having to contact the owners. This is my first time booking an AirBnB so it could be that my cleanliness standards are higher than others. I’ve been much more satisfied with aparthotel conditions in Europe. So this experience has taught me about my preferences; I will likely stick to aparthotels in the future.
Again, the hosts were very available, welcoming, and accommodated an early check-in, and the apartment did check many boxes as far as what we wanted in a stay. I have therefore been careful to be fair in my assessment. I hope these comments are interpreted as constructive and honest feedback on what can possibly be improved for future guests.
Thank you again.