Well, well, well... I have so many things to say about this "apartment" (in quotation marks because it looks more like a basement than an apartment) that I will do it topic by topic. This way, readers will not precisely what to expect from this place.
1) CLEANLINESS: On this topic, there is room for improvement. For instance, when we reached this apartment, "someone" was waiting for us in the unit: a big spider. The area below the sink (hidden by a curtain that hasn't been washed for several years, apparently) is disgusting. When we cleaned the unit a few hours before checking out, we found pieces of a broken glass and what seems to be dog food (below the furniture). To Paola's defense, we arrived at 1h20 pm, so it's fair to assume that she didn't have so much time to clean the unit, if her previous guests left on the morning of our arrival.
2) ACCURACY: Several items and amenities that are mentioned on Paola's listing are not in the unit, and my impression is that the missing items have NEVER been there ! For instance, there is no TV. There are no EXTRA blankets either. There are no EXTRA pillows either. By the way, Paola (who, by the way, is truly adorable) kindly brought an additional blanket at my request, but why do I need to beg for an item that is supposed to be in the unit from the very beginning?
Every time I book a unit, I check VERY CAREFULLY the list of amenities offered by the host and I only book units with the amenities I need. Therefore I can neither accept nor forgive to be lied to. I know that I still have the possibility to ask for a partial refund (thanks to Airbnb Cover, for instance), but it's not a matter of money; it's a matter of honestly. It's a matter of respect. I paid the full price, so in return I expect to be able to enjoy ALL the amenities mentioned on this listing. Period.
3) CHECK-IN: As I mentioned earlier, Paola is adorable and she was waiting for me at the entrance of her building, even if I was 22 minutes late (without having the possibility to inform her that I would be late, because I had no signal while being on the subway). In short, regarding check-in, she deserves 5 stars - and if I could I would even give her more than 5 stars !
4) COMMUNICATION: Mostly, Paola replies fast. All my questions and/or requests were answered promptly... except one (my request for extra blankets and pillows) that she answered 12 hours later.
5) LOCATION: Undeniably, that's the most outstanding feature of this unit. The nearest subway station ("Dante", on Line 1) can be reached walking in 5 minutes. The nearest supermarket is even closer. By the way, based on my own experience, if you plan to reach Paola's place by public transportation, I suggest you take the subway rather than trying to reach Montesanto station, because the information provided by G. maps regarding trains running to or from this station (Montesanto) is not accurate.
Eventually, it should be stressed that ALL the famous tourist spots of Naples are at walking distance from Paola's unit, including "L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele" where - just like Julia Roberts and Maradona - you will have the opportunity to eat the best pizza of your life (and the cheapest one too !).
6) SAFETY: That's the icing on the cake, if I can say so (sarcastically). To my mind, this unit doesn't meet the most basic safety standards. To express it differently, I consider that this unit poses a safety hazard to its guests. Please allow me to explain why: there is a gas stove (with 4 burners) and a gas bottle just below, but there is no window and no ventilation of ANY kind in the kitchen either. If one day a gas leak occurs, either due to a faulty item or because one of the guests forgot to turn off the gas after cooking, the complete lack of ventilation in the kitchen may cause a human tragedy.
There is, however, an easy solution to ventilate the unit: opening the sole and only window of the apartment, located in the bedroom/living-room. But few people do that, because the noise level is so high when the window is open that... you feel like closing it immediately. To make things even worse, there is a construction site 5 meters in front of this window - and God only knows when this construction will be over. In Italy, and especially in Naples, things move forward very slowly...
Still regarding safety, if you book this unit, I strongly suggest you avoid walking in the street "Vico De Bianchi Allo Spirito Santo". Trust me: do NOT walk in this street, especially at night. If you want to know more about it, please feel free to read Agnès' review (in July 2021). Moreover, the smell of urine is just unbearable in that street. For your own safety, to reach Paola's place, take "Via Pellegrini" instead.
7) PROS: to end this endless review on a positive note, I would like to mention that:
* The Wifi is strong and reliable;
* This unit is pet-friendly;
* There is an oven AND a small microwave (and a fridge, of course) in the kitchen (plus pans, casseroles, salt, etc., etc.);
* There is enough hot water for 2 people (even for 2 people taking a fast shower one after another);
* To my taste, the bed was comfortable enough (some people may find it hard though);
* Paola is adorable and she did her best to turn a small and humid "cave" into a decent studio.
8) OVERALL VALUE: It's true that the location of this unit is amazing. Undeniably, it's one of the cheapest units in downtown Napoli. Therefore, for travelers with a VERY tight budget, it may