POSITIVES
+ The location is right in the middle of all the action
+ Balcony with great views
+ Nice renovated bathroom with good hot shower
+ While the check-in is completed by a third party, it was fast and efficient
+ Host was responsive and did provide some local recommendations when asked via message
+ Most kitchen basics available
TO BE IMPROVED
- The whole experience is very impersonal, which I believe to be at odds with the whole spirit of Airbnb: there is a third party running the show, and they let you into the apartment.
- No local recommendations or tips provided in the apartment (however restaurant suggestions were made when I asked the host directly).
- The apartment itself feels like a cheesy and cheap motel. The bed is particularly terrible with a nasty sagging mattress and a sad quilt cover. The sad quilt provided was in lieu of a top sheet or clean duvet cover, so you have to sleep directly touching the quilt cover.
- The balcony has great views but the table and chairs are also cheap and nasty, and there is junk stored on the balcony.
- Cheap and thin old towels.
- Minimal toilet paper provided, so we needed to purchase more during our 3 night stay.
- No dishwashing liquid to be found (and no dishwasher) so I am unsure as to how we were expected to clean up.
- We got dirty feet walking barefoot on the timber floor.
SUMMARY
Overall, despite the view of The Duomo and the central location, for value for money it was not up to the standards I was expecting or have previously experienced with Airbnb rentals. Disappointingly, I think so much of what’s wrong with this place could be reasonably easily improved with some TLC, which makes it seem like the host just doesn’t really care. As such, unfortunately I would not recommend this apartment to anyone and I was happy to leave it behind.