The cons far outweigh our the pros for a July rental, but if you’re renting in cooler months this is a great apartment. If during hotter months and you need both bedrooms, read on.
First the pros.
Very smartly decorated and in a great little neighborhood just outside the city center. Steps from great little cafes, a wonderful neighborhood grocery and dependable bus lines. Felt like we were living like a local.
Now, for the cons.
First and foremost it was July with temps nearing 100 F. For this reason I only considered air conditioned apartments, which this one was listed as. And they do have two Ac units. One for the main bedroom and one for the living area. The second bedroom had only a useless small fan, making it unusable for sleeping entirely. I rented a 2 bedroom apartment and ended up with a 1 bedroom. Not happy.
Second, communication was abysmal. The hosts have abdicated everything to a property manager who only communicates on WhatsApp and not timely. We were driving from Lucca to Florence and had asked for check in details repeatedly but got nothing until we were just outside of Florence. Then we find out everything is via WhatsApp. The host has online codes to open the street, floor and apartment doors, which they sent via what’s app. And google maps takes us to the wrong area of the steeet so we can’t find the door even. Nobody responds and nobody answers the phone at the emergency number.
We finally find the right door and after a lengthy and frustrating process figure out the digital entry process to find only 2 ac units, neither of which are working properly, and a bathroom sink that leaks profusely. It takes 24 hours and a threat to contact airBNB to get a repairmen to the apartment.
The sink is fixed, the ac filters cleaned (filthy) and the units we have work ok if turned low. We are told the kitchen unit will cool the second bedroom which was absolutely incorrect. Never. These are “split system” units made to cool a small area only. The repairman even told me that.
Wi-Fi is also in the foyer and shared with a second apartment and very spotty. Since the door entries are all via digital requiring Wi-Fi this makes it interesting. There is a key to the front door so make sure you take it when you leave as you never know when the digital code just won’t work and you’re stuck waiting for a neighbor to let you in.