I stayed at Maria's apartment with my partner, and we both felt we made a great choice. The flat is truly beautiful: everything looks shiny and new, as you see it in the pictures, and it's as comfortable as you'd expect a "real", permanent home to be. The location is also ideal: right in the middle of one of the liveliest areas of Lisbon, with most sights, public transport facilities and amenities within walking distance - and if you love food, you'll find a wealth of typical restaurants and bakeries in the streets nearby. Getting there from the airport is really straightforward, just a 30-minute metro ride.

Maria was a great host; she came to meet us at the apartment, explained us everything we needed about the house, and left it fully equipped with things that made our stay smooth and easy (including a few really thoughtful personal touches, like a blanket for chilly nights!). Her recommendations on itineraries, cafes and restaurants helped a lot, as did the many guides and maps she provided in the house. Even before we arrived, she was always quick to answer any questions and gave us very accurate directions.

I've read a few reviews mentioning that the neighbourhood is loud; we did hear some noise coming from the street, especially over the weekend, but that's to be expected given that Bairro Alto is known for bars and nightlife. It didn't bother us at all, as the bedroom is located at the back of the house, and feels really quiet and cosy. The only disturbing noise might come from upstairs, as wooden floors and thin walls lets the sound of voices and footsteps in quite easily (we were also a bit unlucky, as the upstairs neighbours - most likely also tourists? - were quite the noisy types). Again, this didn't affect our experience or made us feel uncomfortable, but you might want to keep it in mind if you're a light sleeper.

Overall, we had a great time in Lisbon and staying at Maria's apartment, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and comfortable holiday. Would definitely come back if we get a chance to visit Lisbon again!