Glenn's apartment at Príncipe Real is great! In my view, the apartment is fit for 1 person and at the most 2.
What worked:
- Location: Perfect. Excellent connections to Public Transport (Buses). Extremely close to the Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, and by others' submissions "the best Ice-cream in Lisbon".
- Check-in: Paulo from Glenn's team is an absolute gentleman. Unjudging of "the big guy with too many bags" i.e. Me, he was not only prompt but also made sure to assist with basic queries at the very end of a Saturday evening. Not a single frown of frustration.
- Bath: The heater in the balcony is GOD's GIFT TO MANKIND. I do not kid you, this heater was a lifesaver in 5DegC (41DegF) mornings when I needed to get to work.
- Equipment: Everything was there. A 4 Hob Stove (Electric/Induction), Drip Coffee Machine, Microwave, Oven, Large Refrigerator, Pots, Pans, Cups, Mugs, and the lot! The TV was there too (didn't use it - not much of a TV person).
- Service (overall): It is a rarity for the host/team to check-in every once in a while (even during a short 10 day stay), and yet they did. Paulo made sure I was good to go. Also, coming from India I am not used to the cold, so Paulo sticks in another heater without so much as a sound of complaint (there were 2 already).
- The Space: The bedroom is great. Wardrobe, place to put your bags, really comfortable bed (and large too), great upholstery. The bathroom is really well done too.
- The balcony: What a relief to someone in times where you can step out for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The view isn't necessarily great, but the balcony adds character.
What didn't work (and a lot of this is not to do with the Host/Team, but more to do with the construction - Príncipe Real is a real old neighbourhood):
- Space: The entry to the apartment (stairs to the 1st Floor) are really cramped. The apartment ceiling isn't too high either.
- Temperature & humidity management: The houses were not built to be centrally heated/cooled. That said the host makes sure that you are more than warm.
- Bathroom - Shelves in the Shower were missing, implying that you had to bend down to pick up your shower-gel, and then your shampoo, and then your facewash. This may be due to maintenance, but didn't spoil the whole feeling of the stay.
Would I recommend this to my family and close friends: ABSOLUTELY! This is a stellar experience overall. Glad I started my journey in Portugal with this stay.