I have stayed in many Airbnb’s for work and for vacation. The details make a huge difference, so I write this review for future travelers. This was our first place while traveling around Portugal. We are now staying in our third Airbnb in Portugal. We stayed for a week in each place. We are a family of two adults and a ten year old boy. We live in a large US city and are POC. We loved Joana’s place! There are many “pros”, and very few “cons”, so I’ll start with the “cons”.
CONS and hints:
-as the pictures show, there’s not much clothes storage. The blue room has a chest and shelving on the side of the bed. We lived out of our suitcases, but would be difficult if longer than a week. Small dressers under the hangers would be helpful.
-the pictures are 98% accurate. It’s not quite as bright as the pics, but still sunny and light.
-yes, it’s above a restaurant and a gelato shop, and just above a busy neighborhood street. If you’re used to living in the city, this is no big deal. The sounds (cars and music), aromas (yummy ones!), and activity were just fine for us. No loud neighbors above or to the side.
-lastly, would help to have a guest book with how to use appliances. Joana and her associate, Ruben, provided great restaurant and tourist recommendations. It might be good to have those along with garbage, dishwasher, washing machine, tv instructions in one place. We mustered through, just a suggestion.
Okay, PROS (so many!):
- LOCATION!!! was fantastic. We walked everywhere, rode trams just for fun. We were a 2-20 minute walk from 6 different beautiful parks, including Parque Eduardo and the fun Jardim Estrella. The museum and botanical garden across the street were so interesting (don’t miss with curious kids) and well worth a half day visit. Every kind of restaurant, great shopping, bakeries, gelato, all within the neighborhood, walk another 20-30 minutes and you’re at all the best sites of Lisbon. At the end of the week, we really felt like we were part of the neighborhood- a few families, a few older folks, mostly couples, younger adult professionals, and students. “Hip” neighborhood mix- like parts of Brooklyn (?).
Apartment- like I said, bright, not as bright as pics, but definitely one of the most cheerful, and sunniest we saw. Everything was clean. Everything worked well and was pretty intuitive. I’m looking at pics now, and yes, no tricks, no hiding. This is what you get- spacious for Europe, 3 nice bedrooms with stylish detail, 2 small but totally functional and light bathrooms. Air conditioning that works well. Decent hot water, good water pressure. Comfortable furniture. Great WiFi!!! (I had video conference calls for work, no problem). The gelato shop downstairs, Niva- delicious and friendly! The restaurant downstairs, Zazah- delicious and friendly! Walk up about 15 (?) stairs to get to apartment from street, not narrow. Long bright hallway the length of the apartment. All bedrooms and bathrooms had doors that closed and nice windows that opened.
Communication: Joana was so helpful in booking and leading up to the reservation. Ruben helped with recommendations, too. He met us at the apartment and answered our initial questions, even when we were late.
Neighborhood:
-great shopping at and around Embaixada
-pharmacies and grocery within 15 minutes walk
-not a hilly section. The main road is flat, but easily to get to the lower sections on either side.
-felt very safe, even late at night
Gosh, so many good things. We will be back. I encourage you to be, too!