After 10+ years of using Airbnb this is the first time that I'm actually having a difficult time writing a review. I'll try to be as objective and clear as I can, even though I'm sure that they've written a shitty review of me. I've stayed in the apartment for a little over 2 months. Well, the listing states that they do not accept pets and I was moving to Lisbon with my (at the time) 2 cats, and I really liked the location and the photos of the place so I've decided to send a message and try to see if they'd be willing to accept the 3 of us before trying to make a reservation. I've neve fooled any of my hosts whenever I've taken my cats, and I'd not do it now. I explained the whole situation, they imposed some rules like me covering the sofa and the chair with linens to protect them - which I did - and cleaning the apartment - which I also did, and they've greatly increased the security deposit to which I've agreed.
The check in was not so smooth as the person who opened it for me was their cleaning lady, and she did not reply to my messages quickly, but it wasn't terrible. The apartment was not sparkling clean as well, but I did not complain about it, which I should've had.
If it was not for Ippolito's review I would not know that the apartment was a subdivision of a bigger one where other people lived. The apartment is not so light as it's on street level from one side, and the other windows are turned to the building next door. The photos are not 100% accurate, it does's have a desk to work as It shows (with was important to me as I've came to Portugal to study). But the apartment overall was really nice, and have most of the things you'd need to stay longer and cook.
The location is amazing, it has many restaurants, bars and transportation in walking distance.
Jill - the neighbour in the bigger apartment attached to it - and her husband were great, but there were many tourists coming and going in the building, arriving drunk late and making noises, so if you're going to work/study you might have some issues with that depending on who else is in the building at the moment.
Dealing with Spike was by far the most difficult part of it, they've tried to convince me more than once to rent it out of Airbnb, to stay longer... at times they were super nice, other times really rude. When I told them that I might have to leave earlier 'cause one my cats got ill and died and I've expend a lot of money with his treatment, their first response was "when are you leaving?", so empathy is something that didn't really existed in any situation. They're only concerned about the money.
they've also tried to tricky me saying that I needed to give a 60 days notice before leaving even though their cancellation policy was for 30 days.
Upon leaving I did clean the apartment as agreed, but I haven't got the time to wash all the linens juggling my time between moving, working and doing a postgrad, and of course there were some cat hair on it specially after covering the sofa and chair for months with them to protect from the cats as they've asked me to, so this should have been expected, right? Well, not exactly. Now they're trying to maybe compensate the money they've lost with me leaving earning by charging me extra €185 euros for "damages".
The apartment itself was great, but I do not recommend the entire experience. And if anyone have doubts about me, they can read all my other reviews, half of them including my cats in the stay :)