Joao is very helpful and very responsive once contacted. The apartment is great yes it is a little pain to have to carry your luggage up the stairs, but once you're up there it is all worth it! Besides you get used to going up the stairs after the second day. The apartment is pretty central and it is next to a supermarket where you can grab a very cheap breakfast if interested. We would always buy a bottle of wine every night to celebrate our daily adventures!