Location: The best selling point of this apartment is its location. Literally at the centre of all key attractions in historic Lisbon, you are just a few minutes walk away from Commercial Plaza, Alfama, Rossio, Baixa-Chiado and Time Out Market. There is a grocery store less than five minutes away where you can buy bottled water, milk, bread and other groceries. Truly, this apartment is situated in prime real estate, and being in such a convenient location allowed us to return to the apartment during the day to rest and recharge.
Apartment: The apartment is situated on the third floor of a narrow building, which is accessed by a narrow wooden staircase or elevator. However, the elevator begins on the first floor, and must be reached by climbing one flight of stairs. This can be troublesome for travellers bearing large, heavy luggage, or elderly persons. The elevator itself is small, fitting only two people and some luggage. Considering this is an historic building, the addition of even a small elevator is welcome. The door to the apartment is secured by an old-style lock which takes some practice to use; but once you get the hang of it, it's easy enough to unlock. The apartment has an "L"-shape layout with ample storage space for luggage and clothes. The windows overlook a fairly busy street with a tram line, and can be noisy with street traffic and if you have the windows open. Thankfully, the windows are noise-dampening, and when closed greatly mute the outside noise. However you still get the occasional rumble of the trams as they pass. But being on the third floor, we found the noise and tram passing very tolerable with the windows closed, and we had no problems sleeping through the night. It's all part of the charm of being at the centre of a bustling city!
Amenities: The apartment is equipped with a simple Nespresso machine and appliances needed to prepare simple meals. We brought eggs, bread and fruits from a nearby market and were able to make quick breakfast in the mornings. We found the bed to be comfortable, and the air conditioning (which also has a built-in Fan mode) to be very welcoming after a long day of travelling. All in all, the apartment had enough amenities to make our stay an easy and enjoyable one.
Host: Patrícia was very responsive and replied to all our questions quickly. We arrived at the apartment early, and Patrícia accommodated by allowing us to leave our luggage there before our official check-in time. All in all, Patrícia was a great host who helped made our stay in Lisbon an enjoyable one.