I'm going to be completely honest about the pros vs cons of this apartment.
Pros:
The backyard garden space was lovely, and though the outdoor furniture was sparse (the bench and table were broken) we enjoyed a few mornings and nights eating meals outside or having tea.The bedroom is facing the garden and gets some light, which can be pleasant to wake up to, and overall the bedroom space is comfortable. Also, this apartment is close to highly recommended restaurants, parks, and cafes. It was a perfect walk away from anywhere we wanted to go.
Cons:
We were excited to settle into this space for 2 weeks or so, we had been in Mexico for over a month and anticipated staying much longer while my friend looked for long term housing. We searched for an airbnb that would be aesthetically pleasing, comfortable for days where we worked inside from morning to night, and close to cafes and restaurants to pick up lunch. It was underwhelming in most senses, and if it were located anywhere else, we would have shortened our stay and left immediately.
The first thing we noticed upon entering - the lack of cleanliness. I'm serious, I was frustrated that this listing wasn’t thoroughly cleaned at all: remnants of crushed bugs on the walls, dust on several surfaces and on the vent above the oven, so thick that a bug was caught on the dusty oil and took several paper towels to wipe off. In one of the cabinets, old food (it looked like tortillas or bread of some sort, definitely perishable looking) from the last guest was oddly left in a plastic bag tied up in the back on a shelf, a clear sign of the lack of cleaning and upkeep. There weren't enough pots, pans, and utensils to properly cook for two people. The couch fabric was fraying and split in parts and roughly tucked to hide the tattered underside. The shower was a bit grimey in the corners, and leftover toiletries ad supplies were left in drawers, in hostel fashion. There wasn’t a broom or mop inside so we asked for one, as the dirt from whomever had been in the space before was under chairs, in corners etc. The couch and rugs had varying visible stains, noticeable after sitting for more than 5 minutes. The decor is reminiscing of an old frat house or college apartment, hastily spruced up by a visiting parent. It doesn’t match any of the photos in terms of feel, cleanliness, or even functionality. We were missing things like the trash can, an entire sofa (pictured but missing in the apt), a dish rack, extra clean blankets etc. The fan had visible dust and dirt, maybe an inch thick, on the blades. The art on the walls were both eerie, weird, and warped in shape, as if some of them had been salvaged from the street or acquired at a yard sale. This is just an example of the many small things we kept seeing the longer we stayed here. I was truly shocked, a bit of wear is expected on household items, but the whole apartment feels so poorly maintained. Almost everything inside needs to be deeply cleaned or replaced entirely to get rid of the frat dorm vibe.
There is a second room, the second bedroom, which isn't even pictured on airbnb but it was horrific, the lighting was like a cheap motel florescent light and this bathroom toilet didn't work at all, which we unfortunately found out. The bathroom was big enough for one very thin adult to squeeze between the wall and the toilet. By far, the decor in the 2nd bedroom was the worst in the entire apt. All of these factors combined for an uncomfortable and dissatisfactory stay. Finally, contrasting the bright photos, the amount of light that enters the apartment at times is depressingly low, highlighting the lack of lamps, candles, and other homely touches that would’ve made this experience a 4 star instead of 2-3 stars. The garden and the blue door to the street were unfortunately the most charming and visually accurate parts of this apartment.