Firstly, I have to say that the host, Lara, is an absolute delight. She was very helpful and didn't mind letting my husband and I check in earlier. She greeted us as if we were long time friends. She was very warm and welcoming. Her personality is an unforgettable one!
Now, regarding the apartment, the location is P-E-R-F-E-C-T, I cannot emphasize that more. I was honestly a bit skeptical at first when I arrived and saw where it was. I felt like we were out of touch with the "real" Amsterdam, and boy was I completely wrong. The neighborhood that the apartment is in is so quiet and beautiful. You're out of the "hussle and bussle" of Amsterdam but yet you're right next to it. I had no problem with noise or anything of the sort. The minute it was after 7pm, the whole place just had a calm come over it. Even in the day, there wasn't much to complain about, as a matter of fact, there was nothing to complain about.
There are wonderful little terraces and cafes in every direction that are as close at a minute walk down the street. There are supermarkets nearby if you need to buy extra things for the apartment. The kitchen in the apartment has all the necessities, coffee, tea, sugar. We only needed to buy water. We were out all the time so cooking wasn't necessary for us.
Honestly, if you want to experience Amsterdam in it's true essence but still have some peace and quiet at the end of the day, stay at Lara's. You won't regret it. Although, I will say that if you're not well balanced, be careful on the stairs (lol) they're quite steep. But it's my understanding that this is very common in Dutch households. It took me some time to get used it, but it was quite fun trying to manage my clumsy feet up and down those stairs.
I can't comment more on the perfectness of my stay at Lara's. All I can say is do yourself a favor and go there! You'll love every minute of it. I miss it so much already. I can't get over how lovely the neighborhood was and how quaint and cozy the apartment was.
All in all,
We loved it.
xoxo