Gerardo is a very warm and friendly host. He met us outside the building and led us through the lobby and up the lift to the 10th floor where the apartment is located. When we entered there was a strong smell of bleach as if a cleaning crew had recently departed. Opening the sliding doors to the balcony from both bedroom and living room quickly dispelled the odors.
The apartment has one bedroom; one bathroom with shower, sink, toilet and bidet; and a combination living room/ kitchen. In addition to refrigerator, microwave, stove and sink, the kitchen includes an under-counter front loading clothes washing machine which came in handy during our stay.
The apartment furnishings are plain but functional. The bed was reasonably comfortable and not overly “springy” as we have found in some AirBNBs. The two bed pillows were a bit small for our liking but they worked.
One of my favorite things about the apartment was the balcony which can be accessed from both the bedroom and living room. The balcony faces East so the apartment receives the morning sun. The windows are covered by exterior rolling shutters that can be raised or lowered as necessary for light, temperature control and privacy. we enjoyed nice views and fresh air. The apartment has no air conditioning but we found we didn’t need it even though we were there during mid-August.
The building is conveniently located just minutes from a mini mart, Multibanco ATM, Combatentes metro train station, bus stops and restaurants. If you don’t mind walking a mile, across from the football stadium there is a big mall which includes a huge Continente grocery store.
The biggest downside during our visit was noise. Apparently the apartment above us was being remodeled and there were workmen pounding and using power tools all day long almost every day during our stay. In addition, neighborhood dogs barked almost continuously for several hours in the late afternoon and early evening, presumably because they were locked inside during the day while their owners were at work. Obviously the noise was not the fault of the owner but it made our stay much less pleasant than it could have been.
Overall I’d give this apartment a 3-star rating. Upgrading to a modern decor, furnishings and furniture would probably bring the apartment up to a 4-star rating. In addition to the upgrades, outfitting the apartment with all the “extras” and creature comforts of home, and eliminating the sources of noise in the building and neighborhood would earn this apartment a 5-star rating in my book.