I wish there were a way to give 3.5 stars. In many ways, this apartment was lovely: excellent location, comfortable beds, great communication, friendly company, really smart app. I particularly thank Joana for waiting for our delayed train arrival and check-in.
But the challenges were tough:
1. Noise: We expected street noise, of course, but this sometimes persisted til 2 or 3 in the morning. Because there are multiple nearby buildings undergoing construction starting at 7 or 8 AM, this made sleep hard. The people who live in the apartment above were sometimes also loud - they must have a young child who runs, and sometimes sounded like they were rearranging furniture at odd times. All together, this noise made sleep difficult, even with earplugs and using the fan for white noise.
2. This apartment really gets ants - we left a rinsed cup of sugared tea in the sink, and found the kitchen and living room overrun the next morning. No big issues when we were extra careful afterward.
3. As lovely as the people at this company seem, they cut corners on small costs that make a big difference to a traveling experience. For example, providing two rolls of toilet paper for multiple people staying four nights. Providing a nespresso machine but asking guests to buy the coffee pods. Cooking supplies without a small supply of basics like oil. This is fine for longer term guests renting an apartment, but hard on short-term travelers. I think a few small adjustments could go a long way.