>>> INSECT BITES AND JACKHAMMER IN THE MORNING <<<
+++ (Коротко по-русски внизу) +++
*** (Kurz auf Deutsch siehe unten) ***
It is really a shame that we need to say that, but unfortunately, this wasn't a really great AirBnB stay. We stayed for three nights September 22-25th 2021.
The first disappointment was a massive road construction site just in front of the windows. So if you imagine yourself sitting on the little balcony with your morning coffee - forget it, you won't be able to enjoy it until the construction is over. The hosts provided earplugs - thanks for that - but they don't help if you need to work/watch TV/enjoy a conversation. Plus, nothing works against the vibrations. Getting woken up by a jackhammer vibrations - not the best experience. I must say that construction workers weren't starting too early, so if you plan to leave early and come back late, maybe that won't be a problem for you. Anyway, I would definitely check with the hosts before booking whether the construction is over or not.
With all inconvenience, this wasn't the biggest disappointment. The worst thing about this place were insects - presumably bedbugs! At first we didn't really took it seriously and thought maybe we let in a few mosquitos, but after the third night, when only one of us was staying, we realized that it was really something in the bed, because we had windows and windows shutters tightly shut (thanks to the construction site!), plus we got bites in places were mosquitos would not reach, and all signs were speaking for bedbugs (googling "mosquito vs bedbug bites" is really not what you want after a holiday). We reached the hosts on our days of check-out, to let them know about the problem and asked for a refund, but 1) they replied only after 24h 2) they dismissed our problem 3) were gaslighting us (saying that we should not be proud of complaining about the bites). After a completely unproductive exchange, we contacted to AirBnB support team, provided photos of the bites (this is also not really a fun experience - first making and then sending photos of yourself with itchy bites), and after AirBnB confirmed that the hosts don't want to reimburse us, AirBnB reimbursed the majority of the sum (thank you, AirBnB, for being a responsible service!). The hosts were saying they never had such problem before - well, we can only say the same thing - this was the first time we had problems with insects and had to ask AirBnB to reimburse us!
We were also worried we brought the bugs with us, so when we came home (two different homes in two different countries - so we definitely did not get bites at home), we had to wash all our clothes at high temperatures and steam everything carefully (especially the suitcases). The worst thing was probably itching for days even after we left and fearing that we might brought insects with us as "souvenirs". After 10 days after the check-out I can say that we didn't (thanks god!).
PROs:
- kettle (not all AirBnBs in coffee-drinking Portugal have kettles!)
- location
- easy check-in
- view (but we couldn't really enjoy it anyway)
CONs:
- insects in the bed (bedbugs)
- unhelpful hosts
- construction site noise and vibrations (as of end of Sep 2021).
I don't know if it's really worth mentioning because who would want to stay with a risk of getting bitten by insects, but anyway: the flat is on 4th floor in an old building with no elevator, the toilet and the shower are very small, Paris-style -you can put your feet in the shower bed when you sit on the toilet, and a flimsy concertina-door that doesn't seal properly won't give you a lot of privacy. Also, keep it in mind that to get to the toilet, you need to pass the through the master bedroom, and to get to the kitchen, you need to pass next to the toilet/shower. So I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone apart from couple or close friends (although I wouldn't recommend it to anyone at all, of course).
Two stars for location, the view and and the interior. But they are not worth the risk of getting bitten by bedbugs. So, all in all - we DO NOT recommend this AirBnB and these AirBnB hosts (they have other flats, too!).
По-русски:
Нас в кровати покусали какие-то насекомые (скорее всего, клопы), и прямо под окнами была очень громкая стройка (конец сентября 2021). Хозяева отказались возвращать деньги, но спасибо AirBnB за возврат большей части суммы. Вид и местоположение классные, конечно, но не стоят того! НЕ рекомендуем это место и этих хозяев (у них ещё есть другие квартиры).
Auf Deutsch:
Trotz einer tollen Lage und einer schönen Aussicht war eine sehr laute Baustelle direkt unter den Fenstern (Stand Ende September 2021) wir hatten ein Problem mit Insektenstichen im Bett (also, wahrscheinlich Bettwanzen) und die Gastgeber wollten nicht zahlen Sie uns die Rückerstattung (das AirBnB hat uns jedoch erstattet - danke, AirBnB!). Wir empfehlen diesen Ort und diese Gastgeber NICHT (sie haben auch andere Wohnungen!).