We had a wonderful stay for 2 nights at James's apartment and would highly recommend it to others who are looking for a nice apartment in a central location of Santiago. I also recommend it to those who need a safe place to leave their bags either before or after checkout. James provided nearly instantaneous responses and went out of his way to help us, including providing a space heater at my request and getting us a sim card (for $3 USD) for our phones. We accidentally left our warm weather jackets in the closet (we were heading to Torres del Paine for our next stop where the weather would reach freezing) and James quickly contacted us before we reached the airport to let us know, and then waited for us in the lobby to provide a quick handoff. He will go above and beyond for you.
Below is a summary of the pros and cons of the home:
PROS
- responsive and courteous host
- centrally located, as it is very close the the Plaza de Armas and the Central Market
- clean, with a nicely decorated cozy living room, a kitchen (with a microwave, fridge, electric water kettle and toaster), a small room with twin beds, 2 full bathrooms and 1 good-sized master bed.
- provision of body wash, shampoo and conditioner, as well as linens and towels
- provides some power converters
- safe neighborhood and building
- great views
- grocery store nearby (James can provide directions)
- quiet, modern building with doorman
CONS
- low water pressure
- no central heat (although James will provide a space heater and this only matters during the cold season in Santiago)
- like many places in Santiago, you have to throw the toilet paper in the trash can, as opposed to the toilet. As noted, we learned this is fairly typical.