My husband and I were very excited to take our first trip to Spain! This flat was a good deal compared to local hotels; I wanted to prepare meals to save some money and this flat was perfect for that!
I did struggle to turn on some appliances and had to do online searches to find user instructions. It would be lovely if there was a packet or print out with some simple instructions for how to use the stove top and the coffee maker, etc. I also noticed the headboard is not attached to the wall or the bed so after my husband and I fooled around the headboard was pushed away from the wall and leaning over us! We also would have loved to have a local phone line in the flat since we couldn’t make local calls on our cell phones.
I’ll go ahead and include some other things my husband and I wish would have been better. Unlike the issues above, these are not things the host has control over. So just be aware of these things: there is a foul stench when the wind blows from a certain direction that makes it impossible to enjoy the balcony space. I smelled this rotting odor about 40 percent of the time we were outside. That was a bummer. My husband wasn’t impressed with the shower’s water pressure; I also felt it was pretty low. But it’s an old building and also eco-friendly plumbing so what can you expect? It met our bathing needs. Just be prepared for it :)
Now let’s talk about the good stuff! The hosts are located in an office space downstairs so if you ever need help during the day they are conveniently close by! They are extremely responsive and genuinely helpful and friendly. They left us a welcoming gift of wine and chocolates too! When the heater wouldn’t work they were there the same day with repairmen!
The furniture in the living room is very comfortable. They have made sure to furnish the kitchen space with up to date appliances like an induction stove top, and it was easy to prepare meals for the two of us. There were also plenty of glasses and dishes but there is no dishwasher (which I think is normal in European flats). There is a small bodega type store downstairs where we could buy cheap groceries and I found that so convenient! It’s also only about a block away from the yellow Metro Line which made it super easy to use public transit for exploring the city. The location isn’t at the city center but I still found it ideal. There are lots of coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance, including a Lost themed one called Bharma!
As long as you’re aware of the couple of things that keep this place from being utterly perfect, you’ll be super happy with your stay here. The friendly hosts will make sure of it. ¡Adios!