The reason I booked Fernando's place was because of the number of amazing reviews that had been written by previous guests of his on Airbnb. Having just spend a couple of nights in Madrid at his apartment, I can now understand why Fernando has acquired so many lovely comments to accompany his well-deserved "Super Host" status.
Fernando goes above and beyond what any other Airbnb host commits to when communicating with guests before and during their stay. His preferred platform is WhatsApp which is very practical as it allowed him to share useful links to tourist attractions, nearby cafes, exhibitions, restaurants, etc. including photos and maps for added value.
His recorded messages telling us the best way to get to the apartment from the airport were also really helpful, as well as being a very nice "human" touch.
When we met Fernando at the apartment (with his adorable little boy!), the fact that we had already been in touch a fair bit via WhatsApp made my wife and I feel like he was an old friend!
Upon arrival, he offered to carry our luggage upstairs and when we entered the apartment, Fernando took his time to explain to us all of the sights and places worth visiting during our short stay in the city. You could tell that he genuinely wanted us to get the most from our stay and he tailored his recommendations based on our interests.
The flat itself was impeccably clean. It is very stylish in it's decor and whilst it is compact in size, it is more than enough space for a couple - with a well-equipped kitchen area, modern bathroom, TV area and an incredibly comfortable bed.
The local area is wonderful - very authentic Madrid, in a quiet street - yet very central to all of Madrid's main sights. The neighborhood has a bohemian, energetic vibe with plenty of cool bars, restaurants, cafes, street art murals and multicultural cultural centres. It is very safe and is close to Metro stations and bus-routes (although we managed to get everywhere we needed on foot).
There's nothing more that could have made our stay any better - Fernando obviously takes pride in his place and genuinely loves being a good host.
I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Madrid and I'll be sure to stay here again upon my next trip.