This was the perfect spot for us! The apartment looks just like it appears in the photos, and was very bright and clean. I recommend bringing a sleep mask if you like to sleep in, as the bedroom gets light in the morning. The location could not be better. We walked all over Madrid from here, and only occasionally took a cab or bus when visiting relatives who live out in the suburbs. A rental car is not necessary. The apartment is well equipped with everything you need to be comfortable -- pots/pans/dishes in the kitchen, soap & shampoo in the bathroom, hangers in the closet, and even a washer/dryer. We visited in winter and the heater worked perfectly. Vanessa met us on arrival and she helped us carry our luggage up the steps, which was greatly appreciated. She was very friendly and checked in by phone in the middle of our stay to make sure everything was alright. About the steps, there are a lot of them -- we counted 84 -- but we were prepared because we read the reviews. We decided we'd rather have stairs and be high up away from the noise than to be on a lower floor w/ more street noise. We are fit and healthy and figured it would be good exercise. The only hard part was dealing with luggage on the stairs, so I'd advise packing a couple of small bags rather than one large one. It helped us burn off the calories from all the good food and drink that are in walking distance from the apartment! We would definitely stay again. It felt like we were really living in Madrid rather than just visiting.