The positives: the place was very clean, kitchen appliances were all in very good condition, bathroom was great, beds were comfortable.
The negatives: We were surprised that the host left no printout of where to go for shopping, coffee shops, drugstore, restaurants, boutiques, etc. We are used to that being provided. The smell of disinfectant was overpowering and only dissipated a little over time, there were places in the ceilings for smoke alarms but the alarms themselves were missing. What looks like a loveseat in the living room area was actually an oversized chair that only one person could sit in. That’s fine only if one person only is renting the space, definitely not comfortable for a couple. In addition, the chair itself was in bad shape with significantly peeling leather, or more likely, faux leather. There was an attempt to hide this with a small cover over the chair which was so small it did not stay put if you sat down. There was a nice space to sit outside in the front of the house with a table and chairs. However, the seat of one of the chairs was ripped to the point that you couldn’t use it.
Now let’s talk about the description: critically left out was the fact that the bathroom is downstairs, not on the same floor as the bedroom. Besides not being on the same floor, the stairs leading up and down were irregular, with the steps up to the landing having higher risers than is typical and the steps going up beyond the landing are narrower than standard. If you are someone who never gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, it may be a nonissue. For us, had we known, it may have been a deal breaker. This place is described as both a “villa” and a “gated home.” Though I guess it’s technically accurate, I wouldn’t really consider a low fence with an unlocked gate a “gated home.” And in no way does this place meet the standard of being a “villa.” The neighborhood itself is generally fine and quiet, though the neighbors directly adjacent to this property, and what our view was, consisted of a group of dwellings that basically looked like shacks around a courtyard overgrown with weeds, full of junk, and an unattended dog who had free reign of the backyard including using it as an unkept up bathroom. We would not stay here again unless significant improvements were made. We have given this feedback to the property manager so hopefully changes will be made.