Elmar and Michelle are extraordinary hosts - welcoming, accommodating, and friendly. The carriage house is lovely, just as pictured, and the perfect space for a couple who want a bit of privacy but are also open to experiencing the hosts' hospitality. The location was a quick, convenient metro or bus ride to L'Enfant Plaza, where I was working at the Smithsonian archives, and my partner enjoyed tagging along to take in the city. He also enjoyed fitting in a tennis game with Elmar! (I should note that both Elmar and Michelle were great at taking cues from us re: interaction - my partner was able to be more relaxed and hang out at the Airbnb during the day while I was on the go, and we both felt comfortable and respected.)

On our drive back home, my partner and I had a long conversation about whether to include this final note in the review, because Elmar and Michelle are truly the best of Airbnb. But as a woman who frequently travels to urban areas alone for research, I ultimately felt it was important to mention for fellow travelers. We came in very late on Friday night after hanging out at a friend's apartment in Dupont Circle. The private entrance to the carriage house is on an alley, not the main street, and when we reached the door, three men robbed us at gunpoint. To be clear, we are both unharmed and this is NOT Elmar and Michelle's fault - it happens all to frequently in DC and elsewhere. But it's something we ultimately wanted other travelers to know. When we told Elmar and Michelle, they were very sympathetic and gracious; they gave us a key to their own home so that we could enter through the main street rather than the alley; they let us know that they planned to install a camera in the alley; and they checked with their immediate neighbors to find out whether they had cameras installed. I hope other travelers have a chance to experience their warmth and hospitality.