Pros and Cons!
Pros: Trendy, cute, clean, quiet, cozy. The bathroom is spacious and cool, the shower is fitted with a tile bench to relax, and a double vanity which is nice of course for couples. There are two bedrooms and both are suitable for a couple or one person. Two couples is just enough for the space size, which isn’t huge. It’s not so small it feels cramped though. And the way the space it utilized it feels homey and calm. There is a couch bed so if you wanted to milk it for all it had you could! The area reminds me of any average area in DC/Baltimore. Working class people, nothing too lively. Mostly I’d characterize the space as a retreat just outside the city. We used bikes and scooter rentals to get around which is exhilarating! There is a bike rental station through Capital Bike Share on the far side of the local park just down the road adjacent to this property. Should you choose to Uber or rideshare you’ll spend about 20 minutes? And that’s at the doorstep of the Smithsonians etc. This is not a space for walking around the area. It’s a launching pad. The space does feel private and intimate despite it being an apartment with shared walls.
Cons: DUN DUN DUN...... So first to be clear there aren’t any deciding negatives about this place. They are minor but I feel important.
The entrance to this place is through a backyard via the gate at the garage driveway area which is in the rear of the property. That’s all fine well and good, because it helps with a ”separate” feel. Side note the space is a basement or lower level unit and there are people living above. They are not really loud, some footsteps in the later morning long after we had woken up. That’s about it, it’s quiet at night... Having said that the back pathway needs some TLC, it’s not groomed or clean, and there is dried dirt and leaves and such all over the sidewalk pathway. It was my first impression of the place and initially it was an “oh no” moment. My girlfriend and I love fashion and style and left the house in nice shoes and had to sort of tippy toe around crud. It would take 2 hours to power wash or clean. THIS IS NOT a reason not to rent the home, because the home itself is wonderful. But presentation is everything! Come on!
FINALLY and most importantly the host Karl worked hard to represent himself well as a “superhost”. Links to activities and sites and details and instructions etc etc etc. All very well, except it felt transactional, even with his personal touch it was obvious most of what he was doing was sort of copy and paste. He has I think a half dozen other beautiful properties and one can’t blame him for being efficient while busy. He didn’t skip a beat but he tried so hard it felt impersonal including asking for a review, even citing his leaving me a review and it only being fair to leave him one or to let him know once I left one. I just think it would be useful to wind it down and just be formal with a hint of casual and let the house speak for itself (fix the walkway to aide in that plight). I think Karl is a hard worker but misses the mark a bit on just being human? I never felt like he really listened to what I said in an attentive way as much as race to the next required response and link to assure his getting a review. So to finalize the thought, it felt like Karl cared more about being a perfect host for his own benefit than mine. But hey I could just be on opinionated jerk. That’s all I’ve got!
Karl thank you for your services.