I enjoyed my stay at this property. Katherine and Shelby were attentive and responsive.
This clean and spacious basement apartment is tucked away in a neighborhood located a few blocks from the DC/Maryland boarder line. It is located on a side street that is off a busy DC street and next door to a seedy-looking motel. The motel was quiet with no visible signs of undesirable activity--so I felt comfortable.
Katherine and Shelby provided nice touches to make the stay welcoming and enjoyable -- a bottle of wine, granola bars, toothbrushes, earbuds, board games, and a Wii game station. They also opened up and turned down the sofa bed in the living room. This was a appreciated after being out all day before arriving at the property.
The kitchen was clean and fully stocked with convenient appliances--except a dishwasher. So, if you use the dishes provided, be prepared to wash them by hand.
The property is a 15 -20-minute drive from downtown DC attractions. It takes quite a bit longer to get to downtown DC if you are taking public transportation from this apartment, so plan accordingly.
Appreciated the host providing free parking on the property and a reloadable Metro card to use on public transportation (bus and subway). A bus stop is less than one block from the house.
This place does not have a separate control for the air conditioning, so you are at the mercy of the hosts (who live upstairs) to control the thermostat. During my stay in late May, the air conditioning was too cold during the evening (69 degrees in the bedroom, 71 degrees in the living room--I was told by the host). When I asked the host to adjust the temperature, the host told me to close the vents and turn on the wall heaters. This helped, but this is the extent to which you can control the temperature in the apartment. When the hosts or thermostat turns the air conditioning off during the day and it gets warm in the basement apartment, you cannot adjust the temperature.
The apartment has a separate entrance from the rest of the house. Would have appreciated a light outside this entrance to see better when coming in or going out at night.
If you have mobility issues, this apartment might not be for you. Take notice of the steps shown in the photos of the property. They were steep and a bit difficult for my guest, who has mobility concerns, to maneuver. This is no fault of the hosts, just something for guests to consider.
Would have appreciated a handrail in the bathtub area or bathmat in the tub. This helps to prevent falls that could be more likely to occur for people with mobility issues.