Let me start by pointing out the things that you may be wondering based on the information provided in the listing. Upon booking my stay here, there were very few pictures and no reviews for the listing so I was taking a “leap of faith” when I booked. Fortunately, this apartment truly has been renovated and updated beautifully. Gorgeous, modern bathroom with a washer/dryer combination machine and an LED mirror. The kitchen is just as beautiful. Gas stove top, a double door refrigerator with an ice maker and filtered water, and a modern sink. The unit has central air conditioning and heating via the nest thermostat. It’s very difficult to find all these things in a dog friendly Airbnb in the city of Boston for a reasonable price.
Some other “pros” to mention that I noticed during my stay at this apartment. Fati is very good at communicating as a host, which I always appreciate when staying at an Airbnb. The unit is very close (easily walkable) to the wood island stop on the blue line T. There is plenty of street parking around the apartment if you do bring a car. Most is resident parking reserved Monday- Friday from 6pm-8am. Fortunately, there is blocked off parking that is free with no towing for non-residents or street cleaning that the apartment overlooks. If you watch close enough you can snag a secure spot there, huge advantage when staying in a city like Boston. Also, the unit is very close to the airport!
Now, if you’ve made it this far in my review, I must be honest and mention the cons. Please note these are all things that I have brought to Fati’s attention and I’m hoping they acknowledge these things so that this place can truly be the most wonderful experience for all future guests. First, I have to mention that I had some issues with the cleanliness of the place. Upon my arrival, it did not seem like the unit had been cleaned. There were items left behind by previous guests (such as shopping bags and drinks in the refrigerator). The kitchen floors had greasy stains that should have been cleaned. The microwave had crumbs and splatters in it. The dishwasher had not been run or unloaded so it had dirty dishes in it when I arrived. Finally, the most disturbing issue for me, the toilet in the bathroom had urine left on the seat from the previous guests. No one wants to show up to their paid rental after a long day of traveling to a dirty home, especially a toilet with urine on it. Fati did offer to send the cleaner back the next day after I arrived, but by that time I had already started cleaning myself, mostly because I needed to use the restroom. I was refunded my cleaning service fee after I brought the issue up to Airbnb support, which I appreciate. I do wish that Fati would have offered the refund since at the end of the day it truly is the hosts responsibility to ensure the home is properly cleaned upon guest arrival. This was a big disappointment for me, especially considering the amount of money I was paying a night for the stay.
These are some minor cons that I also experienced that I think are important to mention so you can be aware before you book. I do not think the unit was adequately stocked up with essentials such as cooking tools like spatulas and pot holders, no laundry detergent, not enough toilet paper and paper towels (especially since I had to clean), and not enough hand soap. These are little things that really make a place feel more like home. I had to walk to the stores to go buy these items myself as I stayed in this unit for a week. Another issue was the WiFi. It was not very strong in the area where the “dedicated work space” was located. I work remotely so this was important for me to note. There was also very little instruction regarding the washer/dryer and how to use it. It is a washer/dryer combo, which I did not even know existed so it was a bit of a learning curb trying to get my cloths clean. Additionally there were improper instructions for items such as how to enter the building for check in and correct WiFi passwords.
Again, all of the cons that I mentioned above are things that can be easily fixed. The apartment itself is beautiful and with more attention to detail on the hosts end, I think this place could be a hidden gem in east Boston!