The pros:
- Great location: Tons of restaurants and local spots within a 10 minute walk.
- The host was very responsive. We checked in late in the evening, and Shirley was quick to respond to give us access to the apartment.
- Cleanliness: Even though it’s an older building, the apartment was very clean.
The cons:
- Check-in process: The host requires guests to fill out a form that collects direct contact information. This is on their own site outside the Airbnb platform. This defeats the purpose of using Airbnb as an arbitrary entity between hosts and guests. Shirley does specify this on the listing, so we didn’t ding the rating for it, but it’s still inefficient and can make people uncomfortable nevertheless.
- Older Building: This is an older apartment complex, and even though Shirley keeps the place very clean, the distinct “old place smell” is present at all times.
Conclusion: Shirley’s place is a good option for those looking for great value in a convenient location.