Overview
Unfortunately we didn’t enjoy the stay at the bnb. I do want to recognize that our expectations might not be realistic when considering the price we paid. We’re not sure how much money should fetch a decent experience. So, if this review seems unfair, maybe we’re the ones that are wrong.
Location
A shooting took place within one block of the location the last night we stayed
A lot of homeless people within the area
Decent proximity to the Climate Pledge Arena
Amenities
- Run down
- Broken microwave
- Broken lamps
- Towels were disgusting
- Sheets and pillows very clearly need to be changed
Hospitality
- Good information from the owner
- They were nice
Location
The primary reason we chose the bnb was the proximity to the climate pledge arena. We were about a 10 - 15 minute walk from there. This was about the only positive aspect of the location. The other aspects were major detractors.
Upon arriving at the location a homeless person was walking past the entrance with a computer monitor that had very clearly been ripped out of whatever it was connected to. The next day, as we were walking to a store another homeless person was being interrogated by a local shop owner. It just so happened that the owner managed the very store we were on our way to. The homeless person had been caught on camera stealing tips out of the tip jar in the store. The owner even showed us the photos from the security footage for verification.
The homeless population was far more pronounced in the surrounding blocks of the apartment in comparison to the rest of the area. Multiple nights there were paramedics or police parked within one block of the location. On our final night, a shooting had taken place within one block of the apartment. We verified that this was the case by checking the Seattle PD social media. Someone was shot in the ankle while being robbed at gunpoint at 10:30pm.
Hospitality
The owner did a great job giving information about the area and staying in touch. They were very organized and remained in consistent contact throughout the different stages of the trip. We did go to one of the recommended Dim Sum restaurants and it was indeed fabulous.
Amenities
As for the aspects of the bnb that the owner has control over, there were a handful of things that made it a poor experience. Upon arrival, the hallway was musty. Opening the door for the first time to the apartment, we were greeted by a pungent sour sweet smell of chlorine. It smelled like someone had bathed the place with Bleach. There was a perpetual smell of weed in the hallway as we left and came back.
The towels, pillows and sheets have seen one too many visitors. The towels had been bleached to the point of having a texture like 300 grit sandpaper. They also smelled like fresh semen. The sheets and pillows were as dense as a sack of concrete. The bed squeaked with every movement and the mattress ossified into a lump of aerospace grade styrofoam that could be used to insulate the space shuttle.
Overall the finish of the apartment was lackluster. The paint on the walls was old. The cabinets were unfinished or in disrepair. The light on the desk between the living room and the kitchen was broken. We couldn’t even use it to charge our phone. The microwave didn’t even function. There was no space for trash. The bathroom had two layers of vinyl, the top layer wasn’t even attached to the bottom layer. The ac exhaust venting out of the window was affixed with an endless layer of masking tape to keep the window sealed. The apartment was unfortunately neglected by the landlord. We got the vibe that they’re just trying to milk the property for all it is worth before making any attempt at trying to improve the place.
For all of the given reasons we can not recommend staying at the location. It felt unsafe and unrefined.