I have a long family history with the area, and so staying in this flat had special significance to start with as I had visited my godmother in the unit one floor down many, many times as a child.
The Airbnb listed flat upstairs where my daughter and I stayed is very pleasant - bright, airy, and beautifully furnished. The kitchen is well equipped and the beds were very comfortable - best pillows ever! A dishwasher and a washing machine made daily life nice and functional. I enjoyed having lunch on the balcony and being able to have a bath in the evenings. The view itself is one of the best in Sydney (NB, this could also be my own personal nostalgia talking) and a visual feast no matter the weather or time of day.
The hosting experience is quite different when you're dealing with an agency rather than with an individual - I did feel that distance when it came to any issues which arose. I guess that's the world we live in now, but I miss the one-on-one interaction with a host when it's not there. For instance, there were some issues with leaks in the ceiling under torrential rain which I more or less had to deal with myself, and when I needed some extra blankets I was hesitant to ask for them, thinking: they're not going to have extra blankets lying around the office are they? I could have been totally wrong about that, but it when it's a property being run by a business it just doesn't have the same personal touch.
I'm not really complaining, though! Everybody that I dealt with was very nice and welcoming. Maybe I'm just being political, haha.
I can highly recommend this apartment to anyone visiting Sydney who can haul their luggage up and down a bunch of stairs. Not only is the flat lovely and with an amazing view, the location is really handy and tucked away in a delightful pocket of the city. Check in was easy, public transport is always close and there is such a great array of restaurants and cafes a short walk away through tree-lined streets. I miss it already.