Communication in writing was prompt but in person quite limited as Concepcion doesn’t speak any English. Overall, our stay was a disappointment. The apartment was clean and full of local colour but we could not feel at home.
The first thing that strikes as you enter is stale air. There is a big problem with fresh air supply. The air conditioners the host suggested using only circulate air; they cannot be used for ventilation. The so called “courtyard” is in fact a tall corridor closed off at the top with a glass roof, so cannot be used for ventilation either. Blocked on all sides, the apartment feels like a bunker and any windows are useless to supply fresh air. Concepcion’s description does not clearly state that. Rather, it leaves the impression you can draw fresh air from the courtyard. Unfortunately, there is no courtyard as such.
A clear mention should be made that natural light is limited to whatever light can get in through the glass roof of the “courtyard”, approx 2.5 x 2.5 m floor area. That’s all the natural light in the apartment.
In the bedrooms, the wardrobes are padlocked and you cannot hang your clothes overnight. Similarly, most of the kitchen cupboards are also padlocked which does not help to feel at home. Some power sockets are wobbly or loose, others are dead. The furniture is tired but still usable.
In the listing, the host says the neighbourhood is quiet and little other detail is provided. We had to wait for her about 10 min and immediately attracted long unfriendly stares from all sides. They did make us feel unsafe. Until late at night we could hear shouts in the streets. Roosters and dogs woke us up in the morning. Be extra careful as you drive through the streets; they are narrow and small children may play on the road. The host cannot be held responsible for the peculiarities of the neighbourhood but guests are entitled to know about its specific culture. The neighbourhood is an integral part of the accommodation service delivered at the apartment. Although we had no problems in the neighbourhood, we wish we had all that information at the time we made our booking.
Hope this review helps.