I’ll start with the positives about this apartment, including its spacious layout, a two-bedroom apartment with a master bedroom suite (very quiet at night—the master bedroom is away from the street side, the second bedroom faces the street). It easily accommodates a family with children or two couples. Juan and Eva are attentive, responsive hosts, who graciously helped us—quickly—with a tough problem we ran into after our first night in the apartment. The apartment has endless storage space, more than any traveling family will ever need. There are plenty of bed linens and good towels, along with everything a traveling family will need—even a great assortment of family-friendly games, all in good condition. It’s in a good location for visiting Victoria, only 10 minutes from the heart of the old city and 5 minutes from the train station.
But there were some disadvantages which didn’t work out so well for us, in part because of our age (we’re not so young). The apartment is a bit older and has “fit and finish” issues—doors don’t operate well, lights flicker off and on. The apartment seems “unloved”—a few minor repairs have been left unattended; except for two small pictures in the entryway, the walls are bare. The apartment is dark. due to limited light from the street, and 1980s-era dark earth tone finish colors. Most important, we found the living room and kitchen furniture so uncomfortable as to be unusable. The living room furniture is visibly distressed and in need of replacement. The four counter stools in the kitchen are also uncomfortable and not functional—the overhang on the kitchen counter is too small to accommodate adults seated in the stools.
If these issues don’t matter to you, you’ll appreciate the benefits of what Eva and Juan offer. If you’re a bit fussier, as we are, these issues may slow you down.