As a frequent Airbnb/VRBO/Hipcamp user, I’ve had experience with knowing to rely more on other’s reviews than the host’s description of the rental space. This is the first mixed review I’ve ever left, but with so few reviews for this space (2 as of now), I feel the information is important for other travelers.
Cathy’s apartment was a great value and good location overall, but many details were missing to allow us to make an informed decision on staying there.
We checked in to find a smashed glass window at the front door, not the host’s fault by any means, but certainly off putting, safety wise.
We entered to find Cathy’s apartment was in fact, a basement dwelling in a busy apartment complex between the MAX station and the major downtown sports arena, which made for a very loud evening between the soccer game, train traffic, street passerby’s (all the windows were our eye level to outside foot traffic), upstairs neighbors, and an incredibly loud industrial air conditioning unit that helped to cover the mildew basement smells, as well as general smells of smoke overall.
The apartment itself is spacious, well decorated, mostly clean (all but the bathroom was very clean) and fairly well equipped.
We spent time looking for the two guidebooks/manuals we were directed to read in order to orient ourselves to the apartment and the area (there are 6 remotes!), only to need to ask the host who told us she had removed them to work on transferring them into electronic form.
We bought a bottle of wine to discover there is only one wine glass(?), and found lovely coffee provided but no sugar or creamers (I can drink my coffee black, but my friend was left hanging until we left for the day to get her coffee)… of course these are preferences and not expected of any Airbnb- but it is strange to offer part of an amenity without all of the amenity (in my opinion as a host myself).
We also had to buy our own sponge as Cathy asked us to clean any dishes/glassware (why the high cleaning fee when you’re instructed to clean?) and there was no sponge provided, only dish soap.
Cathy was responsive to some inquires, but not all. I found her communication seemed pre-planned or on some sort of automated system that was not personal to our questions. As an example, before booking, I asked if we could drop our luggage before check in due to no one being booked the prior day- maybe as an automated response, she automatically replied with an invitation for me to complete my booking, which I interpreted as the go ahead for this request. But when I asked again/confirmed later, she said early luggage drop off was indeed not an option. She also sent us the check out instructions the day after we checked out, which again confirms it might be outsourced or automated in some way.
Additionally, we went to the corner store to buy a gallon of water to bring back to the apartment, and I was unfortunately physically assaulted by an unhoused person (unprovoked- he came out of no where and pushed me and slapped my face). I was fine; a little shaken up, but came home to unwind and end our evening a little early. Cathy was kind enough to offer us a chance to relocate after this unfortunate experience- and because we ended up not sleeping that night- due to the sports arena, MAX station, street traffic, upstairs neighbors and air considering unit, we took her up on the early departure and moved into a hotel down the street to complete our stay in Portland in a quieter and safer setting. She refunded the fee for the second night, except for the portion of the taxes, service fees or any portions of the cleaning fees- which I guess is expected.
Overall this apartment is a great value if you know what to expect, and are open to the city noise and little inconveniences- which I’m sure many are- it was just unexpected for us, who only get together every few years and enjoy having things taken care of which is why we opted for a fully furnished apartment over a hotel to begin with.
In the future I will hesitate before booking a place with only 2 reviews, as I’ve learned all the pertinent information truly comes from the prior visitors. I do hope this review will help inform future visitors to this lovely city!