Marina's Russian Basement was a comfortable, peaceful place to stay. There was no issue with noise from above. The large apt looks exactly as the photos show. Marina was easy to reach by text, and she always responded immediately to any questions. The apt had nice decor and was well furnished. We appreciated the basket of snacks, large selection of teas, and a variety of coffee. (There was plenty of sugar and sweetner, but no creamer.) The mattress in the 2nd bdrm was firm and very comfortable. The mattress in the bdrm next to the bathroom however had a 2 1/2 inch piece of soft foam on the top of the mattress, which made it too soft and squishy for us, so it was not comfortable for our backs. The recliner and sofa in the living room were very comfortable. The remote-operated little stove in the living area provided a warm, homey glow and a bit of warmth on the rainy nights. Tip: To turn on the tv and find Direct tv channels, use the small white remote rather than the other 2 black ones. The refrigerator, induction burner, toaster oven, toaster, dishwasher, etc. all worked well, and the kitchen had plenty of dishes, pots and pans. The side of the bathtub was rather high, and the rail along the side of the tub for the sliding glass shower door made it even higher, so it was difficult for us short people to safely climb over it for a shower. Our 5 ft. son couldn't get into the tub at all. The stone steps were exactly as Marina described, saying they were not for people with mobility issues. We thought we could handle them easily, but being in our mid-70s and our son having special needs, they turned out to be a bit steep and somewhat challenging after all, especially in the rain and pulling luggage. Younger people in good shape would have no trouble though. The landscaping along the lighted path was beautiful. The view of the woods behind the house was gorgeous and serene. We were not able to enjoy the nice deck because of the rain and cold. The house itself is in a very upscale neighborhood of Cedar Mill and easy to find. The drive from there to anywhere was most scenic with hills and beautiful trees all around. You can get to a store, cafe or gas station within just a few minutes.