Don't stay there if you want a decent night's sleep

Guest: ohtraveler (OHIO)
Date of Stay: 09/22/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

The condo is located on a very noisy street with a bus stop RIGHT under the condo's windows. There's also no AC and on a warm day it gets very stuffy inside. We couldn't open the windows at night at all because it was just too noisy and there are no screens on the windows (which was a huge surprise, is it not done in Seattle?). There are fans in the bedrooms but they are noisy and I am a light sleeper so I couldn't use them. Other negatives include semi-transparent bathroom door that doesn't even closes fully and gives you very little privacy. I went with my mom and my sister so it wasn't a huge problem for us, but if you go with another couple or with grown kids it can get very awkward. This is a strange decorating choice for a condo that's supposed to accommodate more than 2 people; a folding door, a pocket door or at least a sliding door made of solid material that closes fully would've been a better and much more practical choice. Also, I sometimes wondered if the owners even visit their condo, because if they did, they'd see that some vertical blind are missing which makes it even harder to get any sleep - there's a very bright street light right across the street. The bathroom has a washer and dryer, which was very nice, but the bathroom counter is very small, you'd get more counter space in a hotel bathroom. We appreciated having full size shampoo, conditioner and soap in the bathroom, that was a nice touch, I didn't expect to find shampoo/conditioner there since it's not a hotel. The bedrooms are small (just enough space to walk around the queen sized beds, they don't look as spacious in person as they look in the pictures), the beds are nice and comfortable and the linens are great. I would've enjoyed my bed even more if it wasn't so noisy and stuffy and if I could get any sleep. I definitely wouldn't recommend that anybody sleeps in the living room, it's pretty small and if you open the sleeper couch there won't be any place to move, plus there is this bright street light shining right into the living room. The condo is nicely decorated in contemporary style, was very clean when we arrived, a welcome basket with water bottles and a bottle of Pelegrino is a very nice touch. The kitchen is fully stocked and everything looks new, there are even spices and things like toaster and blender. Overall I would not recommend this condo because of the lack of AC and street noise in spite of it's proximity to all the sites.

Recommended for:

Condo ~ Perfect Location

Guest: Lisa (North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11

We stayed for a long weekend and the condo was a perfect location to just about anything in the city. We not only walke to the Space Needle and the SciFi Musuem, but walked all the way down to SafeCo field for a Mariners game one evening. Once in the city, we didn't use a cab until we headed back out to the airport! The condo was very well furnished and stocked. Everything we needed was there not only in the kitchen but with laundry facilities also. The shampoo/conditioner was a nice touch in the shower too. Check in and check out was a breeze. Our only complaint was the street/bus noise. It is very loud during the bus hours- 6 am until after 11 pm each day. Granted, we live in a small town and are not used to the city sounds... Bus stop is just below the sliding glass doors and when they stop by- every 45 seconds or so- you know, especially with the windows open. Suggest purchasing a good set of ear plugs if you want to sleep in! With that said, we slept peacefully and never worried about the neighborhood as the building was very secure and we never had any issues with people on the street. This is our 11th VRBO stay and it is still the best travel site around!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Very Nice Apartment.

Guest: Bruce (York, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/02/11

My wife, both of our children and our daughter-in-law stayed in this apartment in downtown Seattle for 2 nights just before Easter. The accommodations suited us perfectly. It was very clean. We had adequate space. It was well stocked. The kitchen had all that we needed. We used the gas grills on the roof both nights to cook spectacular, fresh fish. The exercise room was used as well. The location of this apartment is good. Close to what we wanted to see and where we wanted to go. We took the light rail into the city from the airport, and easily walked from its last stop in town to the apartment. Darik was very helpful in arranging for our possession of the apt. We all enjoyed ourselves, and would recommend it to anyone.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great condo in the heart of downtown Seattle

Guest: grace (CA)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

We enjoyed our long weekend stay in Seattle due in large part to our comfortable stay in Belltown. The kitchen was well stocked and the beds were comfortable. I would agree with people's comments about the bathroom door but everything else in the condo is as advertised. We also appreciated that the condo rental included parking. Darik was easy to work with and gave us very thorough directions for our time there. For out-of-towners, this condo is centrally located between the Space Needle and Pike's Market. We were also walking distance to Serious Pie (great pizza) and Macrina Bakery (perfect for our morning coffee runs). I would highly recommend this rental!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Good choice for 4 people max

Guest: ajnyc (New York)
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

Our stay at this apartment was fun, though I would say having more than 4 people is a bit cramped. We were 5 and with the sofa-bed out there wasn't a lot of room to move around. The doors to the second bedroom and bathroom are also fogged glass and don't close completely (they are sliding doors with inch gaps between door and wall) which meant that there wasn't much in the way of privacy for anyone - a pretty bizarre decorating choice that none of us really understood. The location was great, however, a short walk to all the good finds in downtown Seattle, which, for the price, is a pretty good deal.

Owner response:Thanks for your feedback. The design choices of the doors are due to the efficient use of space when this building was designed. Due to this, the sliding doors were the only options for the second bedroom and bath. We have up to 6 stay in the condo on a regular basis, however yes, the unit is set up for four to sleep in beds. So if you aren't willing to fold up the sleeper sofa in the morning a good part of the living room space will be used by the sleeper sofa. That is true for any two bedroom condo in Downtown Seattle that sleeps 6 with a sleeper sofa. Its ideal for families who want to stay together, and don't mind sharing the space so they have an affordable option in the heart of downtown Seattle. As you mention all the sights are within walking distance of our great condo, which for our price which is comparable to single hotel rooms in Downtown Seattle is a great deal!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children.

Great condo and great location

Guest: Mop (Sugar Land TX)
Date of Stay: 01/10/11 Review Submitted: 01/29/11

We would stay at this condo again. It was as promised. We didnt' like the bathroom sliding door - not a solid door. The kitchen was great and comes equipped with enough kitchen supplies - plates, glasses, silverware, cookware etc. Towels and sheets are supplied and the washer and dryer are a major plus! Oasis very helpful. Location is great with a bus stop outfront of the main entrance. Close to Pike Place, Seattle Center and downtown shopping. All are within walking distance. The location can be a bit dicey and at night sometimes outside noises are very loud but most of major cities are. Street people are everywhere. My son (who lives there) says best thing is to not make any contact. He has a few people that he donates too but you can't help everyone. We eat all the wrong things so: Top Pot donuts and Yellow Leaf Cupcakes are delicious. Buckley's has good pub food. Fruit at Pike Market is out of this world. There is a "little hot donut" kiosk in Pike Market - delicious too. Now across the street from the Market is a deli - not sure of the name - but the food was homemade and soup was great. There is also a little grocery store across the street and up the block from the condo - has enough variety for everyone. Again, can be dicey at times. Include a trip to the waterfront, Pioneer Square and the museum. Check for tours and you have to do the Seattle Duck tour - if you are in the right spirit a very fun time is to be had. If you are visiting for a week or so and the weather permits try taking the two hour or so trek to the little town of Levenworth. On the weather, we were there Jan 10-16th - rain, snow, rain. If you bring a warm and rainproof, coat, shoes, hat, etc you will be fine. In the spring always have a raincoat, summer the same. We had Lands End mid weight gear which was fine but on a few occasions we could have used NorthFace or Columbia - so no matter what brand make sure your have outerwear that is waterproof. Dressing in layers is a good idea too. Seattle is a lovely city and well worth the trip. This condo helps make the trip better. It is nice to wake up in the morning to coffee and hot tea in your own place. And on occasion the sun will shine, the sky will be clear and the view will be something that you will never forget. We didn't make it to the roof top but if the weather had been better we would have made the time to make the venture. From: Delaware and Texas

Owner response:Thanks for your kind words about our condo! The truth is it does not rain as much as everyone says! We average only 37.1 inches a year, which isn't even in the top 10 for rainiest cities in the US. Yes, January is a wetter, and colder time of year, however typically Seattle gets a light snow every other year of only a couple inches. This year and last we had pretty heavy snows, some of the heaviest in history, so It wouldn't surprise me if we don't have another snow for a couple years (or more). Layers is a smart packing decision in the spring and fall as it may rain one minute, and 30 minutes later the sun may be out, and be beautiful. Then two hours later it could start to drizzle again. But then there is our Summer, which is beautiful! You've mentioned a lot of great options for food around the condo. There are more than 100 restaurants in our zipcode! So you name the type of cuisine and you'll most likely be able to find a top quality restaurant serving what you are looking for. Thanks for staying with us, let us know if you make your way back to the area! Darik and Sally

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Stunning Seattle Apartment

Guest: Mil (Loughton, Essex UK)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

This was an excellent apartment, situated centrally and in easy walking distance of the main the attractions in Seattle. The apartment itself is beautifully finished, and very comfortable. All the basics were provided for us, including coffee, washing powder and cooking essentials. This was an added bonus as we had had flown into Seattle and did not have a car. The large rooftop patio with its b-b-que facilities was a real find in the exceptionally hot weather we experienced while we were in Seattle with shady areas and lots of comfortable seating. The apartment however did need some additional cooling in the bedrooms in very hot conditions.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

Great weekend for my wife's birthday

Guest: Bill (Coeur d Alene, ID)
Date of Stay: 07/23/10 Review Submitted: 08/12/10

Had a great time. Exceptionally detailed directions on how to get to the condo and how to get in. Great stay close to a lot that the city has to offer. Get reservations at the "Purple Cafe and Wine Bar" for dinner if you like wine and great tapas. Fabulous! If you're planning on taking the Victoria Clipper to Victoria B.C. (this is also very close to the condo) then get there at least an hour early. Unknown to us they assign you a return trip group number on your first leg. This means that if the boat is crowded and you get there late you'll get crappy seats both there and back no matter how early you get there on the return trip. Also, if you can carry on your bags (same rules as airline sizes) that would speed up getting off the boat because they let you depart first with carry on bags. Overall we had a great time. We're looking forward to our next trip to Seattle!

Owner response:Bill -- Glad you had a great time! Purple Cafe is one of our favorites as well. For those who are costco members, at the Seattle area stores they often have discounted gift certificates for there! Also, thanks for the advice on the clipper. I didn't realize that was the policy, as I don't remember that last time I road the clipper. I wonder if this is a new policy? Let us know next time you are in town, love to host you again! Darik & Sally The Urban Oasis "Redefining Accommodations"

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway.

August stay at the Urban Oasis

Guest: Dan (Modesto CA USA)
Date of Stay: 08/02/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

My wife and I, and our kids (10 & 13) enjoyed our visit to the Urban Oasis. Excellent communication throughout the booking process, Condo was as promised. Nicely appointed, clean and perfect for our stay. We loved the rooftop for relaxing nights. Property is very safe and secure; location for getting around Belltown and Seattle is perfect. We did not have a car, we walked or took cabs during our stay. Only complaint is 3rd Avenue, way too many buses to enjoy the condo with open windows, or for sitting on the balcony. There is a bus every 45 seconds, all day long. But, aside from that, everything was very nice and as promised. Would recommend. Thanks!

Owner response:Dan -- I'm glad you enjoyed your stay! 3rd Avenue is a major bus route which is a blessing and a curse. From our great location as you menionted you can walk anywhere, or take a free bus from right outside the door to nearly anywhere in downtown seattle. Or take a paid bus to anywhere in the Seattle Area! So for those that rely on public transit, a bus every 2-5 minutes is a great feature, a trade off that comes with our great Urban location. Please keep us in mind for future visits to downtown Seattle! Darik & Sally The Urban Oasis

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Seattle Stay

Guest: chelsie (new york city)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

Our stay at the Belltown property was great! The location could not have been more perfect and the condo was extremely nice. We had a great time and would highly recommend the Belltown Condo. Thanks!

Owner response:Thanks so much! We do love our location, walkable to nearly everything in Downtown Seattle. Please let us know next time you or any friends come to Seattle. We'd love to host you again!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.