DON’T BE FOOLED!
We should have known by the one single suspiciously generic review on VRBO, but we were tricked by the incredible view. The terrace is indeed the attraction at this place. The view is spectacular. However, in the photos the terrace looks clean and comfortable and larger than it is. In reality, the outdoor table has only two chairs (two are broken) and the plants are dead. It has a neglected appearance. It’s not comfortable to sit out there and while you are seated you cannot see the view. So you can stand at the railing, lean on the bird droppings and take it all in, and then go take your seat.
Inside is a bleak and shabby apartment, featuring a dead orchid. It does NOT sleep four, as the stained sleep sofa is broken and totally flimsy and uncomfortable. There is nowhere to hang your things or put your suitcase in the living room so it is very unpleasant to have to sleep there. Also, the small outdated shared bathroom is downstairs by the single bedroom which is cramped and cheap-looking and not like the pictures. Additionally, the shower does not drain and leaves you standing in 3 inches of filthy water.
On arrival you are given one single towel per person, a sliver of soap and that is it! God forbid we go through the allotted two rolls of toilet paper! There is no hand soap, no paper towels, no dishwasher powder and nothing but a drop of dish soap. The sofa bed sleeper gets one pillow and a comforter with no cover, and it’s unclear if it has been laundered. This place is seriously under stocked.
We wish we had known that the building entrance is abandoned, dark (actually no lights) and depressing and the elevator is a slow, tedious and sweaty ride. But at least there is an elevator to the 7th floor! If a guest arrives, they can’t be let in other than for you to go all the way down to let them in. Again, tedious. One of us did get trapped in the elevator for 5 minutes, leaving us unsure of whether or not to take the risk, or walk the endless stairway.
Don’t expect to cook in this tiny kitchen. It is not stocked and so cramped that it is basically pointless. Mercifully the apartment has a functioning washing machine and one whole box of tissues.
After a long day walking around the city you just want to come back to a cozy and relaxing place. Unfortunately, this place is a barren and soulless shell and we dreaded returning to it, other than to take another look at the view.