Book a flat anywhere in the world soon and the next 5-star review might be yours.
The area has good amenities and services
You have to get 5G subscription to have usable internet there.
They also never vacuumed my apartment. So there was alot of dust after 1 month. They only changed bed sheets and new towels once a week.
The apartment itself had some flaws, but location was beautiful.
The biggest problem occurred when she suddenly asked me when I planned to move out, without discussing it with me in advance, as she had already rented the place to a new tenant, even though I had not planned to move out at that time. I had intended to extend the contract, as I had done in the past. This was particularly surprising because I had already contacted her earlier to discuss several issues regarding the apartment and the situation there, including my tenancy, but I never received a proper response to that message. Instead, I suddenly found myself having to move out and search for a new apartment with little time remaining, which was difficult given my situation. The situation became even worse when she behaved in a very condescending and arrogant manner in the communication that followed.
The apartment itself is quite decent, with some flaws as for example missing curtains. The location is good, with the U-Bahn stations Johnstraße and Hütteldorfer Straße nearby, and the rent is also reasonably priced. However, there were problems with multiple neighbors, both next door and even in the opposite building, which at one point became serious enough that I called the police. The situation fluctuated considerably, from relatively quiet periods to absolutely atrocious weeks, especially during the summer when the next-door neighbors kept their windows open and were very often noisy until midnight. The highlight regarding the neighbors was when they deliberately poured an unknown liquid onto my doormat. This happened twice.
Overall, I found the experience very disappointing. The apartment itself has several advantages, but the problems with the neighbors and, especially, the communication with the landlord pretty much affected my experience.
HOST'S REPLY:
The guest wanted to continue staying at my property privately, without using Flatio’s platform or having a formal rental agreement, in order to avoid the associated fees and save money. When I declined this arrangement and accepted another guest instead, he responded by leaving this review.
I find it rather contradictory that he was so keen to continue staying at my property if his experience was genuinely as negative as his review suggests.
That said, the host was outstanding. As soon as we reported the problem, they came right over and got both the power and wi-fi working again. Their responsiveness and willingness to go above and beyond made a real difference, it turned a stressful moment into a non-issue, and communication throughout the stay was excellent.
First, keep in mind that historic buildings in Alfama generally do not have elevators. Expect narrow, shoulder-to-shoulder staircases that can also be quite steep, and of course, the neighborhood itself is very hilly.
Maurice, the host, was attentive and helpful whenever we needed something. Response times were sometimes a couple of hours, but his replies were always useful and courteous.
The apartment itself is generally consistent with the listing, although there are a few details I found misleading or worth clarifying. Flatio lists the apartment as being on the second floor, but in practice it felt more like the third floor. The stairs also lead almost directly to the apartment door, so be careful with your footing when entering or leaving.
When we arrived, the apartment appeared to have received a basic surface cleaning, but in my opinion it needed a much more thorough deep clean. Several dishes were dusty or dirty, and there was noticeable dust and some cobwebs behind and around furniture. The refrigerator also contained a considerable amount of older food and items that appeared to have accumulated from previous stays. We ended up cleaning quite a bit during our stay and hopefully left it in better condition for the next guests.
There were also many leftover items, decorations, and personal belongings throughout the apartment. For a short stay this may not matter much, but for a longer stay it can reduce the amount of usable storage and living space. Things such as workout equipment, a basketball, and miscellaneous items were placed around the apartment, which made the space feel more cluttered than necessary.
The apartment is otherwise very well equipped. We did not really need to purchase household or kitchen items during our stay. Hot water was also excellent and lasted long enough to comfortably enjoy long showers.
One item I do think should be replaced is the couch, which seems to be reaching the end of its useful life.
The bedroom setup is probably the most important thing to understand before booking. It is located upstairs in a loft-like space with low clearance and somewhat awkward steps to climb. The carpet upstairs is also quite hard and uncomfortable on the knees when moving around the lower areas of the space.
There is an air-conditioning unit upstairs. It works, although on particularly hot days it can struggle to keep the space very cool. More importantly, the AC mainly cools the upstairs sleeping area, while the downstairs portion of the apartment is much more dependent on the outside temperature.
The host provided two fans, but neither was particularly effective during our stay. One did not have a proper base and had to be leaned against something to stay upright, while the smaller fan moved very little air. We eventually purchased our own fan to make the warmer days downstairs more comfortable. Some aspects of the temperature and apartment layout are mentioned in the listing, so I would recommend reading the description carefully before booking.
Access to the apartment can also be a little complicated if you have a lot of luggage. The main street nearby is narrow and one-way, but it gets surprisingly busy with both vehicles and pedestrians. If you arrive by Uber or rental car, you may only have a short window to unload before traffic starts building behind you. Parking immediately around the apartment is also very limited, so you may need to walk some distance from your car.
There is a smaller street behind the property that can make things easier if you have a compact car and arrive early enough. There is also a lovely small park nearby that was convenient for taking our dogs out. However, rideshare drivers generally will not pick you up from that side, and a nearby restaurant can make access more difficult later in the day.
The location also has some very good advantages. There are several bars nearby and a small market on the main street that stays open late. The evening atmosphere is lively and enjoyable without being excessively loud inside the apartment. The market was especially useful for grabbing snacks, drinks, or basic groceries later at night.
The building itself was peaceful during our stay. There appeared to be another short-term rental on the first floor, and an older local resident lives on the floor below the apartment. She was extremely kind and helpful whenever we crossed paths. She does not speak much English, but she was always welcoming. I would encourage future guests to be especially respectful about noise and keeping the shared areas clean, as this is still a residential building with local residents.
In the end, I would recommend this apartment most strongly for shorter stays, travelers with lighter luggage, and people who mainly want a comfortable place to return to after exploring Lisbon. For longer stays, the limited storage, loft-style bedroom, temperature control downstairs, stairs, and overall layout are things I would seriously consider before booking.
However, I want to be honest for the sake of future guests: the aircraft noise is much more significant than the listing suggests. Planes pass every 3–4 minutes throughout the entire day, and the noise is clearly audible indoors even with all windows fully closed. I stayed for a month (July) and did not adjust to it. Also, when I raised these concerns, the platform support did not handle it well.
That said, the location and basic amenities were adequate, and with a bit more attention to noise control and cleaning, the experience could be significantly better. I hope this feedback is helpful for future improvements.
When the winter was as cold as it was a back heater is necessary.