CombatCritic's TravelValue™: apartment

Showing posts with label apartment. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Tel Aviv, Israel: Osher's "Perfect Location Ever!!" Is Exactly That

Osher's "Perfect Location Ever!!"
Ben Ami Street, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
2 Guests - 1 Bedroom - 1 Bed - 1 Bath
Entire Apartment
Website: Airbnb - Tel Aviv

Airbnb Description

Sparkling clean - 6 recent guests have said that this home was sparkling clean.

Great check-in experience - 100% of recent guests gave this home’s check-in process a 5-star rating.

Osher is a Superhost - Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Our cool and young designed apartment has everything you are looking for. comfortable bed, TV connected to the computer, great sofa, fully equipped kitchen, AC, relaxing shower and the most important is the location - just in the center of Tel Aviv!!

The apartment is a semi basement with windows.

The space

Full apartment in the center of Tel Aviv

Interaction with guests

Any help getting tours and taxis ,help with what to do in the city, getting directions. recommendation for restaurants and any other questions.

Other things to note

The building is under constructions there are Scaffolding but it is not noisy. The window in the bedroom is blocked.

Being a travel blogger, I always review by providing my honest opinion in the most objective manner possible. Reviews on Airbnb and elsewhere would be useless if everyone gamed the system, giving 5s across the board. I owe it to my readers as well as future guests to provide the most accurate details possible about places I visit and shall continue to do so now and in the future.

We were extremely happy with everything at Osher's with the exception of the internet speed which they may have no influence on. If they do, I recommended that they get the fastest speed possible for future guests. We have been plagued by slow internet throughout our current trip, with the exception of London, making it very difficult to post reviews and photos on my blog or to stream video.

The apartment is as central as central can be in Tel Aviv, just steps away from Dizzengoff Square and numerous restaurants, shops, a mall, a cinema, and public transportation. It was very easy to get around Tel Aviv from there with the exception of the lack of a western alphabet on public transportation which Osher has absolutely no influence on. She and her husband were always available and very helpful anytime we needed help.

The apartment is the perfect size for two adults with a separate bedroom with queen bed, a large living area with kitchen, table and chairs and a sofa, and a bathroom with a shower and plenty of hot water and good water pressure. It was very clean when we arrived and Osher was kind enough to leave a bottle of local wine for us on our first night in Israel.

We were met upon arrival and briefed on the details of the apartment, appreciating everything Osher and her husband did for us during our stay. Osher went as far as contacting Gett, a taxi app that I had problems with, working with them to get a refund even though she and her husband were trying to enjoy a vacation of their own.

The apartment is exactly as advertised on Airbnb, both in photos and the description. There is even a washing machine complete with detergent and fabric softener, although it rained most of the five days we were there, making drying our clothes a bit of a challenge. Osher also has a fabulous motorhome that they rent out when at this apartment in Tel Aviv. We would be very happy to stay with them again in the future if they will have us.

CombatCritic Gives Osher's Central Tel Aviv Apartment 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

Read this and other reviews of Israel's restaurants, hotels, apartments and attractions:

CombatCritic's TravelValue: Israel

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Maxim's Airbnb - "Studio" (French) = A Small Room With Toilet And Fridge

Maxim's Airbnb - Studio Gare de l'Est

Gare de l'Est - Paris, France

Website: Airbnb-Paris

I know, I know, you get what you pay for. A private studio apartment in central Paris for $65 per night is not a bad deal, but this place could be the exception.

We arrived around 1pm and the room had not been cleaned. No problem. I could not find a check-in time on Airbnb, so 1pm seemed reasonable. I contacted Maxim and he assured me that it would be cleaned soon, but the cleaning person did not arrive until just before 4pm.

The room is small, very small, about 10’ x 12’ with 3 feet of the 12 feet occupied by a tiny bathroom and kitchenette with a two-burner stove, sink, small fridge and a cupboard with plates, cups, silverware and pots and pans. The listing advertises cable TV, extra pillows and blankets, hangers (so you would assume there would be somewhere to hang things), a CO2 and smoke detector, and a fire extinguisher, but none were to be found. There was not even a hook on which to hang a coat or towel anywhere in the room. You have to be very creative to fit two people and two suitcases into this room, taking turns to move around because it was so cramped.

Almost everything worked, except for the “cable TV”, but the Wi-Fi was so slow that it was nearly useless. The window would not even lock properly, so I shut the metal shutters and locked them as best I could. I asked Maxim about the discrepancies noted above:

"Good Morning Maxim,

The internet is terribly slow. Is there a problem? Maybe that's why the TV still doesn't work?

Amenities listed in your advertisement when we booked included: Cable TV, Hangers, Extra pillows and blankets, Fire extinguisher, Carbon monoxide detector, Smoke detector. However, the cable does not work and you will not respond with operating instructions or a plan to fix it, there are no hangers or even a place to hang anything if there were, there are no extra pillows or blankets, and there is neither a fire extinguisher nor a CO2 and smoke detector. This is very misleading as well as dangerous (in regard to the "safety features"). Otherwise, the flat is fine, well located, everything else works, and it is a pretty good value for central Paris.

Please address the discrepancies noted above as soon as possible.

Thank you once again.

CombatCritic"

He responded, telling me that the CO2 and smoke detector were in the hallway outside the apartment, but that was not true either.

The place is on the first floor (second floor in US) and a bit of a dump, but it has almost everything you need (except internet and a coffee maker) for a short stay. They really need to at least add some hooks to hang clothes and towels on and a coffee maker or electric kettle for coffee and tea. The pots and pans are cheap and disgusting and there was only the bare minimum in terms of coffee cups (2).

The photos on Airbnb are misleading, making the apartment look bigger and nicer than it actually is. The stylish chairs, pictures on the wall, and large stainless steel trash can do not exist although there is a cheap chest of drawers not shown in the photos, but the drawers were filthy inside and we had to clean them before use.

The room is relatively safe and habitable, being centrally located near Gare de l’Est and several Metro stops, so it is easy to get around Paris. We found that by buying the 10—ticket book of Metro tickets, the cost per trip (per person) dropped to €1.49 and was cheaper than buying the daily passes.

That being said, do not trust the photos or description on Airbnb and do not expect any personalized service from the host Maxim. He will only respond via Airbnb messages when he gets around to it and failed to resolve any of the issues we brought to his attention in a timely manner. If you are on a budget, this place will do, but if you can afford an upgrade, I would highly recommend it. We stayed at similarly priced Airbnb's in London, Lyon, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Acre (Israel) on this same trip and all were much better than this one. Not much bang for the buck here folks.

CombatCritic Gives Maxim's Studio Gare de l'Est 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

When in France ... Follow Me To TravelValue on my new page:

CombatCritic's Travel Value: France

Friday, December 7, 2018

Stay In A Studio Apartment In Central Lyon For Just $61.50 - Save Up To $55 On Airbnb Now!

If you are familiar with or already use Airbnb, there's no need to read any further. However, if are not or do not and do any traveling at all, then this post is for you ... this way please!

I use Airbnb all the time in my many travels – my most recent destination was country #43 . On this most current trip, I paid just $54/night for a very nice private room in central London (3rd most expensive city in the world), $70/night for an entire studio apartment in central Paris (18th most expensive city in the world), and $61.50/night for a private studio apartment in the best neighborhood in Lyon, France.

If you like what you are hearing and use the attached Airbnb referral link, you will not just save money on your future trips, but I will also save a bit on one of my future trips. It’s a win-win situation for all of us!

CLICK HERE TO SAVE NOW

Whether you use Airbnb or not, I wish you safe and happy travels and a very joyous and healthy holiday season ... Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

CombatCritic

When in France ... Follow Me To TravelValue on my new page:

CombatCritic's Travel Value: France

Monday, January 8, 2018

Naples, Italy: The Flower Of The Spanish Quarters - Clean, Inexpensive, And Central

Fiori di Napoli

Sunflower Room

€ 30 - One Person (Discount for long stays)

Private Room in Bed & Breakfast

Quartieri Spagnoli, Naples

Contact: Ivo

Airbnb Description: "Sunflower room is located in the heart of this amazing city, close to the historical centre, few steps from the Royal Palace, the San Carlo Theatre, the Castle Maschio Angioino, Spaccanapoli, the sea , the Pignasecca market. It is well connected with all public transports (Funicolare, Cumana, Underground both lines).Daily cleaning of the rooms is provided. The towels will be changed every 3 days."

Palazzo

Amenities

Washer

Heating

Wireless Internet

Breakfast

Smoking allowed

Iron

Hair dryer

Hangers

Room-darkening shades

House Rules

Check-in is anytime after 8AM

Check out by 11AM

You must also acknowledge: Dog(s) live in the house

Spanish Quarters

Nice, clean, simple room, Il Glicine, in a palazzo (palace) in the heart of Naples, just a couple blocks from the architecturally infamous Toledo (Metro) Station and Via Toledo shopping district.

Located in Quartieri Spagnoli, literally "Spanish Quarters", this B&B is not actually a B&B unless your reservation states "Breakfast" is included, otherwise it is €5 per day and very simple from what I understand (coffee, toast and marmalade - typical Italian breakfast). There was some confusion as it was advertised as a "B&B", but my host, Ivo, told me that breakfast was not included in the price of the room I booked on Airbnb, which was very inexpensive by the way, but we made a deal so I could make coffee and buy my own breakfast. Non ce problema (not a problem).

B&B Fiori di Napoli is actually a very large apartment where a few other people, not exactly sure how many, and a sweet dog, Greg, live. The neighborhood is Naples at its best with narrow cobblestone streets with drivers on scooters, cars and trucks honking at each other in the traditional Neapolitan way.

I read about some concerns about safety in Naples, particularly Quartieri Spagoli, in previous Airbnb reviews as well as from my wife (who grew up in Naples) and mother-in-law (who lives in Naples), but I had no worries having lived in Naples for three years while serving in the military. The palazzo is actually a great base for exploring centro storico (the historical center) with easy access via the Metropolitana (Naple's Subway) to adventures in Naples and beyond (READ MORE On My TravelValue: Bella Napoli Webpage)

Ciro

There is a great little mini-market (Maielo Ciro) right across the street with basic supplies, a deli counter, and a friendly, honest proprietor (Ciro). If eating out, one of the best and cheapest pizzerias in Naples, a city famous for its pizza, is just down the street (CLICK HERE To Read My Review Of Pizzeria 400 Gradi) and there is a great little trattoria, Trattoria da Concetta (CLICK TO READ REVIEW), with decent prices, good food, and excellent service within 200 meters of your room. Less than 350 meters and a 5 minute walk away (toward "Dante" Station) is another good little, and I mean little, trattoria by the name of La Taverna del Buongustaio (CLICK TO READ REVIEW) with low prices and good, traditional Neapolitan food.

The room had everything I needed, including a comfortable double bed, two nightstands, a large wardrobe, shelves, an LCD TV with cable (BBC News in English), a large refrigerator/freezer and microwave. I stayed for three weeks and was very comfortable except for some relatively cold days and nights, but Ivo was very hospitable, turning on the heat (radiators) anytime I asked.

Naples can get rather warm in the summer months, so keep that in mind because there is no air conditioning that I am aware of. The apartment is also on the third floor (U.S. - second floor for Europeans) of the palazzo and this palazzo has 12 foot ceilings. The walk up the three very long flights of stairs was a bit of a workout because there is no elevator, so you had better be in decent shape or take it very slow.

I felt very comfortable and safe with Ivo and Manuela and their dog Greg was quite sweet and very quiet. At just $21 per night, you will not find a better value, particularly in Naples' historic center.

CombatCritic Gives Fiori Di Napoli 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

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Title: Naples, Italy: The Flower Of The Spanish Quarters - Clean, Inexpensive, And Central

Key Words: Naples, Napoli, Italy, Italia, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, hotel, accommodation, Airbnb, room, apartment, palazzo, Quartieri Spagnoli, review, fiori, Yelp, Google, Facebook

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