Surfers Del Rey

Receptionist Milly is a sweetheart and went out of her way to help; she made up for a lot of the downsides. Our apartment was clean overall, with spacious rooms and three separate beds, a queen and two singles, which worked well for our small family or friends who don’t share beds. The large lounge had a fabulous river and pool view, and the kitchen had a full oven, stove, microwave, kettle, dishwasher and lots of utensils and cutlery. There was also a washer and dryer, no carpet or bedbugs, and a lovely pool. There are some real problems around the complex. The old door locks and handles are hard to open, the hallways are badly scuffed, and the stairwells could use paint. The grounds barely have gardens, mostly dug-up landscaping that looks like it’s had too much weedkiller. The spa has been out of order for months and is taped off. There’s tape all over the lawns and around it, like a crime scene. The front gate is tricky to open.

The rooms are stylish and breezy, with plenty of furniture and balcony space, and the bedrooms feel homey. That living space and decor earn the two stars. But the apartment hadn’t been cleaned before we arrived: there were stains and sticky stuff on the bench, and the dishes were filthy. We were left half a roll of toilet paper from the previous guests. Staff turned up at unruly hours to offer towels, yet the office was never staffed and we couldn’t reach anyone at the listed phone number.

The apartment was a little dated, but it suited us perfectly. The only downside was the stairs. There’s secure parking underneath, fans and air conditioning, a balcony overlooking the canal, and a well-equipped kitchen. Caval Avenue is within walking distance.

The block is in a handy, nice location, but Unit 5 was disgusting and this was the worst accommodation I’ve ever seen. There are no lifts. It looked as though it had never been cleaned, and the air con wiring seemed dodgy. We bought disposable cups and cutlery because the dirty, cracked, mismatched kitchenware needed throwing out. The furniture looked scavenged from a street cleanup. Several parties made the units noisy; mouldy, dirty windows and broken blinds nearly blocked the great view. Balconies had dead plants, dirty tables, mouldy balustrades and chairs that didn’t seem safe. There were no gardens, just weeds, and a strange 70s air vent sent air down to the dingy, dark parking area below.