VISIONAPARTMENTS Zurich Albertstrasse

The apartment I got looked nothing like the one I booked, and the listing said there'd be a heater, but there wasn't one. The lighting was very dim, the bed was tiny, and there were no curtains. Customer service was awful, and it felt like a total waste of money. I wouldn't even give it one star.

The doors locked us in, but luckily the support team gave us a replacement key that worked. The rooms feel like cardboard boxes, with barely enough space to stretch in one direction. The kitchen is like a cupboard. It has the utensils, but there's nowhere to put more than one plate, unless you put it in the sink.

I paid the full amount two months ahead, so I expected the unit to be ready when I arrived. Zurich apartments don't have air conditioning because of the city's rules, and the provider knew this, but there was no electric fan in the unit. It was hot and humid. It took about 20 minutes on hold before anyone answered the customer service line. They promised a fan for 9 a.m. the next day, but I woke up sweating and it hadn't arrived. By 11 a.m. I called again, waited a long time, and was then told it would come before 4 p.m. I was furious, since I'd already lost half a day of my vacation waiting for a fan that should have been there when I arrived. I asked to speak with a manager, but even though it was Monday during business hours, they said none were available by phone. The associate threatened to hang up after I kept pushing. I went out to find a cleaner who might help. She said no one had requested a fan and that she couldn't give me one. I told her I'd called twice and had been promised one, and asked her to check with her boss. She did, and only then did I get the fan. I also complained that the curtains were inadequate. The unit had four large street-level windows, but only three half-size curtain panels. It was a horrible experience, and I'd never book with this business again. Stay away; it isn't worth the money and could ruin your vacation.

The apartment was central and convenient, but at the high price we paid, the three-night stay was a huge letdown. It felt outdated and uncared for, and we wouldn't stay again or recommend it unless it gets major improvements. It was gloomy from the lack of lighting and unbearably hot without AC. The fan did nothing. The floors felt sticky and the place didn't seem properly cleaned; there were ants inside too. Our ground-level unit had little privacy, with people passing by able to see in, and the curtains were too small to cover the windows. The pillows were far too soft to support our heads or necks, and the bathroom mirror was tiny and too high to use. Maybe it's all right for a night if you just need a place to crash, but it wasn't worth the cost for us.