Urban 960 by Weeki

The apartment wasn't properly cleaned, and there weren't even spare sheets. The maid showed up more than 40 minutes before checkout while I was trying to rest. I'd never met her, but she angrily told me not to leave the key in the box by the door while I was still in the room. Then she came to the bed I was on, pulled off the pillowcases and sheets, dropped a pillow on the floor, unlocked the big cabinet under the sink to get laundry, and closed the bathroom door. There was also a 5% card fee that wasn't mentioned in the listing, though it was charged with the prepayment as if I were doing something unusual. It felt very disrespectful, and with the noise and obnoxious people around, I wouldn't want to deal with these hosts. They took extra money while not letting me use the services. The pool situation was a mess: the owner said it was operating normally, then I was told it would open later, and later still sent to the 10th floor to reserve, where nobody was there. The 10th floor overlooks the room, and people socializing on the 9th floor deck made a lot of noise late into the night and early morning. The area is active then, too. They said I could have a visitor. I gave the passport details before arrival, but had to provide them again. Every time you go in or out, you pass security at a gate and your picture and name appear on a screen. Why book through the owner without maid service, which I understand is usually not included, only to deal with this much loss of privacy? What visitor would want to go through that?

The building is new and centrally located, the room appliances work well, and each tower has two elevators. The guards are friendly and helpful, and the rooftop view is amazing. But power cuts happen often, so the elevators stop, and the water has gone out at times. Rooms are tiny. The pool is indefinitely closed with ugly tape around it, and management makes excuses instead of opening the sauna that's supposed to be there. The hallway fire alarms go off at all hours at least once a week, maybe more.

This place is run by an AGENCY, so all communication goes through them. There's nobody to contact directly, and even check-in has to be handled online, so be warned. The location was another problem. It's a two-minute walk from hippy square, where you can get various kinds of drugs. A club right outside runs from mid-morning until the early hours, blasting noise that barely sounds like music and gets louder as the day goes on. The area felt okay during the day, but not in the evening, especially with the people hanging around the building entrance. Inside, the apartment on the seventh floor of tower 2 faced the other apartments. Walking in felt like looking at a giant live TV screen: you could see people sleeping, getting dressed, and eating, all day and night. Construction is still going on, with banging starting around 7:30 am. Most of the gym equipment didn't work or was chained up. The rooftop pool was available only if you arranged it with reception and wore a swimming cap. The elevators sometimes worked and sometimes didn't, which was especially bad above the second floor when you had to take the stairs. My partner and I stayed for a week, and it was a nightmare from beginning to end.

The city view from this modern building is great. The water and electricity problems have been fixed. Some apartments may get noise from the bars across the street, so check before choosing. You'll need a cap to swim, and it's best to clear up any questions with your host.