VISIONAPARTMENTS Berlin Otto-Braun-Strasse

The online photos didn’t look like the apartment we actually got. They seemed to show another unit, or just an example, which was disappointing. There was also only one chair even though we’d booked for two, and dust had built up all over the room, as if it hadn’t been properly cleaned before we arrived. A low price doesn’t make that level of dirt okay. I’ve booked plenty of places through Booking.com and never run into these problems before. Even with the cost in mind, this stay fell short.

The room was spacious and clean, and having a kitchen was handy. When I had a wi-fi problem, the service team responded and fixed it. The location is great, and for three days I felt the price matched the quality really well. Street-facing rooms are noisy, though the insulation does a pretty good job.

I paid for five days and came away wondering how this place could cost that much. I could have rented a much better apartment. The guy sitting in the office could make a less sour face. There’s nowhere to put rubbish on the property, and staff couldn’t tell me where it should go. I left my bag at reception. If they don’t provide the cleaning I’m paying for and can’t say where to throw things away, what do they expect me to do, search the whole street for bins? There’s no information about it anywhere. My room stayed dirty for all five days. Nobody cleaned the bed or changed it, and they didn’t even provide toilet paper. There was dust everywhere, including thick layers on the windows and in the toilet. It’s also extremely noisy. With the window open, it’s impossible to sleep or even be in the room, but you need to air it out somehow. Don’t expect to check in even five minutes early: the code only works at exactly 15.00. There isn’t even a place to sit while waiting, and they won’t let you in early for an extra fee. At 10.00 they start knocking for you to leave.

It wasn’t a complete horror show, but a lot of little problems left a bad taste. The internet didn’t work, a socket was coming loose, and the thermostat wasn’t working, so the room got quite hot. The walls are thin enough that you hear people in other rooms watching TV and chatting. Trams run right beside the window, which makes it tough if you’re a light sleeper. I also felt a bit paranoid because some people were hanging around by the main entrance, waiting to get in. The main door and the room doors use the same code, which I didn’t like.