Bode-Apartments

We rented two apartments from December 23rd to 26th. Overall, the stay was quite good, but one apartment had problems. The heating in its kitchen and bathroom wasn't working when we arrived, then the heating went out throughout the apartment on the morning of the 25th. We couldn't reach reception, probably because it was the holidays, and it was very cold inside. It was -11 degrees Celsius outside, and we were traveling with two small children. We all caught colds. A mirror in the hallway also fell onto one of our children. It was hung on a cardboard bracket, and I think something that heavy should have been properly secured. I'd give the stay five stars if it weren't for these issues.

We booked the apartment at very short notice. It's in an older renovated apartment building, with very thin walls and loud electronic door locks. The apartments are small but fine for sleeping, though the bathroom is so narrow that two people are cramped. The building is right by the main road, but it was still quiet because there wasn't much traffic, and it's centrally located in every direction. Parking is directly in front. With no dishwasher, a bit more crockery and cutlery would be useful. We also missed having a broom and bread basket.

The beds were comfortable, and the kitchen had enough equipment. The place was very clean, stylishly rustic, and seemed fairly new. It's quiet while still being centrally located on the main street.

The bedroom and living room were comfortable and nicely furnished, and our apartment was almost spotless. The heating worked perfectly and held the warmth well, so the indoor climate was pleasant. It's a renovated apartment building from the GDR era, and they've made the most of what the building could offer. There are a few things that need more thought. The bathroom renovation only partly worked: for four people there were five hooks, and almost nowhere to put things except beside the toilet. The kitchen was incredibly poorly equipped, and broken dishes hadn't been replaced, so there were only three forks for four people. The glass tabletop was hard to clean underneath and looked like it hadn't been. The house rules could be rewritten in a more user-friendly, less didactic tone. For example, if tenants can only use the sauna by paying and booking an appointment, that should be stated clearly, or the sauna should simply be unavailable, depending on the tenant's preference. A professional copywriter could help. Quiet hours are useful to specify, but they don't help much when you can hear your neighbor coughing. :) Those rooms really do resonate.