Corral de San Jose

At €130 a night, this felt like a complete rip-off. The online photos made the room look far bigger than it was, maybe one tenth of what they showed. Our ground-floor apartment had one bed and one sofa bed for four people, and that sofa was so awful I couldn't sleep. We got two old-fashioned blankets instead of a duvet. The sheets were dirty and full of tiny holes, the bathroom was cramped and outdated, and the soap bar was ridiculously small. You can do better.

The courtyard was lovely, with a sparkling mandarin and exotic flowers, and the location right in the city center was close to all the sights. But the apartment and service were a mess. There was dirty underwear left behind, dust everywhere, spider webs on the chandelier and in the corners, and the chandelier itself was broken. By the third day, nobody had come to collect the garbage. For four people staying four days at €120 per night, they left only one small hotel soap. The little boiler could only give one family member hot water at a time, so everyone else had to wait for it to warm up. It was winter, when heat and hot water mattered. I noticed the boiler issue on arrival, but they didn't contact me until we were leaving. They really didn't seem to care.

We’re on our fourth day in Seville, and the apartment has been a great base. The rooftop terrace is especially nice for morning coffee or a nightcap, and our penthouse is quiet and peaceful even though there are great bars and restaurants all around. The cathedral and most major sights are less than a five-minute walk away. Inside, it’s nicely decorated and has everything we need. I’d only ask for a bit more bathroom storage if I were being picky. Most contact with reception and customer service is by WhatsApp, phone, or message, and that worked really well. We arrived late, got virtual keys for the front door and apartment by message, and they worked perfectly. They even called to check we’d arrived safely, and left water, coffee pods, and tea. I can’t rate this apartment or the Singular staff highly enough.

The apartment was spacious, quiet, clean, and comfortable, and the staff were warm and full of local suggestions. We had a wonderful stay and would happily come back. Just be aware that check-in takes more coordination than at a hotel. You need some way to contact the office when you arrive, which could be tricky for international visitors without phone access.