Arembault Appart Hôtel

I didn't feel safe in apartment 4, and wouldn't recommend it. The flat wasn't ready when we arrived, even though I'd told the owner three times we'd be there at 3.30pm. This isn't an apart hotel: we had to collect the key from a hotel around the corner, where they made it clear the apartment wasn't their responsibility. The place was on the 5th floor, up a narrow spiral staircase, with no lift. The hallway from the street was covered in graffiti and blocked by cages of dirty laundry. The stair light was broken, and the owners ignored my request to replace the bulb. We had to climb two flights in the dark using our phone torches. Several lights in the apartment didn't work either, and there were no mirrors. There was no fire escape, so the only way out in a fire would have been down that pitch black staircase. We also had no instructions for the flat, fire evacuation, Wi-Fi, or anything else.

The rooms are nice, but mosquitoes kept appearing, almost as if there were a nest inside. I couldn't get a decent night's sleep because of them.

It's a shame, because this could have been a beautiful apartment, with a lovely view and a great location. Picking up the keys at the Brueghel Hotel was easy, and we'd stayed there before. We also got a parking deal, €26 for two days instead of €52. But there were problems throughout. The stairs are extremely narrow, a bad choice for older people and young children. We were on the 4th floor, where there was no light, which felt dangerous even with our phones. The toilet needs paint, and the sliding bathroom door took shaking in every direction to open. My husband was strong enough to get it moving, but we had to call for help to get out, then decided to leave the toilet door open. Don't grab the shower head, or the whole thing may fall on you. The vanity unit needs replacing. In the kitchen and living area there were only four forks for six people. The freezer wouldn't close properly, though we didn't need it. The bins had been left by the previous guests, and we didn't dare use the kettle. The sofa bed has reached the end of its useful life. As a sofa it's no longer any good, but unfolded as a bed it was fine. The rooms need a proper refresh.

The flat was filthy when we got in. There was food left in the sink, too few towels, and the toilet was disgusting, with a toilet brush full of feces. We'd arrived in the rain and waited more than an hour for someone to bring the keys. There were several phone numbers listed, and the address wasn't clearly marked.