Anstey Heights Apartments

We came from Cardiff, Wales for a holiday, but ended up having to spend a day cleaning Flat 9 after getting there on Saturday. The floor was so dusty it was hard to breathe, the sheets and cushions were stained, the sofa bed had hair and food crumbs, dishes had rice on them, the shower drain was clogged with hair, and the worn carpet had been taped. There was no working shower unless you like cold water. We called three times and got no answer. On Monday someone finally came to look at it and said little could be done because the shower water had a temperature limit. The taps and sinks were hot enough to use for washing. After a few hours we were moved to Flat 10, which took a while since we'd unpacked a whole suitcase in Flat 9. They offered cleaners for Flat 9, but there was no point with no shower to use. It was inhumane to have no shower. We hoped to enjoy the holiday in Flat 10, but its bathroom and bedroom radiators were broken. A lounge light flickered and flashed, which was highly dangerous for my partner, who has epilepsy. When we called again, we were told they couldn't do anything and to send an email. There are no lifts, only stairs to the top, which was a struggle for my partner with dyspraxia and heart problems, but we managed. Getting in meant entering one code for the gate, another for the building and a third for the key safe. The bed springs dug into my back and side. Flat 10 had both a shower and a bath, which we thought was odd, since the flats all have different fittings and appliances. Having a bath was more convenient.

The apartments are new, nice and well managed, but the upper floors can only be reached by stairs in the four-storey building. During the hot summer weather, the rooms got hot and there wasn't a proper way to get cross-ventilation. Even after we asked for a second fan, they didn't provide one, and the single fan they supplied ran very slowly. :(

The apartment was very nice and spacious, with parking available for £10. The kitchen and bathroom were generally well equipped, and there was a dishwasher with tablets. A few things affected our view of the stay. We didn't realise when booking that the neighbourhood might be dangerous, perhaps because we hadn't researched it enough. We turned onto the wrong street about 50 metres too early, and the people there made it clear we weren't welcome, making threatening gestures as we tried to leave quickly. It was a dead end. The actual street where we stayed seemed comparatively safe. Parking also needs care if you have an average or low-slung car. It's hard to navigate, and the potholes by the gate could damage an average car, so drive slowly, keeping right when entering and left when leaving. This is a general note, not the owner's fault. Two decorative pillows on the couch had a very strong urine smell. We noticed it as soon as we sat down and looked around for the source. Maybe it was the previous guest's fault, or maybe it had been an issue for longer. We put the pillows on the floor in the corner, which was fine, but this really shouldn't happen in an AirBnb.

The flat itself was really nice and had everything we needed, but the area and the arrival were both disappointing. I couldn't get the gate code when I arrived, and it took several emails before the proper welcome message with all the details finally came through. Parking is charged separately. The owner told my company we wouldn't need to pay because there was plenty of room on the street, but that wasn't true and we couldn't find anywhere to park. A lot of cars nearby were damaged or covered in graffiti, and the area felt heavily vandalised. It was also probably the worst part of Bristol I've ever been to. I don't like leaving a bad review, but I think this is fair.