Urbane Apartments

We booked this place through Ctrip a month ahead, then were told a “technical issue” meant we had to stay somewhere else. The manager walked with us and our luggage to 46 Hythe Bridge St. Our room was on the third floor of an apartment with no lift, so the manager and I had to carry a 30kg suitcase up the narrow stairs. Cleaning would unfortunately cost £60 a day. The manager was nice, and the room was modern and well equipped: SIEMENS fridge, dishwasher, oven, stove, microwave and washer/dryer, plus heated bathroom floor and mirror and heaters in the living room, corridor and bedroom. Lighting was fitted throughout. But the manager said there was no air conditioning. There was a Daikin unit in the bedroom, but it wouldn’t turn on. In the hot weather in early July we had to leave the window open day and night. There was a pub across the street, a rubbish bin and a river below the windows, and sunlight came through at 4am. With the noise, bright light and constant bugs, we could barely sleep. It was our worst stay anywhere, whether in a hotel, apartment, Airbnb, hostel or campsite. Maybe somewhere worse exists. They should repair the AC or install one if that unit is fake. This could be a very good place if all the essentials worked, but when they don’t, it can feel like hell.