Apartment Ikana

The property is right in the middle of the old town, and coming down the steps instead of going up wasn't too bad. When I had a plumbing problem, the owner came by that evening and fixed it. The air conditioning worked well, and the attic room stayed comfortable without being noisy. The agency managing the place added no value that I could see. Their information kept conflicting right up to arrival, and check-in was confusing. They said the code was for a key box, but it actually opened the main door; my room key was inside, and I had to work out which room was mine. When I raised issues, they sent me to the owner. The listing said there was a microwave, but there wasn't one. The kitchenette had the other basics, a fridge, kettle and stove, but it was too small to use practically for more than a day or so. The bin was tiny, there were no instructions for taking rubbish out, and it overflowed after the first day. I stayed five days and the place wasn't serviced at all. It looked more worn than the photos, with mould in the bathroom and general wear. It was okay if the price was good and you wanted to stay in town. The hairdryer's cable was taped together and looked unsafe, so I didn't use it. The sloping roof over my bed also made me think my partner would have struggled getting in and out of it if they'd come with me.

The location is great, but that doesn't make up for how dirty the place was. I'd rather have paid more than stayed here, and the condition we found it in didn't match its rating. There was rubbish under the bed, lipstick marks on the glasses, stained sheets, and a terrible smell in the bathroom. The bedroom smelled mouldy and musty, and another cupboard had such a bad smell that we didn't put our clothes in it. I was afraid to open one cupboard because several insects seemed to be crawling out of it. I'd definitely avoid staying here. There are plenty of other options nearby, even on the same street, and sleeping somewhere dirty isn't worth it.

The apartment is in a good central location, was clean, and came with a kitchen. We got fresh towels every day, and the friendly host gave us useful advice. It was quite dark inside, with little natural light, and sits above steep steps, so it wouldn't suit someone with a physical impairment. If that's not an issue, the climb is manageable with moderate fitness, though it gets you sweaty. The air conditioning works well and cools the apartment quickly, which helped with temperatures above 30C. Even as a workout, it was doable.

Three small studios, clean and well located in the old town. Each had everything we needed. A good place to stay.