Fiera Monterosa 11 Apartment

The location was a strong point for us: the neighborhood is quiet, with two metro stations a short walk away and direct service to the Duomo. Small supermarkets are nearby, though the Carrefour Marketing is tiny and very expensive. We walked to central Milan and the main sights in about 25-30 minutes. The apartment is spacious, with two bedrooms, a sofa bed, two bathrooms, a small terrace, lots of storage, and air conditioning in the living room and bedrooms. It also has fast, free Wi-Fi, a washing machine, fridge, microwave, regular oven, dishwasher, Nespresso machine, and kettle. Still, some basic comforts are missing, like a hairdryer and toaster, and the decor feels badly dated. The rococo bathrooms, old furniture, and horse-print bedspreads could all use an update, especially given what similar places cost. The bathrooms were the biggest problem. In the smaller one, with green and white decor, the shower doors barely stay together and come apart. You have to force them and guide each panel with both hands so they don't fall. In both bathrooms, hot water takes about three hours to arrive, then the temperature and pressure swing wildly. It can go from a scalding trickle to cold water at high pressure a second later. That's unforgivable when you want a decent shower after a day out. Other things felt poorly maintained: the living room sofa is heavily stained and creaks with the slightest movement, and the dining table is worn. The supplied tablecloth is also badly stained and barely covers the mess. There was a broken chair in one bedroom, a loose electrical outlet elsewhere, a badly worn shower hose when we arrived, and French doors in the hallway that no longer lock, which seems like an invitation to burglars. The kitchen is set up for six people but has only four teaspoons, so are guests meant to draw straws at breakfast and dessert? The sofa is fairly comfortable despite the stains, but it isn't inviting. It's a mixed bag and could have earned an excellent rating if these issues were fixed. We ended up with a mediocre impression, mostly because the showers matter so much and the furniture is old or dirty. If I return to Milan, I'll choose another apartment.