BCN Waterlane

Review of apartment at Szafarnia 11F, Apartment 16 DH (10-16 August 2025) The apartment was run down and had a range of problems: the balcony furniture couldn't be used, the bed linen was torn and worn, wall shelves were loose and unsafe, bathroom and balcony lights didn't work, and the walls were scratched. The internet was out from day one because the owner hadn't paid for it. We contacted the rental office, Dom & House / Noclegi Renters Team, right away, but they offered no real fix. They gave us passwords for neighboring apartments' networks, but those didn't work. We were two people on different schedules and asked for an extra key, but they refused. We ended up waiting for each other in cafés and restaurants several times, wasting valuable time. Staff at the Dom & House office were polite and listened, but seemed constrained by odd company policies. When we asked for solutions, we were told it could take up to two weeks to hear back, which was useless for a six-day stay. This was far below what was advertised or promised, and the apartment and service were unacceptable, a clear breach of contract. I strongly advise avoiding the apartment and Dom & House / Noclegi Renters Team. P.S. The office staff were very polite and helpful, but company rules kept them from helping us. Staff get 5 stars, Wiktoria and Zuzanna and the others. The company gets zero stars.

The room was okay, though the TV selection was very limited and streaming wasn't possible. The spa was disappointing: parts were broken, including the tiling, grout and seals, and the sauna wasn't in good condition, with some wood parts missing. The water in the spa showers was quite cold.

I spent my holiday dealing with this estate agency every day through calls and emails instead of relaxing. You have to collect the keys in the city centre, and the agency workers don't know what's inside the properties or the condition of the furniture and appliances. I was told to inspect the flat and report any damage or I'd be charged when I left. The standard rental agreement gives you two hours from key collection to do that. The flat didn't match what the company showed online. They tried to charge for a parking space that was supposed to be included. There was no leather sofa, just basic furniture, and no freezer, only a fridge with broken shelves. A live socket beside the sink was damaged. Flies covered the living room walls, the rooms were dirty with dust on the floors and furniture, and cleaning still cost extra. The curtains were torn and stained. The TV didn't work at all. Neither remote worked properly. The one for the underground parking barrier failed, and the slope was so steep I had to get out of the car every time. The main gate remote inside the underground parking also failed, so I had to get out each time. It was so frustrating. There were more problems in the flat too: broken door stoppers fixed to the walls, a broken parapet, some lights out and others blinking, damaged skirting and wall paint, and a dirty coffee machine with coffee left inside by the previous guests. There was no refund at all. For peace of mind, pay a bit more and stay at a hotel. I don't recommend this company.

The apartment's condition was the main problem. It felt old, worn, and poorly furnished, and looked nothing like the booking photos, which seemed more like developer mockups. I paid for four guests, but the layout was really a large studio with a wooden partition making a cramped extra bedroom. Only a bed and small wardrobe fitted in there, and I found a previous tenant's underwear. The sliding door couldn't close because a cable blocked it, so it didn't keep noise out. The sofa in the living area had to be opened every night and folded away each morning, or there was nowhere to sit. The dining table was dirty, and wiping it left one part visibly whiter than another. There were only three chairs for four guests; the service team brought a fourth, but it was a red plastic one from a different set. The balcony was nice, though it had a table and no chairs. The furnishings looked like a charity shop collection, including mismatched crockery. Curtains were stained and seemed likely to come off their cheap fittings. A TV stand was missing a leg, which I put back, and the TV and internet only worked after I reported the problem to the office. Several bulbs were missing or didn't work, four out of eleven. The shower smelled awful, the bathroom sink was blocked, and the towels were once white but now nearly grey and very worn. The fridge and freezer were there, but some shelves were stuck. I didn't try the dishwasher; the stove worked only intermittently and beeped, and the washing machine button was pushed into its frame, so it may not have worked. There was just one tiny pot and one very large one in the kitchen. Apartment F27 was on the 4th floor. I booked for four people, but the place seemed more suited to a couple. On the plus side, Damian and Radosław from the main office were very helpful, and the location is great. The building has lifts and no obstacles around it, so the apartment is accessible for a wheelchair in that sense. The bathroom and toilet are standard, though, with no extra grab rails for disabled or older people. Also, anyone planning to get around Gdańsk on foot with a disabled person should think twice. Most streets and pavements are paved with setts or Belgian blocks, pretty to look at but a nightmare for wheelchair users and their carers.