Curva do 28 Alfama

We rented an apartment from Canto Do 28,Typical Apartment in Lisbon, Portugal through TripAdvisor for 21 days over Christmas and New Year in 2018, and had a terrible experience with the owner, Rui. He charged us city tax for all 21 days, although the city only required a maximum of 7 days regardless of the length of the stay. The apartment was not suitable for winter. Lisbon was at 40 degrees in winter, and the only heating provided was a tiny electric heater that couldn't warm even one small room. Turning it on also tripped the breaker and cut all power in the apartment. We contacted TripAdvisor support on our first day to report that the place was uninhabitable. Rui swapped in a portable butane heater and said he didn't know whether it was safe to use indoors. He told us to research it online, even though there was no model number. We did, and the manufacturer said some models weren't safe indoors. There was no carbon monoxide alarm, so we didn't dare use it. The next day we told TripAdvisor we had to move out for our safety. They moved us to Avocado Apartment for the remaining 19 days, and we had to pay another $1400 in rent. When we sought a refund, TripAdvisor had already sent the rent to Rui, who refused to return the payment for his uninhabitable apartment. After I complained to TripAdvisor about the city tax overcharge and the unsafe accommodation, he took down the TripAdvisor listing and kept the rent. The owner provided awful, irresponsible service. Never rent this place. TripAdvisor's protection plan was useless. They didn't help us recover the rent for the apartment we had to leave, charged us for two rentals, and refused to take responsibility for refunding the rent for the uninhabitable apartment.

We had a great stay in Lissabon. The apartment was pretty, comfortable, and clean, though the bathroom was tiny and smelled musty. I also want to warn other travelers about what happened when we left. I got an email saying we'd broken a window hinge, with photos attached as proof. We hardly used that window and never heard any loud noise while doing so. I explained that by email, but the administrator only replied that they would charge the 100€ security deposit. They never sent an invoice or anything else about the damage. How can guests be held responsible for something that may just be wear and tear? To me, this felt like a fraudulent way to charge extra fees. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

The little house was lovely, cozy, and just right for a couple. It was also near the city centre, excellent restaurants, and sightseeing spots with beautiful views over the river and city. I'd happily come back.

This small, cozy flat was wonderfully central, and we had such a lovely stay. It made a perfect base for heading out to explore Lisbon and coming back to.