Lisbon Grand View

We loved the location, with just about everything within walking distance. Inside, the apartment was spacious and modern, with two separate bedrooms, a huge living room and a roomy separate kitchen. Both bedrooms had closets, and the main one had its own bathroom. The living room looked out over the city; the other rooms faced a busy street that cars can't get through. The road was a minute or two away. The view was lovely, and we couldn't hear any planes. It was generally quiet unless the neighbors were noisy. The water pressure was strong, there were no hot water problems or odd smells, and the place was clean, though not spotless. Bed linens and towels were provided, but there weren't enough towels, for example, none for drying our hands, just large ones. A few small things could use fixing: there was no electric kettle, and the pan lids didn't fit. The old sofa in the living room and the barely working Wi-Fi were bigger drawbacks. One serious tip: keep the street-facing windows without bars shut. A burglar got in through our second-floor window the night before we left. Thankfully, nothing valuable was taken.

The view is truly unique, but the price didn't feel justified. The walk up to the accommodation is uneven and strenuous, something to keep in mind if you have mobility problems or lots of luggage. Cleanliness was unacceptable. There was hair, dust and dirty towels, and the kitchen barely had any utensils for cooking. The Wi-Fi was too weak to use properly, especially if you're trying to work. The TV didn't work, the faucet was loose, and basic things like toilet paper were missing. The worn leather sofa added to the poor impression. The landlord only responded after Booking.com got involved, and even then only the loose faucet was fixed. Repairmen also walked straight into the locked apartment.

The apartment was roomy and in good shape overall, though a few things needed repairs and the towels could probably do with replacing. It was comfortable and convenient, and reasonably near Lisbon's city center.