Molex Apartments

The Smart TV was a real plus. We could watch whatever we wanted, like on a computer, and now we're thinking of getting one ourselves. The kitchen light also had a remote, so we could change it from cool to warm and from dim to very bright. Everything else we needed was there, from white towels in different sizes to a corkscrew. The beds were large, the sofas and linens were crisp, though the sheets hadn’t been ironed. It’s a nice apartment in a convenient spot, in a new building, and everything was new and clean. A couple of things bothered me: the fridge opened toward a wall, making it awkward to reach into, and the water heater behind a panel sometimes made a deep humming sound. Judging by its occasional crackling, I’m not sure it was a boiler. We stayed three days, but the nearby maid didn’t take out the trash or clean. Maybe we were supposed to ask her directly. Signs on the door handle to show when cleaning is wanted would make things easier for guests and the maid, and avoid disturbing anyone at a bad time. We were satisfied and will recommend it. Thank you.

In person, the place was dirty, and the apartment didn’t look like the photos. We were told, quote, “the photo is an advertisement” and “we haven't moved out of that apartment.” The communication was rude. I believed the reviews, but now I think they may be fake. I suspect the owner, Irina Fedorenko, wrote and replied to her own review. It said: “5/5. There's a place in Chernihiv where you can stay and not regret your choice one bit. It's here.” It had her photo, and she appears in the company photo and Google profile. The Owner's Response said, “That's for sure.” She also rated her apartment more than once, later calling it “cozy and comfortable” and “recommending” herself. She seemed very modest about it. I suspect she'll delete those reviews after mine, so I'm attaching the photo. There are also many other five-star reviews that are the only reviews those people have left. This feels like a scam.

There were some good practical things: white towels, disposable slippers, parking, a kitchenette, decent plumbing, a nice balcony view, and it was relatively quiet. There’s a 24-hour ATM nearby too. Clean enough for a solid four. Still, there was a slight nicotine smell, since smoking is allowed on the balcony, and the mattresses felt worn out. The room wasn’t cozy to me despite the nice paintings. There was too much brown, and the leopard blankets were hard on the eyes. Washing dishes was inconvenient, and we could have used more paper towels and shampoo.

On arrival in Chernihiv, the receptionist told me my room had been changed because the previous guests extended their stay. Nobody had told me beforehand, which put me in a very awkward position. They did offer another room, but it was smaller and extremely uncomfortable. I can’t recommend the place because the booking process was a definite downside. When I first called to book, I asked for their card number right away because I knew payment was meant to be made in advance. They didn’t say anything about it and instead sent an advertising message for the apartments. I thought I’d call the next day since there was still time. When I called again to confirm, they said the reservation was still valid and that I could pay on arrival.