The property was great location and an amazing apartment in size /layout and architectural design - however it was sadly in disrepair. One shower was broken and unusable, one room had no air-conditioning at all and those with units were in desperate need of cleaning . Several family members suffered from allergies dues to dust and possible mold. Overall cleanliness of apartment was of concern . Sadly this is the first VRBO I have ever had to give a negative review.
Perfect for a family stay. We've never had an apartment with such a good supply of plates, cups, cutlery etc. although larger glasses for long drinks would have been appreciated. The location could not have been better, right at the centre but still quiet. Any disadvantages we found were far outweighed by the wonderful surroundings and location.
The location of Casa Penelope is perfect. We stayed for a month with friends and family. Proximity to great restaurants, the Wall, the bus station, churches and shops was ideal.
Overall, it was a good experience, but we had a number of issues with the property. The apartment was on the second floor, not the first as advertised when we booked it, and when we inquired how many steps up to the apartment prior to booking, we were told there were 5. In fact there were 34. We probably would not have rented it if we had been told the truth, since several of us are "older".
The WIFI did not work in all the rooms, the AC was not working, the stove and oven in one of the upstairs kitchens did not work nor did the TVS, and we weren't given keys to the doors to either of the separate upstairs wings. (The doors locked automatically when closed). The owner was able to get the WIFI working everywhere after a week and two visits, and the AC working after three visits. We had two days of super hot weather with no AC. And he eventually gave us his keys to the upstairs doors, with the admonition that they were the only set. All of these things should have been checked out and in working order before we arrived.
The check-in process was poor. Sonja expressed that it was an inconvenience for her, showed us around the apartment only at our request. We were not shown how to operate the air conditioner, washers, TVs, or where the glasses and dishes were located (not in the kitchen!). And as she left from her hurried visit wit us, indicated that if we had problems, not to call her. We should address them to someone else in her office. We felt like we were an inconvenience to her.
Communication with the management company was poor from the beginning. We made our reservation in Spring of 2021. While most of my emails regarding our stay were eventually answered, often the information I was trying to obtain was ignored.
It is a great property AND really should be better managed.