Ecusson - Centre Historique

😊: Very good location, easy walking distance to the train station (not TGV) and tram stop, as well as the main square. The apartment itself was very nice, spacious with a modern bathroom and kitchen facilities. We appreciated the air-conditioning during the heatwave. The communication from the hosts was quite timely and helpful.. 😢: I noticed a foul odour from the bathroom a couple of times, but it didn't last long. The big issue for us was that the apartment is up 3 flights of winding stairs, with no lift. Nowhere in the property description did it mention this (however the reviews did - as we found out later). The first 2 flights had seen some maintenance. The last flight had worn, slippery steps, and in fact at least one of the steps was cracked and rickety. The handrail for some of the last flight of steps was loose. There was no handrail at all on the same side for the last 10 or so steps, meaning we had to reach across the stairway to get to the other handrail - impossible to do carrying luggage. We had to carry our luggage up in 2 journeys, 1 suitcase between 2 of us. Checking out, we half filled our cases, then went up for the rest of our items to carry down, and packed downstairs. Many travellers won't object to this - we did..

😊: Well located apartment and adequately equipped and well laid out. It is top floor with a spiral staircase, so not for everyone, but quite typical of apartments in the area. The apartment was nice and quiet due to the location.. 😢: There were a couple of minor issues upon arrival. We were a party of three, but only two bath towels were supplied and apparently no bedding. After contacting the agency/owner, we found the bedding stored under the main bed. The third towel was dropped off to the apartment the following morning. Annoyingly, no hand towel though. The biggest issue (and reading a subsequent review, this issue has not been addressed) is the fowl drainage smell in the bathroom. We had booked in to stay three nights. When we returned to the apartment on the second night, the smell throughout the apartment was quite strong. All windows were opened, but on Thursday evening when we returned to the apartment, the smell was overwhelming and we felt quite ill after a short while. A friend of ours was with us and said we can't stay there. They offered for us to stay at their one bedroom apartment that evening as the smell was just too much. I have reported this, and given the usual platitudes of ‘We will look into this and get back to you’. Of course, that never happened. If this issue is resolved, I would happily recommend this apartment, but as it appears to be unresolved, I would avoid the apartment at all costs..

😊: Great location, central to everything.