With faith and love

How airbnb apartment can affect your holidays?

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Hello! I'm here to pen down my experiences for my accommodations booked via Airbnb. I stayed in a total of 3 apartments (2 from Melbourne and 1 from Taipei).

1) Melbourne (South Bank)
Entire Apartment, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Toilet

View from the balcony

These photos are taken from Airbnb site and the real apartment looks 90 percent similar. The location for this apartment is fabulous because it is very near the city and casino. Hence we don't have to park our rental car in the city which can cost a bomb.

Rented for 2 nights for about SGD$600. $50 per pax per night. I think the price is very affordable for the location.

We didn't get to see the owner of the apartment and he seemed an expert in doing this because he just send us a text message via airbnb with all the instructions needed (e.g.: carpark space/ locks).

I enjoyed my stay here and would definitely recommend to friends and family who are planning to go over. The only con: 1 toilet shared among 6 people!

2) Melbourne (Brunswick)

Entire Apartment, 3 Bedroom, 1 Toilet

Standing outside the apartment.

The walk way from the main door to our 3 bedrooms and living room. Weird dimension. Haha

3 Bedrooms, sorry for the mess.

Walkway to the toilet, kitchen and living room

Living room and kitchen

Messages from the host

Living room

This apartment is located 25 minutes drive away from the city, hence the rental was cheaper. Rented for 2 nights for about SGD$480. $40 per pax per night. There are some nice cafes located nearby.

The living room was packed with entertainments such as PS 2 or 3 (can't remember) guitar, DVD player etc.

The hosts were very kind but we didn't get to meet them on the first day because we were travelling from great ocean drive and only reached at 9 plus at night. They provide us with tea, milk and snacks which made us feel very welcome.

On the last day of our check out, the host was there to assist a smooth process for us. I really enjoyed my stay in this apartment.

The minus point for this apartment was the non carpeted flooring but they do provide heater. Hahaha the host did tell us about the noise from the tram located outside the house but I guess it didn't bother us and also 1 toilet shared among 6 of us.

3) Taipei (Ximending)

Entire Apartment, 1 Bedroom, 1 Toilet

My most recent stay in September 2015 in Taipei which is also the reason for this post. The experiences was a awful one. It's not like being in danger but I rather book a hotel than to stay in this apartment.

We stayed a total of 4 nights for $480. $60 per pax per night. When we stepped into the house with the host's friend, let name him Alex. as the host was not in town. There was an cockroach that welcome us which made us very awkward. What a bad start. Haha

Well, enough of his explanation of the existence of cockroach, we proceed with our plan out.

Return for the day and don't even want to sit on the sofa after I shower. The sofa stained with ?? and there were little small insect crawling on the floor.

The bed sheet with yellow stains all over. I know this is due to old bedsheets but I just felt disgusted.

Anyway we called Alex and he came over to change bed sheet for us and guess what, the bed sheet he changed was even more dirty than the initial. I guess he was really embarrassed and quickly offered to change to another bed sheet.

When we thought everything was finally okay, we went up to the bed and there was a awful smell. The smell of perspiration >.< Sigh! We were too embarrassed to call Alex over to change bed sheet again so we just lay a towel on top of the bed sheet and slept.

Next morning, Alex came over to make sure we had a good night sleep and we did complain about the smell from the bed. He did not hesitate to change bed sheet for us again which make me feel so bad. I offered my help to change and I realised the smell was from the mattress and not the bed sheet. Opps Need febreze!! I told him it's was alright because the smell is going to stay. I can see he was helpless and trying his best to accommodate our requirements.

Of course the toilet cleanliness was no better. On our last day, the ceiling from the toilet was peeling off which landed on the floor. Sigh..

We decided to stay on since there was no refund and I guess we were lazy to find another hotel. The accommodation really affected our mood and we dread returning back every day.

We were pissed because the photos from Airbnb appear to be so clean and had no bad reviews but the house was old and slightly dirty. We drafted up a bad review for the apartment but decided not to post it because how could we? Alex was so kind and nice. Sigh. So maybe that's the reason why there wasn't any bad review.

Anyway to give some credit to the apartment is the location. Located in Ximending, really very convenient to travel around and of course the very kind Alex.

Moral of the story for myself is to take reviews from Airbnb as a pitch of salt. Hopefully my next experience will be an awesome one!

Good Night!

Labels: australia, free&easy, holidays, taipei, taiwan, thoughts, travelogue

Travelogue to Australia Part 5

Monday, December 1, 2014

We started our day right with delicious breakfast at Code Black Coffee. This place is well decorated externally and internally. The cafe has a space to conduct workshop to train barista (I WANT) and a space where they roast their beans.

I like that they used different set of plates to serve, making each individual breakfast unique.

Code Black Coffee

15-17 Weston Street Brunswick 3056

Reason to return: Scrambled eggs, fluffy and moist

Tesselaar Tulip Festival

We were very lucky that we got to enjoy the spectacular view of blossomed tulips! I was a little worried that S and I wouldn't enjoy because it's difficult for guys to appreciate and spending money just to see flowers! Hahaha but I was glad that he did enjoy himself. It was actually my first time visiting a flower farm and yes I wouldn't mind more next time :D

We visited 5 wineries at Yarra valley and my personal favourite would be Domaine Chandon

We had our dinner at oriental spoon at Melbourne CBD. It's Korean Food again! Haha Somehow Korean food in Melbourne taste so much better than the ones I tried in Singapore. Remember to be there early because it's always packed!

Oriental spoon

254 La Trobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000

Reason to return: Affordable great Korean food

Day 7 (Melbourne)
Place Visited: Expresso Car Wash
Food: Three Bag Full

Finally after having so many days of breakfast in Australia, I realised that you can choose the coffee BEANS instead of choosing the type of coffee you want. Hahaha never mind, at least I realised! I don't remember the name of the beans I tried but it's from Brazil. It's too good!

Three Bag Full

Corner of Nicholson St and Mollison St, Abbotsford

Reason to return: Coffee! Coffee!

Expresso Carwash

Time to shed some fats away by washing our rental car. It's really fun, remember to bring lots of coins there!

Day 8 (Brisbane)
Place Visited: Indooroopilly
Food: Flute Cafe

Truffle Pasta - They are so generous with truffle oil.

I told my sis that I wanted to eat the best Aussie breakfast since it was my last day in Australia. She recommend me this Best in Brisbane. Portions are really big! Remember to be there early because the queue is scary.

Flute Cafe

4/380 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo

Reason to return: Truffle Pasta and Coffee!

These summed up my holiday trip to Melbourne, Gold Coast & Brisbane. I really got to enjoy lots of awesome food. The planning was indeed tiring but experience was great!

The only bad experience we had was our last night at south bank (Brisbane) around 10pm, we nearly got robbed. It was quite hilarious because I didn't realise that they were trying to rob us. How pathetic and naive I was... living in our safe Singapore. . . I get to appreciate my country more.

Anyway I got scared when I realised that they were robbing us. A lot of hurting and racism comments came out of their mouth. :_( Sigh! I was angry but I choose to believe that not every Australians are racist k. Alright the drama ended up with pushing, shouting from them, and lastly we "won" because we outnumbered them.

Travel safe, you never know when they will attack. S and I were at touristy area and we never expect it.

Pretty view of Brisbane city

Good night love!

Labels: australia, free&easy, holidays, travelogue

Travelogue to Australia Part 4

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Day 4 (Melbourne)
Place Visited: Great Ocean Drive
Food: The Bond Store | Apollo Bay The Fishermen's Co-Op | Dooleys Ice Cream

Looking forward to wake up every morning because of awesome breakfast!

Scrambled Egg on Ciabatta Toast with Chorizo Sausage

Scrambled eggs were a little dry and sausage was way too salty!

Smoked Atlantic Salmon on Chili Corn Fritters

Buttery Field Mushrooms on Rye Toast

The Bond Store

1 Riverside Quay Southbank, Vic 3006

Reason to return: Maybe not. Anything is average.

So we were all ready to do our mini road trip to great ocean drive!

Point Addis

Great Ocean Drive

Split Point Light House

Apollo Bay The Fishermen's Co-Op

The Fries are freeeeee! Hahaha I dislike eating fish and chip without in Australia although the fish tasted awesome but there wasn't any sauce! It's not common to have free flow of tartar or aioli sauce in Australia! You just have to pay for your sauce! :(

We had ice cream at Dooleys! It's so goooooood! The whole shop is filled with certificate of awards for their different flavours of ice cream! Sorry no pictures because I was busy choosing my flavours and too engross eating!

Dooleys Ice Cream - The Ice Cream Tub

89 Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay, Vic 3233

Twelve Apostles

London Bridge

Good night world.

Day 5 (Melbourne)

Places Visited: Cape Bridgewater | Shelly Beach | Grampians

Food: Bridgewater Bay Cafe

Our very cosy apartment we stayed for one night.

Eggs Benedict

Big Breakfast?

There wasn't much choice to choose in Cape Bridgewater. Breakfast and coffees were very homely and they tasted great.

Bridgewater Bay Cafe

1661 Bridgewater Road, Cape Bridgewater Vic 3305

Reason to return: Affordable and above average breakfast

Take a stroll along shelly beach after breakfast. Just as the name suggests, this place used to consist piles and piles of sea shells.

Grampians

Good night!

Labels: australia, free&easy, holidays, travelogue

Travelogue to Australia Part 3

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

I was really excited because we were going to tour the city. I had prepared a list of desserts place to visit. We took the free city tram which was more economically wise.

I like the way they place the mince meat!

"Skateboard Bread"

Koko Black

You must try the HOT chocolate drink. It's so creamy and smooth! I really love it!

Fresh Bananas, Pure Maple Syrup and Almonds Crepe

Salted Caramel Crepe - the best from what we ordered.

Strawberry with Melted Chocolate and Chocolate Ice Cream - Boring

Creperie le Triskel

32 Hardware Lane Melbourne, Vic 3000

Reason to return: I want to try the savoury crepes.

We visited the store next to Creperie le Triskel which was selling macaroons and packed with people. We bought a few to try but I still prefer the ones made from TWG.

Le Belle Miette

30 Hardware Lane Melbourne, Vic 3000

Reason to return: Nil

To our next stop for dessert,

Tired from walking around the city

I realised all the hot beverages taste better than cold.

Ganache Chocolate

245 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic 3000

Reason to return: Hot Chocolate

Too awesome to be real?

Lord of the Fries

I want more sauce but it's chargeable :(

We had dinner at Andrew's Burger (patronise by Master chef judge). Don't get fool by the short queue because there was lots of take away. Grr.. We had to wait almost half an hour but it was definitely worth it.

Andrew's Hamburgers

144 Bridport St, Albert Park, Vic 3206

Reason to return: Andrew burgers with the lot. Do not waste your stomach by having the traditional hamburgers.

How do you say no to all these food?

Good night!

Labels: australia, free&easy, holidays, travelogue

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