Hephaestus Apartment - The Craftsman of Town

The place is small but has everything one needs. The kitchen is well equipped to make meals. Bedding is very nice. The place is well located with supermarkets, restaurants and cafes at the doorstep. The managers send videos on how to get the keys, heating instructions etc which are super helpful. They were also very responsive.

The common are of the building was quite dirty (not under the control of the apartment) and there is a steep set of stairs with no elevator. That was not a problem for us though.

The apartment was very clean and comfortable and in a very convenient location right on the High Street. Check in/out was easy.

The High Street is convenient but be aware is a lot of street noise especially in the evenings from surrounding bars and pubs. There is no real storage in the bathroom - it needs some shelves and hooks at least for the basics. During my four day stay, there was no TV or internet. I notified the host (Nick) immediately and he said he'd "try to reset it". The problem was not cured and when I asked again I got the same response. Then he just ignored me. When I checked out, his business partner (Rose) apologized and did not deny there was a problem, but when I asked for some form of compensation, she ignored me too. Since I had prepaid, my only option is to dispute the charge. Sadly, now the owner is now telling the credit company that they provided all the advertised services. Ultimately the initially evasive, and ultimately dishonest hosts, really spoiled the experience. I use booking.com often and and have never had such a poor experience. I would not return. And I would not recommend this property or any property managed by Kirov Estates.

The location is in the heart of Southampton. Cosy flat and good kitchen tools.

The rugs are very dirty. Lots of hair The beds, duvet and pillows are too old and weak. The stairs are long and tiring to climb while carrying heavy luggage.

Cleanliness, location, Hospitality and cooperation of hosts

It was a bit noisy, we could easily hear sounds from other flats and outside as well.

Very nice, clean and modern with all necessary utensils in the kitchen.

The bathroom lock was abit hard to unlock.