AIL

Madrid, Spain

"The room was very small for two people (I went with my husband) and it was too hot at night. There is no air conditioning in this heat wave and the windows face a patio. The apartment was also very small, with no living room. Someone else rents a room. After 3 days we stayed in an apartment with AirBNB in the same neighborhood.

"The accommodation offered was not really suitable for a couple (too cramped, little space to do homework), but this was partly due to the circumstances (intense heat, windows opening only towards one inner axis). That said, we enjoyed the company of the lady who was hosting us, well mannered and well meaning. We were a little sorry that we had to leave this accommodation after a few days, but it was almost impossible to sleep.

"Transportation: The subway/bus would have taken about an hour to get to school, so instead I took a cab. School apartment: The apartment was fine, but the building was missing the wall on the ENTIRE back stairwell. Instead of a solid basement to roof-top wall, the stairwell had a series of wires to caution and/or prevent people from falling out the building into its backyard. Apparently, the building has been in a long-term process of elevator construction. They say it will be built in November. From what I've seen, if it is to be built in November, it would be November of 2025 or 2026. Cleaning/Housekeeping: The room was not ready when I was scheduled to arrive. Inexplicitly, the maid had left all of my neighbor’s laundry (sheets, bedding, towels, etc.) to dry in my living room. She came early the next morning to pick it up. As there is a 6 hour time difference between Spain and New York, USA, I paid to arrive one-day early to work off my jet lag. The maid’s early morning arrival to retrieve the drying laundry for the apartment next door, prevented me from getting my needed sleep. In addition, in the contract I was promised weekly room cleaning service. That never happened. After Ana, my Language Course representative, contacted the school about the room cleaning service, the maid came once during my three-week stay. She "cleaned" for about 10 minutes. The entire time she complained about having to clean the room.

"The appartment is not bad, but situated on the high 3rd floor without elevator. You get 6 keys from different doors in order to come in.

"The overall quality of the accommodation is mediocre: the kitchen is barely equipped, the bathroom is dirty, the living room is unattractive... Fortunately, my room was fine, but that's not the case of all the rooms!

"The kitchen lacks work space and the oven does not work.