My second stay with Mark thorough VRBO; again, it was a great stay. Amenities were great, location is stellar. Mark and his time went above and beyond. Will stay again if ever back in Richmond!
Property was just as described. Management was very responsive to questions and quick to answer any concerns, which there was only one. Perfect location within walking distance to many great restaurants, theaters and shopping spots. We will definitely stay again when we return to Richmond.
Pictures were accurate. Area was disappointed and had to pay for parking every 11 hours which was very annoying. Bathroom mirror was very dirty thank goodness i had cleaning products had to clean it 3 times,they must of used same rag to clean the stove i had to do the something. There were no garage bags
Sorry but i was not happy but i paid in full so i stayed my full 3 days.
The unit is even better than the photos. The high ceilings and large windows give a spacious feel. We checked in on a Monday which was a day the "office" (music store downstairs) was closed but the communication was great and the check in went smoothly. The apartment faces a busy street so there was street noise. You can watch all the activity down below from the big windows. The bedroom doesn't have a window but it was cozy and the bed was comfy. The Arts District is an up and coming area so there are lots of restaurants and eclectic shops, however it still has some derelict spots. Overall it's cool and interesting area. Definitely recommend this rental.
The art district is amazing and this unit is smack in the middle to be able to access both downtown and per take in all the activities the district has to offer. The unit was extremely clean and had a great view. We loved our stay here and will stay again if returning on business in the near future.
My husband and I like to forgo the chain hotels whenever possible in favor of smaller hotels and VRBO stays where you get to experience the feel of the local area. This apartment provided that in a wonderful way! The historic building has been modernized and updated without losing the best details, like the original high pressed tin ceilings. The bedroom was very quiet with a comfortable bed and there was even a washer and dryer. The living/kitchen area was nice and open with modern details. The area has a similar feel to downtown Savannah or Charleston and you are close to the convention center and several good restaurants. City Parking was conveniently located directly behind the building. Mark and Tommy (who checked us in and gave us some good restaurant recommendations) were friendly and helpful. It was a great stay while in town for a quick work trip and visit to Monticello!
Tommy was timely and very friendly and even assisted us with getting our bags inside the apartment. Overall the apartment was great. Few things that deducted one star:
- the listing was a bit misleading in regard to parking. Maybe it's a verbiage thing, but "parking available" led us to believe that the unit had a designated spot (even if it would've been an additional charge). Parking was not included/available, though we were directed to the City of RVA's parking
website by the hosts).
- we received communication about the parking situation 24 hours prior to our stay, therefore could not cancel without incurring a fee.
- the TV remote was not functional. We attempted to change the batteries but it still did not work. Not a big deal, we both downloaded the firetv app on our phones and worked around it
These did not deduct from the rating, but just an FYI to future renters:
- the bedroom is windowless. It provides a restful night's sleep, but we did not elect to hang out in the bedroom at all because of the lack of natural light.
- the location is in the middle of downtown/shockoe and Carytown. We prefer to walk around to sitesee but because this was smack in the middle of two neighborhoods where more action is, we had to Uber everywhere.
This was my third time staying in one of Mr. Szafranskiâs units and the unit was just as great as the other two. Great and clean space, super comfy bed and great set up to work and relax. Walkable neighborhood close to VCU and restaurants/coffee shops. I enjoyed the space and neighborhood. I hope Mr. Szafranski appreciates returning customers like myself, although I couldnât tell from his very canned and bland communications. I can live with that though because the space was as pictured and promised. But it would be nice to feel your returning business is appreciated! There was also another communication issue I was very disappointed with and still am (the power was out for a few hours one day; I wasnât informed in advance although they were aware it would be out). My main disappointment was that I received a response about the issue 13 hours after I sent a message and it didnât include any note of acknowledgment of my inconvenience. Even though the issue was out Mr. Szafranskiâs control, a simple sorry for your inconvenience goes along with customer interactions. I did get in contact with his assistant during the power outage and he said he meant to tell me when I checked in the day prior. I understand we all are human and things slip our minds but again the disappointment was that Mr. Szafranski replied in the Vrbo app 13 hours later and just said we understand the power went out but thankfully it came back on in a few hours. Yes thankfully indeed and luckily I didnât need to work early that day but Heaven help me if I had a ventilator or respirator that needed electricity. Again, just a simple âalthough this was out of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenienceâ would have went a long way. Put a bad taste in my mouth but I still rate them high (they emphasize that anything less than a 5 star rating âhurtsâ them) because the unit was so comfortable and served my purposes. Donât know if I will stay again because I am not sure my business is appreciated but for other travelers considering Mr. Szafranskiâs units, they are as pictured/described and are quite comfortable.
I really loved this place! Clean and neat and had everything I needed. The hosts were very helpful. I recommend this place highly! Lots of great places to eat in the area and an easy walk to local stores, museums and beautiful neighborhoods...fall colors were amazing.
Thank you for 3 wonderful days!
We have been traveling from Charleston, Savannah, Richmond & on to Williamsburg for our nieces wedding & stayed at Mark's place in Richmond. Great welcome by Tommy one of the the staff members. Great location to access all the sites in Richmond-easy walk to the Capital-a must-see Ms. Barbara, the Civil War Museum, a beautiful walk along the James River, tour or dine at the Jefferson Hotel & an easy drive to Monticello. You must go to Monticello-spent a fabulous Fall day there or the great wine country!! The property has lots of great restaurants in the area & especially along Grace Street. We enjoyed Stella's Grocery for take out Greek food-good! Another gem is right across the street-The November Theater-we watched the fabulous Broadway Comedy Chicken and Biscuits. Toped the trip! Quirk Roof Top Bar or stop in at the Secret Sandwich Society-Great Key Lime Pie! Thanks Mark
Pleasant, comfortable environment with easy access to restaurants and museums with a theater across the street. The bus stop was right out front. Barber shop and salons on the same block and quality take-out nearby. James Riverfront and Canal Walk were wonderful. Just happened to have the 2022 Richmond Folk Festival was over our weekend. I would certainly return. Parking should be no problem for tech savvy smart phone users.
Condo was clean and well-kept. Building entrances in front or back were easy and safe. Tommy in the Music Store was a big help and ready to assist. Highly recommend.
Lovely property in my hometown. Owner laid back and down to earth. Seamless booking and check-in. Great dining options within walking distance. My new go to when Iâm visiting. Thanks.
This place was clean and spacious. It was a nice place to spend a week and would likely be nice for longer. I do not think you could do much better in Richmond!
Perfect place to stay to explore RVA! The apartment is clean, neat and comfortable! Bedroom is dark and quiet - perfect sleeping in a city setting! Mark, the host and the guys in the Music Store were easy to communicate with and helpful!
Highly recommend grabbing a drink at the Quirk Hotel rooftop bar - awesome views and the pink elevator is too much fun! We had a delicious seafood dinner at The Hard Shell and then walked a couple of blocks to the Tobacco Company for their Butter cake for 2, drinks and live music! Also - worth checking out - VMFA (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), Carytown, Hollywood Cemetery (we drove it - follow the blue line and pick up a $1 map when entering), Maymont Mansion (tour of the house was worth the $8) and the grounds are spectacular - the waterfall, Japanese and Italian gardens are beautiful. Finally take a walk on one of the walking suspension bridges over the James river! Still so much to see and do!
We will be back and we will try and stay here again!
This place was perfect for our needs! We were able to walk everywhere, Whole Foods is nearby and delivers, and the bus is right outside. We had great communication with the host. I went to a conference at the convention center and it was very easy to get to. The unit has been beautifully updated and the charm of the original building retained. The bedroom is nice and dark so we slept great! We hope to be able to visit again. Highly recommend!