Welcome to Bethesda! My Bijou Space is conveniently located in the heart of a vibrant urban community. Walk right out the front door to shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, & anything else you might need. It is easy walking distance to two Metro stops and 1.2 miles to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Walter Reed, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH); apx. 20 min. walk. While small, this place will grant you peace in an awesome location! The space I purchased this wonderful downtown Bethesda flat because it is so conveniently located that I feel such an awesome place would be an awful thing to waste. It is for this reason that I chose to open it up to you. The mid-rise apartment building is within walking distance of a Harris Teeter (supermarket) and the recently opened Trader Joe's just around the corner, the Bethesda metro station, a CVS (pharmacy) just across the street, and there are literally dozens of restaurants and bars within a few blocks. As you'd expect, the apartment is almost brand new. I prefer a minimalist approach to interior decoration, providing a comfortable surrounding, yet, omitting excess. Fast Internet signal (800MBs) is strong in every corner of the flat, so you won't have any issues to stream Netflix, video conferencing, or anything else if that's your thing. Help yourself to use any cooking essentials, and please pay it forward by leaving non-perishables to other future guests. Kitchen appliances are all energy-efficient and new, and I am certain you will find everything you need to cook a feast. However, should you have any special requests, please let me know prior to your arrival, and I will try to do whatever I can to oblige. The bedroom has a small walk-in closet and a comfortable and cozy queen-size bed with a soft memory foam mattress. In addition, the living room has a sofa bed, if not all member of your party are intimately related. There is a small desk by the walk-in closet which includes an HDMI monitor and an LED lamp if working is in your cards while visiting town. With a smart assistant included, you can ask about the weather for the day, request to turn off the living room lights, or control your Roku from the couch. This is an energy efficient, high-tech retrofit place that uses Home Automation (HA) for your own comfort with just about anything you may need for a few days or a few months. The place does include underground, assigned parking for one vehicle. If you need an extra spot, there is a daily $18 fee. Please contact me prior to arrival to secure it. I could go on and on describing my beloved Bijou Bethesda hideaway, but I'll let the pictures and your imagination fill in the rest. Welcome to downtown Bethesda; it will be my pleasure to host you! Guest access Our guests will have complete access to the apartment and the building's amenities. You're welcome to use the well-appointed kitchen. Help yourself to all silverware, plates and cooking utensils. Enjoy the small private balcony with a hammock, or gather in the living room. In short, this is your place, please treat it with comparable love and care. Other things to note Q & A: ------- Q. What if I need more information about the apartment? A. A few days before your check in date, I will send you a reminder with exact information about how to self-check in as well as a very detailed house guide for your phone or laptop with everything you'll need for your stay, including how-to videos (you know, how do I work the thermostat? There's a video for that!). No worries, I've included a less detailed print version in-house as well. Oh, and I will usually also be available after you arrive. Q. Do you have internet? A. Sure do, and it's fast! You may plug in both wirelessly or you can use an Ethernet cable and connect from the router under the TV. You won't have any issues streaming video, uploading large files, or whatever you do online. Trust me, I dig this stuff. Q. Can I self check in? A. Yes you may, in fact you're encouraged to. However, since Airbnb is after all a person-to-person social network, It's nice to say hello once in a while :-). But you're also welcome to self-check in. Detailed instructions will be provided after you book. Q. Coffee? A. That's not a properly structured question, but I do have my share of coffee items. It include a keurig-style coffee maker, which also functions as a regular ground drip maker. There's also an espresso maker, a French Press, an electric coffee grinder, milk frother, and kettle with temp control. In short, if tropical beans are your thing, we've got you covered. Oh. did I mention Trader Joe's beans next door? Q. Is your kitchen well stocked? A. You bet it is. You can even bake a cake and place it on an elevated stand (yes, we've got that too!). If I'm missing anything, please let me know and I'll try to get it for you, if it's that important! Q. What about pets? A. What about them? I love them too! And if you're like me, you can bring them along as well. Except, by pets, I mean the regular four-legged types, such as cats and dogs. If bringing any other one, please check with me before you book. Oh, and if they shed, would you mind vacuuming before heading home? Q. Are there supermarkets close by? A. As close as walking around the block. Trader Joe's just opened shop next door. And Harris Teeter is only a couple of blocks away. You can even have stuff delivered online. What a treat! Q. Is there a laundry room? A. Yes, well, I wouldn't call it a "room", but more like a laundry closet with a stackable and efficient washer and dryer. While we do include detergent and other laundry stuff, I ask that if you'll be doing quite a bit of cloth-shacking, you kindly purchase your own supplies. Thank you! Q. I'll need to do some work, do you have a desk? A. Let me just say, what a bummer, but sure, we do have a small desk in the bedroom. I include an LCD monitor with an HDMI cable (hopefully you'll leave it there for other guests) if you'd like to hook it to your laptop, an LED desk lamp, and some pens and paper (some of us still hand write :-) Q. What streaming services do you have? A. Really? You come all the way here to watch TV? Hey, it's not of my business, but I include Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Peacock TV, CNN, FoxNews (that hurts :-) and some others I never watch, all with my Roku account. I also include over-the-air (OTA) channels, you know, your local PBS, CBS, NBC, Univision, and the like, all for free. And there are two 40" TVs, each with a Bluetooth sound bar. Q. How close are you to the nearest metro stop? A. Close, very close, about 7 minutes walk from Bethesda Station in the Red line. Q. I'll bring a car. Do you include parking? A. Thought you'd never ask. Yes, parking is available for free for one vehicle. Please note, it is underground and assigned, but the spots are tight. Clearance is only 6'3", so before you book, please check your car's height. The place does include underground, assigned parking for one vehicle. If you need an extra spot, there is a daily $18 fee. Please contact me prior to arrival to secure it. Q. What if I don't have a car? A. You'll live a healthier life, then. You can walk to the metro, which is about 7 minutes away, and there is a free (did I mention free?) Bethesda Bus Circulator service that will take you around town. And everything you'll need is within walking distance of the building. In short, you don't really need a car. Q. Do I need to bring anything from home for your apartment? A. A nice bottle of wine will do :-) But no, I believe I've thought of everything after many years as a superhost. The place has clean linens, shower essentials, a hair dryer, a magnifying mirror, a curling iron, cooking amenities galore, two TVs with streaming devices, BT speakers, a smart assistant, comfy pillows, a hammock, cleaning items, etc, etc. If I forget anything, kindly let me know. Q. Will you spy on me while in the condo? A. No, that's not ethical or right. However, please know that my place uses Home Automation (HA) extensively for your convenience, such as as the smart lights, door lock and thermostat. Q. What's the deal about you being a superhost? A. Well...modesty aside, I've grown to be rather proud of such title. You see, I've traveled the world over and I have also been an Airbnb host since only a few knew this platform even existed. I thusly believe that I can predict what most folks need when coming to a new place. I personally reply to each and every request, and I do whatever is humanly possible to help my guests, mistakes and all. I do what I do because I enjoy it, not because I need it. That's what being a "superhost" is all about.