Site Copy - Apartment Descriptions
What was Waytostay?
Waytostay was an apartment booking site which provided short-stay apartment rentals across Europe. At its peak the company had around ninety full-time employees and a significant share of the short-stay market. Sadly, if you visit the Waytostay domain today you'll find only a ghost-website. The tsunami-like expansion of Airbnb meant that Waytostay became marginalised and the company was sold in 2014.
I worked as a full-time English copywriter in the six-language content team. Since English was the company's "lead language", web copy was often composed and approved in English before being translated to other languages (French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian).
During my time at Waytostay an entirely new website was built from scratch (2011). Writing fresh copy for thousands of apartments was just the start. Everything from Customer Service Email Templates and FAQs to City Neighbourhood Descriptions and Landing Page Headers was required. Whatever writing project we undertook, our mission was to write always in accordance with the style guide for “Waytostay 2.0”.
Apartment Descriptions
Waytostay had in the region of 3000 apartment listings, and each one had its own page and unique copy. The following are a selection of descriptions which I wrote for properties in various European cities. Descriptions were based on apartment photographs and information submitted by the owner. The copy had to follow the style guide, adhere to a character limit (280) and contain an "Inside" and "Outside" tag.
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Cosy Gaby
Inside: Your kingdom
Outside: Imperial palace
Ok, so it’s not got as much space as the 1400 room Schönbrunn Palace, nearby. Still, we reckon
that this apartment packs more than its fair share of Viennese elegance into thirty square metres. Rustle up a scrambled egg brunch and decide whether it’s the 17th century or 21st century Vienna to be conquered today. Your steed (or the metro) awaits.
Tatou Mer
Inside: perfect berth
Outside: Place des Vosges
Shiver me timbers, this is a fine place to drop anchor! Right in the heart of the Marais. This apartment’s
nautical theme will suit you if you long for a life on the high seas. And there aren’t many pirate ships as comfortable as this. Set sail for the Place des Vosges and Centre Pompidou, both close by. A cruise down the
Seine is compulsory.
Aulich Grande
Inside: high ceilings
Outside: highly exciting
This is what we’re talking about. Step in the door with
your group and marvel at the space. They don’t call it “grande” for nothing. And isn’t that parquet floor something else. Beautiful. You´ve all got a smile on your face but especially whoever’s
grabbed the funky mezzanine bed. Don’t worry about getting your Budapest bearings. You´re dead centre.
Pasión Sagrada
Inside: Comfort a la Marseillaise
Outside: La Sagrada Familia
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the Sagrada Familia, right outside your apartment. Incredible. It’s
addictive looking up at the towers, but a bit sore on the neck, right? Maybe it’s time for a more panoramic view. Your bright and cheery apartment may be coloured like a French Tricolor, but you’re in central Barcelona.
So get out there and explore!
Casa São Miguel
Inside: Sunglasses on
Outside: Sunglasses on
This apartment would have to be made out of gingerbread to make it any sweeter.
In the daintiest of buildings, perched on the fairytale cobbled streets of the Alfama, you’re half way between the castle and downtown Chiado. The interior is bursting with freshness. And so white and bright, you can
even wear those expensive sunglasses indoors too.
Régiposta
Inside: Slide around
Outside: Váci Street
Hello central Budapest and hello Váci Street. Just as much fun as Sesame Street but without the puppets, you can sing a song or two as you explore the shops and restaurants. A location off the city’s most famous thoroughfare isn’t all
you have. Your apartment’s great too; recline in the tub then slide in your socks on the parquet floor. Relax and enjoy.
Bamboo Real
Inside: Total comfort
Outside: Old-world Lisbon allure
So you want to be among the history of the Bairro Alto; the charm of the crumbling walls, peeling
paint and rickety doorways. Well, actually you want to SEE that, but you don´t want to STAY in it. Fortunately, this apartment solves the conundrum. Fresh, white and double glazed, you’ll be totally comfortable.
But still bathed in old-world Lisbon allure.
Proconsolo Tusca
Inside: Whoop!
Outside: Il Duomo!
Don’t “whoop” too loud when you first enter this apartment. You’re likely to have to increase
the “whoop” volume as you progress through the rooms. As Italian in flavour as gorgonzola risotto, there are wooden beams and clay tiles a plenty. And with no small amount of comfort. The climax, of course, is
the leafy terrace with Duomo views. Whooop!
Canette Mosaic
Inside: Mountain-top elation
Outside: Saint Germain
There may be five floors and no lift but you could walk up the
stairs on your hands and this apartment would still be worth the effort. Your climbing is rewarded with a mountain-top view (in the bathroom) and an interior which is simply a delight. Fresh fruit juice on the balcony, anyone?
And those aren’t just any rooftops. This is St Germain too.
Pretorio Romano
Inside: mellow yellow
Outside: Termini Station
This mustard coloured apartment will leave you feeling mellow yellow
after a busy day out and about. It’s not overly fussy in its design. But you’ve got everything you need for your stay. It shouldn’t go unnoticed that Termini Station is just around the corner. Even if you’re
not arriving by train, this travel hub is easy to get back to.
Chiado Opera
Inside: a peach
Outside: tram-tastic
We’re giving up. There’s clearly not enough space in this paragraph to sufficiently describe all the plus-points
of this apartment. And when you visit, you’ll no doubt feel that you haven’t had enough time to enjoy them all either (unless you stay for a year that is). Is it possible to stay in too nice an apartment? This
one really is a peach.
Franco Marx
Inside: transport your mind
Outside: Karl-Marx Allee
Ok, so the shower looks a bit like a time-machine. Don’t
worry. You won’t be transported in time, though this apartment may move you to a state of bliss. There is absolutely no clutter. Just clean-cut comfort and a reassuring glow of modernity. If you’re in town with
friends, check out the sister apartments in the same building.
Fritsche Modern
Inside eighties attitude
Outside: trees and cobbles
Grrr! Black leather chairs and leopard print bed-covers! This is an apartment with attitude. We don’t think we’re wrong in detecting a slight 80s vibe in the artwork and detailing. But you
don’t have to like Depeche Mode to have fun here. You’ve 90 sqm of funky Berlin apartment space at your disposal. And it’s mighty well kitted out to boot.
Cantoni Flat
Inside: hunky-dory
Outside: gladiators, ready?
This apartment is hunky-dory for a Rome visit. The open plan layout makes it best suited for couples, but there’s a sofa bed too if you want to use it. You don’t get central heating or a heated
shower rail in most Rome apartments, so that’s a plus. The wall-mounted TV will serve you well at breakfast time. But you’ve a date at the nearby Coliseum, so don’t hang about.
Thistle Cott
Inside: warm white
Outside:
super-central tranquility
Despite its pristine, all-white décor, this apartment has a pleasing warmth to it thanks to the fireplace and carpeted floor. And that’s
no bad thing here in Edinburgh! There is a sturdiness and quality throughout the interior. No more so than in the impressive kitchen. So get yourself some bacon and black pudding for a hearty Scottish breakfast!
Mithouard
Inside: Paname panache
Outside: picture perfect Paris
This apartment gleams with old-fashioned Paname panache. Ornate gold decoration gives a sparkle to every room. And the naturally aged
wood of the flooring and furniture perfectly offsets the metallic shine. Making sure that the beauty of the elegant interior can be fully appreciated, the magnificent feature window illuminates the lounge. A treat.
Marina Colom
Inside: plum pick
Outside: where to, Columbus?
This apartment’s got an identical twin next door. But if you’ve
got two identical twins yourself (or two kids in general) then this will be ideal. The purple-accented interior is packed with mod cons, literally making this a plum pick for your family. Give yourself blast of AC if it gets
too hot. And hook yourself up to the internet to plan your day.
Prazeres
Inside: more angles than Pythagoras
Outside: quiet, village feel
Between the roof beams and diagonally running walls, this apartment has more interesting angles than Pythagoras playing twister. Other than the dynamically
shaped interior, the fine wooden furniture and soft furnishings also stand out. Everything is arranged in a very mature and proper way. This is definitely relaxation for adults.
Bestviews
Inside: Lemon and lime
Outside:
Parliament
This little one bedroom is zestier than a slice of lemon-meringue pie. There’s a warm feel due to the wooden floorboards. But that shock of lime green certainly livens things up. The sloping attic
ceiling makes this a dynamic little den. And you’ll get a really nice surprise looking through the bedroom window. What a great view of the parliament building!
