Vacation Rentals by Owner

family trip to barcelona

Guest: danny (Visalia, Davis, San Ramon)
Date of Stay: 06/28/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

The apartment was better than described! Yes,It's noisy on la rambla, but the dual window doors muffle the sound well. It was a convenient location and totally cool to go out on the balcony and watch some of the activities happening on la rambla. The Boqeria was AMAZING! I went there every day to look around, grab some fresh fruit, cheese, eat.. whatever! What a plus that was! Antonia met us there and there was a wonderful basket of fruit and beverages waiting for us! Such a nice touch! No kitchen oven but the hotplate was enough to allow me to cook some breakfast meals as well as one dinner meal. Loved it... Would definitely recommend to newcomers especially to Barcelona! I fell in love with that city!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Barcelona's Perfect Location

Guest: Helen (Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

My husband and I, with our daughter and son-in-law, spent a few days at this wonderfully-located apartment. It's on what we would call the third floor with easily-manageable stairs. The rooms are spacious, the beds comfortable, the kitchen has every piece of equipment needed, and there was even an extra eating room off the kitchen. It was so less expensive than if the four of us had rented two rooms at a comparable hotel, and no one would have had a better location than this apartment. A metro stop is "right there," and we used it constantly to tour the rest of the city as well to the train station to attend the Barcelona Formula 1 race we had come to attend. It was so special to have the balcony from which to enjoy La Ramblas and the never-ending entertainment of the people passing by, as well as the outdoor restaurants below us. A beautiful, quiet area is also off the back bedroom. Only two of the rooms are air conditioned, but we found all the rooms to have a comfortable temperature. The only downside for us was that the bathrooms were less than wonderful, very small, and with only one little shower a bit difficult to coordinate with four adults. A bathrub would have been excellent! BUT the place as a whole was very comfortable, and I can't emphacize enough the location. Everything you want is within easy walking distance - including the harbor - or easy "metro-ing" or even bussing or taxi. We used them all. The other big plus of the location is the people in charge. They were helpful to us before we arrived and ontime to meet us with the keys. Thoughtful foods were provided as a welcome, including the all-important coffee in case you hadn't had a chance to make it to the store yet. They also told us where to find things, but we fell in love with the nearby Boqueria market (I spelled it wrong!) for food to cook, morning breakfast cooked on the spot with local menus and ingredients - and daily bread! If you've got a trip to Barcelona in your future, give this place serious consideration. A good bargain and value for the money. Thank you, Elisenda and Osvaldo, for our excellent stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great location but...

Guest: MC (Biloxi, MS)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

My family and I just stayed there and it was a wonderful location from which to base our operations and touring while in Barcelona. The area is hip, funky, and alive at all hours--so bring your earplugs if you are a light sleeper! The back bedroom is probably the prettiest, but it is also the one that is not air-conditioned, so be prepared. Also, the main bathroom that is featured is COMPLETELY FALSE! It is only a narrow shower, toilet, and sink and the space is very small (the shower curtain sticks to you while you are in the shower and then water gets all over the floor) and its overall appearance is quite dated. It is very cool to have one's own balcony from which to look on over Las Ramblas, I must say, but this apartment needs to be refurbished a bit as the furniture in it is looking rather worn. Again, GREAT location, but just know that all you see advertised isn't quite so.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Good family location

Guest: Leanne (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

Perfect for us. We were a family with a baby, a young child and my parents. The owner was very helpful and put a number of very handy baby items in the apartment such as a bath, high chair and crib. The location was very central and although on a lively street the double windows made it okay but ear plugs might be a good idea for some on the weekends. There is a beautiful market just 2 blocks away so we ate breakfast in the apartment, made our lunch to take with us (lots of nice picnic places), had snacks on hand and went out for dinner. We had lots of space and the two larger bedrooms are far apart and private. The only item some may not like, but it didn't bother us, is the old dated furniture and the small bathrooms. The owner is very easy to work with and had some food and water already in the apartment. The Wi fi also works well.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Sorry so late!

Guest: LA (U.S-Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 04/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

Dear Elisenda, So sorry it took me a while to offer feedback from our stay in your apartment. First and foremost, I know I may have asked a thousand questions, but I only ask questions to learn and to find out the best way to navigate the city. Otherwise, I am a perfect house guest! I have to let you know that we all agreed that it was the best vacation that we ever had. For me, I am happy that I was able to give that gift to my 75 year old mother. Although my ears feel like they are going to fall off from her telling the world about our vacation!!!!!! Osvaldo was simply fabulous and we want him to be an adoptive member of our family. He is a good man and an added bonus to your business. I think he deserves a raise. It is not easy to find people to work with/for you who can reflect how you would run the daily operations yourself. We want him to come visit us in the States. Of course I did all of the work (33 pages of email notes with you to be exact) and all of the research and I ended up in the bedroom without a balcony. I get no respect! :) Anyway, I thought the location was simply perfect for us and to get back and forth on the metro. I didn't even mind the street noise, which really is only evident on the weekend. We definitely look forward to coming back so please don't sell! The next time, the only email that I will send will be to ask what dates you have available. I am sure that will make you smile. Take Care and I look forward to talking to you soon, Lisa PS-The steps could be a problem for someone with disabilities or health issues.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Apartment!

Guest: Mary (Houston, Texas/USA)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/17/11

What a marvelous experience we had in Barcelona all due to our choosing this perfect apartment. I was traveling with my 3 young adult children and the accommodations were great for us. The 3 large bedrooms with beds for everyone, kitchen with breakfast area, large living room, great balconies overlooking The Ramblas, and 1 and 1/2 baths were just as represented. It was full of old world charm. Knowing that it was once the tailor's for the opera just added to the charm! The location was great. We were close to everything we wanted to do...explore neighborhoods, visit the market, the harbor, museums, great food and shopping. Everything was so clean and easy. The location was easy to get to from the airport and if we were tired of walking, taxis were always plentiful. The owners were more than helpful accommodating our arrival on Christmas Day, offering great advice on restaurants and activities not to mention they went above and beyond their expected duty in helping us with a problem we had. I look forward to visiting again and hope to stay in the same apartment (or at least another owned by the same person!).

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

4 days

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 12/24/10

A bit noisy both in front and back. And only 1 shower was a bit of a challenge. But the location was excellent in terms of moving around town. The climate was well controlled as well. Would recommend as long as you can sleep through some noise. Watch out for the stairs as well, could be difficult for some peoplel

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A Wonderful Location

Guest: Jean (Midlothian, Texas)
Date of Stay: 11/03/10 Review Submitted: 12/01/10

A total of six adults rented this wonderful apartment for four nights. We were met promptly by the owner's sister. She also called the next day to see if we experienced any problems or needed anything. For those of you who are traveling with several people I recommend this property. With all the sleeping arrangements and bath and a half it's a great value for the money. The location couldn't be better. Just make sure you have a young and strong enough person with you to carry you luggage of the flights of stairs! I recommend this property to everyone.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

La Rambla

Guest: Murray (Coronado,California)
Date of Stay: 08/03/10 Review Submitted: 08/22/10

My wife and I stayed at Elisenda's place for ten days - along with our 18-year old son, and two of his friends. It couldn't have been better. The guys had their own space, in the huge bedroom in the rear of the apartment. When they weren't running around Barcelona, they loved to hang out, in that room. It has a great feel - along with the rest of the apartment. Not fancy - but very comfortable. The dual glazed doors on the front of the apartment really do make a difference - you can shut off the busy La Rambla, when you need to. Also, being right at the metro stop is a great convenience. You can be out and about all day (or night), and then when you poke your head up out of the metro, you are... home! It's like magic. We had one small plumbing issue, which Elisenda took care of quickly, without fuss. I know where I'm going to stay, next time I'm in Barcelona.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

I would challenge you to do better than this apt - Don't Pass This One Up!!!

Guest: Jason (Cincinnati, OH/USA)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

I stayed here for four nights in July 2010. What a wonderful place to see Barcelona!!!! First of all, it is an old tailor's shop and has tons of character. The tailor's insignias are still on the glass doorways. It was very clean and well kept. Agatha was there to be helpful for anything we needed. There is a ton of space here and a great common room to socialize in. We were three men in our 30s traveling around Europe and this was ideal for us. The owner was totally reliable and was there to meet us on time. Also - a big bonus that is unadvertised is that there is a small washer and a place to dry your clothes in the back. This was ideal for us as we minimized our luggage. They also don't advertise how quiet this place is - the street noise on the Ramblas was easily kept out by the insulated glass doors. Front balcony is a huge plus! Close to all the clubs and the Barri Gotic shopping district, I would challenge you to find a better place. P.S. **I disagree with the earlier negative review. The entryway had some peeling paint but this was minor. The TV and all electronics worked fine. Wifi also worked fine.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

6 nights- right in the center of it all in beautiful Barcelona!!!

Guest: Robert (Winter Springs, Florida)
Date of Stay: 06/04/10 Review Submitted: 06/28/10

We rented this wonderful apartment for 6 nights in early June 2010. The location is excellent- overlooks the center of the Ramblas with a great people watching view from the balconies- yet very quiet when the insulated glass doors are closed. The apartment is directly across from the Opera House, steps from the Liceu subway, a block from the wonderful market, and right at the edge of the great Barri Gotic neighborhood. We are a family of four, my wife, son age 21, and daughter age 15. Our decision each morning was which street cafe, viewed from the balcony, to have breakfast at, then which direction to walk- north to the Catalunya square or south to the port area, east to the Barri Gotic neighborhood or to the Boqueria market or convenient subway just steps away. Working out the arrangements with Elisenda was a breeze and meeting up with Osvaldo upon arrival went smooth. The coffee, milk, and juice already stocked in the refrigerator was a nice welcome gift. Thank you Elisenda- you have a wonderful apartment in beautiful Barcelona and we will look you up when we return in the future.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Esther California (California)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 05/07/10

We stayed at this lovely apartment last April. Perfect location. Enjoyed Saint Georges festivity, books and roses from the balcony. Big apartment. Comfortable beds. Nice bathrooms that appear to be recently renewed (no bathtub, but comfortable shower). We could walk virtually everywhere from our apartment! It was like an oasis in the middle of Barcelona! Boqueria market is 5 minutes walk! We would buy fruit and wine, the best in the city. Nice spots around to eat tapas. 20 minutes down the Ramblas nice walk to the harbour. There are not enough words to describe how cool and convenient the location and the family run apartment was... I do not understand previous review from Barbara from NY... The entrance of the apartment is antique, but nothing that would scare anyone away! It has its charm! The apartment has its own flavour and character of an authentic downtown apartment in Barcelona. And comortable, clean and run by a caring and responsive family, that was very helpful and always available.I love Barcelona and I would definitely stay at this apartment again!

Recommended for:

Review for Beautiful Apt. at Ramblas : )

Guest: JKDCB (Wenatchee, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/27/10 Review Submitted: 05/23/10

We really enjoyed our stay at this apartment on Las Ramblas. It was very spacious and comfortable for our family of 5. The beds were really comfortable and the apartment was very clean. It was right in middle of the Las Ramblas road and the balcony overlooked the street which was amazing to watch, you will never see anything quite like it : ) The stairway to the subway/metro were just steps away from the apartment and you could go virtually anywhere in Barcelona from there. The owner was very helpful with questions or concerns before and during our stay! I would definatley rec. this to friends or relatives : )

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Very nice location in the heart of Barcelona

Guest: Esther California (California)
Date of Stay: 04/23/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/10

We stayed at this lovely apartment last April. Perfect location. Enjoyed Saint Georges festivity, books and roses from the balcony. Big apartment. Comfortable beds. Nice bathrooms that appear to be recently renewed (no bathtub, but comfortable shower). We could walk virtually everywhere from our apartment! It was like an oasis in the middle of Barcelona! Boqueria market is 5 minutes walk! We would buy fruit and wine, the best in the city. Nice spots around to eat tapas. 20 minutes down the Ramblas nice walk to the harbour. There are not enough words to describe how cool and convenient the location and the family run apartment was... I do not understand previous review from Barbara from NY... The entrance of the apartment is antique, but nothing that would scare anyone away! It has its charm! The apartment has its own flavour and character of an authentic downtown apartment in Barcelona. And comortable, clean and run by a caring and responsive family, that was very helpful and always available. I love Barcelona and I would definitely stay at this apartment again!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Place in a Great Locations

Guest: RTMB (Kaiserslautern Germany)
Date of Stay: 04/10/10 Review Submitted: 06/17/10

Could not ask for a better location, right on the Ramblas and right at a Metro station! The apartment is everything you could want in accomodations and more. Clean, comfortable living area with bedrooms that easily accomodated my family of 6. You are right where the action is with the Ramblas and Opera house right outside the living room window! The owner and her representativies could not have been more helpful and accomodating answering questions, giving recommendations and having little welcome goodies upon your arrival. We would not stay anywhere else when we go back!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Disappointed

Guest: Babs1234 (New York)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

I would like to start off by saying this apartment is in a great location and is very spacious. The beds are good, linens and towels are clean. Sadly, these are the only things that it has going for it. The apartment is totally misrepresented. The pictures on the website must be outdated, they do not depict what the apartment is actually like. The entrance way to the building is horrendous, if they had put the pictures of it on the website NO ONE would stay there. The upkeep of the apartment could have been cleaner. There was lots of dust on glassware and dishes, they had to be washed before use.The refridgerator didn't keep things cold. Loose tiles in the hallway and the step into the bathroom could cause someone to hurt themselves There was peeling on all the woodwork. The apartment was dingy and the lighting very bad. We were left with a TV that didn't work and a radio that was falling apart. Very few hangers in the apartment. The water pressure in kitchen was awful. The landlord was not accessible. These are things that are so simple to correct. We were also told that there was a hot tub and there wasn't one. I have recommended this apartment to friends, but because of my disppointment I must tell them to find another place to stay.

Owner response:We take our guests opinions and comments very seriously and wish to do all that is in our hands to make our guest’s stay as nice and comfortable as possible. Clearly, some aspects are subjective to the traveler’s opinions and personal expectations.We are aware it’s not easy to please all guests who stay in our family run apartment but we always try to make their stay as pleasant as possible. Needless to say, we are always available to help our guests, available on the phone 24 hours and can be at the apartment in less than 30 minutes. To improve the upkeep of the kitchen, there is a new dishwasher and a new fridge. There is a new TV set. Radio has been checked and it works perfectly, with speakers and CD player. Extra hangers have been provided. Pictures depict how the apartment is exactly like in a sunny day. Lighting of the house is bright and natural (2 main balconies in the front/1 in the back/plus kitchen windows). All ceiling lamps are beautiful antique, modernist art nouveau style and energy saving bulbs are used, since these lamps require many bulbs. The trick is to keep the lights on for a couple of minutes until the bulb warms up and provides bright warm cozy lighting. Nevertheless, pictures should be updated to reflect minor renovations and repainting. In the bathroom, bathtub was replaced by a walk in shower to make it more comfortable for all kind of travelers. Pictures should also depict the new double-glazing insulating windows in the front living room and main bedroom, installed after March. The Ramblas is a very lively street and these new windows provide nice insulation. The apartment is not listed as brand new and it is clean and well maintained. Indeed, there is a lot of wood, paintings and antique decoration that provide a real feeling of Spain and Barcelona. Antiques are clean and maintained, but of course not shinny since some are more than 50 years old. The building itself is antique, 19th century. Entrance has antique white marble stairs. Door to the building is antique wrought iron. We sincerely apologize when traveler’s expectations are not met. We accept constructive criticism and do our best to improve and help our guests have an enjoyable stay in Barcelona. We ourselves love to travel and know how important it is to feel happy and satisfied with your accommodation. We know what we like when we travel and we do our best to provide it to our guests, trying to give the best value for money in your accommodation.

Recommended for:

an unforgettable trip to Barcelona

Guest: Scottlo (Chicago, IL/USA)
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/10

We recently went to Barcelona on vacation and we decided we prefer not to stay at a normal hotel, instead we stay at this amazing family run apartment at Ramblas, the apartment is comfortable. clean and well maintained, it's right in the center and very close to the metro, the apartment it's in a historical spanish building, makes it more interesting to stay there. In fact, I consider the entrance of the building was interesting and charming. The pictures depict the apartment. We stayed there for 5 nights, because the location and the hospitality from the landlord Antonia, it makes our trip unforgettable. She was always available and always answered our questions. She recommended restaurants (with her little English) and was always available. She took very good care of us and left nice fruit and drinks at our arrival, and we appreciated it very much. We would definitely recommend it for sightseeing and getting a real taste of Barcelona life. Thank you Antonia and Osvaldo for a great stay!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: heart doc (canada)
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

Our family of 5 (ages 17-50)stayed at the "beautiful apartment on La Rambla" July 30-Aug 4 2009. The location was FANTASTIC, across the street from Liceu Metro and Opera house right at the mid point of La Rambla. The apartment was as it appears in the photos--large rooms and clean. The air conditioning in the main bedroom and living room worked well. The Shower was nice. It is only a 5 minute walk to La Boqueria Market where we went every day to get breakfast food and snacks. It is also walking distance to the Gothic quarter where there are lots of good restaurants etc. We would be pleased to stay there again. Jan

Recommended for:

Guest: John Hartley (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/14/08 Review Submitted: 11/14/08

You couldn't ask for a better location if you want to experience the real Barcelona. Its central location is perfect and you can virtually walk anywhere in the city. If you wish to get somwhere a little quicker the subway is right at your doorstep. There are also plentiful taxis at a reasonable price. This apartment is very clean with a superb view of the main street Las Ramblas from the balcony. A short walk north and you will find a wonderful market where you can get fresh fruit, cheese, bread and meat. It was great to get up early and go get some groceries for breakfast and then return for a quiet coffee at one of the many cafes. You can sit on the street and watch the city come alive. There is always something going on on Las Ramblas. The apt. is air conditioned and the front bedrooms are quite quiet at night. The rear bedroom is not air conditioned and can get a little warm. It has a small balcony that overlooks a lovely little hotel and an alleyway that can get a little noisy as it is used as a throughfare. Other than this minor inconvenience the apartment is very clean and efficient and i would not hesitate to stay there again. You will not meet nicer or more accomodating people than Antonia and Elisenda. Give them a call you won't regret it.

Recommended for:

Guest: stuART MORGAN (san francisco, ca)
Date of Stay: 11/13/08 Review Submitted: 11/13/08

I stayed at the apartment in October with my father and brother. It was the perfect place for the three of us. Lot's of space, and three separate bedrooms gave us the privacy we wanted, and the living room with the balcony was perfect for bringing wine, cheese, baguettes and serano ham back at lunchtime to people watch right in the heart of Las Ramblas. We couldn't have asked for a better place to spend a week in Barcelona. The Liceu metro station is 30 meters away! You can get to the Park Gaudi on one line, and the Familia Sagrada in less than ten minutes. Fantastic. The owners/managers were very responsive and were there at the apartment when we arrived. They are lovely people. I would definitely recommend this place for a family or 2 - 3 couples. Note: This is more of an authentic Spanish apartment experience, and you will find it charming, quaint and comfortable, versus a swanky, chi-chi fru fru boutique place that will cost you four times as much and won't deliver the same kind of true Barcelona experience. (And yes, it is exceptionally clean and the beds are comfortable). Guess you can tell that we liked it huh!

Recommended for:

Guest: Ally Pinkus (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 08/06/06 Review Submitted: 08/06/06

I loved the apartment. The air conditioning was fantastic. My friends and I liked to leave it really cold so that we could wear sweaters around the house, and trust me, to be able to do that in the middle of summer in Barce is ridiculous. The beds were really comfortable. The space feels very much like "home." The balcony looks right out onto Las Ramblas, which was both beautiful and entertaining. The appliances couldn't have worked better. If you go there, you will love it!

Recommended for:

Guest: John Bean (Hull)
Date of Stay: 08/05/06 Review Submitted: 08/04/06

Anyone who visits the wonderful city of Barcelona could not wish to stay in a better location then Las Ramblas. It is the heart of the city right on your doorstep. Lively, vibrant & happening! When you need a break just go to the room make a coffee & sit on the balcony & watch the scene in front of you! The apartment is great. Spacious, clean comfortable. I cannnot reccomend this propety enough!

Recommended for:

Guest: Luis Leon1 (Brasilia - Brasil)
Date of Stay: 08/04/06 Review Submitted: 08/04/06

Very well located. Really the heart of Barcelona. A few steps from subway entrance (Liceu station). Very nice neighborhood to walk around in the evening. Very good restaurants near buy. The apartment interior is a little bit old but penny of room. I realy enjoyed my 5 nights stay.

Recommended for: