Vacation Rentals by Owner

Nice place, nice people, nice city ;)

Guest: Marylyn (New York, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/12 Review Submitted: 05/12/12

The location is perfect in the Gothic Quarter. The 3 balconies overlooking the cute square and the narrow street give it a very good feeling. There are many bars, lounges, cafes, restaurants, and markets all within minutes walking distance. The balcony opens out onto a nice square facing part of the historical Roman Wall. Elisabeth was not available when we arrived but had Esther who meet us on time in order to receive the keys, to help us with restaurants recommendations and even suggested a great place for us to enjoy de city. It was a nice welcome. The apartment was easy to manage and very clean, the kitchen and also the bathroom were cleaner than most hotels! They change even the curtain of the bathroom! All in all, a great place to stay. I would definitely recommend it to friends!

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

Our stay in Barcelona

Guest: Lois L.
Date of Stay: 03/29/12 Review Submitted: 04/28/12

We were very fortunate to have found this apartment in the perfect area of Barcelona! The apartment is quaint and has every thing that you would need to make you feel at home. The area is perfect. We were within walking distance to everything!!! We loved it. It was perfect for my husband, myself and our 4 adult children. I would love to stay here again on our trip back to Barcelona. WE LOVED BARCELONA!!! Thank you to the owners of this apartment!!!

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

Underwhelmed by the run down apartment and building

Guest: Agatha (United States)
Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 05/02/12

We were a bit surprised to find that the apartment did not meet our needs. The walls throughout the apartment, particularly in the bedrooms, have numerous marks and scuffs, as if the owners had not cared to repaint in years. The furniture was very worn as well, and you could only sit on a worn, narrow couch in the living room that we found extremely uncomfortable. The decorations were sparse with no warmth. The one bathroom is a bit cramped for the four of us as well (my two daughters and husband and me). If you have high standards and are picky about your accommodations, this is not the place for you. As well, when we arrived there was very little toilet paper so we had to run out right away to buy some. For the price, I was quite disappointed and felt the photos were misleading.

Recommended for:

Not as good as we had hoped

Guest: 3llamamama (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 03/22/12 Review Submitted: 04/26/12

First of all, the owner, Elizabeth was EXTREMELY helpful regarding anything Barcelona prior to the trip. Her assistant, Esther, was very helpful when we arrived. However, we were hoping our stay would have panned out a bit better. This apartment was located in a very central location. Close to Las Ramblas, Picasso Museum, and Cathedral. It was on the third floor, however, up a narrow staircase which made it quite difficult to haul your luggage upstairs. The kitchen is updated and was serviceable. The bathroom had a small shower and no counter space to speak of. The beds were uncomfortable and the furnishings, especially the sofa bed, were gross and in desparate need of replacement. In addition, the TV, located in the main room, was small and had something wrong with it causing it to make a constant, annoying buzzing sound while on. It has 2 small, nice balconies looking over a small plaza and the ruin of part of a Roman wall. Off this plaza were a couple of restaurants, bars and shops, which put tables out in the plaza for customers. On the Friday and Saturday night we stayed there, noise from the bars below until very late made it difficult to sleep. During the day time, the plaza attracted some rough looking characters including one doing drugs in plain view of our five year old. Although location of this apartment was good, I would not stay there again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

True Gothic Experience

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/02/12 Review Submitted: 03/07/12

Elizabeth & Jacob were so helpful and the appartment was in a great location and a unique Barcelona experience. In the corner of the Gothic section with easy walk to sea and close to Cathederal. Markets and restraunts were close by along with Picasso & MOMA Museums. They were extreemly helpful and I would contact them first when I return to Barcelona. Apartment was in Gothic building and after getting used to the true Gothic decor it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this apartment and woul trust them to recommend alternatives if needed.

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

Safe location and very convenient for exploring Barcelona

Guest: Katty (Caracas, Venezuela)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

The apartment is very sweet and warm and it's as it looks in the photos, which is always a relief!. It was very clean. The location is really good and safe, just a few seconds walk from Placa Reial, La Ramblas, the beach, boqueria and metro. A few minutes walk from Placa Catalunya. Many great restaurants and bars. We cooked a lot and the kitchen is well equipped and was easy to work in. Jacob was really nice and showed us where we should visit, and how to get to places. He was really caring.

Recommended for:Families with young children

Great Location and very comfortable!!!

Guest: tanya L. (Tustin, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/08/12

We loved this apartment. We were met promptly upon arrival. The apartment is very clean and well stocked. We enjoyed the hammock and comfortable living room. The beds were great and the bathroom worked for the 5 of us. The location was great. We walked to many of the sights and the metro was close when we needed to go farther afield.

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

Very helpful host with the booking and arrangements before we arrived.

Guest: Kevin (Tallahassee, Florida)
Date of Stay: 12/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/05/12

We spent a few days in December. The apartment was spacious and had a super location. Short walk to Las Ramblas and an easy walk to several interesting places. A great place and a helpful host! The apartment was well stocked with everything you need for a relaxing stay. The apartment was very clean, very confortable are very well situated. I would recommend the place!!

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

Fantastic location

Guest: AM (El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain (but US citizens))
Date of Stay: 12/03/11 Review Submitted: 12/15/11

We enjoyed our stay at this excellently located apartment. We were walking distance to many of Barcelona's sites and felt very safe there with our 3 young children. The apartment was clean and the owners were very pleasant and willing to assist. Our kids were very happy with the toys and drawing/coloring supplies there, very nice. We were happy to have the grocery store right around the corner and the kitchen was well-appointed. Thank you for enhancing our trip to Barcelona!

Owner response:We are glad you and your children had a nice stay in our apartment and around. As we have three young daughters we thought it would be a good idea to have toys in our apartment for our family guests with children.

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

Helpful owners and great location in the heart of Barcelona

Guest: David (Liverpool, United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 11/28/11 Review Submitted: 12/09/11

Fantastic location! The owners were timely and very nice. Also, they were both a great help in offering advice. Everything you see in the pictures is exactly how it is. It’s a nice and quiet apartment. I was able to have a peaceful night’s sleep. I highly recommend staying here.

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

Perfect location and perfect hosts

Guest: USNA72 (USA)
Date of Stay: 11/25/11 Review Submitted: 12/16/11

We found the apartment to be absolutely wonderful for our stay (three adults) in Barcelona. The property was very accurately described by the photos and text in the listing. I did suggest to Jacob a more detailed map or set of directions would be helpful as our taxi driver had difficulties finding the location (turns out Pom d'Or is the shortest street in Barcelona!). The balconies overlooking Placa de Traginers and the Roman wall were simply magnificent. The apartment is up three flights of stairs (solid concrete/stone stairs, with good hand rails) so some walking is required. The free Wi Fi, washing machine and fully equipped kitchen were really nice. The apartment is only a 5-10 minute walk along the Roman Wall tothe Jaume station and maybe 10-12 minutes over to the Liceu station. As you come out onto the street (more of a pedestrian walkway really) from the aprtment, if you turn right it is only about 20 meters to a really nice little local restauant. Great homemade sangria and pretty good paella (we actually liked the paella better here than at 7 Portes when we ate there later). This location is just about unbeatable. We did take down the hammock in the living room so we could sit and have unobstructed views out the French doors ontothe balcony. Each room is equiped with a ceramic heater so each of us were able to adjust bedroom temperatures to our liking. Jacob and Elizabeth have also installed an air conditioning unit which should allow you to close the windows in the summer (for noise abatement) if needed. Elozabeth and Jacob were both very helpful and accommodating throughout the process.

Owner response:What a loooong review! We take note of your suggestion to improve the map we always send to our guests to find the location. As the apartment is located in the shortest street of Barcelona and not everybody knows it, the advantage is that our guests are located in a quiet area and it’s easy to walk everywhere. Also, we are happy you enjoyed not only the historical center but also our mediterranean food. A good Paella with Sangria is always welcome in our land but you have to know where to eat it and why not, how to prepare it.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great apartment and a pleasant stay in a fantastic location

Guest: carol (San Jose, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/10/11 Review Submitted: 11/15/11

The location is very good, apartment as well. We absolutely loved it. You need to climb a few stairs (2nd floor) but it’s worth it. The apartment is spacious and everything is clean. The owners were lovely and really helpful if you need any suggestions of where to go. I would certainly stay here again.

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

Great location, wonderful apartment

Guest: DC Travelers (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 09/25/11 Review Submitted: 10/02/11

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this apartment in September 2011. It was a perfect location for exploring the Gothic Quarter, and it is located in a square with some important historical relics. Licy was extremely responsive by e-mail when we were inquiring about the property as well as during our stay. The cleaners did a terrific job getting the unit ready for us (we happened to see it before they arrived and were very impressed at how it looked after they were done). Our only wish would have been to have had better supplies of things like toilet paper, trashcan liners, and body soap. But those were minor issues compared to the many strengths of the apartment, and we felt that we got a lot for our money.

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

Highly recomended place

Guest: John (Germany)
Date of Stay: 07/12/11 Review Submitted: 07/13/11

It was difficult to find an appartment for only one night stay! Thanks to Jacob who could offer this to us. The apartment is excellent, clean and tidy with all the amenities you could ask for. The owners were very welcoming, easy to deal with and very informative. The photographs are a true reflection. We had no problems with safety. The apartment is in a good location and I would easily recommend staying here.

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

LOVED IT!

Guest: Marla (Pasadena, California/USA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

My husband, three grown sons, and I stayed in this wonderful apartment for a week and we loved everything about it. We enjoyed the proximity to the beach, loved walking around the Gothic Quarter, found the Metro and taxi stand to be within easy walking distance – which was important because my husband was on crutches (due to an injury a few days before we arrived). The apartment was clean, very comfortable, and full of character. We loved the restaurant that is within easy crutching distance – L'Antic Bocoi del Gotic – so much that we went there three times. It is right off the courtyard that the apartment looks down on. We miss it all! Thank you for the wonderful Barcelona experience.

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

Very nice stay in Barcelona

Guest: Greg (Charlotte NC)
Date of Stay: 06/01/11 Review Submitted: 06/12/11

My family and I had a very nice stay in Elizabeth's apartment. Elizabeth met us promptly at the apartment and was kind enough to allow us an early check-in. Although the building is quite old, the interior is modern and clean. It is centrally located in the Gothic section of Barcelona and there are many great cafes and restaurants within walking distance. At night the streets come alive with dancing and live music which is quite charming but it did make it difficult to sleep until about 2 am. Closing the windows is a help but it can get warm with the windows closed. Overall the apartment is very nice but the noise may be a problem for light sleepers.

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

Barcelona Bummer

Guest: Euro-traveler (Walnut Creek, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

Would not recommend this apartment. Stayed 1 night and looked for new lodging. All rooms are small and bare. We felt like we were in a monastery. The beds were very uncomfortable, with sagging mattresses and thin, unattractive covers. The hammock in the living room looks out of place, crowding a small area, barely able to accommodate an old couch and TV. We were tipped off about the conditions by the owner, who warned us that the street entrance was "scary." Indeed it was. A creaky wooden door sprayed with graffiti led to a dank, dark stair well. We climbed the cement stairs to the second floor and winced when entering. Best comment I can make is about the owner. Very nice guy and deeply disappointed when we expressed our dissatisfaction.

Recommended for:

Barcelona visit

Guest: Celine and Ed (Bourne, MA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

Great apartment, very clean with great amenities, along with a great location to the sites of Barcelona. Owner was wonderful and was very helpful getting us acclimated to Barcelona.Maps and books are available in the apartment along with a book of guest suggestions of things to do in the area. Great balcony view of the Roman Wall. Easy walking to Metro,shopping and great restaurants. I would recommend this apartment.

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

Perfect apartment in the Barri Gothic.

Guest: Bailey (Pleasant Ridge, MI/USA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

I just returned from Jacob and Elizabeth's apartment, where I stayed for 9 days with my 12 and 15 year old daughters. This was our first trip to Spain and we were a little nervous about not having a concierge at a hotel to direct us. Silly us! Milano checked us in and gave us all the information we needed and Elizabeth was accessible for taxis at the end - and I'm sure anything we might have needed in between. The apartment is beautiful and very roomy and in a PERFECT location. We couldn't have had a better stay and would recommend this to anyone. The only problem we had at all is that the beds and the hammock were so comfortable that we had trouble getting up in the morning - no worries though because the restaurants stay open late! :)

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

Perfect apartment in the Barri Gotic of Barcelona

Guest: Drew (Winston-Salem, NC, USA)
Date of Stay: 03/03/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/11

We had a great five days at Jacob's apartment on Pom D'or. He met us there, showed us the amenities, and went over a map with all the tourist sites and recommended some great restaurants. The apartment is perfectly situated (I loved the roman wall across the street) in the heart of old Barcelona. Plenty of shopping, restaurants, and sightseeing within walking distance. Only a few blocks from the Jaume I metro stop for sightseeing further afield. We felt right at home and would highly recommend this apartment for a family or a group stay in Barcelona. Thank you Elizabeth and Jacob!

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

Fantastic location, heart and soul of Barcelona.

Guest: Jim and Lisa (Australia)
Date of Stay: 01/21/11 Review Submitted: 01/28/11

This apartment was a fantastic place for our family to stay in Barcelona, the location is ideal for soaking up the atmosphere of the Barri Gotic, the apartment building overlooks the Roman wall just as the picture on the website shows, down below in the square people gather and children play soccer, in the evenings the bars and restaurants are frequented by locals. The maze of cobble stonned streets in the area are full of atmosphere and wonderful places to eat, drink, gather supplies and shop. We spent our three days walking everywhere, a great way to see Barcelona, the apartments location made this possible. The apartment is particularly well appointed with a fully equiped large kitchen, two separate bedrooms and that wonderful hamock that you see in the pictures. Elizabeth and Jacob were welcoming hosts, promptly dealing with all our email enquires prior to our arrival, meeting us when we arrived and assisting with transport arrangements. Thankfully, Jacob met us in the street on our arrival to show us around, it would have been difficult to find the door to the building from the street if we had been on our own. The door to the building is secure, but run down in it's appearance, but this is not something to deter you from staying in this apartment, once you are over the initial moment, it actually adds to the character of your stay in Barcelona. Our family would not hesitate to return to stay here when we visit Barcelona again. Thank you Jacob and Elizabeth.

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

Jacob and the Apartment

Guest: ian (UK)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 01/20/11

Met Jacob at the apartment, we stayed four nights, may I say what lovely apartment it is. We found this apartment excellent in every way, small toys for the children, hammock in living room went down a treat. Great location too. Very friendly indeed, infact we are going back again. Ian & Kate from the UK.

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

wonderful apartment

Guest: Sharon (Gualala, California USA)
Date of Stay: 11/10/10 Review Submitted: 11/30/10

The apartment had the best kitchen and best bathroom of anyplace in our travels, plus a very good bed. It is necessary to have a cell phone and call, however, or you will never recognize the doorway as a real doorway and get in to the place when you get there. The neighborhood is very nice, quiet and away from traffic although the bus and Metro stops are close, along with markets, restaurants, and the Picasso museum. One drawback, 2 floors of stairs. We absolutely loved the apartment and Barcelona.

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

Multi-Balcony Apartment, Overlooking Roman Wall and Moorish Home Ruin, Excellent Location

Guest: Barry C. (Albert, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/07/10 Review Submitted: 12/02/10

We were switched to this apartment from another because of a booking conflict. Upon entering, we discovered a delightful apartment. It was clean and well-equipped, with three mini-balconies overlooking Placa des Traginers, a small square that was dominated by a section of the ancient Roman Wall, topped by the ruins of a centuries-old Moorish home. The interior of the apartment was modern, roomy and had everything we might have desired--including a full-sized fridge, a hammock, towels in the kitchen, paper towels as well--and plenty of toilet paper. We enjoyed reading the guest book and noted the favorable comments from so many previous guests. There was some noise from the restaurants in the square below, but with the windows closed, we found the apartment very quiet. Our stay here was at the end of a three-week visit to Spain and we had already explored much of Barcelona during our first five days in the city. Now, although the apartment is well-located--close to some of the most impressive sights in the Gothic Quarter, we had little time remaining to explore further. We decided to walk down the Passeig de Colom to the Moll where we visited the impressive Aquarium, passed by a yacht exposition and tried to visit the nearby Museu D'historia de Catalunya but found it closed on Monday. We strolled along the Passeig de Joan de Borbó and along the seaside, passing through the Mercat Barceloneta, passing the Escola Nautica before arriving at the well-travelled Via Laietana and dining at a very pleasant restaurant before spending our last night in Spain in this comfortable, pleasant apartment. In the morning, a taxi arrived in front of our building precisely at the time we had requested that our host ask the owner to have a car there. Having to catch a plane to take us back home to Western Canada, we were very grateful for this special attention. During our total of seven days in Barcelona, we were awed by the beautiful architecture, the splendid collections of famed artworks, the museums, the street sculpture, the fine food, the pleasant people and the welcoming, lively atmosphere that surrounded us. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

En plein coeur du centre historique de Barcelone un appartement de très grand charme

Guest: Amélie (France)
Date of Stay: 10/20/10 Review Submitted: 11/02/10

En terme de description, l'appartement était, de mémoire, conforme à l'annonce. Il était très agréable, en bon état, bien équipé et bien situé. Notre séjour s'y est bien déroulé.

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

Appartamento bellissimo e arieggiato

Guest: Simona Salermol (Italy)
Date of Stay: 08/29/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

L'alloggio è nel centro storico della città a pochi metri dalla via Laietana e a qualche minuto dalla Rambla. Si affaccia su una piazzetta, sulla quale sono presenti diversi pub. I proprietari sono molto cordiali e disponibili a tal punto che hanno atteso il nostro arrivo alle 3 di notte! La casa è molto comoda e ben attrezzata, pulita ed elegante allo stesso tempo. Tutti gli accessori sono perfettamente funzionanti ed il comfort non è mancato.

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

Barri Gothic hideaway

Guest: Anu & Teemu (Finland)
Date of Stay: 07/11/10 Review Submitted: 08/05/10

The best part of this place is its location. You really can walk to the major sights, even to the beach, from here, and a metro station is near. Apartment itself is nice and clean, but could have a bit more hangovers in the closets and racks for coats etc. The kitchen sink was a bit trouble at first. The patio offers a lively view from balconies, and you can shut down the noise (if any) when you close the doors. There are a lot of nice restaurants, tapas places etc. very close. We enjoyed fresh croissants every morning from a nearby bakery shop. If you are interested in renting a bike, or a segway, you can get those right next to this place. And our final plus: even though the building looks old, there was absolutely no bugs. Having some beach gear would have made this apartment really perfect. Jacob and Licy: is there a discount for returning customers? Our best regards for you both. Teemu and the family from Finland

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

Great location, great owner support !!!

Guest: William (Houston, TX, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/22/10 Review Submitted: 06/26/10

Locatation: The location of this apartment is perfect. Walking distance to all the main Barcelona sites including beach, la Rambla and Barcelona Cathederal. We originally planned to buy a T10 Subway card but eneded up only buying single tickets to the la Familia Sagrada Cathederal which is a bit far to walk to. This part of Barcelna is just full of activity and the buildings with all their narrow streets and local businesses offer endless entertainment and dining. Apartment: Just as advertised. Very nice, clean and all the amenities my family of five needed. The bacolnies overlook a small plaza where a 2000 year old Roman wall exists. A few cafes use the common area beneath and offer just the right amount of activity to allow you to sit and and enjoy the sights and sounds without too much noise. The balcony doors are double paned and block any sound out very well at night also. There are about three flights of narrow stairs that must be climbed. Also the apartment is challenging to find. I think it exists on the shortest street in Barcelona. Be sure to call the owners about 30 minutes in advance so they can help you find it. Owners: Very helpful and responsive. The room is populated with all sorts of Barcelona guides and even a business card list that lists hand written advice of some local dining. Overall: Don't hesitate to book this location. We had a very pleasurable experience. The Nortons Houston, TX, USA

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

Guest: Daniel Opolski2 (Poland)
Date of Stay: 01/10/08 Review Submitted: 01/10/08

"Location - perfect, walking distance to all main tourist attractions, or public transport. First impression of a building was very bad, as it is old, but luckily appartment itself is clean and comfortable".

Recommended for: