CITY CENTRE - on Paseo de Gracia 200m from Plaza de Catalunia; historic building

Lindsay and his wife checked in at 9am after a trip of over 24 hours coming from Australia. At 9:30am Lindsay called saying that the bathroom floor has not been cleaned as there are dirty spots on the floor. I explained that these spots are not dirt, but they are in the stone. They can’t be wiped off. Then he said that his wife and he are washing every item in the kitchen and that they noticed that the plates are chipped. I asked why they are washing everything? He just said that this is something they do always everywhere they stay to ensure they eat off clean plates and use clean cutlery. As it has been a while since we replaced the plates, I asked the cleaning lady to buy new ones. At 11am she brought 12 new plates. Lindsay and his wife where out, the cleaner put the new plates into the dishwasher, put it to run and left. At 6pm Lindsay called again saying that the old plates have been taken out of the apartment but no one brought new ones. I told him that the plates are in the dishwasher. Everything I said he passed on to his wife who I heard shouting in the background. She insisted that there are no plates. Quite confused I call the cleaning lady. She confirmed once more that there are 12 new plates in the dishwasher. I called back Lindsay and reconfirmed. Now, he only told me that his wife is extremely upset. I asked why but didn’t get an answer. Meanwhile, I kept on hearing the wife shouting. I ask if I could speak to her directly to see whats going on. Lindsay said that she does not want to talk to me. After repeatedly asking what the problem is he finally said that she might be just tired. To me, it made sense as by this time they must have been on their feet for over 40 hours. The next day I sent a message asking if everything was OK. No reply. I sent another message offering assistance in case of any issues. I explained that our doorman also knows the apartment well and can help if needed. Also, the cleaners are in the building every day as we have 3 other apartments here. Again, no reply. The day before leaving Lindsay called again asking if I could order a taxi for them to go to the airport, which I did. Everything else mentioned in Lindsay’s feedback I will not comment on. As per now, this apartment received 78 reviews. I think anyone interested in booking with us can get a good idea about the apartment and our service. To Lindsay and his wife, I wish all the best. I am sorry that we could not sort things out.

Dear Karin, Thank you for your kind feedback. I am happy to know that you and your family enjoyed your time in Barcelona. There are a couple of things you mentioned that might need a bit of clarifying in order not to cause confusion. The apartment is located in the most inner city center of Barcelona and has a metro station right in front of the building’s entrance from where 3 lines are leaving. From within the apartment, one can notice the metro going now and then. But more than a noise it is a slight sensation that lasts maybe 2-3 seconds. I would not like to leave the impression that one needs to sleep with “white noise” on in order to feel comfortable. Everyone who chooses to stay in the most central location of a city such as Barcelona knows that it won’t be completely quiet but unless one is a very light sleeper there surely won't be any issues. What made me smile was your explanation about the hot water. To use a more technical approach it needs to be explained that the hot water deposit installed in the kitchen holds 150 liters of almost boiling hot water. In order not to burn yourself you add cold water when taking a shower. This means that on the low end there is a supply of around 230 liters of warm water. A standard size bathtub holds between 80 and 100 liters of water, which means you got 2,5 to almost 3 entire bathtubs full of warm water available before the water deposit gets empty. If you managed to use such an amount of water in two showers it would take about 30-40 minutes for the water deposit to reheat the same amount of water and you can keep on showering (we do however appreciate a reasonable consumption of resources). It was a pleasure getting to know you and maybe soon I will be able to welcome your friends in Barcelona. All the best! Marcel

Dear Michael, thank you for your feedback. Regarding the check-in fee, it is probably worth mentioning that you arrived with a delay of seven and a half hours and that your check-in had to take place at 1:30 in the morning. According to the terms and conditions, there is an extra fee for arrivals/check-ins after midnight. Public parking in city centers doesn't come cheap in any large city and Barcelona is no exception. I usually commend not to rent a car as the apartment is located in the inner city center with pretty much all main sights within a short walking distance. I am happy to know that you overall liked the apartment and find the location great. It was a pleasure meeting you. All the best! Marcel