Alcam Borrell Big

The apartments are modern, well equipped, comfortable, quiet, and in a very good location. The problem was a booking mistake that left us with nowhere to stay on our final night, and they offered no alternative. Customer service is only in English and replies take a long time. In the apartment, the bathroom windows wouldn’t close properly, and the shower never got hot.

The apartment itself was clean, very good, and in a great location. The cleaners were friendly. The booking side was frustrating: it was hard to get anyone to respond, and my early check-in request went unanswered. Automated messages kept telling me to check in even after I’d done it, including after extending the stay by a night. They say dates can be changed, but although the apartment was still available, Booking.com wouldn’t let me change them. Very unfriendly. You have to book directly through the accommodation, not via Booking.com.

The apartment was clean on arrival and spacious enough for four. It had two bedrooms, though one was so small it was barely usable for sleeping, and I couldn’t keep my luggage in there. The kitchen was fully equipped and had single-use cleaning supplies. There was also a clean washing machine and a bathroom. I did spot a small cockroach under the dishwasher in the kitchen, and several times in the bathroom. The location was excellent and quiet despite being on a busy street. Staff replied quickly. Getting into the building wasn’t quick because the instructions didn’t make the key symbol clear, but otherwise it was good. We booked through Airbnb.

The internet was down, so I couldn’t get any work done during our four nights, and the next-door neighbors’ noise came straight into our room. It was so loud it felt like we were sharing the same space. This stay made my Barcelona trip the worst. It’s the worst of the worst. Even one star feels too generous. Don’t go there. I’d never recommend it to anyone, and I want to sue the travel agency that booked it for us.