BCN Rambla Catalunya Apartments

From check-in to check-out, everything went smoothly. The apartment was spotless and comfortable, and the staff were friendly and helpful. It’s in a perfect spot close to everything. We had a great time in Barcelona and would stay here again, 10/10.

We booked the “luxury apartment” at Rambla de Catalunya 101, 2 floor, 2 door, but it was nowhere near the condition described in the listing or on the website. The place was cold, had no heating, and the old, broken furniture and worn linens and towels didn’t fit the advertised standard or the price. The appliances were old and didn’t work well, and the dishes were poor and didn’t match the description either. The doors and windows were worn and wouldn’t close properly. We could constantly hear street noise and even rain, with no soundproofing, so sleeping was impossible. The old faucets made it impossible to set the water temperature. The host also wasn’t very attentive or polite.

The apartment felt dark and damp, and it needs renovation. The furniture is old, the sofa cover’s zipper is broken, and there are woodlice. The toilet rocks, and the old TV isn’t adapted. There’s no dryer or vacuum cleaner. The towels are faded, and the blankets and pillows have yellow stains.

The apartment has lovely architectural features and a great central location in Barcelona. Check-in was easy, the host replied quickly, and the secure building has a fast elevator. We enjoyed the balcony view, and the air conditioning worked well. There was enough hot water for several showers. But for the price, the condition was disappointing, and several problems made the stay uncomfortable. There was a persistent sewage smell, possibly from a missing wax ring, and at times the whole building smelled of sewage or fish. We kept the windows open whenever we weren’t asleep. The bathroom tiles also had visible mold and mildew, likely because of poor drainage and porous materials. One of the two bathrooms was basically unusable. There was no shower curtain over the tub, and the handheld attachment was broken and sprayed water everywhere. The tub was the only option, yet the house rules said not to use it due to a water shortage that reportedly ended two years ago. The bathroom sink kept leaking, and its stoppers had to be fixed when we arrived. The furnishings were poor quality. The armoire drawers were broken and storage was scarce. The “king” bed was two cots pushed together, the full bed was worn out, and the pillows were either flat and lumpy or overly firm foam. Most of the shared seating was uncomfortable or impractical. There were only four towels for four people over five nights, two trash bags, and one dishwasher tablet. No washcloths, paper towels, or napkins were supplied, and coffee pods cost 1 euro each. All the provided soap and shampoo bottles were broken except for the dish soap. The host was responsive and the place has potential, but the maintenance, furnishing choices, and missing basics made the stay less than enjoyable.