Ciutat Vella Apartments Gothic Quarter

We stayed two nights with my husband and kids. The entrance didn’t make the best first impression, but once inside, it was very pleasant. Everything for check-in and check-out is done virtually, and it was easy. There’s no in-person help desk, though you can reach the service desk by picking up the phone in your room or in reception. There was plenty of closet space, but no iron, which was my only complaint.

The staff made our visit especially easy, always friendly and ready to help with whatever we needed. We also loved the apartment itself: spotless, supplied with all the accessories we needed, and set in a beautifully restored old building that kept its historic character. Best of all, Aparthotel Ciutat Vella is just a one-minute walk from the bustling Rambla, right in the middle of the city. A fantastic stay.

The apartment was cold in winter, and noise came through from early in the morning because it wasn't soundproof. The shower was awful, with a broken head and blocked water. There was no duvet, just old-looking sheets and blankets, and the apartment didn't feel or look very nice.

Finding the apartment took a little effort since it's tucked away, and the lift is tiny. Even with our small stroller, we still had to manage some stairs on narrow stairways. That was fine for us, though a larger stroller or wheelchair might be tricky. There could be more accessible rooms, but I don't know. We had everything we needed for a few days, and it was a nice, safe-feeling apartment with easy check-in and check-out. We stayed two nights with family, near good food and shopping streets, and not far from the subway and bus.