Senator Barcelona Apartments

The value for the size was amazing, and the staff were friendly and tried to help. We had a couple of small annoyances: there was no bath stopper, so we couldn’t use the tub, and there was mould in the bathroom that could be dangerous if it isn’t cleaned. We loved being close to the metro and some nice cafes. It was almost the perfect place for our recent Barcelona trip. I’d definitely recommend it.

The apartment was close to a metro stop and some restaurants, and it worked fine as a place to sleep. I wouldn’t want to stay more than two nights, though. The couch converts into a second bed, so it can sleep three or four people. There are steps up to reception, plus two small steps inside between the bedroom and bathroom, and between the lounge and kitchen. On the first night there was a raw sewage smell, which wasn’t pleasant. The tap water had a strange film, so we drank bottled water. There was a lot of road noise, and the air conditioning seemed to blow warm air. We left it running to help cover the traffic sound. The bathroom was dark and small and needs renovating.

The reception guy was nice and gave us tourist advice, and there are plenty of bakeries nearby with fantastic baguettes. The train or metro station is close, so connections are good. Our room had a master bedroom, kitchen, table for four, and a sofa bed. The beds were comfortable, and the bathroom had soap, shampoo, shower gel, and towels. There was also a distinctive sliding translucent window between the master bedroom and the living room/kitchen. Great place, five stars.

The apartment was tiny, old, and very uncomfortable, especially the bed. There was a damp smell everywhere. The pictures on the website didn’t look like the actual place at all. We booked four nights and had a really bad experience. The only star is for the kindness of the person in charge of reception.