Lemon Tree Guest House

The village is quiet and a bit suburban, and the host recommended some great local restaurants and markets. She was kind enough to pick us up from the train station. The kid, roommate, and dog were all sweet, and it was easy to share the space with them. Getting into Barcelona by bus or train wasn’t too hard if you’re happy to walk a bit. I enjoyed seeing the area by public transit. The price was reasonable for somewhere near Barcelona, assuming the listing had been clearer. This might work better for one person, since there’d be less concern about being overheard. The house is generally beautiful, but I can’t recommend the attic suite. The toilet is beside the bed with no door or ventilation, and both beds were uncomfortable. I’m short and still kept hitting my head on the ceiling. The lack of privacy was the biggest problem: there are no walls separating the attic from the rest of the house, so even a quiet voice carries clearly from the kitchen downstairs. Someone stuck their head into the attic stairwell without saying anything while I was reading. It also seemed like the host came into the room during the day without telling us. That felt strange, like I was sleeping in a public space. At one point, the host asked for 40 euro because we were using the second bed. She said it was to cover the work of making up the single-sized bed and washing its linens. She apologized when I objected, but being asked was upsetting, and it made clear she’d entered the room without telling us while we were out. Using the kitchen also felt awkward, since it wasn’t really set up for guests. I think I could have accepted these issues if the listing had prepared me for them. The photos and description didn’t make any of these significant shortcomings clear, especially the doorless, unventilated toilet and lack of sound privacy. Yikes.

This discreet terraced home in Tiana has a warm, thoughtfully designed interior. It’s an upscale village just outside Barcelona, with local shops and enough restaurants with their own outdoor terraces to cover what you need. Our Scandinavian-style, architect-designed suite is on the first floor. It has a balcony, a glamorous sleeping area, wide mirrors, a huge dressing closet, and a modern black and blue microcement bathroom with a dressing area. Downstairs are the dining and living rooms, plus a garden with a terrace and chill-out area. At street level, there’s a small private outdoor parking space behind the fence. There’s also a charging station for electric cars in the village, two minutes from the house, and free private outdoor parking.

I really liked the room. It’s bright, spacious, and lovely, and the town is so nice too. Thanks, Camille, for being such a great host.

Such a beautiful, comfortable place, and it’s easy to walk around and get to the beach. I felt at home. I’d happily come back, and highly recommend it.