Barcelona apartment rental questions
 

We are two adults and two hobbits seeking an apartment in Barca from 29 Sept to 4 Oct. My questions are:

(1) which apartment brokers are reputable? I've looked at Way to Stay, Habitat, Friendly and some others.

(2) Is the "cash" security deposit the bilking it seems to be? I do NOT want to pay anyone cash security on arrival only for them to jerk me around on departure date when I have a plane to catch.

(3) Recommendations or preferences between Bari Gotic, Barceloneta, Eixample, Sants/Montjuic areas?

Thanks in advance

Many of us here have rented from Habitat and have been pleased with our experiences.

Habitat does not require a security deposit. You can also choose to pay by credit card (for both the initial booking deposit and the final sum on arrival). I believe they charge a 4% fee for using CC.

Most people here prefer staying in Eixample. I've previously stayed in a Bari Gotic apt w/Habitat; and we'll be staying in a Eixample apt w/Habitat later this fall.

We rented with Friendly Rentals in the Bari Gotic / El Born area - we were happy with the arrangement. They appeared on time on check out day and with no hassel returned our deposit.

The different areas you mention each have pros and cons - as a generalization I think you will get more space for you Euros in the Eixample part of town. Sants would be out of the main tourist area for me (tho convenient to rail station and with the metro the whole city is pretty navagable). I'd choose Barceloneta if I planned to be very beachy. El Born area should be close to the big park which would be pleasant for the hobbits. Enjoy!

I had a fantastic experience with Destination BCN a few months ago. I highly recommend. We gave the deposit by credit card at the time of booking. Beautiful well located flat equipped with every conceivable amenity from big fluffy towels to guide books to tv to phone and wireless all the way to all kitchen utensils.

More details at the start of this report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...inter-2011.cfm

Thanks all.

I checked Destination BCN a while ago - the apartments look great but the prices were high, didn't include the 8% VAT, and charged additional for the baby's cot, so I didn't bite.

We rented from Habitat 3 times. Prefer Eixample.

We've rented from Habitat and Negre, renting from Habitat again this year. As others have pointed out, Habitat does not charge a security deposit and allow for paying balance with credit card (for a fee). I appreciated both.

We stayed in Born on our first trip, Eixample (but not right in the center) second trip, and our staying in Barri Gotic third trip. Staying in Eixample, we found ourselves returning over and over to Born and Barri Gotic.

(Just a quick correction. Barca is a name for the football team. If you want a short version for the city, go with Barna.)

d'oh. ARE staying...not OUR staying. Would love a window of edit on these forums!

<i>(Just a quick correction. Barca is a name for the football team. If you want a short version for the city, go with Barna.)</i>

oopsy, I was told this term (Barna) was more like a slang or even lazy person's way to refer to the city and that, as many things, it has fallen out of fashion to call the city Barna as it was last "cool" to say back in the 1980s...does this mean we're being retro-cool to use it again?!!! (I am guilty of using "Barca" to refer to the city, but I'm also a Barca fan, so I justify it that way!!!). BCN it is!

yeah, I like BCN too but of course one dear poster needed to point out that was actually the airport.

I don't use Barna either; I just say Barcelona (or like you, sometimes BCN). I've just heard and read many people from Barcelona correct folks who use Barca for the city. But...if it's retro-cool? Well, I might have to go with Barna. I always wanted to be retro-cool. :)

IME, BCN is widely used among locals as short-hand for their city -- especially when texting or using instant messaging, e-mails, etc.
Haven't heard it in oral communication, though - which probably does not have to mean anything.

And, while I'm in my nit-picking, hair-splitting, headmaster-wanna-be mode:

Never say Barca when you wanna say Barça :-)