Sher

A friend asked me to help his Mother with an apartment rental in Barcelona. She is late 60's and will be staying a week alone.
She is concerned about safety and of course touring the sights of Barcelona and maybe getting to the beach area.
I have never stayed in Barcelona and really am not informed about the different districts.
She has found what looks to be a very nice apartment but I am asking if it addresses her concerns by location.
The description is the Sants-Montjuic district, NE of Les Corts. I would research this but she is considering the vacation very shortly and I was just asked to help.

Thanks so much for any input.

danon

Les Corts area in NOT in the center...she should stay close to Placa de Catalunya.

Sher

Hi danon. I take it from your response that she isn't staying in an area where she will easily tour Barcelona.
Can you comment on the safety of the area?
Thanks for answering so quickly.

danon

It is a big area.(.Sants is the name of the central train station).
If you have the address..link to the apt., it might be easier to answer.
this may help you:

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...ios-guide.html

http://www.wallsave.com/wallpaper/79...me-117970.html

Barcelona has a good metro system, but for a first visit
best to stay as central as possible( especially if she does not speak the language).

Sher

Thanks again. The apartment is on the fifth floor, which to me translates as the sixth floor. That in itself would nix it for me.
And I agree with you that for a first visit she should stay more central. That is probably why the apartment seem to be a bargain.
I will pass on my thoughts but she wants to go by the 10th of November, I just found out, so maybe she has put off finding a place a little late.
Thanks for the neighborhood links explanation. I will file it away for my own info.

Cowboy1968

If the apartment is close to a metro station, it won't take longer than appr. 10 minutes to get to the city center.

But as danon said, the district is too large to make a general assessment of how easily it will be to get to "downtown" Barcelona.

Same for safety issues, though from a very broad perspective, the not-so-good neighborhoods are more in the real suburbs than in the central Barcelona. If you made me guess, I'd say that your mom's apartment will be in a residential area which will be a bit boring worst case scenario, but not dangerous.

btw.. the 5th floor in Spain usually translates to 7th floor US style counting. You have ground floor/ planta baja (street level), entresol floor, and then start counting 1,2,3..

Traveling_Expert_R50

Hello Sher
I have traveled to Barcelona many times, and the best areas are Eixample, Gracia, Diagonal Mar and I can mention few more depending on what your mother wants to do in the city, she should stay in areas closer to her best interests. If the place where she is staying is well communicated "transportation wise" is a huge plus. Make a plan for her, to the tourist places she will visit and then decide which will be the best area for her to stay at.
I have always rented with a specific company that have a great variety of apartments in the city, and they were really helpful on which areas to choose depending on what I was going to be doing in the city. If you want, send and inquiry and they can give you options. Their site is: www.apartmentbarcelona.com Hope this helps to find accommodation soon!
Take Care!

Sher

I suspect that my friend's Mom was lured by the price and pictures of the apartment which are very nice by the way. But having rented apartments in Europe, I immediately note when a price is lower than what I would suspect from a more central area.
So I will pass along your suggestions and wish her luck. Since the email came to me so late I am wondering if she has taken the chance and rented it.

Thanks to all.

Alan_CT

We love staying in apartments in Barcelona and elsewhere, but I'm not sure that's the best option for an older single woman on her first visit. A hotel near the Passeig de Gracia might make more sense from both convenience and security angles.

The beach area stations are 15-20 minutes away by Metro, but she should be aware that it's a 3-5 block walk to the actual seafront from the station. Depending on mobility, she may want to take a taxi, which while more than the Metro or bus is not expensive.

If you post a link to the apartment it will be easier to get useful comment.

Las Ramblas is the last place I would recommend for an older traveler. It's OK in the day, but can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous at night.