opaldog

My husband and I will be in Barcelona in early November 2012 for 4 nights. We have been once before and stayed on Rambla Catalunya and loved it. This time we are considering a stay in the Born area and vicinity. What's important to us is location, street facing windows, small balcony (if possible), internet, clean, decently furnished and equipped, ease of transaction. Here are the links to some apartments that I have bookmarked. I would appreciate the opinions and perhaps personal experiences of the fodor's community. Thanks in advance.

http://www.vrbo.com/231722#rates
http://www.vrbo.com/291005
http://www.vrbo.com/110463

susanna

Ok, no personal experience....but
#1 I've read good things about this apartment, here I think!
#2 the red flag here for me would be that they accept pets, love the location though.
#3 looks great, I'd also like to hear any personal experience with this one

opaldog

susanna: appreciate your reply. #1 looks good, small, but very clean, neat,well furnished and balcony on street. #2 I didn't notice the pet friendly and do wonder on the condition of apts that accept dogs, but being a dog owner myself, I could accept that. My husband likes the location near to the beach. I wonder if it is too out of the way as I remember walking over there and thinking that the public transportation is a bit out of the way. However, that said, we do like to walk. #3 It has a bedroom, balcony, nice kitchen, nice bathroom (from the pictures). So they all have their good points. I have quite a bit of time before November, but really love to search for and hopefully find the perfect spot for us.

danon

Although 1 is small the location looks good
Number 3 is a nice siize, but some streets in that area of Born can be unattractive.
Don't know the street.

Have you checked Habitat?

opaldog

danon: I have been looking at habitat as we used them on our last visit and were satisfied. The apartment we stayed in was la pedrera; I think I may remember that you may have stayed their as well. We did like the apartment, but recently a fodors poster stayed there and was very dissatisfied with the condition of the apartment. There were some similar issues during our stay, but we overlooked them as we really enjoyed the location and the huge windows. Although we went in November last visit as well, it was a week later and the rates were low season. They appear to be near to the high season rates this time; first week in November. It's tough to bring myself to pay so much more. We also wonder if it wouldn't be nice to experience Barcelona from a different perspective, a different neighborhood.

Cowboy1968

Locationwise my order would be 1-3-2

#1 is right in the liveliest part of Born. Cafes, bars, restaurants literally around each corner.

#3 a bit more off-Born than #1. Which can be good as you don't have hordes of tourists parading under your window at night. But also affords a few more steps (maybe 200 meters) to get to Pg de Born.

#2 is not exactly to say, but one block away from the sea will be obviously the tip of Barceloneta. Bus connections to anywhere like Ramblas, Pl Catalunya, Pl Espanya, up Via Laietana are abundand. Though the feeling is a bit like living at the end of a peninsula (allowing some exaggeration)
Proximity to the beach had been a major plus when I was there in September, but it will not be one in November.

When stairs/floors/no elevator is an issue, inquire if owners advertise floor by US or Spanish standard. 2nd floor in Spain can be 4th floor US: ground floor - entresol- 1st floor- 2nd floor.. and so on.

opaldog

Thanks Cowboy. I'm leaning toward 1 or 2; more towards 1. We will only be there for 4 nights and it's only 2 of us so a studio is fine.