I'm choosing between these 2 apartments.

http://www.desigbarcelona.com/en/apa...a/#pos_booking
Rambla Catalunya A is on the 8th floor with a lift on Gran Via

OR

http://www.lodginginbarcelona.com/ap...rent-barcelona
Centric apartment is on the 5th floor, no lift. Street location?

I'm trying to decide which area is better. They are both fairly close to each other, but the street that Centric apartment is on looks narrow. I'm wondering how safe it is. They are both really inexpensive, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

I'd be grateful to anyone who can shed some light on this. I'd also love any feedback from anyone that has stayed in these apartments or in the area.

Thank you!

One near Rambla Catalunya looks small and dark to me. Remember photography makes things look bigger so one must shrink down a photo.

The one with no lift and no address looks better, but where is it? That is important...especially regarding safety. In Raval? Don't take it.

Thank you for your reply, holakjs. Centric apartment is in Raval, so I'm eliminating that one.

I guess I'm back to the drawing board!

Thanks again!

what dates are you looking for and how many people?
do you want to stay near plaza catalunya?
Raval is fine, it had a bad reputation a while ago, but now theres the macba gallery and little art shops and trendy bars. its more of an edgy hip scene; there are almost zero streets that i would feel unsafe walking down at night. advantages of raval are that it is extremely central, right next to las ramblas, and that eating out is a lot less expensive than gotico and las ramblas, as it is slightly (slightly) less touristy.
The reason BCN apartments are inexpensive is thanks to the low wage in spain- you'll see that supermarket food, drink and high street clothing are also pretty cheap. Which is nice for me because I live here.
This is also a nice apartment in Raval with a sunny terrace to sit out on:
http://www.way2stay.com/Barcelona-ap...-en-52-495.htm
There are lots of excellent streets and areas in each district, there are only a couple i wouldnt recommend, like Caller Escudellers in Gotico, which is very noisy and crude.
what age group and when?

The apartments on this way2stay.com website have a pin-point location map. there's a good area guide also.

travel_buzzing,

Thank you for clarifying Raval. My husband and I will be in Barcelona Sept. 13 - 16th. We are young, I'm early 30s, he's late 30's. We want to be in a central location around Plaza Catalunya, preferrably in Eixample. We are planning on walking mostly everywhere. Our budget is around 95 Euros. I love Hotel Granvia's location, but I just came across Hostal Goya yesterday and that seems like a good option.

The link to the apartment looks nice. I love the idea of a balcony! One thing I've found odd is that in Spain apartments are charging a 50 eur cleaning fee. We were in Croatia last Sept. and cleaning was included and is included most places. The 50 Euro cleaning fee is quickly putting us over our budget.

Thank you!

I was just in Hostal Goya yesterday and it is, indeed, a good operation and a nice location. I don't think they have air conditioning, though, which might be annoying in September.

I love the Ribera specifically El Born. It is near the Picasso Museum and the Santa Maria del Mar church. It is very trendy and safe and much more suited to a young couple than the Pl Catalunya IMO. I found an apt on "loving Barcelona" that was great. (AC ..minimalist..on the web site blue and grey and multiples in the same Bldg-I cant remember the name).

September is still part of the summer season, i think you might be hard pushed to find an apartment in Eix-Esq that doesnt go over your budget slightly.
I think the cleaning fee is calculated apart from the apartment price so that it can be advertised as cheaper. Ah-ha!
I don't think eastern europe has quite caught up with this yet then. this is kind of the same for seasonal price change. however a cleaning fee is only charged once.
there's a Eixample esquerra apartment you might like: http://www.way2stay.com/Barcelona-ap...en-52-1437.htm
Check the location on its map
It is like total 40 euro over (yes because of the cleaning fee) but you'll have a hard time finding somthing cheaper so close to all the Gaudí stuff.
Besides, apartment vs hostel- you will then save that money by not eating out one lunch and one dinner!

If you've been here before you probably know that central areas like borne, gotico, raval, barceloneta are within walking distance to everything, but maybe you'll catch the metro anyway for montjuic or güell parc (which is my favourite place, but go early in the morning so as not to get in the way of about a billion holiday snaps. its crazy holiday paparazzi!)

To put you actually under budget, you could opt for a studio by the beach Barceloneta. this is 10 mins walk into Gotico and el borne. Chances are you will be taking the metro to get around at some point; although at the beach, the metro is right there and the yellow line is a good one.
this is a really inexpensive area to stay in, for its nice fish tapas bars and about 5 Spar supermarkets (I swear there's a new one everytime i go!) and you get nice romantic walks on the marina at sunset when you're not being power-tourists.
Most Barceloneta apartments also have balconies. For example:
http://www.way2stay.com/Barcelona-ap...-en-52-509.htm

Anyway you've loads of time to check it out. Hope you have a nice time!

Thanks bought_the_tshirt!! I love the apartment you found. I swear I looked at every apartment on way2stay's website. I think we're going to book that one.

Thank you!

I just at an apartment on Para.lel near the Raval. There were still some seedy streets toward the Ramblas. Without having to leave the block there were a two sex shops.

On Para.lel, I asked at a regular newsstand for a Herald Tribune and the woman handed me a porno magazine. It didn't even have an op-ed page.