Hello Fodorites,

My family of four will be spending Thanksgiving week in Barcelona this year, from November 23-30. I am lookin for a centrally located apartment, at least 2 bedrooms/2bathroons, preferably somewhere in Gracia or Eixample. We would like to be near a metro, but also be within walking distance of the main Gaudi sites.

I remember several Fodorites recommending service apartments, though unfortunately I am unable to negotiate the Fodors search engine for results. I found Habitat Apartments recommended, has any one of you stayed there, what is your take?

My budget is €2000-2500 for the week. I have found several options on Airbnb and VRBO, but with conflicting reviews, so am rather wary. Many reviews mention noise from neighbors, not just street noise, which is rather concerning.

I look forward to your suggestions and comments, you Fodorites have always been a huge help in my travel planning. Thanks in advance dear friends!

I've stayed in two such apartments in Barcelona, both well located for the sites, although I felt the second one was better located. The second one offers five apartments very near La Sagrada Familia, we stayed in their Bolt Hole apartment, which appears to have been re-done and re-named since we were there in 2020. The first apartment listed was my least favorite of the two.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16810008

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21601860

Thanks a lot Melnq8, but unfortunately neither apartment is available for my dates!

You preferred staying near the Sagrada Familia, isn’t that a little farther away from the main sights? I thought it would be better to stay in Eixample, near Passieg de Gracia, location of your first Airbnb. Would love to hear your opinion on this, especially the area around Sagrada. We usually prefer to walk everywhere and take the metro for longer distances.

I will see if the host has any other properties in the neighborhood for our dates.

Thanks again!

We absolutely loved BCN Gotic, but again, not available for your dates. It always sells out. We loved the location, the restaurants nearby and the walkability to so much. And the price was so reasonable. It had a full kitchen, washer and A/C. We were concerned about the noise, but with the windows shut, it was very quiet. The neighborhood had great energy but not the craziness of Las Ramblas. I think you would be hard pressed to find a quiet street in the areas you prefer.

You might want to contact them to see if they have had any cancellations or to get on a waiting list. I would pull it up on Booking.com to see the neighborhood and other nearby options, but that is the only one I have experience at. Good luck!

geetika -

This is what I wrote in my trip report regarding the apartment in Eixample - keep in mind this was in 2022, so things might have changed.

Unlike the apartment we’d booked in 2020 a stone’s throw from La Sagrada Familia, this one was located in Eixample, which would prove to be more challenging than we expected.

The apartment is located in a residential area that looked a bit down and out at first glimpse, but the apartment itself was nice.

It felt like the whole city of Barcelona was under construction. Everywhere we went sidewalks were torn up; it was an obstacle course, we couldn’t walk a single block without having to dodge a construction area. Most crosswalks were closed and taped off, abandoned construction equipment littered the streets and yet nothing seemed to be happening.

That, coupled with the pervasive smell of sewage made me wonder if they were replacing their entire underground pipe system.

I'm an avid walker, but my traveling companion isn't so we took taxis to several sites that I'd have walked to if alone or with my spouse.

However, the state of the sidewalks would have made that a challenge.

Melnq8, thanks, very kind of you to reply in detail. I have found a couple of Habitat Apartments which look good, but reviews on their site aren’t very recent, though booking. com has newer ones. But there are also complaints of noise, from the street and from neighbors, I’m hoping end November will be quieter than the summer months, lol!

How did you like staying near Sagrada Famila, did you feel it was a little far away? In all our travels I’ve never had so much trouble finding suitable accommodation, am wondering if I’m overthinking it.

coral22, BCNgotic unfortunately doesn’t have anything for our dates.

Thanks again bith of you for your help, much appreciated!

I enjoyed staying close to Sagrada Familia - it was the first thing I saw in Barcelona and it was just a wow, being right around the corner.

However, that trip was short-circuited due to COVID, so we didn't get the full Barcelona experience until our make-up trip a few years later.

Spain Interrupted: Our not-so-excellent adventure

Oh yes, I remember! We had just gotten to Sevilla for 5N at the end of our Andalucia spring break trip. On the third day they announced the lockdown and we took the last flights out of Sevilla before the borders were closed, March 15! Quite dramatic and frightening, I was terrified till I got home.

This will be our first trip back to Spain since 2020!

This might not be large enough but I loved its and location is perfect:



https://www.destinationbcn.com/location/ghost/

Thanks ekscrunchy, sounds perfect! Will message them to see if it’s available and/or if they suggest someplace similar.

This is the first time we will be renting in Barcelona and I really want some personal recommendations. The last time we visited in 2016 we stayed at a hotel, I am not familiar with the city either and am a little confused about where exactly to stay.

Thanks again, will let you know how it goes!

Let me know..they were wonderful to work with.

ekscrunchy, we booked a different apartment with DBCN. Same building, but on a lower floor, with a private terrace. Both yours and this one are on Airbnb too, though at a much higher price.

Thanks a ton for your recommendation, looking forward to spending a week in Barcelona…

Highly recommend. Has a view of the back of Casa Battlo

Put this number on the end of VRBO 1276946ha. Or google this title for VRBO: "Batlló House Views , located 270 meters from Casa Batlló"

I don't have enough posts so it won't let me posts URLs yet.

Thanks Janac, the apartment looks very nice indeed. But it is booked for most of November, including the beginning of our stay.

Here’s the link in case anyone else is interested, it’s 3bedroooms/3baths.

Check out this place I found on Vrbo. https://t.vrbo.io/9HDcIzFvhWb

We’re just back from a week in Barcelona and I wanted to report on our apartment. Thanks to ekscrunchy’s suggestion we booked with Destination BCN at their Universitat location. They have nine apartments in the building, including some rooms, and I highly recommend this agency. Extremely professional and helpful, our 2bedroom/bathroom apartment was exactly what we needed.

Perfect location, with the metro across the street and bus stop just outside the front door. Two minutes from Placa Universitat and five from Placa Caralunya, extremely convenient for the Aerobus to/from the airport. Loads of cafés, restaurants and fast food outlets around, offering a variety of international cuisine.

Many thanks again to ekscrunchy for pointing us in the right direction!

Geetika, I'm thrilled that you used the agency, and liked the apartment! We had such a wonderful stay with them and they were so helpful to me--making a special trip to. help me with my laptop, etc. Hope you have time for a small report--I'll be back there in March after more than 10 years!!!