HOST & ACCOMMODATION:
+ outstanding communication by host - Susana responded to our requests and questions in a timely manner: e.g. before our arrival, Susana notified us about a strike in Catalunya and how this would affect public transport
+ well-equipped kitchen: toaster, various coffee-making tools/machines, kettle, peeler, a selection of knives, chopping boards etc. It would have been handy to have blender/hand blender
+ clean place
+ well-equipped apartment with comfort in mind: availability of electric heaters in each room, extra blankets, radio, window blinds etc. also a vacuum cleaner which we found useful
+ very quiet - you will only hear the birds and the waves; occasionally there's a vehicle passing by every 4-7 hours which is barely noticeable
- intermittent reception; internet didn't always work, social media websites didn't load on our phones for the duration of several nights; this wasn't a major issue for us but plan around this if you need reliable reception
- not very eco-friendly; however most hosts at this time aren't so I understand this isn't taken into account yet; I would have liked to see environmentally-friendly commercial cleaning products (actually you can clean and disinfect the entire flat including laundry with vinegar, soda/salt, natural bar soap, and some hydrogen peroxide); single use plastic-covered soap/body wash packets could be replaced with large refillable dispensers; and finally there was only one landfill bin - no recycling of any kind, however I recognise this is probably more to do with local governance than the host
LLORET DE MAR:
+ amazing views, clean ocean and beach
+ option for a more quiet beach if you walk to the East
+ a large selection of ripe and delicious fruit and some vegetables in town (West), nothing like here in the UK
- we found the place very busy and touristy in October so expect A LOT of tourists in the summer time
- vegans, vegetarians, and health-conscious folks may struggle to find places to eat out; if you're vegan, be prepared to ask to "veganise" your meal, La Rambla restaurant offers some healthier choices