Xavier is a friendly, warm and welcoming host and his flat is lovely for a short stay.
Xavier was quick to respond to any questions I had and was accommodating to any issues I had when arriving and during my stay. The description and pictures on the listing are completely accurate.
The flat is very close to one of Barcelona’s main roads with the L1 and L3 metro lines a 12 min walk up to Plaça d’Espanya. Plenty of small bars and restaurants close by, but for a good night out you do have to go a bit further out. Not an issue if you get the T-Casual metro card.
The apartment on the whole is spotless; completely clean and beautifully presented. The room is exactly as the pictures suggested and the decor is tasteful. Xavier is a quiet and respectful host and, despite there being multiple other guests during my stay, I felt comfortable and safe.
The only reasons I haven’t given 5 stars are minor but did make a difference. The flat itself is very dark as there are few external windows (the room is fine - a nice big window with plenty of light) and there are automatic night-lights in the hallways. It can get a bit claustrophobic due to the darkness, but it’s good for saving the planet! On that note, the apartment and room were both very cold all the time, with the heating not turned on once whilst I was staying. Again, good to save the planet, but not that comfortable, especially since the bed itself only has a thin blanket rather than a duvet. There was another thicker blanket that I found in the cupboard but that was only large enough to cover half of my body. A small fan heater is provided but it’s loud and not very effective.
Furthermore, the walls are really quite thin between Xavier’s apartment and next door and upstairs. I could clearly hear conversations, banging and chairs scraping. The window also does not block noise much and the main road just a street away is quite loud into the early hours. This is typical of Barcelona so I don’t blame Xavier at all! But if you’re a light sleeper, it might be an issue for you and I’d recommend heading further out into the quieter suburbs.
If you are bringing a car, it is best to use the paid for secure car parks that are nearby. I used the road up the hill (about a 5 minute walk up steep stairs) but after I learned about break-ins being common, I moved it to the Hello Barcelona car park a 5 minute walk down the main road. It’s relatively cheap and you can get a discount if you book for a week. Xavier recommended the free car park at the top of the stairs which is lit at night and is next to a school. It is, however, a public unguarded car park and is very quiet at night so park there at your own risk! It was full most of the time, anyway, so the road at the access to the car park was where I left it.
Overall, a great place to stay for a short time. Xavier is lovely and very helpful and the flat is as described. Great value.