We had a fantastic time staying at John and Vanessa’s apartment. It is very well-appointed, in a great location and proved a perfect base from which to make our first exploration of this wonderful city. Clare and I enjoyed our en suite bedroom, our daughter Lydia appreciated having her own room and bathroom, and we loved the spacious living area. We even ate outside on the terrace in late December - although I’m afraid we chickened out of a dip in the pool, however inviting it looked in the sun! Overall the apartment is equipped with all we could need, has a lovely airy feel and is set out perfectly.

We found it easy to orientate ourselves, including using the metro and on foot. We walked into the old town one day, well within range, and made several visits to the local rambla, strolling as far as the sea on our first evening. We found a great range of shops and places to eat on the doorstep, and the Glories shopping centre also has plenty of shops and eateries. As well as the fine sightseeing, we had a great evening at the Nou Camp, seeing Lionel Messi score a goal on his 500th appearance for Barcelona.

Our hosts introduced us to our visit and made sure all of our needs were provided for. There is a very comprehensive set of instructions in the apartment. In short this is a great place to spend a comfortable stay, and an ideal location to see more of Barcelona. We can’t wait to come back!

Clare, Jonathan and Lydia