Ignasi's place is very spacious, bright, and has all the home touches you will ever want. We were able to use the in-suite laundry, cook meals, and have cava on the balcony just like we would at home. There was even a small box of toys that kept my 6-year-old well entertained for hours. The apartment is located right at an intersection, so traffic noise is a given. Just bring earplugs; don't let that be a deterrent. Right around the apartment, you will find a meat shop that offers a great selection of hams and some fresh meat. Grocery store is only half a block away with a great selection of fresh food. There is no lack of coffee shops and restaurants. We walked a lot during our one-week trip, and there were moments I wished we were closer to either Born or Gothic quarter--but the bang for the buck you get from Ignasi's apartment is really hard to beat. I haven't been able to find anything else that is this well equipped and spacious in the more touristy areas for the price range. So I guess it really depends on what you are planning to do on your trip. We needed space for the three of us to be "home" to relax in addition to eating out and sightseeing, so this space was just perfect for us. If you are planning to eat out every meal and hammer through as many sights as possible in a short time, then perhaps the amenities won't mean as much to you. Also, as everyone else already mentioned, the elevator in the building is so awesome. There are 6 or 7 steps you have to be able to take to enter the elevator area, but to go up to the apartment we relied on the elevator for my senior mother. We had arranged for Ignasi to pick us up at the airport and take us back to the airport on both ends of the trip, and he has been nothing but prompt and thoughtful throughout. I would highly recommend your transportation arrangement with him to save the stress.