If you are a nonsmoker or don't like cigarette smoke in your living space, this is not an optimal choice. During my stay, there were four smokers living in the apartment plus guests smoking inside the apartment.
The apartment is in a 1900 building with beautiful Spanish tiles and high ceilings. It has an old-world Catalan style to it. The location is very central in a beautiful district. The bus to the beach is a block away, the metro station is two blocks away, Casa Gaudi and the Gaudi apartment is a fifteen-minute walk, La Rambla is walking distance, CCCB, the cultural center is walking distance. There are loads of very good cafes and restaurants in a four-block radius. The Gothic quarter is walking distance. It is located in the "golden triangle" so you will see many beautiful Modernisme buildings and details in this area.
Marcela, the host, is a sweet, kind person and is in the apartment 24/7 to help with any needs or questions. While I was there, she invited me to go to a tango with all the roommates and a dinner with all the roommates and the people who took a tango class in her apartment.
My room was quiet since it is situated in the back of the building. I could not hear the construction on the street except for the jackhammering in the morning and I assume that will be ended by now. I couldn't hear the tourists partying at night. It has no exterior window and during my stay the outside temperatures reached 34 C plus 70% humidity, my room was considerably hotter. Even when it cooled a bit outside, the room is always much warmer than outside or the rest of the apartment.