We stayed in several rented apartments during our trip and this was by far the nicest. We were a group of 4. What a great way to end it! The air conditioning works extremely well, which was a welcome treat during the heat wave. The apartment is cute and stylish and nicely furnished, and everything is in good repair. There are a few things that made it stand out to me: 1. lots of extra toilet paper! This may sound crazy, but I feel like I shouldn't have to buy toilet paper when I'm staying somewhere for a few nights. 2. Cleaning supplies. Yes, I'm on vacation - but that doesn't mean I don't like things to be neat and tidy while I'm there. 3. Coffee and shower gel. Little things that can make a difference on your first day. Netflix! When almost everything on TV is in a foreign language, something like Netflix is huge.
The location is wonderful. It's not in the thick of the tourist area, nor is it directly near many sightseeing opportunities. However, it is absolutely within walking distance of many things (Park Guell, the Gothic district, Sagrada Familia, etc.). And, there is amazing shopping just a few blocks away, and of course tons of small grocery shops and bakeries and restaurants all over. It's a pleasant neighborhood that is active in the evenings, and at the very least you can just walk around and pop in and out of the little shops.