The view of the Sagrada Familia from the balcony is spectacular! Khris provided helpful tourist info.
I have stayed at many Airbnb’s and fault myself for not carefully reading previous guest reviews. This accommodation was not a good fit for me. Here are some previous review comments that I should have considered:
*The apartment is on the third level (segundo). It is 57 steps up.
*There is no wireless internet. Khris said internet is only available if you can plug in a cable, which I couldn’t for my phone or tablet. She advised me to go downstairs to the KFC and use their wifi. I couldn’t get it to work. Not having high speed internet to make flight reservations, museum reservations, or handle work matters was more than inconvenient. Khris offered to let me use her computer but I wasn’t comfortable with that for obvious security concerns.
*The shower is very small. Similar to the size on a boat or RV. The bathroom with toilet and sink is very, very small as well.
*There are many rules of how to close doors not to make noise and other cautions. For example, be careful that your suitcase on the stand is not too close so that it doesn’t make a mark on the wall because Khris can’t paint after every guest. Care must be taken when closing the patio doors because of the way to fit together. Ask for assistance if you want to close them all the way. Mop up any water after your shower and make sure the floor is dry ( I asked for a bath mat to help with this). Be careful closing the wooden table or you’ll break it. Good guests will do these things without being told; however, Khris must has had bad experiences with guests in the past so that’s why all of these cautions. It was overwhelming for me because I was very tired and I felt nervous about doing something “wrong.”
*This apartment is in a highly visited area with many people out on the streets below at all hours of the night, talking loudly or playing music or marching by. There isn’t that much traffic noise—it’s pedestrian noise. I was awakened at 3 am, 4 am, even 5 am. Khris doesn’t hear a sound but I struggled most nights to sleep.
*The patio doors are the only source of ventilation to this room. So the choice is leave the doors open and not sleep because of the noise or shut the doors and not sleep because it is hot. Note that the bed is made with a thick duvet, which takes the place of a top sheet and blanket.
*There is an inside sliding latch to the bedroom door but no way to lock the door from the outside when you leave. I was instructed to leave my bedroom door open when I left. Khris said that nothing has ever been stolen and she doesn’t expect any issues to start.
*There is no way to heat food. You aren’t allowed to use the stove and there is no microwave. The only coffee offered was instant powder. The electric teapot is the only cooking appliance you’re allowed to use.
I don’t recall the issue of second hand smoke in previous reviews but it caused respiratory difficulties for me some nights. There was someone on another balcony smoking and the secondhand smoke came into my room, waking me up. If you close the balcony doors, it helps but then the room was hot. When I arrived, Khris had been burning incense and the smell was very strong. She said that she wouldn’t burn it during my visit but I should have let her know beforehand that I was sensitive to it.
All of these points were made by previous reviewers. It was my fault that I didn’t pay attention. For many guests, this accommodation is perfect. For an older guest who may have trouble carrying luggage (or themselves) up 57 stairs or for guests who are above an ideal weight and have bigger bodies and who have trouble functioning in a small shower or for those who are light sleepers, this accommodation may be stressful.