Mum and Dad (early 60s) treated daughters (in 20s) to a surprise week in Barcelona in early August. We could not have found a more central spot for strolling into the surrounding areas. The larger Ramblas area is conveniently spaced a couple of blocks over, a 7 minute walk from our front door -as is the fabulous Bocaria food market. Huge choice of cafes, bakeries, restaurants and the immediate Raval square is a great place to sit out at night with a drink, under the trees, chilling out after a busy day of drifting and sight-seeing.
Sylvie was a lovely, welcoming host. Knows Barcelona well, gave us good recommendations for visits, helped with on-line ticket bookings* and gave us really good recommendations including a last night 'finale' trip to the Magic Fountain water and light display on Montjuic (catch taxis from the rank right outside the flat by the Barcelo Hotel -very convenient indeed).
We shall go back but meanwhile fear that our strong recommendation will merely encourage a flood of bookings, reducing our chances of a last-minute impulse.

* note: if booking railway tickets by internet note that the e-ticket with its square code, sent to your mobile, will not allow you through the gate at the station where you will need to go to one of the ticket counters who will print out tickets from the e-ticket on your phone/ i-pad.
So give yourself time to print out at station before going onto the platform!
(The same may apply to other venues, though our timed e-tickets to the Sagrada Familia and to Parc Guell were scanned at the entrances - no paper print-outs required in Aug 2016)