I hate writing reviews. I am one of those people you have to drag kicking and screaming to do it, and I just never know what to say. For this experience, I want to shout from the rooftops: THIS IS THE ONE!
To begin with, I booked this place for a month when I was working on an opera piece at the Grand Theatre Del Licieu. The value and location were both great, but the real deciding factor was because I read a review where someone had lost their passport and wallet, and Ari helped him out. I thought: well, if I get in trouble in Barcelona, then that's who I want in my corner. About a week prior, there was a little issue with the booking, but Ari was completely on top of it, professional and kind, and we wound up connecting over the phone. For having had to deal with this little difficulty, Ari offered to give me a little walking tour with him and his wife Ivonne on my first night in Barcelona, and they took me around and gave me some pointers, and we shared a wonderful tapas meal. I was totally delighted that everything had worked out and that Ari was such a gracious host. The space was lovely: cozy, clean, with interesting flatmates who I enjoyed conversation, meals, and music with. Ari was always communicative as to any needs regarding the space, and I loved my little Barcelona home.
All of that would warrant a 5-star review, but I have to add the really extraordinary thing that happened because it shows the quality of Ari's character. About two weeks after I arrived in Barcelona, I was attacked on the street and punched several times in the head. I knew very few people in Barcelona, and since I was sure that I had a concussion, I contacted Ari to let him know. He immediately told me that he was taking me to the hospital, and he and his wife both accompanied me, translating for me, guiding me through how the medical system worked, and then waiting for me until I was done with the doctor. They made sure to check in with me over the course of my recovery, made sure that I got food and rest, helped me get my prescription, and Ari even put me in touch with his acupuncturist.
Due to this all this, I became quite close with Ari and Ivonne -- I even got them ticket to the opera that I was working on! I plan to stay in touch with them. I didn't just have a simple stay in Barcelona: I made friends for life. That's not going to be everyone's experience staying at this AirBnb -- I had a unique series of events for sure! -- but someone like Ari should be rewarded in every way for the kind of person he is. I feel lucky to have found this place, these people, and I cannot recommend this stay enough! <3