just got back from lovely Barcelona, but returned early due to the horrid place we had to stay. It was advertised as a loft app. in a lovely safe area!! well it was more like a basement of some dingey old flat that had been converted into a 'studio' flat. It was damp, smelly, noisy and just like a torture chamber, designed by amnesty international to make us in the west truly thankful for what we have, i.e a house not a prison. The final straw was when my brolly got nicked from behind the gate. so please, please and more please don't be fooled by their swanky web-site and reasonable prices!!!!!
Best to book accomadation through expedia, octopus,or lo-cost airlines. There are some hovels in Barcelona, I survived some awful places, wardrobe doors that dont close, very dodgy electrical fittings, wash-hand basins that are about to collapse,a shared hot and steamy bathroom where the loo paper has just run out, bedding thats ripped to shreads and one of those off yellow super inflamable foam mattrice that gives backache when lain on for more than 5 mins. gawd help if there's a fire....ah! the latino pension.However these places are dying out and in Barcelona like other latin cities Naples, Las Palmas etc there are many new boutiqie hotels springing up that offer value for money and comfort plus all mod cons like wifi etc.
