Apartments Rambla
This was my single worst travel experience. I was in a hurry so didn’t read the reviews and trusted venere booking agency to only allow honest photos of the residences they list. The photo looked lovely. Lots of colour, flowers, wine glasses. I booked last minute.
The directions from the airport said take a aerobus to Catalunya, then metro or a cab. I had luggage and thought a cab would be easier. Well 10 euros and 8 blocks later, the cab couldn’t find it and dumped me off a few blocks away pointing in the direction it would be. I dragged my luggage down a few blocks and found the Iron gates that were described, complete with a huge pile of garbage covering one gate. I turned in a walked towards the doors at the end of the corridor. The stench of raw sewage was overwhelming. The door was locked and as I looked around I was approached by someone talking on a cell phone and between sentences asked my name. He did offer to carry my luggage but I said no, thinking it was only the second floor. Three flights of stairs later, as the stairwell became darker and more and more filthy and chipped, we came to another locked door, this one without a handle. He unlocked that and took us down another hall which lead to another locked door at the end. That door opened to Apartments Rambla, 4 locked doors on the left with 2 shared bathrooms at the end. There were no windows and no ventilation and the smell was disgusting. It was night by now and I wasn’t going to drag my luggage out and find something else, the street it was on was a little scary to say the least. Cash only, up front. NO WONDER!!! My room had 2 single beds, 2 dressers and a fan. That is it!! The balcony was about 2 feet deep but stretched the expanse of the other suites so visiting was made easy.
There was no phone, no internet, no tv, no air conditioning, not even a chair. Two bathrooms shared between 4 rooms, but hot water enough for one shower. It took anyone you called 50 minutes to get there. Then I was told don’t take my credit cards out, don’t take my passport with me, only carry as much cash as you are going to use, hang on to your purse, don’t go down any quiet streets or dark ones (this was one of those streets!). I kept thinking if my purse gets stolen, how do I get in to get change to call someone to let me in those 4 doors?
The back alley my room overlooked was noisy all night. I slept very little between the partying and the fights going on until 4, not to mention the smell and the extreme heat. I was there for 3 days and I didn’t hear from any staff once to see if I was ok or needed anything. I ended up staying in at night and waiting until the streets had filled with people a bit before going out.
I will never use venere as a booking agency again. As I said, I was in a hurry and booked at the last minute without reading the reviews, but going by the picture, it couldn’t be that bad. Why does Venere continue to allow that kind of false advertising I’ll never know, but never again for me I can tell you!!!
The last night I stayed at RESA, 2 blocks off the Rambla, 10 euros more, complete 24 hour security and reception, private bath, phone in your room, full breakfast, excellent friendly staff, internet everywhere plus computer room with computer if you need it, air conditioning AND and elevator…. What a relief to find that!!!!

Don’t believe the photographs they don’t represent the hotel.
Firstly on arrival at the hotel to collect the keys we were told there was no booking, they blamed laterooms, the I advised I had emailed to confirm the booking the day before, they did receive my email but had no rooms as they had given 4 apartments to one group.
We were offered another apartment but not in the city we were located a train ride away. No apology or offer of compensation for Taxi and train fares, the located apartment was illegal and there were posters advising us that it was illegal for tourists to stay in this building and the police would be called.
After two nights we were finally moved to Las Ramblas I apartements. The location was good in the old gothic area, although the view was on to the back of the council offices modern ugly building.
The apartment was very run down and in a bad state of repair, the photos on the web site do not represent this apartment. The bathroom was filthy and there was a large rusty hole in the bath, the bedroom celling was damp, there were no lights in the bedroom’s and although reported was never fixed.
The kitchen was crawling with ants, the lounge light fitting was hanging from the celling with wires exposed.
The beds were mattresses on the floor in the main room and were so hard and uncomfortable.
I would not advise anyone to stay in these apartments.

Just arrived at the hotel up the road where you have to check in, to be told double booked have no room, first advised no reservation, even though was made in Dec and I emailed yesterday to confrim.

Yes they have found the email but have allocated a different apartment ouside the city centre.

We booked this for the location so extremely upset to be given a run down apartment 6 train stations away in a shabby area, you would never choose or book.

Be aware of other reviews where this company allocate you other apartements not in the city booked.

No apology no compensation.

Allocated aparment dirty and shabby not to the expeted standard for the price paid or expected.

The apartment is in a good location and for the money it is not too bad. My biggest gripe is the beds are atrocious - one is basically an old sofa bed or camp bed - barely a double and really short for any tall people out there - we ended up sleeping on the sofa bed in the lounge room because it was infinitely more comfortable and actually managed to get some sleep. Our friends had a proper bed in their room but it was really uncomfortable plus it was really bright with outside lights and see-though curtains, so they had three sleepless nights. If anyone is really worried about security, the sliding door to the balcony didn't lock and management did nothing when we reported it. I wouldn't stay there again and pay more for a bit more comfort.