Dirty, noisy, poor value

Antoni dels Sombrerers 4, Barcelona

We are two seniors and stayed 13-17 Oct 2008 (4 nights). Taxi could not find the building. Person who was to meet us 30 minutes after we left the airport left before we got to the apartment because the taxi couldn't find the place. When he returned after we had been waiting for 20 minutes, he was rude and had the nerve to demand a damage deposit which I paid under protest.

Main entry to building didn't even have a door knob - no security.
Room not similar to photos
TV didn't work
Sofabed broken - back wouldn't stay up
very dirty
uncomfortable bed
no lamp beside bed for reading
no seating area except kitchen
large room
no telephone
kitchen was well equipped
bathroom adequate
noisy nightclubs across the alley
located near many great tourist spots
V E R Y poor value for my money
tried to phone building owner but they wouldn't help.

N O T recommended.

I booked these apartments through the barcelona 30 website. On the website the apartments looked airy, light and of a good standard. When we finally got to the apartments (good location, but down many little back alleys - felt unsafe) we were disappointed. The entrance was dark and smelly, the lift tiny and many of the lights were not working in the hall way and you had to walk in the dark. When we got to our room on the seventh floor which overlooked a dark alley way it was appalling. It was painted badly in green, the sofa was filthy, the bed linen was old and not clean, the windows were tiny and the room was extremely dark and miserable. These apartments cost approximately £100 per night, which for what we were sat in was a joke. It really was like a bedsit you would expect to pay very little money for.

Due to the fact we felt we had been misled we complained to the company and were moved straight away (they didn't seem shocked at all at our complaint). We were moved to Decimononico Apartments which is were the office for the borne apartments is housed. This apartment in contrast was outstanding and I would definately recommend them. They are central to the borne, near the train station and on a quiet but safe road.

Do not book the borne apartments, I have since looked again at the pictures and there is definately some very clever photography taking place.

Booked via [--], which gives the address as Paseo Borne, 30. The hotel is *not * there....which we learned *after * arriving and then going to the booking office a few blocks away.

While I was waiting at the putative hotel site, my computer in its bag (value ca. 3,000 euros) was stolen by a team of stealthy street criminals. Three hours (2100 - 2400) were consumed at the police station in the process of filing a report. More hours were spent changing passwords for web sites that I frequent.

The one-room "apartment" - located another few blocks away at the Sant Antoni address in a building ironically named "Feelgood Apartments" was small, clean and fairly modern...and VERY basic. Bare wires draped around to provide lighting, no soap provided, tiny bathroom, etc. Barely rating one star rather than the 2.5 stars claimed.

The neighbourhood was fairly picturesque by day, but very threatening by night...bands of drunken men in various states of "health." Vomit and dog feces decorated the sidewalks. The streets were literally hosed down overnight.

I've spent lots of time in the old quarters of Spanish cities, but never experienced anything remotely like this.

So, beware.