The worst thing about having a really nice apartment rental when you’re on vacation is that you’re caught between not wanting to leave and the strong desire to see as much at your destination as possible.
That’s what happened to Jon and I when were hosted by the Eric Vokel Apartments in Barcelona during our last couple of nights in Spain. We had this beautiful, spacious one-bedroom apartment that was seriously so homey that we just wanted to hang out. Fortunately, it was centrally located to the city’s top sights so it meant that we didn’t have to go too far to sightsee even though we really just wanted to soak up the cool factor of our digs. I admit that it was almost fortunate when we had a half day of really torrential rain on our last day – that pretty much forced us to stay indoors :-).
Eric Vokel, by the way? He’s a real person. He’s a Dane who was captured by the architecture of Barcelona, and drew from Nordic designs in creating these boutique apartments. All very simple with clean lines, they may not 
be typical for Spain, but they are just the kind of place that makes you happy to come back to after a day of walking the city.
I most enjoyed the sitting area (which overlooks a courtyard) at the end of the living room. With a small cushioned bed, it was a great place to enjoy a cup of tea and catch up on email (yes, there’s WiFi).
The apartment was within walking distance of La Rambla and the beach. And nearby was Arenas de Barcelona. Formerly a bullfighting ring, Arenas is now a shopping mall with a variety of restaurants on the rooftop where there’s also a great view of the city. I had my best meals in Spain at a couple of those restaurants!
Though we didn’t use it (too many good restaurants nearby!) other than to keep drinks cold in the fridge, the apartment did have a full kitchen. It’d be a great place to spend a longer time in the city and not have to eat out for every meal.
A typical night will cost you just about 100 euros and if you book online, you’ll receive a voucher for breakfast at the cafe downstairs. This includes typical European fare of coffee, juice and a pastry or two. This is an awesome deal for an international city like Barcelona.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Guadi’s Top Buildings in Barcelona
Vegetarians: When All Else Fails in Spain, Eat Gelato
Viva Barcelona!
I loved Barcelona and I would love to stay in one of these flats. You make it sound so dreamy, I wish I was there now!