How to find the right apartment in Barcelona

Travel writers have spilled a lot of ink - or flung a lot of bytes into the blogosphere - in recent years as they've discovered that hotels aren't the only, or necessarily the best, places to stay in cities like Barcelona, Paris and many others. We couldn't agree more, having offered short-term rentals since 2009. But articles seldom provide any information that might help travelers find a place that's right for them. Usually, they just throw out a couple of sources, Airbnb being the most common, and leave it to readers to trust that what they see will be what they get. While that's true most of the time, there are ways to avoid being the minority that show up to find either the apartment, the building or the neighborhood aren't what they'd expected. Not a good situation if you're jet lagged or want to jump into your travel experience and not fight with an agency over getting a suitable replacement, which may not be available.

This is what the main bedroom our El Born for 2 more More will look like. We know, because we've been there.

We're just a small agency, with limited listings because we offer apartments from owners and managers we know and trust. That means we may not have what everyone is looking for. So, as you shop around - and we know you do! - here are some tips to help you avoid unpleasant surprises.

Plan ahead. Nothing is more important in  assuring you find an apartment you really like. Unlike hotels, with their dozens or hundreds of similar rooms, apartments are one - or perhaps just a few - of a kind. It takes only one other person from anywhere in the world  reserving a single day that falls within your travel dates to remove  availability. The earlier you begin looking, the larger the selection. Don't be like the people who have been asking us lately for dates in July or August, when availabilities are minimal.

Read apartment descriptions carefully, looking  both for positive attributes and "deal breakers." But don't make a decision  based only on a listing. All apartments look great in photos and descriptions stress the positives. Send an e-mail making your needs and preferences clear (for  example, is there a full-size oven?) and requesting confirmation they will be  met. If you don't get a prompt and satisfactory  response, move on. Keep in mind that Airbnb, VRBO and most other sites do not visit their listings and disavow any responsibility for their accuracy.

The owner's listing for this apartment says there's an elevator. We've stayed here and know better.
It's a lovely apartment, but not suited for anyone with mobility issues.

Ask about the building and the immediate  surroundings. If the location is a vague circle, ask for the address, or at least a map showing a precise location. Then "walk" around on Google Street View. Request more photos if necessary.

An apartment overlooking a busy shopping street might be too noisy for comfort. Or it might be just right for you.

Transportation links can be important, so if you can't see them on the location map, ask about nearby Metro stations and bus  stops. Then check them out against the apartment location on Google maps.

Be prepared to  compromise, unless your budget is high. For example, if you wanted an elevator but the best apartment is up one flight of stairs, weigh the tradeoff.

Booking procedures vary widely, so be careful  but flexible. Our advance deposits, for example, can range from about 20% to  more than 50%, depending on the owner and length of stay. Use credit cards when  possible (we take payments via PayPal, which has its own robust fraud  protection as well), but be aware that in some cases, particularly in Paris, you'll be asked to send  money via bank transfer.

Get all financial details in  writing. A few established agencies collect full payment in advance, but generally be wary of that requirement - especially if asked to pay cash - and never pay the security deposit prior to arrival.

Ask about extra charges. Some owners and  agencies charge back their bank or credit card fees and, particularly in Paris,  you may be required to take out an inexpensive liability insurance policy.

Seriously consider taking out trip insurance to cover all of your advance payments, such as airfare, deposits, etc. Compare  plans carefully at sites like Insure my Trip or Squaremouth. Some policies will cover trip cancellation due to pre-existing medical conditions if you  purchase them within a short time after making your first trip payment.

An agency or owner that cares about  your experience will cooperate fully and openly with these and other requests.  If you feel you're not being told the whole story, you have every reason to  look elsewhere. Like Living There welcomes all questions and remains available from first inquiry through arrival