Unbelievably friendly and warm staff who gladly gave expert travel advice and recommendations that only a Roman would normally be privy to. - Loic Diels
I LOVE this website and will gladly recommend it to anyone headed this way. Nothing disappointed us! - Mary-Iris Taylor
I have been using Cross-Pollinate for about 10 years now. The service is consistently great and I can always find just the kind of apartment we like, at the right price. - Hirani Himona
A really great idea - with a network of hand picked little rooms/guesthouses. If only we could have this in more city destinations! - Zoe Buck
I love Cross-Pollinate and every time we go to a new city I look to see whether they have some accommodations over there. - Arantza Aldea
The two places I have stayed at from Cross-Pollinate have been among the best across Europe. Highly recommended. - Nicholas Burn
Thanks a lot to Cross-Pollinate for the opportunity to experience a city as an insider! We really enjoyed our stay in Rome and Venice and look forward to more. - Tatiana Marchenko
Cross-Pollinate was very helpful when the owner of the B&B wanted to charge us for the baby under 2 y o. It would have been difficult without them since the owners did not speak any english. - Yulia Pichugina
This was our only stay with a C-P apartment and we were very pleased with the entire process. Will look to use them again on our next Europe trip! - Anthony Giglio
Great web site and quick response from the team a CP made the whole experience easy and hassle free. I have already recommended CP to quite of few of my airline industry colleagues and I'm sure they will make use of their excellent service. - Shane Pickles
Cross-Pollinate was extremely helpful! They found us a place to stay in our price range when many other places of business couldn't help us. - Sarah Seminutin
Cross-Pollinate was very easy to use, and it is so much better to stay in places like these than big corporate hotels; you get a much better feel for the place. - Kaspar Deane
Very straight forward. Well done. Definitely would use it again. Love these type of alternatives to hotels! - John White
Cross-Pollinate was fantastic and easy to use. We used Cross-Pollinate to book a room in Florence (the second leg of our trip), which was everything I thought it would be. We have recommended Cross-Pollinate to our friends. - Barbara Carlin
Cross-Pollinate are great - the descriptions are accurate and they are very responsive to questions. - Dominique Bayne
Cross Pollinate was just the best. I had tried a couple of places before coming upon them. As soon as I sent the first email I stopped looking for any more websites. I just wish they expanded to every city in Europe. Their knowledge, helpfulness, etc. was second to none. - Caroline Collis
The San Agustí Flat
The San Agustí Flat is ideal for a couple or for a family with kids. The main bedroom, which is attached to the living room by sliding glass doors (there is a curtain to pull as well for privacy) has a double bed. The room is rather small but does have some closet space to store your clothes in. The other bedroom is tiny - and we can't emphasize "tiny" enough" - but it has a 3-tiered bunk bed set (yes, 3 bunk beds instead of the usual 2) that kids seem to love; in fact, there are often arguments about who gets to sleep in the top bunk! The apartment also has a full kitchen with microwave and dishwasher. The bathroom is unusual - it's split Parisian-style into two very small separate rooms (both just off the hallway, next to each other). One room has the toilet and a small sink; the other room has a shower and sink.

The highlight of the apartment is the living room which has a funky, colorful, somewhat retro vibe to it. It has a sofa and a wooden table where you can eat meals or use your laptop. There is a small balcony that overlooks the charming square, Plaça de Sant Agustí Vell. You'll get pleasant cafe noise from downstairs and have a great people-watching spot - perfect for setting a chair in the doorway and having your coffee in the morning. The apartment is also equipped with air-conditioning (in the living room only), washing machine/dryer, double-glazed windows, and WiFi.

The apartment is located in the fashionable Born district, near the Picasso Museum and loads of trendy restaurants, cafes, and pubs. The beautiful Ciutadella Park is 2 minutes away, perfect for those traveling with kids. You can get to anywhere in the Old City by foot, as well as Las Ramblas and the port and beach. There are a few different metro stops about 10 minutes away by foot, so it's easy to get to the tourist sights in other parts of the city as well.
Amenities
  • linen and towels provided
  • crib upon request - up to 3 y.o.
  • air-conditioning in living room only
  • WiFi
  • TV
  • DVD/CD player
  • CD player
  • hair dryer
  • iron
  • independent heating
  • double glazed windows
  • full kitchen
  • American coffee machine
  • dishwasher
  • private balcony
  • tea kettle
  • microwave
  • toaster
  • 1st floor
  • no elevator
  • washing machine
Reviews
Cary Johnson on Jul 2015:


Inexpensive.
The apartment in reality was not the same as presented. At the time the website indicated that there was a convertible sofa (important for us since we had 5 travelers) that did not exist when we arrived. The washer has a handle that literally comes off when you try to use it. This led to the washer door not maintaining contact and not cycling through completely. When we opened the door, thinking it was finished, it spilled water all over the floor. There literally are holes in the ceiling that are covered with tacked construction paper.
When I contacted Cross Pollinate via email prior to making a public comment to provide them an opportunity to respond, they simply forwarded my email to the owner. Their basic response was that they had not received any other complaints from users for this location, and that the apartment is inexpensive. If I had only used CP for the Paris apartment (the week before), my review would be glowing. After this experience, I will not use CP on my next trip to Europe.
Admin on 28. Jul 2015:
Just to clarify - we have had so many positive reviews for this flat, even during the construction, that before responding, we wanted to discuss the guest's comments with the owner, to hear his side of the story. After that, we responded with a few explanations - such as the holes in the ceiling, which were made to check the beams and were covered temporarily since the work isn't finished. In any case, we did follow up and we did respond and we even updated the listing because the owner removed the couch.
Federico Gaitan on Jun 2015:


The location is perfect, very close to the Barrio Gothic, to the Metro, to the beach. The plaza in front of our balcony was great, we had a concert presented one evening, and it was great fro watching every day routines of the Barcelonians! The cafés on the plaza were also very good
The AC Didn't work well, so it was pretty hot. The upper floor and side apartments were undergoing a mayor reinforcement of walls etc. which startled us a bit when we arrived and had to walk through it to our apartment.
Great!
Mariangela Pfister on Jun 2015:


The location was incredible. It was convenient to everything, and while we were there, there happened to be some sort of celebration in the square right below our balcony, which was amazing and so much fun to watch! Having the washing machine and dishwasher in the apartment were huge pluses. The owner was very nice, and we feel the price was fairly reasonable given the location.
The building is undergoing rehabilitation, with workers beginning noisy work pretty early, but building improvements have to happen sometime.
Using Cross-Pollinate was once again positive and easy. When we had initial difficulty emailing the owner, Cross-Pollinate contacted him for us, which was helpful. Our only suggestion is that, if possible, Cross-Pollinate expand the number of cities their service is in. While we had great luck with Booking.com this trip as well (in cities not serviced by Cross-Pollinate), we would prefer to use Cross-Pollinate.
Robert Blelloch on May 2015:


We loved this apartment. It was in a perfect location and very comfortable for our family of four. The kids liked the bunk beds and we enjoyed the sealed off "master bedroom". We were there doing a raucous night due to a soccer match the next day, but still with bedroom doors closed it was not that loud, which was surprising as the apartment is on a square with several restaurant-bars, which were absolutely packed. The Tapas restaurant just below is excellent for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The mixed seafood plate was absolutely delicious. The apartment host was wonderful. He showed up at the place for a late check-in even though his wife had a baby the same day! He also let us leave our luggage in apartment on the last day as our flight out was in the late evening. We would definitely stay here again, given the opportunity.
Nothing, it was better than we expected.
Fantastic experience. We were getting nervous that we would not find a place because of the soccer match. Hotels were booked. We emailed cross-pollinate and had a place within a couple hours. Amazing!
Laura on May 2015:

The owner was very helpful and informative. The location is great - we loved the El Born neighborhood. The apartment is exactly as described - comfortable for a couple, with a tiny bedroom for children.
Great! We will definitely use Cross-Pollinate again.
Chris Rayner on Mar 2015:


Location was perfect. Apt. was very comfortable for two.
A light switch closer to the street door. We had construction work outside the apt. door during our stay, (a cement mixer on the landing!) but this has been completed.
Staightforward - no problems.
Jonas on Feb 2015:

Good little place in a good and quiet location. Don't be put off by the front door and the entry hallway. Bathroom and kitchen are tiny but functional for a few days.
Good and convenient. Seems reliable.
Donna Pertel on Dec 2014:

Convenient flat, interesting neighborhood with a responsive owner.
This is our first experience with cross-pollinate, and we look forward to using it again.
Ketja on Oct 2014:


Wonderful location, kind, friendly, and responsive flat owner, and great flat.
N/A
Very positive experience. Would use Cross-Pollinate again and would definitely stay in the San Agusti Flat in Barcelona again. Thank you.
Ernst on Aug 2014:


The location could not be better. We could easily,via walking or bike, access the beach, the Born neighborhood, the park. Great restaurants all around. Our daughter loved the bunk bed. Having a washing machine was a nice bonus.
A new front door outside on the plaza. Your first impression makes you hesitate but once inside it is great.
Mark, the owner, is very nice and helpful.
Leah Burke on Jun 2014:


The location was perfect for experiencing Barcelona. The balcony overlooks a charming plaza that is bustling with local activity but is peaceful at the same time. The trees outside were inhabited by green parrots - a real treat to those of us who live in a less-than-tropical place most of the time. Mark, the owner, is very friendly and helpful and gave us very good suggestions for our stay. He also gave very specific easy-to-follow directions to the place.
I can't think of anything.
We used Cross-Pollinate for two of our accommodations on this trip and both times, the transactions were very easy and the accommodations were exactly as advertised. We would definitely use Cross-Pollinate again.
Cathy Schultz on Jun 2014:
Fabulous location. It was an easy stroll to the Cathedral, with interesting shops along the way. No problem walking to Sagrada Familia or La Rambla. We loved the balcony overlooking a lively square, and enjoyed watching people go by. A little tight for the six of us, but we did it, and enjoyed the experience. Mark, the owner, was incredibly helpful. He stayed with us to make sure we understand how to operate everything, I always knew we could contact for any issues.
Marina Drummer on Jun 2014:


The neighborhood, the light in the apartment, the owner's helpfulness
I'd get rid of the triple bunk in the back room and put in a fold down bed - the bunk seems untenable, but that's just me.
Cross-Pollinate was very helpful and easy to use
jacqueline hultin on May 2014:


location , location, location!!! was absolutely perfect for a tourist for getting around...but it was also very authentic as it faced a small square with a great breakfast cafe(ate there every morning)...we sat at the open french windows and watched the spanish life on the square..no tourists!!. The apt is exactly what the pictures show, very homey and quaint! Mark was a fantastic landlord.! answered all emails quickly, was very helpful when we arrived and mailed home forgotten clothing!. when we come next time, we will definately stay at this apartment again. we were there as 2 adults, 1 teenager and 1 child and though the apt is only 45 square meters, it perfect for us!
nothing..
as a loyal booking.com person, i was very nervous using cross-pollinate but wanted to give it a shot. Steve was extremely helpful and professional!...VERY fast response, helpful and very clear!. They really do find unique places that enable you to really enjoy the visit on a completely different level than staying at a hotel. In future, i will always use cross pollinate before booking.com !
Ana on Mar 2014:


Attractive apartment. Felt very safe. Location was ideal- quiet, in the very middle of our favorite barrio, close to more amazing dining options than we were able to exhaust in a week (Joanet and Restaurant 1932 both on the square were wonderful), close enough to all major attractions and neighborhoods that we barely used cabs or public transit even with a three-year old.
Some shelves or nooks on which to rest toiletries in the bathroom would be helpful. Both the toilet bathroom and the shower bathroom are very tight; similarly extra bedroom in spite of the three stacking beds doesn't offer much extra space for assisting a little one with daily needs. The place is probably ideally suited either for two adults traveling alone, or for two adults and an older more independent child. This being said, I would not trade up for more space in a less ideal location.
Very helpful and personal. Host took a friend-like approach. If you prefer a more anonymous type of experience, this process or host might not be for you.
C. Cropley on Dec 2013:
The apartment is clean and cheerful. Although it is small. it was quite comfortable for the 3 of us.The location is excellent.
Marnie on Oct 2013:

Location, Location, Location!!!!! The owner is wonderful, he goes out of his way to be helpful and make the stay even better. I forgot something after check out and he was so kind to mail it to me. My kids loved the bunk beds. I loved the little plaza from the balcony or from the restaurant downstairs, which serves very good food. It is also nice to have a kitchen in the apartment. We walked to major tourist attractions and to the beach from this wonderful location. The internet was great and very helpful for planning activities. I hope to go back someday!
Great experience.
Jim on Sep 2013:


Given that in Barcelona it seems the next great place to be is within 100 yards of where you are, this apartment is in a perfect location. Step out the door and pick a direction to explore. Transportation is nearby. We did not find the plaza noisy but we travel with earplugs if it was. The WIFI was always on if needed. The unit was clean and equipped with everything we needed during our stay. The San Agustí Flat was perfect for the two of us and we would recommend this unit.
I really can't think of any.
Cross-Pollinate was easy and simple. You do what they ask and they do what you expect! Its just that simple. I wish they were in more locations as I would use them again.
on Jul 2013:
The location was fabulous. I don't know that I will ever want to stay in another area of Barcelona. It was one of the few areas that was not overrun with tourists. Property is overlooking a square with a lovely café that only serves breakfast and lunch, so it isn't too loud at night. Close to Arc de Triomf metro station.
Frances Kerr on Jul 2013:

The flat was perfect for our family of four. It's in a great location so we could walk to areas such as the Ramblas and the beach but just away from the main touristy area so quite quiet. The flat is compact but had everything we needed (including excellent WIFI access) and the boys loved the bunk beds. The owner was very helpful and we would definitely stay there again.
Very straight-forward and easy process. Will use again for future trips.
Margaret H on Jun 2013:


Great location away from main tourist areas, good base to discover Barcelona. Mark the owner was very obliging (if a bit late), the flat was well equipped, the bed comfortable and wifi worked well.
Place was not very clean, some cups, bowls & plates were chipped. Large husband could not fit in the toilet with door shut! Placa San Augusti Vell is an interesting square, but can be very noisy with building works opposite, and the cafe below was busy on Friday night.
Have had excellent stays in Rome, Paris and Brussels with Cross-Pollinate before, and will continue to recommend your website to our many travelling friends.
Simon on Jun 2013:


The apartment was as advertised - cozy enough for the two of us, but I feel it would be a little bit too cramped for more people running around. The apartments furnishings and kitchen goods were clean, well maintained and added to the level of comfort we had. One of the best parts was it is on the first floor with a balcony overlooking a little square with a couple of cafe/bars that just added to the general ambience of the place. At first we thought it was a bit far out, but as we quickly learned, the apartment is well situated within walking distance to everything.
None
Cross polinate made it fast and simple for us to find a great place
Ratings
average score
4.6 / 5.0
Price/Value
4.6
Comfort
4.3
Cleanliness
4.3
Accuracy of listing
4.6
Location
4.8
Helpfulness of owner / staff / host
4.8
Helpfulness of Cross-Pollinate
4.8
Booking details
Booking details: vacation rental apartment (2 bedrooms / 1 bathroom), sleeps max. 6 people
Payment accepted: cash on arrival in euro
Minimum stay: minimum stay of 3 nights
Cancellations allowed up to: 14 days before arrival
Occupancy: double
Bed options: 1 double (140 cm) or 1 double (140 cm) & 1 bunkbed
Policies & Extra Charges: smoking permitted on balcony only, check-out time is 11 am, apartment will be clean by 2 pm on day of check-in, must call owner upon arrival for check-in
Spoken Language(s):
Rates and Availability
Location
 The San Agustí Flat