We are considering whether it is safe to get an AirBnB in Barcelona, and in which area? Several have pretty good reviews and their sites note that they have a license. Is it a common option tourists use for Barcelona, or should we consider a hotel? In looking for hotels, I also noted several apartment rental options. Some of the apartments look nice, and have decent reviews, but most of them also have a few reviews that raise red flags--often about not having a person to connect with, or about poor maintenance, and every now and then about fraud or lack of security. Should we stay away from any apartment rentals?
For AirBnb, the reviews generally seem better. We were exploring options in Eixample, but it is a large area. Of the 4-5 we have narrowed two seem to be just northern parts of the Gotic/El Raval areas---one near the University area and the other on the Southern part of Dreta L'Eixample. They are both very convenient to Placa Catalunya and La Rambla, but I'm wondering if they are in safe areas, and perhaps too noisy?
Of the remaining, one is in San Antoni, and two are in eastern or norther Dreta de L'Eixample, so closer to Sagrada Familia. They are all a little bit of a walk to the Gotic area and Placa Catalunya. Any feedback on safety, convenience, and vibe on these areas would be helpful.
Also, a couple of days of our Barcelona stay will overlap with the La Merce festival. Would that affect what would be a better location for picking an AirBnB?