Start with your workplace address when you look for a room near Barcelona. A place in Castelldefels might suit you beautifully on the three days you work from home. Whether it suits you on the other two depends on the journey you’ll make when your shift ends, as well as the one you’ll make in the morning.
The commute in both directions
Put the full addresses of the house and your workplace into your journey planner. Pick an ordinary working Tuesday and set the time you need to arrive. Then check the trip home at the end of your shift. Include the walk at either end. If missing a connection would make you late for work, count the extra time you’d allow yourself every morning.
Suppose you’ve found a room in Castelldefels with space to work and another within walking distance of the office. With two days on site each week, a proper desk at home might tip the balance towards Castelldefels. With five early shifts and a first connection that gets you in too late, the room near work could be worth the higher rent.
What you’ll use at home
A furnished room takes care of the bed and wardrobe. Think about what happens after you unpack. If your first call starts at eight, where could you take it without waking a housemate? If you finish work late, how do you get in, and can you make dinner when you get home? When you’re choosing between rooms in the same house, ask which bathroom goes with each one and how many people share it.
Comparing quotes for the same dates
Ask both hosts for a written quote with identical check-in and check-out dates. One nightly rate and one monthly figure tell you very little until you know what you’ll pay for the whole stay. Look for the room charge, any compulsory fees and the extras you expect to use. Where cleaning is included, check whether that covers your room, the shared areas or both.
Write down the cost of the stay and the payment due before you move in. A refundable deposit belongs in the second figure. Ask when it will be returned and on what terms. If your employer is covering the move, give the person approving the booking both figures so they can arrange payment in time.
- Dates
- Use the same check-in and check-out dates for both places. Count the nights.
- Commute
- Check the door-to-door journey at the time you’ll travel to work. Check the trip home, too.
- Cost of the stay
- Add the accommodation charge and any compulsory fees. List the deposit separately and note how much is due when you book.
- An extra week
- Ask whether you could stay another week, what it would cost and how much notice you’d need to give.
When your project runs over
Say your employer has confirmed six weeks on site, with two more still up in the air. Get a quote for the confirmed dates and ask when you’d need to request an extension. Could you stay in the same room? What rate would apply to those extra weeks? You can then weigh the cost of booking eight weeks upfront against the chance of moving halfway through the assignment.
You can browse the rooms at Green Living in Castelldefels before requesting a quote. Include your dates and anything that matters to your working day, whether that’s a quiet spot for calls or your own bathroom after a night shift.
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