I am not a normal hotel person. I normally stay at least week or more at a hotel (once for three years). Thus, I approach hotel reviews a bit different than most people.
This is a hotel that I have found to be very friendly and inviting. While it does have a few tour groups come and stay for 2-3 nights, generally is seems to have a lot of Spanish people who come to Madrid or Europeans who come for a conference for a couple of days.
The rooms are not fancy but they are very well maintained and very clean. Housekeeping is a great team of people and work hard to ensure the guest rooms are enjoyable.
I have found the front desk team to be very professional and very easy to deal with. Always able to get things done quickly when I have asked for advice or help.
The food service team is actually very good when you consider they do not have much of a lunch or dinner business (too much outside competition within one block). I normally order "off menu" and the pasta with shrimp in olive oil and garlic is to die for. Very good - I must have had this meal 50 times). The wine prices are very competitive and I would suggest you try the cava they recommend.
Outside restaurants in the immediate area (lets say 4 blocks) are geared to locals and the quality of the food is very good and with reasonable prices - not like in the more tourist like places. (I would avoid the Guandong Chinese restaurant as it is awful - it is about 3 blocks away.) The Chinese place near the hotel is actually very good and has good prices. It is next to the Irish pub but I have not tried that place yet.
As for transportation, you can not find a better hotel for it. It sits above the local metro line (#5) and the train line (various lines). I normally get of the plane at the airport and can be in the hotel within an hour. I take the lift up from the train station and walk into the hotel lobby about 30 feet away. Nothing can be easier. When I go to the various work locations or meetings, I can just take the metro. It is so easy to use the local transportation that I tend to buy the local ten ride tickets.
Overall, the hotel staff is great and very easy to work with and the location is great. read more