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Where To Stay: Madrid Hotels
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Published: August 23, 2006
Madrid hotels offer a range of accommodations designed to acclimate to every taste and budget.
Easily the most unusual of all Madrid hotels is the Hotel Puerta America. A different architect designed each floor and public space of this modernistic 14-story hotel. Even the underground parking garage is treated as a design statement. The 342 guest rooms offer everything from sleek minimalist "spaceship" quarters to the flavor of the African savannah or a Mediterranean marketplace. For design fanatics, Hotel Puerta America is a must-see, must-stay destination for at least one Madrid vacation.
Those who want more traditional yet equally luxurious accommodations at their Madrid hotels appreciate the Hotel de las Letras. The 101-room hotel is located in the heart of Madrid on the Gran Via. "Las Letras" is close to the city's literary district, the "Barrio de las Letras"; hence its name. The property resonates with polished ceramic tiles and detailed stone carvings, giving it a classical feel. One of its most attractive features is a rooftop terrace offering a bird's-eye view of Madrid from every direction.
What do fashion designer Carolina Herrera, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and actor George Clooney have in common? They are all celebrities whose choice of Madrid hotels is the Hotel Ritz. Words like "palatial" and "opulent" are used to describe the 165-room, antique-laden Ritz. Its architecture is characterized as "Belle Epoque," a French phrase translating to "fine period" and referring to the era just before World War I. The Ritz is located directly across from the Prado and Thyssen museums and the Spanish Stock Exchange. Travelers who stay at other Madrid hotels, but want to sample Spain's Old World grace should take afternoon tea in the hotel's lobby bar.
Budget-conscious tourists also have many options among Madrid hotels. Hostels such as the Hostal Santillan on the Gran Via and the Hostal Mirentxu in the Museum district offer no-frills convenience at reasonable prices. Travelers beware, however, if you have never stayed at a hostel before. A guest room might or might not have its own toilet and shower facility. Staff might or might not speak more than the native language. And the "buffet breakfast" included in the room rate might closely resemble food found in coin-operated food dispensing machines at airports.
An exception to the latter rule is Cat's Hostel, a Lonely Planet "Top 5" pick. It is not in the heart of the city, but it offers a basement bar known for flamenco entertainment and complimentary paella (Spain's traditional seafood/chicken/rice dish) on weekends. Cat's also boasts a few more ruffles and flourishes than the typical hostel. One of the best is a traditionally Islamic-designed indoor courtyard with fountain and glass ceiling.
Madrid has a lively gay community. The Gay Hostal Puerta del Sol is located on the Plaza Puerta del Sol, in the midst of Madrid's nightclub district. It is gay-friendly, but welcomes gay and straight guests alike. The most expensive of its 35 rooms have private bathrooms, but all have a terrace or balcony, and satellite TV. Guests may want to bring earplugs, as rooms overlooking the Plaza Puerto del Sol get an earful of music and revelry most nights.
Bed and breakfast inns and apartments also are becoming popular alternatives to the more expensive Madrid hotels.
Internet travel sites such as www.tripadvisory.com, www.venere.com and www.expedia.com are good places to scout out Madrid hotels. Many invite travelers to post reviews of the properties where they stayed. These comments can provide a clearer picture of what to expect at each property in terms of cost, service and ambiance.
Individual websites for Madrid hotels also are a good source. They present the property's best face, offering a wealth of pictures and information about all the amenities available at the hotel.
Contact information for the Madrid hotels mentioned above:
Hotel Puerta America
Avenida de America, 41, 28002, Madrid
www.hotelpuertamerica.com
Hotel de las Letras
Gran Via, 11, 28013, Madrid
www.epoquehotels.com
Hotel Ritz
Plaza de la Lealtad, 5, 28014, Madrid
www.ritzmadrid.com
Hostal Santillan
Calle Gran Vía, 64, 28013, Madrid
www.hostalsantillan.com
Hostal Mirentxu
Calle de Zorrilla, 7 - 3, 28014, Madrid
(no website available)
Cat's Hostel
Calle de Canizares, 6, 28012, Madrid
www.catshostel.com
Gay Hostal Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol, 14, 28013, Madrid
(no website available)
Easily the most unusual of all Madrid hotels is the Hotel Puerta America. A different architect designed each floor and public space of this modernistic 14-story hotel. Even the underground parking garage is treated as a design statement. The 342 guest rooms offer everything from sleek minimalist "spaceship" quarters to the flavor of the African savannah or a Mediterranean marketplace. For design fanatics, Hotel Puerta America is a must-see, must-stay destination for at least one Madrid vacation.
Those who want more traditional yet equally luxurious accommodations at their Madrid hotels appreciate the Hotel de las Letras. The 101-room hotel is located in the heart of Madrid on the Gran Via. "Las Letras" is close to the city's literary district, the "Barrio de las Letras"; hence its name. The property resonates with polished ceramic tiles and detailed stone carvings, giving it a classical feel. One of its most attractive features is a rooftop terrace offering a bird's-eye view of Madrid from every direction.
What do fashion designer Carolina Herrera, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and actor George Clooney have in common? They are all celebrities whose choice of Madrid hotels is the Hotel Ritz. Words like "palatial" and "opulent" are used to describe the 165-room, antique-laden Ritz. Its architecture is characterized as "Belle Epoque," a French phrase translating to "fine period" and referring to the era just before World War I. The Ritz is located directly across from the Prado and Thyssen museums and the Spanish Stock Exchange. Travelers who stay at other Madrid hotels, but want to sample Spain's Old World grace should take afternoon tea in the hotel's lobby bar.
Budget-conscious tourists also have many options among Madrid hotels. Hostels such as the Hostal Santillan on the Gran Via and the Hostal Mirentxu in the Museum district offer no-frills convenience at reasonable prices. Travelers beware, however, if you have never stayed at a hostel before. A guest room might or might not have its own toilet and shower facility. Staff might or might not speak more than the native language. And the "buffet breakfast" included in the room rate might closely resemble food found in coin-operated food dispensing machines at airports.
An exception to the latter rule is Cat's Hostel, a Lonely Planet "Top 5" pick. It is not in the heart of the city, but it offers a basement bar known for flamenco entertainment and complimentary paella (Spain's traditional seafood/chicken/rice dish) on weekends. Cat's also boasts a few more ruffles and flourishes than the typical hostel. One of the best is a traditionally Islamic-designed indoor courtyard with fountain and glass ceiling.
Madrid has a lively gay community. The Gay Hostal Puerta del Sol is located on the Plaza Puerta del Sol, in the midst of Madrid's nightclub district. It is gay-friendly, but welcomes gay and straight guests alike. The most expensive of its 35 rooms have private bathrooms, but all have a terrace or balcony, and satellite TV. Guests may want to bring earplugs, as rooms overlooking the Plaza Puerto del Sol get an earful of music and revelry most nights.
Bed and breakfast inns and apartments also are becoming popular alternatives to the more expensive Madrid hotels.
Internet travel sites such as www.tripadvisory.com, www.venere.com and www.expedia.com are good places to scout out Madrid hotels. Many invite travelers to post reviews of the properties where they stayed. These comments can provide a clearer picture of what to expect at each property in terms of cost, service and ambiance.
Individual websites for Madrid hotels also are a good source. They present the property's best face, offering a wealth of pictures and information about all the amenities available at the hotel.
Contact information for the Madrid hotels mentioned above:
Hotel Puerta America
Avenida de America, 41, 28002, Madrid
www.hotelpuertamerica.com
Hotel de las Letras
Gran Via, 11, 28013, Madrid
www.epoquehotels.com
Hotel Ritz
Plaza de la Lealtad, 5, 28014, Madrid
www.ritzmadrid.com
Hostal Santillan
Calle Gran Vía, 64, 28013, Madrid
www.hostalsantillan.com
Hostal Mirentxu
Calle de Zorrilla, 7 - 3, 28014, Madrid
(no website available)
Cat's Hostel
Calle de Canizares, 6, 28012, Madrid
www.catshostel.com
Gay Hostal Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol, 14, 28013, Madrid
(no website available)
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