Hostal Ballesta

The room was clean, very small, and felt suited to just one person. The bed was somewhere between a twin and a full, and there was a balcony with no view, but it was nice for letting in fresh air. If you’re a bit thick, getting around the toilet might be a pain. Like many European hotels, they don’t provide washcloths, so bring your own. The neighborhood felt safe. Madrid seems to never sleep, which is kind of insane. The same group of polite ladies of the night hung out on the corner, but they didn’t bother me and I didn’t see any other trouble. Walking into the city center means going up and down hills, so trust me, wear comfortable shoes. For four nights over NFL weekend I paid $640. That’s hard to beat, a block from Grand Via and a $4 train ride to Real Madrid Stadium. The airport shuttle bus 203 stops at Cibeles, about a 15-minute walk straight up Grand Via to the hotel. It costs 5 euros if you have time and not much luggage. The location is terrific, with good bars and restaurants across the street and two convenience stores right there. Check-in is at 1p. My transatlantic flight landed early, so I couldn’t check in at 11a. The front desk said the room would be ready at noon. I passed out in the lobby and they woke me up with my key card right at noon.

We had a perfect stay, with restaurants nearby and a 24-hour convenience store right across the street. The little balcony was nice too, though the bathroom could have been bigger. We’d been a bit worried about paying around $1,000 for five nights, since Madrid, especially around Gran Vía and Chueca, can be pretty expensive. The location really is unbeatable.

The rooms were clean and spacious, and the staff were really friendly. It’s easy to walk to different parts of the city from here, right in the center of Madrid. A great spot to stay.

I couldn’t sleep because they were renovating the room next to ours, drilling into the wall right over our heads. The walls are so thin that you can hear every word from the neighbors, too. My friend, who was sharing the room with me, had trouble breathing from all the construction dust. Worst hotel experience I’ve ever had!