Carretas Apartments

You get to the apartments by stairs and then a lift, so that could be difficult with mobility issues or big bags. Once there, the apartment was great, right in the center with restaurants and shops all around, and metro access just a minute away. There was even a city-organized music event two minutes from us, a nice bonus.

The apartment was spotless, and the whole place helped make my mom’s anniversary trip to Madrid a happy one. It wasn’t the cheapest choice, but being just behind Sol square made the location worth it. There were four of us in the two-bedroom apartment, with a small balcony facing the street. It was on the third floor of a pretty old building that somehow had an elevator. Each room had a double bed with comfortable pillows. The big window faced the main street, but closing it in the evening kept out the crowds when we wanted quiet. Every room also had air conditioning. We enjoyed the living room sofa and TV during euro2024 night. The kitchen had the basics, though we couldn’t find a vase for flowers and improvised. We had several sets of keys, which made things easier. The internet was sometimes unreliable, but I told Jose, the manager, and he came to fix it a few hours later. He was available on whatsapp and gave us helpful advice when we needed it.

Shops, restaurants, and the metro are all nearby. The location is good.

I’ve never written a negative review before, but this was deserved. We’d booked an apartment through Booking.com for plans in Madrid over the weekend of September 26-28. Around 2 p.m., while on the AVE train, I messaged them with our estimated arrival time so they could arrange check-in. They said they were very busy, that I was on their priority list, and that they’d update me as soon as we could check in. An hour and a half after we got to Madrid, I followed up. We had plans, an 8-year-old with us, and all our luggage. It took a while for them to answer, then they said they were busy again and would get back to us shortly. We waited at the apartment door for three hours with almost no response. I called the office and pressed them for an arrival time, then messaged once more. At 6:40 p.m., they told us, with no explanation, that we had to move to a place farther away. We called the manager, but got no solution, just a promise of a callback in 10 minutes. We waited and called again. Nobody answered. They left us stranded in central Madrid with an 8-year-old, no place to sleep, and no explanation. Booking.com finally helped us resolve it after five calls and five hours on the street without a solution. I wouldn’t book with them again even if it were free. I have proof of everything I’ve written.