Conchita II Hostal

The location was good, and that's the only reason for my one star. There were insects everywhere, including whenever I tried to shower, and the towels and sheets smelled awful. There was no ventilation and the nighttime temperature was unbearable. The keys barely worked in the doors, and one night I nearly got stuck outside.

I stayed about 12 days as a solo traveler with my cat, and it was a really positive experience. The staff were friendly and cared about my cat's comfort as much as mine. Sara, the housekeeper, made a point of chatting with me cheerfully every day even though we don't share a language. The man at reception speaks enough English to answer questions, so it was easy enough to get what I needed. It's a basic hostel, but it has what you need, and the price for central Madrid is hard to beat. Having a fridge and microwave helped me look after some of my own needs and save more money. I've read reviews elsewhere complaining about noise and dirt, but I didn't have those problems. It was quiet at night, with a TV-off time of 11:00 on the door instructions, though I don't know if they enforce it. I got clean towels daily, rubbish was emptied every day, sheets changed every few days, and the WiFi worked perfectly, with a 900kb/s download speed last night. I can't complain, though I'm pretty low-maintenance. Small and simple, with everything I needed in a perfect location. The price had me expecting less, so I was pleasantly surprised. Your experience may vary. Good luck, travelers! One practical thing: getting in isn't obvious. Ring the buzzer for 4th floor, the button on the right-hand side of the door labeled "Hostal". Otherwise, you could be standing on the street for a long time. Trust me, lol!

The room had the equipment I needed, and the location was very good. There was one problem, though: around 6:00 am I heard music playing loudly.

For the price, this is a really nice place. Nights can be a little noisy, as they are in any city center, but being so central means you can get almost anywhere in just a few minutes.