Gran Vía I in Madrid

The apartment was spacious, clean, and comfortable, with plenty of storage and a great location. It had everything we needed: a washer and dryer, dishwasher, pots, pans, and plates. The air conditioning worked quietly, water pressure and temperature were good, and the shower room was well sealed. Pulling down the shutters made it completely dark for sleeping, and we couldn't hear the street or neighboring apartments. They required a 300 euro safety deposit.

The location was really nice, but I wouldn't call this four-star accommodation, as it's listed. It wasn't a bad place to stay, though I think you could find better for the price. The floors were dirty when we arrived, and there were several extra charges, including a separate cleaning fee and a charge for extra towels. They also took a $300 deposit, which was returned a few days after checkout.

We had to change rooms twice in our two-night stay because of bed bugs. The staff were polite and tried to help each time, but the property's hygiene standards left us extremely disappointed. Even after moving us, no one followed up or offered help with our clothing and belongings, which might have been contaminated. That was especially worrying with children traveling with us. The whole experience was stressful and disappointing despite the friendly staff. We checked in late at night and were given a room with a sofa bed. After getting our children settled in the bedroom, my wife and I started making up the sofa bed ourselves. I brushed off two or three small bugs I noticed while preparing the bedding and lay down. A little later I turned the light back on to check, and saw several more, about the size of watermelon seeds. I looked them up and realized they were bed bugs. I went straight to reception to report it. Fortunately, a staff member was on duty, and they promptly moved us to a neighboring room. The next morning, our daughter found another bed bug on the bed there, so we had to move again.

The staff were really friendly and professional, and the rooftop pool and bar were lovely. We stayed in a spacious three-bedroom apartment with three bathrooms, right in the center. I'd recommend Grand View Apartments in Madrid.