Hostel A Nuestra Señora de la Paloma

The room floor isn't level, and even the stairs are tilted. I felt dizzy standing in the room. The counter staff were thoughtful and nice, though, and the location is very convenient for getting to the metro.

For the price, it's clean, comfortable, and easy to get to the city center. It's a pretty good budget hotel. You get what you pay for, so don't expect too much.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, always willing to help with questions or requests, and the central location made it easy to explore. We could walk to most places or use nearby public transport without hassle. The room was very clean and well maintained, but quite small, so luggage made it feel cramped. That should be manageable for a short visit, though anyone wanting more space should keep it in mind. A great choice if location and service matter most.

The security bothered me: the front entrance and doors to the floors were often propped open or left unlatched by guests and staff. That's not a great idea on this Madrid street. The advertised patio or plaza access is misleading too. It's somewhere in the building, not actually available to guests, and isn't even in the hotel, which starts on the second floor. The smell was awful, like cheap fabric softener mixed with mildew. Most rooms have a window facing a damp interior area with mildewy laundry, and opening it only made the odor worse. The shower was an adrenaline rush, with pressure dropping so low the water nearly stopped, then turning icy or scalding. There was no way to step out of the stream, and the shower was tiny. I'm tall and skinny and had to turn sideways to get through doorways and into it. Anyone even slightly plus sized would be pressed against every surface just getting in. The room itself was so cramped I couldn't fully open a regular 23 kg suitcase except in the doorway, though that's the least of the problems. I've stayed at six places within a few blocks, and this hostal was dramatically worse than the others. Don't go unless it costs the same as a hostel bunk. I'm surprised it's still in business. The fish-eyed lens in the online listing seems to trap people who arrive with no other choices.