Hotel Madrid Plaza de España Affiliated by Meliá

The bill felt expensive for what amounted to cheap accommodation, though I suspect high demand pushed up the price. My room’s internet didn’t even reach 5 MB. The features are old and need repairs or replacement: the bed sagged, the TV was old, and the lamps were broken. A fire alarm light flashed right above the bed all night, which showed a real lack of attention to detail. On the plus side, the staff were friendly and professional, the interior room was fairly quiet, and checkout was at 12pm. The location is good, though for a leisure trip I’d have preferred somewhere quieter. There was one complimentary 200ml bottle of water, which was fine because Madrid tap water is drinkable. Otherwise, that would have been a downside.

The hotel itself was fine, but at 6:30 AM on both mornings, loud trucks delivered to the market right beside it. The old, thin windows did nothing to block the noise, so I couldn’t sleep past that time. I won’t come back for that reason alone.

We had a lovely time here. The room was huge and the bed was incredibly comfortable. Staff were friendly and helpful, and it’s hard to beat the location. We could easily walk to lots of attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Getting into the lobby means carrying your suitcases up about 6-7 steps. There is a side chair for wheelchair users. Also, the complimentary water in the fridge is misleading. Only one small bottle is free. My husband drank a second small bottle and I was charged 15€. The minibar has nothing but water, and the tag saying complimentary water gives the wrong impression. One little bottle for two people, then 15€ for another one you can buy in a shop for less than 50 céntimos? Very deceptive.