Hotel Madrid Gran Via 25 Affiliated by Meliá

The beds were two twins pushed together, which I’ve been told is common in Europe, but we’re snugglers, so that wasn’t ideal. Everything else was lovely. The rooms were very clean and modern, everything worked, and we could see beautiful architecture from the window. The rainfall shower was great, and tall and friendly! The lobby always had staff and felt very secure. The location was the best part: we were about a 15-20 minute walk in any direction from everything we wanted to see in Madrid. We took taxis only to and from the airport or bus station; everywhere else was walkable. Restaurants, shops, flamenco shows, a doctor’s office, and plenty of pharmacies were nearby, which helped when my husband got sick. This was our first hotel on our Europe trip, and we’d stay again.

After reading the hotel's response, I’m even more disappointed. I understand it’s a business, but businesses make exceptions for guests, especially in a medical emergency. I didn’t want to cancel, only change my reservation, and exceptions can and often are made. I’ve stayed here before, and as a senior citizen in a serious situation, I expected more compassion. I had a medical emergency and provided a doctor’s letter saying I CAN'T travel because of my health. I asked to change the reservation, not cancel it, without a penalty, but they charged the full amount anyway. It’s shocking how little empathy some people have. What a pity.

The nighttime noise is something to consider. You can hear street activity, occasional sirens, and lively voices at 4 a.m. If you can live with the city's energy, the location is hard to beat, close to lots of sites, shopping areas, and things to do. The busy street has heavy traffic but still pulses with Madrid's unmistakable energy. Inside, the hotel was well organized and spotlessly clean. My friends had a strange issue with a window that was nearly coming loose from its frame, but staff reacted quickly and got it resolved. The breakfast buffet deserves a mention too: lots of options, and each dish was flavorful and satisfying.

The location is amazing, central for almost anywhere you’d want to explore and close to the sights. Housekeeping did a great job cleaning the room between nights, and breakfast was nice. But the property isn’t in the best shape, and the elevator was small and old. The shower drained slowly, and the room was unbearably hot because the central air system couldn’t bring the temperature under control, it could only increase the heat. I stayed from Dec 22-24.