Aparthotel Las Olivas

I slept well, and the beds were comfortable. The area is quiet, with good access to Toledo, Madrid, and Warner Bros. Park. There’s covered parking, a bakery and supermarket nearby, and the Wi-Fi worked perfectly. The staff were friendly and helpful, and my deposit came back the day after I asked for it. The studio itself was acceptable, but the kitchen was extremely bare: four of each kind of cutlery, four plates, no cups, bin, spatula, or slotted spoon. The bathroom jacuzzi didn’t work, and the bedrooms were tiny, undecorated, and had only built-in wardrobes. Most facilities on site were closed, abandoned, and unmaintained, with virtually no services available. It feels much too expensive for its current state. We’d consider coming back if the place were renovated or the price reduced.

The terraces are really roomy, and the staff are friendly. There’s a small spa, too. The hotel is conveniently near the highway. Breakfast isn’t buffet style, and the reception is in a separate building. Sound carries badly, so you can hear everything.

The biggest drawback for me is the location. In Vallegrande there’s no supermarket or real shopping, just a Chinese store, a few restaurants, a bakery/chocolate shop, pharmacy, and some other businesses. Getting across the highway to Seseña is a nightmare. You’re left relying on three buses with awful routes and village-like timetables, which is rough if you work in Madrid or nearby. The huge beach bar runs daily in summer, with loud music and weekend night shows, so living across from it means little sleep. The air conditioners are also absurdly noisy. If someone runs one at night, the motor vibrations and sound make the walls shake. There are guests who shout, play loud music at all hours, smoke in shared areas, and leave cigarette ends, cans, rubbish in corridors, or bags by the bins. Some people seem to rent for a day or a holiday without caring that others work and live quietly. That can make the place hard to live around. Still, I’ve had to rent here more than once out of necessity, and the rooms are comfortable enough to live in. They come with appliances and some utensils, and are clean. The price, accommodation, and service have been very good. They don’t even ask for pedigree papers to rent. The staff are the best part, attentive, professional, and friendly, and maintenance responds efficiently when something goes wrong. The women running things do all they can to make the stay pleasant. If you can overlook the noise and the long trip into Madrid, it can work well in a pinch.

There are food shops close by, plus a Telepizza and a really good Chinese restaurant. We had two bedrooms, a living room with a kitchenette, and a terrace, and parking under cover was free. It’s clean and comfortable, though nothing fancy. Warner Bros. Park is easy to get to from here.