We chose this hotel as a base for our first visit to Madrid, based on the recommendations of other TripAdvisor members - unfortunately we can't confirm all of their positive comments.
Basically the hotel's main plus point, the central location, is also its downfall. Yes, it is on a normally quiet side street just off Plaza de Espana and Gran Via but some of the surrounding buildings are quite run down and the approach to the front door could not be described as welcoming. In particular, the building directly opposite, which our bedroom window looked across to, had obviously been derelict for some time, given the extent of the graffiti and the lack of any unbroken windows.
None of this was more than a relatively minor inconvenience, until just after 3am on the final night of our stay, when we were wakened by what can only be described as a riot directly outside the hotel. The resultant shouting and banging continued unabated for almost 4 hours and, from the confines of our first floor room, all sounded quite threatening. By the time we left the hotel at 10 o'clock the next morning the police had arrived in force (4 squad cars and more than 10 officers) and had lined up what we can only assume were the minority of the suspects that they had been able to catch - but by then the damage had been done.
When we were...We chose this hotel as a base for our first visit to Madrid, based on the recommendations of other TripAdvisor members - unfortunately we can't confirm all of their positive comments.
Basically the hotel's main plus point, the central location, is also its downfall. Yes, it is on a normally quiet side street just off Plaza de Espana and Gran Via but some of the surrounding buildings are quite run down and the approach to the front door could not be described as welcoming. In particular, the building directly opposite, which our bedroom window looked across to, had obviously been derelict for some time, given the extent of the graffiti and the lack of any unbroken windows.
None of this was more than a relatively minor inconvenience, until just after 3am on the final night of our stay, when we were wakened by what can only be described as a riot directly outside the hotel. The resultant shouting and banging continued unabated for almost 4 hours and, from the confines of our first floor room, all sounded quite threatening. By the time we left the hotel at 10 o'clock the next morning the police had arrived in force (4 squad cars and more than 10 officers) and had lined up what we can only assume were the minority of the suspects that they had been able to catch - but by then the damage had been done.
When we were checking out from the hotel, the reception staff admitted that this had happened before and said that it seemed to start when the local bars and nightclubs closed and their customers simply continued what was described to us as "the happy holiday" in the streets and, in particular, in the derelict building across from the hotel. So, rather than tackle this known problem, the local businesses and the police have obviously decided that its best just to let things runs their course and clear up the debris in the morning. In spite of this, and the distress which it had caused us, no offer of any compensation or discount was suggested.
Up to that point, our visit had been (almost) trouble free. The room itself was a good size and offered a comfortable double bed (not just two twins pushed together). The bathroom was well equipped including a good-sized shower cubicle. The aircon was quiet and efficient. The self-service breakfast provided us with sufficient choices to start the day well - the fresh melon slices became a particular favourite.
Our only other issue (minor in comparison to the riot) had been an inconvenience rather than anything else, but could still have been dealt with better. You might have thought that, with Spain having invented the custom of 'siesta', rooms would be made up early in the day to allow weary sight-seers the option of a nap in the afternoon to set themselves up for the evening's activities. Not so - or at least not necessarily so at this hotel (in spite of having left the 'please make up my room' sign on the door knob). The problem, which only occurred once during our four day stay, was reasonably quickly dealt with by the reception staff, but the heat (quite literally) could have been taken out of the situation by the offer of a complimentary cold drink from the bar, where we were asked to wait while our room was being prepared. Further customer service training required I'm afraid.
In summary then, the hotel is probably only slightly better than average and the disturbances during our final night mean than we couldn't recommend it to others until the local neighbourhood problems have been resolved.More
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