Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport (Master Thread) - no longer a Holiday Inn Express
Jan 2, 2008, 7:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: MSP - NW Gold - PC Plat - Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 2,478
Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport (Master Thread) - no longer a Holiday Inn Express
The hotel is new - but it is in a very heavy construction area. After I dropped of the rental car and found out the shuttle recommended by the hotel didn't go to the hotel (so said the driver), we got a taxi and he dropped us off on the frontage road, he wouldn't navigate all the construction.
There was no restaurant in the hotel and none within walking distance. There was a food delivery service menu. But in spite of the hours open on the menu the receptionist said not before 8 pm. I couldn't call because I don't speak Spanish. Fortunately there were vending machines.
We got a 4 AM wake-up call (actually it was a knock on the door).
The hotel was fine, indifferent staff, almost no parking because of construction, unless you parked at their underground parking for 12 Euros/night. We were charged 10 Euros for taxi from airport and 17 Euros back to the airport.
There was no restaurant in the hotel and none within walking distance. There was a food delivery service menu. But in spite of the hours open on the menu the receptionist said not before 8 pm. I couldn't call because I don't speak Spanish. Fortunately there were vending machines.
We got a 4 AM wake-up call (actually it was a knock on the door).
The hotel was fine, indifferent staff, almost no parking because of construction, unless you parked at their underground parking for 12 Euros/night. We were charged 10 Euros for taxi from airport and 17 Euros back to the airport.
Jan 2, 2008, 10:46 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Priority Club RA, Lots of other cards
Posts: 3,099
Hi JMC
Thanks for the report. I suppose it will eventually get better as the construction work is completed and other things open up.
regards
Thanks for the report. I suppose it will eventually get better as the construction work is completed and other things open up.
regards
Aug 1, 2009, 5:17 pm
#3
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Has anything changed on the airport transfer front at this hotel and have any food options appeared in the last year?
Thanks
Thanks
Aug 2, 2009, 1:30 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LON, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 373
stayed here a few weeks ago and the only food option is a 'telepizza' which delivers to the hotel.
Taxi driver managed to find the exit off the motorway that leads to the hotel, so didn't have to get off at the side of the highway. To my knowledge no shuttle exists...
Taxi driver managed to find the exit off the motorway that leads to the hotel, so didn't have to get off at the side of the highway. To my knowledge no shuttle exists...
Aug 3, 2009, 12:17 am
#5
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Thanks kaiflyer for the info
Aug 8, 2009, 8:50 am
#6
Join Date: May 2002
Location: District of Columbia, Maryland- AA 2M Life Platinum, UA 1K, TK Gold, BA Silver, IC RA, Fairmont/Marriott Platinum, SPG/Hilton/Omni Gold, Wynn/Makers Mark Ambassador, Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Chairmans, National Executive
Posts: 1,578
Stayed here in May and had mixed reactions. Hotel was new and clean, nice bath and shower. Was shocked to find 9 euros for airport shuttle. No mention of this anywhere on priorityclub.com nor their own website. Appalled that staff are not instructed to mention price but not allowed to credit. Priority Club customer service just as indifferent.
Dec 2, 2009, 7:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TPE, MNL
Programs: AA lifetime GOLD, but still an AA Baby compare to people here. CX nobody. BR Silver.
Posts: 984
Have lots of questions for this hotel.
1) Is 9 euro for airport shuttle still the case? Do I have the other option to get to/from there other than shuttle or car rental? Is airport shuttle just running between hotel and airport? Or I need to call for pickup?
2) Do they charge for internet?
3) What is the best way to get to downtown?
Thanks a lot.
1) Is 9 euro for airport shuttle still the case? Do I have the other option to get to/from there other than shuttle or car rental? Is airport shuttle just running between hotel and airport? Or I need to call for pickup?
2) Do they charge for internet?
3) What is the best way to get to downtown?
Thanks a lot.
Dec 3, 2009, 5:43 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TPE, MNL
Programs: AA lifetime GOLD, but still an AA Baby compare to people here. CX nobody. BR Silver.
Posts: 984
Have lots of questions for this hotel.
1) Is 9 euro for airport shuttle still the case? Do I have the other option to get to/from there other than shuttle or car rental? Is airport shuttle just running between hotel and airport? Or I need to call for pickup?
2) Do they charge for internet?
3) What is the best way to get to downtown?
Thanks a lot.
1) Is 9 euro for airport shuttle still the case? Do I have the other option to get to/from there other than shuttle or car rental? Is airport shuttle just running between hotel and airport? Or I need to call for pickup?
2) Do they charge for internet?
3) What is the best way to get to downtown?
Thanks a lot.
1) The shuttle cost 9 euros per person per way.
We have a shuttle service that runs from 6am until 9.30 pm Monday to Friday and from 6am until 1.30 pm Saturdays and Sundays.You will need to call the hotel for the driver to pick you up.
2) Internet is 3.75euros one hour or 10.70euros for 24 hours.
3) To go downtown you will need to take first a bus and after the underground.
9 euro for airport shuttle and 10.70 euro for Internet?
By the way, what is going on in Madrid this weekend? There is NO ROOM for all IHG properties in Madrid area.
Dec 4, 2009, 1:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
Recommend Madrid HIX "San Sebastian"
As a near-airport alternative, I would suggest a different Madrid-area HIX than the so-called "Madrid Airport" HIX. The "San Sebastian" HIX is just as close to the airport by taxi as the "Airport" HIX. Either way, the fare will be about 25 euros or more. (I did not take the taxi myself.)
The advantages of the San Sebastian HIX are these:
1. Accessible by Madrid Metro -- The HIX is about a ten minute (max) walk from the Hospital Infanta Sofia metro stop. This is the end-of-the line stop for that metro line (runs AT LEAST until midnight, perhaps later). Exit the subway, walk towards Madrid to a corner gas station, look to your left and you'll see the sign for the HIX another block towards the east. The metro requires a 1 euros supplement in addition to the normal 1 euro central-Madrid fare. It takes a full hour to travel by metro from that HIX to the airport because you have to go most of the way back to central Madrid and transfer (at estacion Nuevos Ministerios) to the airport line.
2. Restaurant -- There is a quite decent Spanish restaurant around the corner open weekdays for the local workers. I ate a nice complete steak dinner on el Menu del Dia for 20 euros. The restaurant seems to not be open really late at night and on weekends according to their customers' working hours. Nothing else around the new industrial neighborhood though.
3. Staff -- Nice enough and helpful. I stayed two separate nights in mid-November, 2009. I stayed because of Points Breaks. Their net rate is 52 euros, which for me is worth the cost savings over the central Madrid Holiday Inn or Intercontinental.
The advantages of the San Sebastian HIX are these:
1. Accessible by Madrid Metro -- The HIX is about a ten minute (max) walk from the Hospital Infanta Sofia metro stop. This is the end-of-the line stop for that metro line (runs AT LEAST until midnight, perhaps later). Exit the subway, walk towards Madrid to a corner gas station, look to your left and you'll see the sign for the HIX another block towards the east. The metro requires a 1 euros supplement in addition to the normal 1 euro central-Madrid fare. It takes a full hour to travel by metro from that HIX to the airport because you have to go most of the way back to central Madrid and transfer (at estacion Nuevos Ministerios) to the airport line.
2. Restaurant -- There is a quite decent Spanish restaurant around the corner open weekdays for the local workers. I ate a nice complete steak dinner on el Menu del Dia for 20 euros. The restaurant seems to not be open really late at night and on weekends according to their customers' working hours. Nothing else around the new industrial neighborhood though.
3. Staff -- Nice enough and helpful. I stayed two separate nights in mid-November, 2009. I stayed because of Points Breaks. Their net rate is 52 euros, which for me is worth the cost savings over the central Madrid Holiday Inn or Intercontinental.
Last edited by Bowgie; Dec 5, 2009 at 1:37 am Reason: spelling
Dec 6, 2009, 1:23 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TPE, MNL
Programs: AA lifetime GOLD, but still an AA Baby compare to people here. CX nobody. BR Silver.
Posts: 984
ok.
Just checked out this hotel and am waiting for the shuttle.
1) From my point of view, this hotel is in the middle of nowhere. The closest restaurant is at least 15 minutes walk. And there is a shopping mall for about 50 minutes walk. If you don't have car rental, the location is not good. And it is difficult to get to this hotel from downtown. I will say either take Metro back to airport and call for hotel shuttle, or take Metro to Canillejas and take taxi for about 10 euros.
2) As everyone mentions before, 9 euro for one way airport shuttle.
3) Housekeeping is not so good. My ice cooler even has a lip print on it....
4) Internet is expensive(10,10 Euro), but I think it is typical in EU.
5) At least the hotel employees are nice.
yuchung5
Just checked out this hotel and am waiting for the shuttle.
1) From my point of view, this hotel is in the middle of nowhere. The closest restaurant is at least 15 minutes walk. And there is a shopping mall for about 50 minutes walk. If you don't have car rental, the location is not good. And it is difficult to get to this hotel from downtown. I will say either take Metro back to airport and call for hotel shuttle, or take Metro to Canillejas and take taxi for about 10 euros.
2) As everyone mentions before, 9 euro for one way airport shuttle.
3) Housekeeping is not so good. My ice cooler even has a lip print on it....
4) Internet is expensive(10,10 Euro), but I think it is typical in EU.
5) At least the hotel employees are nice.
yuchung5
Dec 12, 2009, 2:34 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,651
So the taxi from MAD for E10 is not much different than the shuttle for E9? But taxi from MAD should be faster.
Dec 15, 2009, 10:56 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TPE, MNL
Programs: AA lifetime GOLD, but still an AA Baby compare to people here. CX nobody. BR Silver.
Posts: 984
Sep 20, 2010, 9:30 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SNA and XRY
Programs: UA PP, 2 MM; IC;
Posts: 1,043
Checked in this morning.. relying on earlier posts and called and inquired about the shuttle for 9 euros... no shuttle... and standard fare from airport is 25 euros... nothing else to do but to take the cab... earlier posts about pizza are correct except they've added some burgers pasta and salads.. all call out...
Sep 20, 2010, 2:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: I hate my location and hope to flee from it soon.
Programs: Hyatt PL, PC Spire/RA, HH GOLD, SPG Green, Marriott Silver, Skywards B, CSA Gold, Lufthansa Paper,UA
Posts: 1,211
for that money (transfer)
u can go to HI or IC in MAD
u can go to HI or IC in MAD
Jul 26, 2011, 9:19 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K 1MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 400
Update and Beware
Hi all -- Just a property update / severe warning on here for the HIX @ Madrid Airport (so it's branded ) future guests.
We booked our one night stay with PC points and I frankly did not do my ususal FT and tripadvisor.com check of the property as it was only for an overnight before an AM flight. What a huge mistake. Trip advisor lays it out very clearly to avoid this place, but here are the details...
This property, while sold as an "Airport" property no longer runs a shuttle to/from MAD at all as of our stay in mid June 2011. So, you are stuck with the ~E25 cab ride each way. The Crowne Plaza across the street does run a shuttle for a fee for their guests only, but will no longer pick up or drop off patrons of the HIX even for a fee.
When I complained about this policy to hotel staff, mangement and IHG customer service (maybe an issue for IHG Care to research?), they explained that the properties were owned by different management companies and did not cooperate. So much for IHG brands working together?!
I strongly recommended that branding this property as an airport hotel with no shuttle and a E25 private taxi hire is misleading to the consumer. IHG should step in an demand airport shuttle service commence to keep the airport designation.
Needless to say, we dropped off the rental car before our stay, so incurred E50 in taxi hire charges (from/to MAD) for a room which was offered for about that much for the night...it really destroys any value proposition of this hotel in any way.
On a better note, the hotel restaurant was acceptable (good thing as the neighborhood construction has come to a grinding halt with the economic slow-down and the hotel is surrounded by empty lots and not a safe walking environment). The CP across the street also had a bar/restaurant.
) future guests.We booked our one night stay with PC points and I frankly did not do my ususal FT and tripadvisor.com check of the property as it was only for an overnight before an AM flight. What a huge mistake. Trip advisor lays it out very clearly to avoid this place, but here are the details...
This property, while sold as an "Airport" property no longer runs a shuttle to/from MAD at all as of our stay in mid June 2011. So, you are stuck with the ~E25 cab ride each way. The Crowne Plaza across the street does run a shuttle for a fee for their guests only, but will no longer pick up or drop off patrons of the HIX even for a fee.
When I complained about this policy to hotel staff, mangement and IHG customer service (maybe an issue for IHG Care to research?), they explained that the properties were owned by different management companies and did not cooperate. So much for IHG brands working together?!
I strongly recommended that branding this property as an airport hotel with no shuttle and a E25 private taxi hire is misleading to the consumer. IHG should step in an demand airport shuttle service commence to keep the airport designation.
Needless to say, we dropped off the rental car before our stay, so incurred E50 in taxi hire charges (from/to MAD) for a room which was offered for about that much for the night...it really destroys any value proposition of this hotel in any way.
On a better note, the hotel restaurant was acceptable (good thing as the neighborhood construction has come to a grinding halt with the economic slow-down and the hotel is surrounded by empty lots and not a safe walking environment). The CP across the street also had a bar/restaurant.